Frequently Asked Questions

There are many benefits to hiring me, a professional college planning consultant. First and foremost, I am very knowledgeable about the details of the college planning process. When you and your student work with me, I will ensure that you are fully aware of what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. I offer excellent client care and personalized service year-round. When a young person is preparing for college, it can be an emotionally-charged time for everyone in the family. As a third and neutral party, I help ease the overall stress and anxiety of the college planning process for both students and parents. I provide solid, fact-based advice in a friendly and professional manner.

It’s not uncommon to feel helpless or frustrated as a parent of a student preparing to go to college.  However, there are a variety of things you can do that will help you and your student navigate the college planning process.  One helpful tool is to hang or post a large family calendar with important dates, such as college application deadlines, indicated on the calendar.  Parents can also help plan the logistics of college visits for and with their students.  And, though it may sometimes appear that your student does not welcome your help or advice, most teenagers appreciate kind, encouraging words and knowing that their parents care about their college plans.

Yes, I can certainly provide resources and guidance pertaining to scholarships and financial aid in general. I encourage all 12th grade students planning to attend college after high school to complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in October of their senior year. Even if you are doubtful that your family will qualify for financial assistance, it’s still a good idea to complete and submit the FAFSA. Submitting the FAFSA “opens up doors” for other types of financial aid, including merit aid, for your student. Helping families understand how financial aid works and how to find the most affordable college options are a big part of what I do.

Yes. If a student is motivated and wants to go to college, there are viable options, regardless of his grades or SAT test scores. Part of what I do as a consultant is help each student understand his/her post-secondary choices.

Yes, I am more than happy to help the student who is not sure if college is the “right choice” for him/her. Sometimes young people need a bit more time to figure out the best path for themselves. I can assist in that process.

It is not unusual for a 17- or 18-year old to be uncertain of what major or course of study to choose. I encourage each student to self-reflect on his/her high school years. What classes did he/she enjoy the most? And, why? What does he/she enjoy doing outside of the classroom? I have wonderful resources to assist students in the self-reflection and self-discovery process. And, rest assured that many colleges are fine with a student enrolling as “Undeclared” and then deciding later in the freshman or sophomore year which major to declare.

During our meetings, I will guide you, step-by-step, as to the information and materials you will need. We will create a plan for each college you are applying to with a checklist of what you’ll need and when it is due.

After we meet and discuss your interests, strengths, and objectives (and review your transcript together), I will advise you of the courses you need to take and when, in order to achieve your goals. It’s important, as a California high school student, to understand the A-G course requirements and which of the courses at your high school fulfill these requirements.

For the University of California (UC) system, The A-G courses listed below must be completed with a “C” or better and at least 11 of the required 15 units must be completed before your senior year of high school.

"A-G" Subjects

a. History/social science

b. English
(or language of instruction)

c. Mathematics

d. Laboratory science

e. Language other than English
(or other second language)

f. Visual and performing arts

g. College preparatory elective

It depends on you, your interests, and your capabilities in the different academic subject areas. I encourage you to “stretch yourself” and take the most challenging courses you can and those in which you can be successful.

Some high school students find that taking just one AP course a year is plenty of a challenge. Other students can manage two to three AP courses without too much stress. It really depends on the student.

If you do have the opportunity to take AP courses during high school, choose from courses that sound interesting to you and/or the course subjects you have done well in and have enjoyed in the past.

A good time to take the PSAT/NMSQT is in the fall of your junior year. Many public high schools offer this test during the school day for both sophomores and juniors. Check with your school counselor.

Plan to take the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and/or ACT in the spring of your junior year. A good test-taking schedule would be to take the SAT in March, the ACT in April, and the SAT Subject Tests in June of your junior year. Since most AP exams are in May, this schedule would allow you to spread out your test taking over several months.

It depends on the college. Do your best in all of your high school classes. In general, colleges like to see “As” and “Bs” on your academic record, but many colleges will accept students who have classes with “C” grades. If you have any classes with “D” or “F” grades, consult with your high school counselor about re-taking the class as soon as possible so that you can improve your grade.

The summer before your senior year is an excellent time to start. Many students find it helpful to start jotting down ideas or creating rough drafts of their college application essays over the summer. Most students do the majority of their application work in the summer or fall of their senior year.

Seven to nine colleges is usually the recommended number. It really depends on you and the types of colleges in which you are applying. Ideally, all the colleges on your list are colleges you’d be happy to attend. Be sure to have 3-4 “target” schools on your list. “Target” schools are colleges that have reasonable acceptance rates, usually between 50-75%. Much will depend on your academic record and other “credentials” such as special talents or extracurricular activities. I think it’s a good idea to have 2-3 “reach” schools and 2-3 “likely” schools on your list, as well. “Reach” schools are colleges that you are excited about attending, but your chances of acceptance are on the low side. “Likely” schools are colleges in which your chances of admission are 75% or higher. 

Yes. The admission scores and grades that colleges show on their websites are averages or ranges — not cutoffs. There are students at every college who scored lower (and higher) than the numbers shown.

It depends. If you are sure about which college you want to attend, early decision or early action might be a good choice for you. If you’re not sure, you may want to keep your options open and apply regular admission to all of your colleges of interest.

The Common Application is a standardized application used by more than 525 independent colleges. Instead of filling out several different applications, we will use this application, whenever possible.

Colleges will consider many factors to get a more complete picture of you. For example, they look at the types of classes you take, your activities, recommendation letters, your essay and your overall character. Colleges are looking for all kinds of students with different talents, abilities and backgrounds. Admission test scores and grades are just two parts of that complete picture.

Please note: College guidelines and information may change from year to year. The above information is meant to offer general guidance; they are not “set in stone” rules. Always double-check with me or another professional, such as your school counselor, for the most up-to-date guidelines.