When Should I Start?
You are welcome to start with us at any time. We do limit the size of our practice to ensure quality interaction and results with your student. Preference is given to families who start earlier, and often our practice is full by spring of your student’s sophomore year. Please contact us to check on availability.
First Year
We meet quarterly with first year students, helping them ease into high school and getting off to a great start! We work with them to:
review curriculum options
identify and encourage involvement and extracurricular activities
begin college awareness
record activities and accomplishments on their resume
suggest opportunities for summer pursuits
discuss college affordability with parents
explore career interests and options
Sophomore Year
We meet quarterly with sophomores, recognizing their readiness to grow and discover more about themselves and the world around them. We work with them to:
review and optimize curriculum options based on their abilities and interests
identify and encourage involvement and extracurricular activities
stimulate college awareness
start researching and visiting colleges
record activities and accomplishments on their resume
suggest opportunities for summer pursuits – including work and internship possibilities
explore career and major opportunities based on emerging passions
discuss college affordability with parents
strategize testing options (SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests, AP tests, etc), test preparation, and test timing
Junior Year
During junior year, we meet monthly, transitioning to college preparedness, and more independent work by the student.
First semester Junior year:
strategize testing options (SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests, AP tests, etc), test preparation, and test timing
identify candidate colleges for deeper research
look for opportunities for students to exercise leadership
recommend they build relationships with teachers who can provide college recommendations
review and optimize curriculum options based on their abilities and interests
Second semester junior year:
begin identifying personal traits they wish to share in the college essay
review and discuss the University of California, Coalition and Common App personal essay prompts
prepare the students to ask the recommenders for college recommendations
explore candidate colleges
update the student resume
review transcript to make sure all requirements for both graduation and college acceptance are fulfilled or planned
identify financial safeties and finalize affordability
assist the student in transitioning to independence and college life (and help the parents with this transition as well)
Senior Year
Senior year! It’s finally here. No matter how much preparation we do before senior year starts, there are still tasks which must be done during that all important 7th semester (aka 1st semester senior year). We do as much as we can to ease the stress by getting a jump start over the summer before senior year.
Summer before Senior Year, we meet approximately every 2 weeks and perform the following tasks:
finalize the college list
choose and write the University of California Prompts
write the Common App and Coalition personal statement(s)
update the resume
finalize the school list
1st Semester Senior Year, we meet approximately 3 times a month to:
encourage continued focus on high school academics
finalize the application strategy (Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision)
create an application milestone plan
prepare for admissions interviews
update Naviance and prepare high school counselor requirements
write the application supplements
submit completed applications prior to deadlines
continue transitioning to college readiness (and to prepare parents for this transition as well)
2nd Semester Senior Year, we are available to you as needed to assist with:
reviewing college portals to advise on any requested materials
review and interpret college admissions financial award letters
help to decide amongst college offers
advise on whether to accept a wait list offer or submit an appeal
assist in housing, honors, and major decision options
