Get Help Applying to College
ACADEMIC & COLLEGE SEARCH SERVICES
The College Search, Selection, and Application Process
We work with students from incoming freshmen to high school seniors throughout the career/college major exploration and college search, application and selection process. Your child may be a high achiever or they may be struggling in high school. They may be interested in transferring schools, considering a gap year or other alternatives — My College Planning Team is here to help with many types of post-high school options.
STUDENT SERVICE OFFERINGS
FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN THROUGH SOPHOMORES
Enhance Your High School Experience
The high school years begin to lay the foundation for the career planning and college application process. We partner with your child to enhance their high school years by seeking out enrichment opportunities and strategizing their academic course load and extracurricular activities to make the most of their high school experience.
Our service options can help with:
This service option is best for incoming 9th grade students and current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who are eager to learn about the college admission process. The counselor will help the student plan their high school experiences to enhance their personal goals, offer insight into preparing for the college admission process, and provide a customized college timeline.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for students entering 9th through 11th grades who are early in the career/college planning process and want to plan their high school experiences to align with their career and college goals. The counselor will help the student identify college majors that align with their career goals, help families find enrichment programs and volunteer opportunities to explore careers of interest, and share insight into special considerations for college admission based on the student’s intended major.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing their time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program consists of three phases and six 30-minute sessions, during which the counselor will help the student:
- Discover: assess how the student’s interests, skills, values, and personality define their unique traits;
- Explore: use the student’s unique traits to explore and match them to “best fit” career options and opportunities; and
- Decide: select and participate in elective courses, internships, job shadowing, or enrichment programs to validate their career choice and position themselves to make the right decisions regarding major course of study and college/advanced training opportunity
Help your student discover their “why” and “where” through this service package that includes the Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration and Developing a Balanced College List service options. With the combination of these two service options, students will examine “how ready am I to make my transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?”, “what is my ‘why’ behind my post-secondary education/training goals?”, and “where will I consider going for my post-secondary education/training?”. This service package is ideal for sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school.
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six, 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
- Developing a Balanced College List is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are getting ready to apply to college. The counselor will start with an overview of college fit factors and how to balance a college list, teach students how to research colleges through the lens of how colleges align with their fit factors, and provide catered college suggestions. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by 90 minutes of counselor research to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes nine 30-minute meetings total.
Our service packages are designed to provide a comprehensive path through multiple tasks in the career and college planning process while offering financial value for our clients. The à la carte service options listed here are also included in the following service packages:
The Freshman Series is designed specifically for high school freshmen and includes three service options to help your child with: Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration, Creating a Map for the Admissions Process, and Seeking Enrichment to Enhance Career & College Goals. With the combination of these services, students will have the opportunity to explore careers and their identity, and then enhance their high school experience to best position them for their post-secondary goals.
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six, 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
- Creating a Map for the Admissions Process is best for incoming 9th grade students and current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who are eager to learn about the college admission process. The counselor will help the student plan their high school experiences to enhance their personal goals, offer insight into preparing for the college admission process, and provide a customized college timeline. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Seeking Enrichment to Enhance Career & College Goals is best suited for students entering 9th through 11th grades who are early in the career/college planning process and want to plan their high school experiences to align with their career and college goals. The counselor will help the student identify college majors that align with their career goals, help families find enrichment programs and volunteer opportunities to explore careers of interest, and share insight into special considerations for college admission based on the student’s intended major. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes twelve 30-minute meetings total.
Maximize your child’s preparation through the comprehensive Sophomore Series to ensure they have taken the foundational steps of Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration, Creating a Map for the Admissions Process, and Seeking Enrichment to Enhance Career & College Goals while advancing further through Strategizing as a Sophomore: Successful College Planning and Starting Your College List as a Sophomore.
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six, 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
- Creating a Map for the Admissions Process is best for incoming 9th grade students and current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who are eager to learn about the college admission process. The counselor will help the student plan their high school experiences to enhance their personal goals, offer insight into preparing for the college admission process, and provide a customized college timeline. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Seeking Enrichment to Enhance Career & College Goals is best suited for students entering 9th through 11th grades who are early in the career/college planning process and want to plan their high school experiences to align with their career and college goals. The counselor will help the student identify college majors that align with their career goals, help families find enrichment programs and volunteer opportunities to explore careers of interest, and share insight into special considerations for college admission based on the student’s intended major. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Strategizing as a Sophomore: Successful College Planning begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in additional support to ensure they are on-track with their college planning and managing timelines. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can benefit from consistent individualized support. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Starting Your College List as a Sophomore begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in learning more about colleges and starting their college list. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can begin exploring a college list during their sophomore year and then refine that list during their junior year. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes eighteen 30-minute meetings total.
FOR SOPHOMORES
Grow In Your High School Experience
Sophomore year is the perfect time to dive deeper into career and college planning: the transition from middle school to high school is complete, and your child’s coursework, activities, and test prep have likely not intensified yet as they will beginning junior year.
