FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Responses to the following frequently asked questions are provided below:

Why should I use an Educational Consultant?
What can I expect from the College Admissions Coach’s services?
When should the admissions preparations process be started?
How will we communicate?
What do your services cost?

Why should I use an Educational Consultant?
The process of preparing for college is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Admission to the more select schools has become more challenging just because of the high number of “baby boomlet” children competing for limited seats.
Unfortunately, most high schools are unable to provide much individualized attention to students. Many parents are also unable to find the time necessary to fully educate themselves about the process. For most, completing college applications is a one-time event, or many years may pass between the graduation of one child and the next. Questions may arise about:

• Which high school courses to take
• What standardized tests to take and when
• How to prepare for standardized tests
• Where to apply – which colleges and universities are a “good fit”
• How to apply
• Financial planning for college
• Accommodation of special needs and talents
• Enrichment activities that allow students to shine
• How to utilize college materials so that informed choices can be made

Has your student stopped listening to your advice? Sometimes it is just the input of an “outsider”- someone who is not the student’s parent - that can make the ultimate difference in the motivation of the student regarding admissions.

What can I expect from the College Admissions Coach’s services?
I understand that each student’s situation is unique. Typically, meeting with the student/family two-three times per year in the freshman and sophomore years is sufficient, primarily to lay out testing plans, identify important concepts and conduct progress “check-ins”.

Once the junior year begins, interest evaluations will be administered and I will research, generate and deliver a list of specific college matches to the client. Meetings will occur to discuss preferences and review the college list. Financial aid basic information is also available.

At the end of the junior year the application process begins, and through the fall of the senior year my efforts are geared to making sure that nothing “falls through the cracks”. One missed deadline or failed transmission of information can create an automatic rejection by a college. I work with the family and student to create deadline schedules, review essays if desired and provide guidance on methods of application.

I will respond promptly to requests for information and with analysis to benefit your student. The college admissions process will be well thought out and planned. References from satisfied clients are available upon request.

When should the admissions preparation process be started?
Ideally, college planning should be started as early as the eighth grade, prior to entering high school. This planning focuses on course selection, importance of good grades, influence of teacher recommendations, significance of intensity of activities, even early thinking about an eventual college essay.
In general, the earlier the student and family can start planning for what the student may do post-high school, the better success the student will have. For example, if a student takes a SAT Single Subject exam directly after they complete the related high school course, the results will likely be better than if they waited another year and then tried to prepare.

How will we communicate?
College admissions counseling is a highly interactive process and face-to-face meetings in my Long Beach, California office with the student and their parent(s) is preferred. Most documentation and reminders, however, can be handled electronically by e-mail with digital attachments. Voicemail messages may be left at any time at 562-761-2331.

What do your services cost?
I bill by the hour, as opposed to billing in a “package” format. Services will be billed on an hourly basis, at $75 per hour, and will include all time spent specifically on behalf of the client, including research and all face, email and phone time. The minimum billing increment is ½ hour.

The family is always in control of how much help is requested and how many hours that I expend on your behalf. A typical range of hours expended is 2-3 in each of the freshman and sophomore years, and 7-8 hours in the junior year to evaluate preferences and develop the college list. Once the college list (typically 20-25 “good match” schools) has been shortened by the client, the application process begins. The amount of my time devoted to developing deadline calendars, essay review, guidance with teacher/counselor recommendations and the applications themselves, is a function of how much assistance is requested by the family.