EDUCATIONal CONSULTING SERVICES

The Consulting PRocess

Carol's educational consulting services are focused on helping students find schools that are a fantastic academic, personal, social and financial match. Carol aims to motivate and help high school students plan for academic and personal success not only in high school, but in college, their careers, and in life.

Spotlight College Consulting mentors high school students in every stage of college search and admissions, including:

Understanding & Guiding the College Process

Providing a broad overview of college admissions topics for both students and parents

Academic Counseling

Discussing student's academic strengths, interests, and goals
Providing curriculum planning based on expert understanding of course progressions and prerequisites that are tailored to student's academic strengths, interests and goals
Reviewing current academic standing
Discussing benefits of academic tutoring and making related recommendations

Extracurricular Counseling

Reviewing extracurricular activities and interests and making recommendations on activities both in and outside of school
Considering summer opportunities, including special programs, internships or work opportunities relevant to student’s strengths, interests and goals

Standardized Testing Counseling

Providing Standardized Test Planning and Recommendations concerning SAT vs ACT, AP/IB test options, "Test-Optional" and "No Test" schools, deciding when you should and should not submit scores, and test schedules
Discussing benefits of test prep tutoring and making related recommendations
Reviewing and analyzing standardized test results and deciding if, and which ones, you should submit

Strengths, Aptitudes, and Career Assessments Counseling

Conducting innovative aptitude and career discovery assessments to offer students guidance in choosing potential college "majors" and careers based on their natural strengths and abilities

Personal Preferences Assessment

Exploring what the student wants from the college experience and hopes to contribute to the college community

College "Match" Factors

Analyzing and prioritizing students' college preferences according to key "Match" factors, focusing on academic performance, personal preferences, and social interests, and goals
Family finances (affordability) are discussed broadly

College Application Process

When to hire an Educational Consultant?

Carol recommends looking for an independent educational consultant in the spring or summer before 11th grade. Many parents and/or students like to begin earlier than that, and Carol would be pleased to discuss this option with them.

Overview

Discussing the Nuts and Bolts of the various stages in the college planning process
Creating an individualized college application "timeline" and strategy
Learning how to research relevant college programs, degrees, majors, minors, and their requirements
Contemplating a school’s flexibility to combine programs/majors/degrees and transfer with in and out of specialized schools within a college or university
Deciding when to apply:
"ED;" "EA;" "Rolling;" "RD"
Applying to California public universities

Developing The "College List"

Discussing the meaning and importance of creating a “balanced” and "fluid" College List
Creating a Preliminary College List of great "match" schools
Ongoing advising on refining the College List based on “match” factors and campus visits

The College Essay

Understanding the Importance of College Essays and Admissions
Conducting “Brainstorming Sessions” for essay topics; learning the components of an effective essay; discussing what makes an essay successful and common mistakes
Examining the Difference Between the “Personal Statement” and “Supplemental Essays”
Reviewing and providing multiple rounds of feedback, editing and revisions for the Personal Statement drafts and for Supplemental Essays, if required

Completing and Reviewing The Common Application

How, When and Where To Start
Reviewing each section carefully

Making the Final College Decision

Responding to Admission Decisions:
How, why, and when to respond
Discussing final admission decisions and advising on final school choice.

Carol's Special Interest Areas of College Counseling

In addition to providing all of the services listed above, Carol has specific expertise and experience in the following ‘Special Interests’ Areas of College Counseling:

The College Essay: Understating The Critical Importance of Admission Writing in College Admissions Today
Developing The College List
Students Interested in Highly Selective Schools