Our philosophy
My Beliefs
Let me start with a fundamental truth I work with every day. I do not believe it is difficult to get a student into college. I do not believe it is becoming more and more competitive. I do not believe your student needs an edge to get in, to stand out, to fight to be seen. I do not believe I cracked the code to admissions. I believe I cut the fluff, cut out the noise, and focused in on what matters.
And when I say I believe this, I mean I believe this and I have proof that my philosophical approach to admissions generates acceptances, scholarships, merit aid for our students.
I believe parents/caretakers/guardians are conditioned to believe it is difficult and/or competitive to get in. I believe that helps colleges/universities convince parents to pay more to go to particular colleges. I believe admissions lacks transparency and relies a lot on mystique and there is an assumption that there’s a learning curve to get into college. I believe that parents/caretakers/guardians think that must know someone who has the secret, has cracked the code, who KNOWS what colleges admissions officers want, to be connected. An assumption that your student needs an advantage or multiple advantages to get an acceptance letter.
Parents/caretakers/guardians assume students need the PERFECT APPLICATION to get in. My approach for admissions is rooted in the idea I heard from an admissions counselor, by senior year the book is pretty much written. It is a student’s job in the application to give context to their record of service, extracurriculars, job, and academic opportunities in a way that showcases the potential impact they can make on a college campus.
I have three goals in admissions:
To Identify the best colleges for a student to apply to
To highlight a student’s strengths
To fight to lower the overall cost
My goal is to get students through the admissions process with as little stress and chaos as possible. I believe in transparency and authenticity. I believe in making decisions based on reason and logic. I opted out of that cutthroat, hyper-competitive college admissions game a long time ago. I am happier, my students are happier and more successful. I don’t need to play games for my students to be successful
Admissions consulting
I want to be clear, I do not believe in selling a formula. I am never going to tell anyone this essay or application is GUARANTEED to work or that I KNOW the application will produce results. I have found that the best way to help a student in admissions is to find ways for students to showcase who they are and what impact they will make on campus.
My job is to identify how to tell a story that allows admissions officers to get to know a student in a genuine way. That story includes working on which service, extracurriculars to highlight, identifying new opportunities for your student to explore (key here: THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT AND THRIVE IN). We may also discuss application themes.
I also work with students to help them find their voice. I have never written an admissions essay, in fact, I advise against that because many admissions officers HATE overproduced and polished essays. I have asked my students questions and given them feedback so they are empowered to write better applications
Students Accepted Into: Agnes Scott, Albright College, California Technical Institute, Claremont McKenna, George Mason, Georgetown, Grinnell, Hampton, Harvard, Harvey Mudd, Hollins, Howard, Johns Hopkins, Loyola Marymount, Mount Holyoke College, Norfolk State, Pepperdine, Spelman, Temple, Thomas Jefferson, University of Arizona, University of California: Berkeley, University of California: Davis, University of California: Irvine, University of California: Riverside, University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina: Greensboro, University of Massachusetts: Amherst, University of Richmond, University of Sciences, University of Southern California, University of South Carolina, University of Toledo, University of Virginia, Williams, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State, Virginia Tech, Yale
Test-Optional Consulting
I worked with test-optional students PRIOR to the pandemic and worked with students during the pandemic as they decided whether or not to test and advised students on how to submit their ACT/SAT scores. I also hosted multiple test-free chats with admissions officers to discuss whether or not to submit test scores to certain colleges and have spoken with admissions officers nationwide to discuss how test scores are used in the admissions process.
My goal is to provide students and their caretakers with information that empowers them to make the best choice for the admissions process. To discuss what is and is not on the table with test-optional for certain schools, to decide the score range for submission, and decide where to submit and not submit scores.
All of my tutoring students are advised on when, where, and how to use the ACT/SAT score. This is a built-in commitment we make to our students. But on the rare instance, a student/caretaker needs advice on whether or not to apply test-optional, we also provide advice on that topic as well.
merit Aid and scholarships consulting
I also help students and their caretakers identify test-optional and traditional scholarships and merit aid opportunities. My students who have submitted scores have gone on to get full-ride scholarships and merit aid offers. My students who applied test-optional HAVE ALSO received full-ride scholarships and merit aid offers. I also work with students and parents to negotiate financial aid, when possible, to drive down the overall cost and have saved over $10,000 a year in tuition costs. In addition, I have successfully coached students for their admissions/presidential scholarship interviews.
This year alone, my students were semi-finalists for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and the Jackie Robinson scholarship and I had a Ron Brown Scholarship winner. I have also closed multiple students with tutoring and advising with the Big Future Scholarships and National Merit Scholarship. In addition, my students were able to receive over $750,000 in merit aid/scholarship offers AND we successfully negotiated financial aid offers saving an average of $5,000-$15,000 per year.
Do I need a consultant?
Maybe not. I know that is surprising to hear but that is the truth. Most of students/caretakers questions can be answered via email to admissions counselors for the college/university, guidance counselors, free resources.
I do not believe in hoarding knowledge about test-optional or admissions. This is why I have created this free resource for students/caretakers trying to understand test-optional and host free live video chats on Twitter/Facebook about test-optional and admissions.
Students/caretakers who decide to work with me usually want more individualized advice and guidance throughout the process. They usually want more hands-on and are willing to pay to have that support. Sometimes students/caretakers or even independent counselors/guidance counselors (using school funds) book me for an hour or two just to get advice.
I also am happy to work with other ethical Independent Education Counselors to provide tutoring or consulting on test-optional.
But I know students/caretakers who have navigated admissions SUCCESSFULLY without consultants as well and I am 100% transparent about that.
I am not the counselor you hire for “inside knowledge” or “the secret formula.” I am not going to jail for paying bribes. While I speak with admissions counselors, I do not believe my relationship with them will give your student an edge.
I am the person you hire if you want someone to give you information about the process and to give you advice about a student’s strengths, advise on colleges that may not be on your list but should be, and help your student identify how to translate the impact they could have on a college into the application or essay. I work with caretakers/students who want to get through this process ethically and with little stress.