College Consulting

Colleges are looking for interesting and inquisitive people prepared to make an impact. The process of identifying and nurturing student interests can start as early as eighth grade.

Students can and should explore myriad interests. As they progress in their high school years, we help them “water the gardens” that mean the most to them and identify opportunities that will bring color and cohesion to the application. Everything they do outside of the classroom should be authentic to their interests and manageable given their time constraints.

When it’s time to complete the multiple sections of the application, the student will have a wide variety of experiences from which to select and more importantly, some genuine expertise and passion.

The Common Application and Coalition Application allow a student to list their most important activities. A resume, on the other hand, allows us to visually cluster those activities by theme. It allows us to tell the story the way we want to, freed from the constraints of the application boxes. The goal of a resume is to distill the essence of the candidate onto the page. We help craft and hone the resume through concise and targeted language.

If the college does not allow a student to upload a resume as part of their application, we may take the opportunity to reach out to the regional admissions officer and make a personal connection.

Preparation is key to a fantastic interview. It's a terrific opportunity for the applicant to articulate their strengths and pitch their story. It’s also great practice for grad school and job interviews!

Learning to identify and tell our own stories — whether to a university or to an employer — is a critical life skill. As students move through college and into the job market, their story will evolve and change, but the ability to articulate who they are and what they want will endure.

The application is the student’s opportunity to package and market themselves. The distinct sections should be seen holistically, not as disparate parts. There are certainly limitations and boundaries, but we are in charge of the story we want to tell.