This program includes:

• Proactive design of a plan that addresses academic coursework, extracurricular activities, and summer programs/jobs
• Individual counseling to encourage personal growth and development
• Regular check-in meetings to monitor progress and reassess student goals/accomplishments

We’ll spend time getting to know your student both personally and academically. 

Topics discussed may include:

• Academic progress to date
• Course selections for the following year
• Interests, extracurricular involvement 
• Resume building
• Summer plans 
• Student’s perceived strengths and weaknesses 
• Personal goals and aspirations (and how these relate to strengths/weaknesses)
• Introduction to college visitations and types of colleges that may be in line with their interests, goals, and grades/scores to date
• Option to complete detailed computer-based personality/career/interest inventory 
• Introduction to the college process 
• Standardized testing timeline.

The Personal Best College Coaching plan is designed to be flexible to accommodate each family's needs, with each meeting covering specific topics. 

We will discuss:

Transcripts 

Report cards 

Course selections for the following year 

Testing timeline/standardized test scores 

Extracurricular activities 

Honors and awards

Summer plans 

Personal Best College Search Student Assessment and schools already under consideration

The college application process/terminology

College visits

Interview tips

Standardized Testing Preparation

We will make recommendations for a testing timeline and discuss different types of test preparation depending on the needs of each student and can even do a free diagnostic test. We have a list of private SAT/ACT tutors and companies we work with and will make appropriate recommendations.

List Development and Research Facilitation

After the initial meeting, we will research all college options and generate a customized list of potential schools based on our initial meeting and the survey results. 

We will set up an online session with each student to walk them through how to effectively research a college online so that they are able to make an informed choice as to how each school “rates” in terms of their priorities. We will work with the student and family to refine the list of schools to consider. 

Essays, Applications and Interviews

During the summer and fall of senior year, we will focus on completing the essays and supplements for the applications. 

Our application process includes:

Working together to determine the application timeline for each student

Strategizing on whether or not to take advantage of Early Decision and Early Action options 

Online tools to help the student keep track of schools, requirements and essays 

Reviewing applications for accuracy and thoroughness before they are submitted

Where appropriate, we will also conduct mock-interviews and provide interview tips

Optional essay-writing workshop with counselor and writing coaches

Brainstorming session to help the student develop ideas for the main essay and any supplements

Feedback all essay drafts until they are finalized

Decision support and financial aid

After students receive acceptances, we can help facilitate the decision-making process by helping the student and family evaluate the pros and cons of each option. 

A program for families who are well into the process but are just looking for a little professional support to get everything completed.

In this program, we will conduct a review of the student profile, parent and student interest surveys, the working college list, and any essays already started. We would then have a (~1 hour) meeting with the family to:

1) Review and fine-tune the college list; we will offer suggestions to add or remove as warranted

2) Identify potential for merit aid of each school on the list

3) Develop or confirm application strategy (Early Decision, Early Action, etc.)

4) Discuss our high-level impressions of the current essay drafts (up to 5 essays)

5) Map out the remaining steps to complete the applications

The fee for this service including the pre-meeting reviews is $650.  

After the meeting, the family may (but has no obligation) engage additional services to help with any remaining steps including further school research, essay support (brainstorming, detailed editing, finalizing), application review  (including optimizing the Activities section), mock interviews and other general support as needed.  Additional services are provided at $285 an hour (discounted to $260 an hour after 10 hours of additional services) 

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