Our service options can help with:
This service option is best for incoming 9th grade students and current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who are eager to learn about the college admission process. The counselor will help the student plan their high school experiences to enhance their personal goals, offer insight into preparing for the college admission process, and provide a customized college timeline.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for students entering 9th through 11th grades who are early in the career/college planning process and want to plan their high school experiences to align with their career and college goals. The counselor will help the student identify college majors that align with their career goals, help families find enrichment programs and volunteer opportunities to explore careers of interest, and share insight into special considerations for college admission based on the student’s intended major.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing their time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program consists of three phases and six 30-minute sessions, during which the counselor will help the student:
- Discover: assess how the student’s interests, skills, values, and personality define their unique traits;
- Explore: use the student’s unique traits to explore and match them to “best fit” career options and opportunities; and
- Decide: select and participate in elective courses, internships, job shadowing, or enrichment programs to validate their career choice and position themselves to make the right decisions regarding major course of study and college/advanced training opportunity
Help your student discover their “why” and “where” through this service package that includes the Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration and Developing a Balanced College List service options. With the combination of these two service options, students will examine “how ready am I to make my transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?”, “what is my ‘why’ behind my post-secondary education/training goals?”, and “where will I consider going for my post-secondary education/training?”. This service package is ideal for sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school.
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six, 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
- Developing a Balanced College List is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are getting ready to apply to college. The counselor will start with an overview of college fit factors and how to balance a college list, teach students how to research colleges through the lens of how colleges align with their fit factors, and provide catered college suggestions. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by 90 minutes of counselor research to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes nine 30-minute meetings total.
Our service packages are designed to provide a comprehensive path through multiple tasks in the career and college planning process while offering financial value for our clients. The à la carte service options listed here are also included in the following service packages:
Maximize your child’s preparation through the comprehensive Sophomore Series to ensure they have taken the foundational steps of Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration, Creating a Map for the Admissions Process, and Seeking Enrichment to Enhance Career & College Goals while advancing further through Strategizing as a Sophomore: Successful College Planning and Starting Your College List as a Sophomore.
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six, 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
- Creating a Map for the Admissions Process is best for incoming 9th grade students and current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who are eager to learn about the college admission process. The counselor will help the student plan their high school experiences to enhance their personal goals, offer insight into preparing for the college admission process, and provide a customized college timeline. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Seeking Enrichment to Enhance Career & College Goals is best suited for students entering 9th through 11th grades who are early in the career/college planning process and want to plan their high school experiences to align with their career and college goals. The counselor will help the student identify college majors that align with their career goals, help families find enrichment programs and volunteer opportunities to explore careers of interest, and share insight into special considerations for college admission based on the student’s intended major. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Strategizing as a Sophomore: Successful College Planning begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in additional support to ensure they are on-track with their college planning and managing timelines. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can benefit from consistent individualized support. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Starting Your College List as a Sophomore begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in learning more about colleges and starting their college list. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can begin exploring a college list during their sophomore year and then refine that list during their junior year. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes eighteen 30-minute meetings total.
Support your student in their college preparation timeline management and college list development starting as a sophomore. The Sophomore-Junior Bridge Series is designed to span a student’s sophomore year through the summer after their junior year by combining Strategizing as a Sophomore: Successful College Planning and Starting Your College List as a Sophomore.
- Strategizing as a Sophomore: Successful College Planning begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in additional support to ensure they are on-track with their college planning and managing timelines. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can benefit from consistent individualized support. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Starting Your College List as a Sophomore begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in learning more about colleges and starting their college list. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can begin exploring a college list during their sophomore year and then refine that list during their junior year. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs
Includes six 30-minute meetings total.
This service option begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in additional support to ensure they are on-track with their college planning and managing timelines. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can benefit from consistent individualized support.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option begins in 10th grade and continues through 11th grade, and is best suited for students who are interested in learning more about colleges and starting their college list. The meetings are split between sophomore and junior year so that students can begin exploring a college list during their sophomore year and then refine that list during their junior year.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
FOR JUNIORS AND RISING SENIORS
Plan for Post-High School Options and the College Search
There are over 3,000 colleges and universities to choose from in the U.S., and we know how confusing the selection process can be. We apply our extensive college expertise to create an exciting and balanced college list that will meet your child’s academic goals, social/cultural preferences, and financial circumstances to determine the best options for your student. If a four-year college is not right for your child at this time, our team is well-versed in alternative options like community college and gap year experiences. Our counselors and specialized team members can help with:
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are getting ready to apply to college. The counselor will start with an overview of college fit factors and how to balance a college list, teach students how to research colleges through the lens of how colleges align with their fit factors, and provide catered college suggestions.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing their time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program consists of three phases and six 30-minute sessions, during which the counselor will help the student:
- Discover: assess how the student’s interests, skills, values, and personality define their unique traits;
- Explore: use the student’s unique traits to explore and match them to “best fit” career options and opportunities; and
- Decide: select and participate in elective courses, internships, job shadowing, or enrichment programs to validate their career choice and position themselves to make the right decisions regarding major course of study and college/advanced training opportunity
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are seeking a small, best-fit college in the Midwest at an affordable price. Conducted by higher education writer and author Peter Pitts, who has 42 years of experience in small college admissions, this service offers in-depth information on liberal arts colleges. Peter provides unique insights on how the financial aid system works in the world of small colleges.
