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Approach

My Approach

What We Do


As educational consultants specializing in working with high school students and their families, our objective is to simplify the college search process and maximize educational opportunities. We assist families in identifying a student’s strengths, interests, talents and goals to identify a range of colleges most appropriate for their child.


Applying to college requires students to introduce themselves to the world beyond home; they must convey what life experiences have shaped their vision of the world, what excites them, what challenges them and what their hopes and dreams are. I help students achieve their goal of effectively communicating this to colleges. My experience as a psychotherapist has informed my approach to guiding students and their families through the admissions process.

For Parents

As the parent of a college-aged child, you have probably heard about, if not already experienced, the stress of today’s “high-stakes” college search environment. And you might be (quite understandably) concerned about how to best help your children navigate the process successfully. Requirements, expectations, and interactions have changed a great deal since you were a student, and the combination of understanding how important the college admission process is, while not quite knowing how to help your child achieve their goals, can make watching your child apply for school stressful!

If you are feeling nervous about how to support your child as he or she begins the college search, you may want to consider working with an Independent Educational Consultant Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do I have the time to devote to helping my child search for a school?
  • Do I have experience with current college admission processes?
  • Can I handle the additional pressure of a college search?
  • Do I agree with my son or daughter’s college choices?
  • Have I visited the schools in which my child is interested?
  • Am I sure that this school is the right fit, and that my child will finish in four years?
  • Do my child’s college choices fit within our family’s budget?

If you answer “No” to two or more of these questions, then working with an Independent Educational Consultant may benefit your child.



Searching for the right college takes time and care.

Searching for the right college takes time and care.

Family obligations, work requirements, and caring for older relatives can sometimes make it impossible to supply your child with the kind of support they need. An IEC can streamline the search process, allowing you and your child to focus your energy and save time.

Whether you are ready to acknowledge it or not, your child is an individual. He or she may not agree with the list of schools you like, and you may not agree with their favorites. Rather than arguing, an IEC can examine both your child’s criteria and your own, and make suggestions that will help you both to move forward.

An IEC should be familiar with the campus and the culture at each school. They can provide you and your child with an “insider” perspective, allowing you to make an educated choice, even if you are unable to visit a school personally. If money is a concern, they can also guide you toward institutions that will not only be a fit for your child—but also a fit within your budget.

Applying to college should not feel like an insurmountable obstacle. An Independent Educational Consultant can supply third-party support for helping your child move into the future successfully.

TESTIMONIALS

OUR CLIENTS SAY

Thank you so much for all of your help and guidance throughout this entire process. I have decided to go to Syracuse after a long decision process.
Jack
I have decided to attend Penn. Thank you for your support this past year. You really understood me and helped me convey my beliefs and goals in my application and interviews. Thank you very much.
Ella
I got into Ross! I am very happy with all of my choices but attending Ross is a dream come true! I appreciate your persistence in getting me to complete my applications early and have winter break free to go away with my family.
Mike
As always thank you for all you do helping our three kids find and get into the right schools.
Mary
I'm very excited to have so many choices for college. I know I couldn't have done this without you. Thank you for the endless time and effort you put into my future and me.
Alex
I am so excited! I got into Chapman, Lewis and Clark, Puget Sound, Portland State, ASU, U of A, Santa Cruz, Oregon, Sonoma, Pepperdine and I was waitlisted at Pitzer. Puget sound gave me a $16,000 scholarship and Lewis and Clark gave me $18,000 and the coach offered me a spot on the team. I'm going to preview day at Chapman and Lewis and Clark then I will be deciding! I'm very happy with all my options, thank you so much for all of your help.
Emile
I'm going to Kenyon! I had so many great college acceptances- Oberlin, Michigan, Brandeis, Northeastern, several UC’s and NYU. Thank you so much for everything over this past year, I actually could not have done it without you.
Marissa
Thank you for all that you have done for me throughout this college process. I really appreciate everything you did to help me and honestly, I don’t know how I would have survived the battle with my personal statement. You were so supportive of me and I’m lucky to have had you there to guide me. Thank you so much again for all of your help.
Beth

12 Questions To Ask Before Hiring An Independent Educational Consultant

  • 1. Do you guarantee admission to a school, one of my top choices, or a certain minimum dollar value in scholarships? (Do NOT trust any offer of guarantees.)
  • 2. How do you keep up with new trends, academic changes and evolving campus cultures? How often do you get out and visit college, school, and program campuses and meet with admissions representatives? (The ONLY way to know about the best matches for you is to be out visiting schools regularly—we suggest a minimum of 20 campuses per year.)
  • 3. Do you belong to any professional associations? (NACAC and IECA are the two associations for independent educational consultants with established and rigorous standards for membership.)
  • 4. Do you attend professional conferences or training workshops on a regular basis to keep up with regional and national trends and changes in the law?
  • 5. Do you ever accept any form of compensation from a school, program, or company in exchange for placement or a referral? (They absolutely should not!)
  • 6. Are all fees involved stated in writing, up front, indicating exactly what services I will receive for those fees?
  • 7. Will you complete the application for admission, re-write my essays, or fill out the financial aid forms on my behalf? (No, they should NOT; it is essential that the student be in charge of the process and all materials should be a product of the student’s own, best work.)
  • 8. How long have you been in business as an independent educational consultant (IEC)?
  • 9. What was your background prior to going into independent educational consulting? What was your training and education?
  • 10. Will you use personal connections to get me in to one of my top choices? (The answer should be NO. An IEC doesn’t get you admitted—they help you to demonstrate why you deserve to be admitted.)
  • 11. What specialized training do you have (LD, gifted, athletics, arts, etc.)? 12. Do you adhere to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by IECA?
  • 12. Do you adhere to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by the IECA?
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