Our approach is framed by 3 guiding principles:
1. Be true to yourself. We are often asked “what’s the formula for getting into top schools?” The truth is that those who try to follow a formula are often disappointed, while those who embrace and develop their unique selves and then effectively communicate their individual story in their applications are far more likely to be successful.
Every applicant is an individual – with your own background, interests, talents, strengths, weaknesses, college goals, and plans for the rest of your life. We take the time to really understand where you are coming from and adapt our approach to your particular situation. Where your interests and talents overlap, we show you how to develop those with an eye towards excellence. We guide you how to think about shoring up weaknesses. We assist you to effectively and concisely tell your story. We encourage you think through your college and life goals. and successfully apply to colleges that are a great fit for you.
2. Be informed. There is a lot of misleading, outdated, and just plain wrong information about the college application process that, unfortunately, is widely believed. There is also a lot of conventional wisdom that breaks down in the context of highly selective college admissions (for example, how do you define “reach” and “match” schools for applicants to schools with acceptance rates in the single digits?) . All too often we hear, “It’s unbelievable that this straight A student with top SATs and a bunch of activities with leadership positions was turned down at their most desired schools,” or that “college admissions are just a crapshoot now.” We disagree.
While probability and luck do play a role, those outcomes appear far more logical once you understand how the process really works, and that insight helps you make sound decisions. What things merely get you “in the game” and which others can put you in the accepted pile? We all know that acceptance rates are incredibly low and getting lower all the time, but what are your odds – which might be significantly higher or lower than that average rate. And your odds might be much higher at college A than B – even if their overall acceptance rates are the same. We have the expertise to help you figure out what maximizes your odds of standing out. We help you think through which colleges are most likely to think you are a great fit for them, and will help you identify a range of colleges that are great fits for you.
3. Make smart, strategic choices. High school students are incredibly busy. All too often they jump through the hoops of classes, activities, sports, community service, etc. without really stopping and thinking about which of those are truly important to them. We think its essential to live your life and not make all decisions with college in mind – but it is also wise to understand the implications of your choices on the college process.
We encourage clients to make choices explicitly and strategically. What classes should I take? What extracurricular, outside of school and summer activities are really worth focusing on given my interests? What things should I NOT bother with? Which standardized tests should I take, and when should I be happy with my scores and move on? How can I use the time spent on college visits most effectively? How do my choices affect my applications workload? We help you identify key choices and offer guidance on how to make those choices in a smart, strategic manner given your situation and goals.
Learn more about our college counseling services.