Services and Fees

Dedicated to maximizing your options for a great college match

The College Admissions Coach’s Services
Individualized College Counseling

Contact Michael Crosby, AdmissionsCoach@verizon.net, or
(562) 761-2331.

Services Available
• Early high school college planning
• Individual skills and interests evaluations
• Evaluation of needs and identification of options
• Standardized test prep plans/monitoring
• Personalized research and development of an appropriate college list
• Periodic electronic reminders of important actions to take
• Introduction to financial aid processes
• Generation of individualized deadline calendars
• Application process scheduling and essay review
• Suggestions for summer community service opportunities
• Support for students with unique talents and needs (i.e., theater, athletics, academics or learning disabilities)
• General mentoring and follow-up with students
• Assistance with making choices after acceptances
• Recommendations for post-acceptance wrap-up activities

Fees: Services are billed at $75 per hour, for all time spent specifically on behalf of the client, including research and all face, e-mail and phone time. The minimum billing increment is ½ hour.

Typical Consulting Sequence based on Student’s Age/Grade
Depending on the student’s grade level in school when they begin the college planning process, certain action strategies are more relevant than others. College planning should be separated from college identification. Shown below are the common strategies for students that are 1) entering either ninth or tenth grades; 2) entering their junior year of high school; or 3) beginning the fall of their senior year. Ideally, the process should be started sooner than later….

1) Early high school planning/college planning – entering freshmen or sophomores

College Planning
• Focus student on planning factors such as:
    o Rigor of Course selection
o Importance of grades
    o Influence of teacher recommendations
    o Significance of the intensity of activities (school, summer, work experiences, hobbies)
• Begin creating a “Brag Sheet”.
• Develop standardized testing schedules, and appropriate test preparation plans.

College Identification
• Begin visiting colleges to develop personal attribute preferences.
• Explore college options based on development of one’s intellectual, emotional and social abilities, etc.

2) Getting solidly into the process(Junior into Senior Year Time frame)
• Assess the student’s goals and desired college characteristics, using various questionnaires and attribute preference tools.
• Develop a consulting plan with parent(s) and student.
• Explain the college admissions process --- what to do, and when to do it.
• Review and discuss testing schedule, test results, brag sheet, and summer plans.
• Based upon the evaluation results, deliver initial list of colleges (Safety, Target, and Reach) to client, as well as suggested college search book titles, and websites that are recommended for review.

3) Implementing the application strategies (The process---what to do, and when to do it) - early senior year
• Create a “final” list of schools to which the student will in apply.
• Determine if visits to the campus will be feasible.
• Initiate the application process (registering online, getting necessary forms).
• Make certain that the “Brag Sheet” is complete and current.
• Create a written “Project Plan” (deadline calendar) for completion and mailing of all application and financial aid related documents.
• Ensure teacher and counselor recommendations forms processing. • Review essay drafts
• Plan test score distribution to identified schools.

If a comprehensive strategy can be followed, starting early in the student’s high school career, the college application process can become just another neatly organized activity for the student and the parent(s). While there will always be some level of stress and anxiety involved, just because of the competition for seats, my guidance can offer shortcuts and a calming influence to the overall activity. No promises of gaining admittance to a specific college can be made - my goal is to expand the options the student can consider for their post high school life.