Frequently Asked Questions

I can help you understand yourself a little better, so you can create the college experience you really want! Then I can help you uniquely position yourself in your essays, resumes and interviews, to communicate how your key strengths and passions fit with the needs, values and culture of each college.

Think of a baseball shortstop - he plays a specific position. To join a team, the most valuable information he can give about himself is his position. It is more useful than saying, "I'm a baseball player," or a "good athlete."

With college, you need to communicate what sets you apart. "Stats" (SAT or GPA) give general data. They are the foundation of the application (like a shortstop saying "I'm a good athlete"). Stats signal the admissions people to read on. But stats are only the first cut. Beyond stats, colleges need more specific information about what you have to offer! Positioning makes you stand out from the crowd.

You are busy. You are probably too busy to even think! So how can you be expected to be ready to apply to college?

If you start early, you only need to meet with me once a month. This fits into your busy schedule in a natural, painless way. It gives you "permission" to pause and reflect, to figure out what you want, and what you uniquely have to offer to colleges.

Yes, anxiety can breed procrastination, because we all try to put off unpleasant experiences. If it is broken down into small steps, meeting once a month, it does not become overwhelming!

Your guidance department offers valuable assistance: make use of their resources! They provide access to applicant-college matching software, information fairs and admission road shows. They help you develop college lists and application timetables, and process recommendations and transcripts. But they may not have the staff to give you one-on-on time that can help you figure out what you are looking for, and how you can best position yourself to a college.

You can—and should! But internet research is only the beginning. Working with an insightful coach can help you by integrating facts and stats with who you really are.

And why should the college process be an intimidating struggle, hunched over a computer screen? A mentor can help guide you in a relaxed process where you are learning about what you want and what you uniquely have to offer colleges. This can lead you to a more authentic choice and place you in a stronger position to be accepted.

The college process is stressful for both parents and students. Having an outside resource as a third party sounding board can help alleviate tension. Your parents can have confidence that there is a plan going forward, so they will not feel compelled to hover and micro manage. You can feel a greater sense of ownership and control in applying, getting accepted and deciding on the college that suits you best.

Knowing yourself, your unique strengths, and learning how to communicate those qualities in an authentic way is what I call effectively "marketing yourself." It's honest and it's real. It helps the college know what you're truly about and why they should want you in their student body. It can result in a great match between you and the school where you will spend four of the most pivotal years of your life. There's nothing phony about that!

You know better than that! You get out of it only what you put into it. This process requires thinking, looking within, writing, and personal commitment. Between sessions, I ask you to prepare an assignment that will lead you to the next step in the process.

I can help you to put your best foot forward in the application, but at the end of the day, no one can promise to control the outcome. I could never give you a guarantee, but if you put enthusiastic effort into the process, you can enhance your chances of finding and being accepted at your best-fit college.

No way! You'll find out pretty soon that it is you who will have the authorship for this work. This is about discovering the unique you and communicating who you are. This is about finding your own voice, and using it. My added value is helping you find that voice. It would be counterproductive to that process if it became my voice, besides being unethical! No, I've already gone to college, and a few grad schools. It's your turn.