College Application Coaching That Works

Creating the Perfect College List

Creating the perfect college list involves going way beyond college rankings and prestige. It requires an in-depth knowledge of each college’s majors and course of study, along with insight into internship, athletic, research, academic support and financial aid opportunities. I work closely with both students and their parents to craft a list that matches each student’s interests and goals. My insight into a wide range of colleges and universities–including their strengths and weaknesses–ensures that each student finds their ideal fit. 

Customized College Strategy

College admissions have never been more competitive. It’s not about simply completing an application, but creating a strategy to give students the best chances for acceptance. My program starts sophomore or junior year and moves all the way through making the final college choice. I devise an individualized strategy around standardized testing, deadlines, extracurricular activities, sports recruitment, financial aid, interviews, essays, and student résumés—examining how each piece will come together to ensure each applicant stands out. My application strategy involves targeting a broad range of schools and plotting out the best course for early action, early decision, standard applications as well as deferrals, wait lists and acceptances. 

College Essay + Application Coaching

The reality is that most admissions officers spend only a few minutes reading each application. In order to stand out, an application has to effectively spotlight what makes a student different, providing a much deeper insight into who they are than what the rest of the application reveals. Most importantly, it must elicit an emotional response. Accomplishing all those things in a finite word count is extremely hard to do—especially for a seventeen year old. The good news is, I can work with every kind of student to generate their best written work on everything from the Common App essay to short answer questions. 

I focus on boosting writing skills, solving the challenge of deciding what to write about, and opening up on the page. I offer feedback on every revision until an essay is absolutely perfect. Many top schools have acceptance rates of less than 6%, so I push my students to avoid the obvious, get out of their comfort zone, and produce their strongest work. It’s not without effort, but my students come out with so much more than an incredible essay—they develop a stronger sense of self and tremendous insight into what they are capable of.

Activities List

While this is a short section, it provides a quick but very insightful snapshot into each student that admissions officers rely on. I have a unique method for filling out the Common App activities section; I advise my clients on what order to place their activities and how to describe their role within a very limited word count.

Interview Prep

Knowing how to present yourself, what to highlight, and how to truly connect with an alumni representative or admissions officer are the keys to having a successful interview. I work with students on an interview prep strategy to identify the main points to share with each school, questions to ask, along with developing communication skills. As a former alumni interviewer for Princeton University, I understand what schools are looking for and conduct mock interviews to increase comfort and confidence in advance.

Extracurricular, Summer & Course Advisory

To ensure that students have the strongest application possible, I work with families to develop a long-range plan beginning in 9th or 10th grade. We focus on identifying extracurriculars, athletics, courses, summer programs, internships and work that will support their application. I have extensive insight and knowledge around the best programs and courses, and how to navigate the process. I find working with students early results in a stronger application by senior year.

A Selection of Schools Where My Students Have Been Accepted