Welcome! This website has everything that you will need to progress through a fun, enriching, rewarding college application journey. Whether you are starting in Grade 9 or Grade 12, you will find all of the resources necessary to stay organized, and engage with each part of the process in a meaningful way. Please refer to this document in order to figure out what you should be focussing on each year.
With nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, and with the cost of attendance having risen on average 37% over the past decade, it is more important than ever to find the right match. No matter what kind of student you are, no matter your interests, skills, or how you have performed, there are wonderful opportunities out there that will help you further develop your talents and engage deeply in experiences that you have not yet even considered.
If smaller classes and stronger connections with professors speak to you, or if you are considering a career in medicine or law, you might be surprised to know that the Colleges that Change Lives Consortium of small, liberal arts schools produce some of the highest acceptance rates for medical and law school applicants. If you are tired of a set curriculum and have creative ways of combining your interests, you may be interested in a school that provides an open curriculum where you can design your own major; or, conversely, if you like the idea of being surrounded by students who are all engaged in similar readings and discussions, perhaps a core program would best suit you.
If you are an intrepid explorer, you may want to consider programs that allow for a semester or two abroad (Boston University, New York University, Northeastern University, etc.) or unique joint programs with schools abroad (St. Andrews University in Scotland, Trinity University in Dublin, IE University in Madrid, University of Bocconi in Italy, etc.). Or maybe you are just not ready to make up your mind and are looking for schools that share resources (the Claremont Consortium, the Five College Consortium in Massachusetts) or even dual-degree programs where liberal arts schools have partnered with engineering programs, or offer a general business administration degree to provide a greater educational experience. Whatever most excites you, there are places looking for you, and unique programs within schools (Honors colleges, research scholarships, etc.) that could further your experience with higher education.
If done correctly, this can be a fun, self-reflective process that empowers you to take ownership of the process, learn more about yourself, and begin creating a life beyond high school that you want.
If you would like to get a better understanding of the current college admissions landscape, please check out this collection of articles, books, movies, podcasts, and other resources.
In the top, right-hand corner, you will find the following tabs:
Organization / Time Management -- We will use these documents to track our meetings and your application progress;
College Research -- These documents will assist you in evaluating schools and developing a well-balanced college list;
Essay Writing -- These resources will help you begin brainstorming essay ideas as we work together to craft essays;
College Touring -- These resources can help when visiting colleges to help you keep and track notes;
Standardized Testing -- These links will help you prepare and sign up; we will discuss your testing plan thoroughly;
Summer Programs / Internships / Exploring Future Careers -- These links will help you find opportunities beyond high school;
College Application Websites -- These links will take you to the necessary application websites
Student Wellness -- These resources can help you consider a healthy approach to high school;
Learning Services -- For any student with a neurodivergent profile, these resources will help provide additional support;
Athletics -- These links will help you begin to understand the athletic recruitment process;
Financial Aid -- If your family is even considering applying for financial aid, these resources will help you get started;
First-Generation College Bound -- These links support students who are the first in their family to attend college;
Spanish Speakers -- These resources are for students and parents who need more guidance in Spanish;
With 20 years of college counseling experience and having visited over 300 colleges and universities, I still learn more every day and thoroughly enjoy helping students do the same. I have worked for educational non-profit organizations, private colleges, and independent high schools as a tutor, mentor, coach, teacher, college counselor, dean, and administrator. I approach this process from a student-led perspective, and believe that the transition into college is one of the more empowering and transformational periods of a teenager's life. I am a proud member of WACAC (Western Association of College Admissions Counseling), NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counseling) and International ACAC (International Association of College Admissions Counseling).