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9:05 a.m.
The College Application Process from Start to Finish
Alycia Hochberger, AK College Consulting
We will break down all of the elements of the college application process into manageable pieces. Students and parents will learn techniques to help applicants identify their future direction, generate a list of possible schools, develop an admissions strategy, and present the best version of oneself in a college application. We will also demystify the factors considered by admissions officers and learn how to identify the different value each college places on those factors.
Alycia Hochberger
Alycia Hochberger is the founder and owner of AK College Consulting. Since 2017, she has developed her expertise assisting high school students in finding and successfully applying to their dream schools. Informed by 17 years as a public school teacher, Alycia has mastered how to work with all types of students and families to realize their goals. While she was a teacher, she assisted students, teachers, and guidance counselors with college applications and discovered it was her true passion!
9:30 a.m.
Getting Personal: Student Development through College Admissions Essay Writing
José Iván Román, MC Advising Services, LLC
This session will feature topics, questions, and practices for student success in college admissions essay writing. The college application process is transformative experience, marking the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood for high school students. Many college-bound students struggle to articulate their reasons for pursuing higher education. Self-reflection can be daunting for students not accustomed to examining their lives with rigor and compassion. Writing a personal statement nurtures student development through detailed narratives, depth of analysis, and authentic self-expression.
José Iván Román, M.A.
José Iván Román is Founder of MC Advising Services LLC. With over 20 years of industry experience, Mr. Román provides high-quality college admissions counseling and scholastic advising for high school students. He also supports students as a mentor and writing coach. José has previously served on the admissions committees at Yale College and Boston College Law School. Prior to becoming an independent college admissions consultant, José worked for consulting companies InGenius Prep and Solomon Admissions Consulting. He also served as an academic advisor at Northeastern University. José holds an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. José earned a B.A. in government and Spanish literature from Wesleyan University (CT).
9:55 a.m.
Building a Résumé Worth Writing About Through Intentional Choices
Sarah Cook, College Bound & Career Ready, LLC
This session will help you reframe your high school résumé as a story of growth, skills, and impact. We will discuss how intentional choices, sustained involvement, and meaningful contributions over time matter more in the college admission process than a checklist of activities. Students will learn how experiences inside and outside the classroom reflect valued qualities and will gain clarity on purposeful involvement for strong college applications and long-term career readiness..
Sarah K. Cook, M.S.Ed.
sarah@collegeboundcareerready.com
Sarah K. Cook is the founder of College Bound Career Ready, LLC (CBCR), where she helps students and families navigate the college admissions process with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Her student-centered approach guides students toward colleges that fit academically, socially, and financially, while staying grounded in each learner’s unique strengths, interests, and goals.
With over 18 years of experience in public education and teaching licenses in New York, Florida, and Massachusetts, Sarah has taught English, reading, and special education across grades 7–12. Sarah has also served as an adjunct professor of College Success and worked as a college and career specialist. Her background allows her to support students with a wide range of learning styles, academic profiles, and post-secondary goals.
In addition to working with families, Sarah partners with school districts through a dedicated CBCR division, supporting strategic planning, curriculum design, and experiential learning initiatives that strengthen college and career readiness.
10:20 a.m.
Financial Aid: Strategies and Opportunities
Stan Ezekiel, College Planning Group
When it comes to the topic of financial aid for college, many families just don't know where to begin. There are many rules that families must understand to maximize their financial aid eligibility. Come to this session to help navigate your way towards maximizing your opportunities for financial aid.
Stan Ezekiel, CCPS
stan@thecollegeplanninggroup.com
Since 1994, Stan has been helping families by guiding them through the college planning and the college financial aid process. College planning is not just about financial aid. It’s about finding the right college for the student. Proper planning involves identifying the student’s interests, applying to schools that match those interests and positioning the student to receive the best financial package available. Often families pay more for college than they need to. Stan’s goal is to help students and families find the best fit.
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