Frequently Asked Questions

Families often start out thinking, “We can handle this ourselves.” And for a little while, they can.

Then reality hits: the process is full of moving parts, unfamiliar terms, and high-stakes choices—testing, course planning, activities, essays, college lists, recommendations, deadlines, financial aid, and more. Questions pile up quickly, and it’s hard to know which advice is trustworthy or relevant. One neighbor says one thing, a friend says another, and online forums can make everything feel even noisier.

Meanwhile, school counselors are doing their best, but they rarely have the time or capacity to provide truly individualized, strategy-level guidance for every student.

So parents end up in an exhausting role they never wanted: researcher and project manager. And that dynamic can create tension at home because no teenager wants their parent running the show.

That’s where I come in.

I bring order to the madness: a clear plan, an organized timeline, fact-based information, and calm, rational advice. I help families make confident decisions, reduce stress, and keep the parent-child relationship focused on support—not constant nagging.

If this sounds like you, I can help.

I offer end-to-end college admissions advising, supporting students and families from early planning through final decisions.

With students, I help with:

• College fit and direction: clarifying priorities, goals, and what “a good match” actually means

• Academic planning: course selection and overall academic strategy

• Extracurricular strategy: choosing and shaping activities that align with the student’s interests and strengths

• College research and list building: creating a well-balanced list (aspirational / possible / probable) grounded in data and fit

• Essays: brainstorming, drafting, and refining, all while keeping the student’s voice front and center

• Applications: building a plan, completing materials, and avoiding last-minute chaos

• Financial and merit aid navigation: understanding options and deadlines, and submitting strong supporting materials

• Organization and momentum: tracking deadlines, setting weekly priorities, and reducing stress

With parents, I provide:

• Regular updates on where we are in the process

• A place to ask questions as they come up, so you’re not piecing together advice from friends and forums

• A calmer home dynamic, because parents don’t have to be the “project manager”

I’m happy to meet in person, but most families choose Zoom for convenience.

Whether your student is just getting started or already deep in it, I help them make thoughtful, well-informed decisions and stay on task without it becoming overwhelming.

My packages differ in how much one-on-one support you want, specifically, the number of student meetings and the number of essays I review.

All packages cover the same curriculum and walk students through the same core steps of the admissions process. The difference is the level of guidance and accountability built in.

Think of it like a campus tour:

• Milestones Package = self-guided audio tour
  You get a clear route, key insights at each stop, and strategic check-ins, but it takes more self-motivation and discipline to keep moving and absorb the information on your own.

• Comprehensive Package = in-person guide
  We cover the same terrain, but it’s more engaging, more personalized, and more responsive to your student’s needs in real time (more meetings and more essay reviews.)

• Strategic Planning = all the guidance, planning and task management without the essay reviews

One important note: the college list-building process is equally robust in all packages. For every student—Milestones, Comprehensive or Strategic Planning—I create highly personalized college lists based on the student’s goals, interests, academic profile, and preferences, so families aren’t relying on generic rankings or secondhand advice.

College counseling costs vary depending on the level of support you’re looking for. Most families find it helpful to think about counseling in context: college is one of the biggest financial and emotional investments of your child’s life, and the admissions process can feel confusing, high-stakes, and opaque. In comparison, college counseling is a one-time investment to help your student make thoughtful choices and avoid common (and often expensive) missteps, like building an unbalanced list, missing key deadlines, or landing at a school that isn’t the right academic, social, or financial fit.

I offer different packages tailored to different needs, ranging from focused, strategic support to comprehensive guidance across the full process. I start with a free consultation to understand your priorities and recommend a plan that fits your goals, timeline, and budget—so you’re not paying for more support than you need.

I don’t do cookie-cutter. I won’t pass you on to a junior colleague. I’m available for unlimited check-ins throughout the entire process.

I take on fewer clients on purpose, so I can adapt my curriculum to each student, not force your child into a one-size-fits-all plan. An Ivy-aspiring student, a recruited athlete, an artist with a portfolio, or a student who needs learning supports all require different timelines, different strategies, and different kinds of coaching.

I also work with your family to prioritize what matters most to you and build a college strategy that fits—academically, emotionally, and logistically.

Plus, I support the whole family through an uncertain, high-pressure season. Parents are welcome as partners in this process: I encourage your questions, listen to your insights, and help you stay connected to your student without becoming the “application manager.”

If I don’t have an answer, I don’t guess. I connect you with trusted experts who do.