Students looking for guidance on course selection and strategies for strengthening their application profile should consider working with a consultant as early as freshman year. For guidance on major and career exploration and developing the college list, students should ideally be working with a consultant by the beginning of their junior year. Our comprehensive packages are designed for students in their junior year (or earlier), and take them through the process step by step until June of their senior year.

Yes! We use a variety of resources, exercises, tools, and assessments to help students learn more about their aptitudes, strengths, and interests. We help students explore possible career paths and then find colleges that offer programs and opportunities that align well with their academic goals and career aspirations. Students will learn how to continue to use these tools for continued exploration in college.

Our focus is on finding the best fit colleges for our students, whether that be a brand-name school, a small liberal arts school, or a large research university, public or private. Our students come with very different backgrounds and needs - students who want a very particular major, have a learning disability, want to compete on a collegiate athletic team, are hoping to focus on their art, don't want to live far from home or want to live as far away as possible, have financial limitations, etc. The schools they apply to and ultimately decide to attend vary greatly but have been carefully selected as schools where they will be happy and thrive. If a student has the desire and motivation to attend college, there are colleges that will be a good academic, social, and financial fit.

Yes. While I am based in San Francisco, I work with students worldwide. I also help American students interested in studying abroad.

No, we do not guarantee admissions to particular colleges or universities. Even college admissions officers themselves cannot make this sort of guarantee. What we do is help students design a balanced list of good-fit colleges. We then offer advice and support that allows them to put their best foot forward in college applications so that they can be stand out as a strong candidate and have greater chances of being admitted to colleges that align with their interests and goals.

Yes. We help you understand college costs and define affordability, taking into account financial fit when it comes to developing the college list. We provide a financial aid overview as well as resources and tools for tracking deadlines and requirements. We help you navigate the financial aid application process, including both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. We also provide resources and help students search for potential scholarships opportunities.

Most of the students we work with choose the comprehensive college planning package, which is specifically designed for high school juniors who want a full range of guidance and support throughout the college application process. We have add-on packages for younger high school students who are looking for guidance on high school course selection, extracurricular involvement, and summer programs. For students looking for more specific guidance, such as developing a college list, creating an activity resume, brainstorming and writing the personal statement and/or essays, we can custom design a package or work together on an hourly basis.