Why choose College Goals to guide your child and you through the critically important challenge of preparing for and gaining admission to college? You will benefit from the collective knowledge, experience, and wisdom gained from professionals who are familiar with every aspect of the admissions process and its significance for academic success. While you work with one of us, we conference regularly about information that can benefit our students.

We have read literally thousands of college applications, and talked to hundreds of students during their college careers. WE KNOW what makes a successful college student. Motivation to learn and to contribute to a learning community that ‘fits’ is the key to success — not just motivation to ‘get in’. The right attitude and the right environment provide students with the confidence that is necessary to succeed in college and in life.

For three decades, we have been mentoring, motivating and celebrating students. We enjoy young people – their energy, their courage, and their dreams.

We support our young clients to discover their personal passions and achieve their highest academic and personal goals. College Goals’ students know that their counselor is there for them personally, to cheer and commiserate, as well as to advise.

Here are some of the services included in an on-going consulting relationship:

College Goals Consultants:

  • Guide, encourage, motivate and coach students and parents through the complex, confusing and stressful process of college preparation and admission.
  • Establish realistic educational goals and expectations.
  • Review the student’s academic record and ability for balance, notable achievements, and weaknesses.
  • Realistically assess talents, skills, accomplishments and interests, and determine how best to present exceptional abilities and goals.
  • Enable the student and family to determine at least ten colleges appropriate for application.
  • Develop a personal admission plan and schedule.
  • Provide guidance and timetable for obtaining necessary standardized test preparation (SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, TOEFL).
  • Provide preparation and guidance for college visits and interviews.
  • Assist the student to highlight strengths in a personal presentation (resume/’brag’) sheet.
  • Provide guidance about whom to ask for recommendations, and how to approach recommenders.
  • Recommend initiatives and programs to maximize and demonstrate strengths or to improve student’s weaknesses through enrichment and/or summer programs.
  • Guide and motivate the development of and provide editing for the student’s all-important essays and personal statements, and all parts of the application preparation. (Yes, spelling and grammar, too!)
  • Mentor the parents as well as the student to facilitate their child’s process of preparing for college and their transition towards learning to adjust to the changes that come for them, when their child becomes a college student.
  • Listen to the student; listen to the parents.
  • Respect individual learning styles and recommend supports when needed. Make sure each student understands how s/he learns best and that s/he applies to colleges that have appropriate teaching/learning philosophies and facilities.
  • Encourage applicants to take ownership of the admissions process so they know exactly why they are applying to each school on their list, and that they know, understand and are excited about the opportunities that are available to them there.
  • Help review and evaluate the student’s admissions and financial aid options after college decisions are made, to help determine the best possible outcome.

Receiving a college degree is one of a young person’s earliest major accomplishments, and the importance of the college experience is unquestionable. Frankly, we would have to say that this experience is even more significant – and more challenging – than the most over-anxious pre-college student or their parents could imagine.

Yet the issues that are important are OFTEN not the things that are seen or considered prior to attending. We try to anticipate and discuss these ahead of time, with the student and the parents, so informed decisions can be made after the family has looked at the full picture.