Includes three one-hour sessions plus all of the additional research required to meet the student’s needs.
Note: Clients must reside in the Chicagoland area; all sessions are in-person.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in including mostly or only Christian colleges in their college list. Conducted by the leader of Bethel University’s Strategy, Policy and Community Coalitions division, Weltonette Taylor is well-versed on ensuring that all students have what they need to successfully complete college. Weltonette provides individualized recommendations and guidance on factors to consider when exploring Christian colleges.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade student athletes who plan to compete at the collegiate level and are exploring the recruiting process. Conducted by former NCAA All-American and NISCA Scholar All America athlete Brooke Bernstein, this service will build an educational foundation about college recruiting procedures. Brooke assists with recruitment strategies and building a college list while sharing a customized recruiting timeline and framework for correspondence with coaches.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students considering earning a vocational certificate, associate degree or transferring to gain a bachelor’s degree and interested in the rigor and programs available at a community college. The counselor will review with the student unique options, benefits, and resources available to them at community colleges, both in- and out-of-district (i.e. honors programs, varsity athletics, study abroad programs, support services, transition and transfer program). The counselor will also help the student identify steps for success in transferring if that is their chosen path.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th or 12th grade students considering taking a gap year to gain travel, career or life experiences prior to applying to or attending college. The counselor will help the student identify their values, discuss the financial and logistical elements of pursuing a gap year, and assist the student with finding gap year programs. The counselor will also help the student evaluate their post-gap year plans, including working with 4-year college institutions.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who need support writing or editing a college admission essay. The counselor/essay coach will facilitate brainstorming with the student and meet with the student to provide feedback on the essay for up to three drafts.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Help your student discover their “why” and “where” through this service package that includes the Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration and Developing a Balanced College List service options. With the combination of these two service options, students will examine “how ready am I to make my transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?”, “what is my ‘why’ behind my post-secondary education/training goals?”, and “where will I consider going for my post-secondary education/training?”. This service package is ideal for sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school.
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six, 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
- Developing a Balanced College List is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are getting ready to apply to college. The counselor will start with an overview of college fit factors and how to balance a college list, teach students how to research colleges through the lens of how colleges align with their fit factors, and provide catered college suggestions. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by 90 minutes of counselor research to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes nine 30-minute meetings total.
Our service packages are designed to provide a comprehensive path through multiple tasks in the career and college planning process while offering financial value for our clients. The à la carte service options listed here are also included in the following service packages:
The Junior Series Highlights Service Package allows families to select a service from each of our three college planning steps for juniors to build their own path in the college search and selection process. This service package starts with the foundation for your student to Explore Careers and Their Identity, followed by options to Enhance Their High School Experience and Plan for Post-High School Options.
Explore Careers and Your Identity Services (Select One)
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
Enhance Your High School Experience Services (Select One)
- Creating a Map for the Admissions Process is best for incoming 9th grade students and current 9th, 10th and 11th grade students who are eager to learn about the college admission process. The counselor will help the student plan their high school experiences to enhance their personal goals, offer insight into preparing for the college admission process, and provide a customized college timeline. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Seeking Enrichment to Enhance Career & College Goals is best suited for students entering 9th through 11th grades who are early in the career/college planning process and want to plan their high school experiences to align with their career and college goals. The counselor will help the student identify college majors that align with their career goals, help families find enrichment programs and volunteer opportunities to explore careers of interest, and share insight into special considerations for college admission based on the student’s intended major. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Plan for Post-High School Options Services (Select One)
- Developing a Balanced College List is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are getting ready to apply to college. The counselor will start with an overview of college fit factors and how to balance a college list, teach students how to research colleges through the lens of how colleges align with their fit factors, and provide catered college suggestions. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Exploring Small Colleges in the Midwest is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are seeking a small, best-fit college in the Midwest at an affordable price. Conducted by higher education writer and author Peter Pitts, who has 42 years of experience in small college admissions, this service offers in-depth information on liberal arts colleges. Peter provides unique insights on how the financial aid system works in the world of small colleges. Includes three one-hour sessions plus all of the additional research required to meet the student’s needs. Note: Clients must reside in the Chicagoland area; all sessions are in-person.
- Selecting a Best-Fit Christian College is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in including mostly or only Christian colleges in their college list. Conducted by the leader of Bethel University’s Strategy, Policy and Community Coalitions division, Weltonette Taylor is well-versed on ensuring that all students have what they need to successfully complete college. Weltonette provides individualized recommendations and guidance on factors to consider when exploring Christian colleges. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Making Sense of the College Athletic Recruiting Process is best suited for 11th and 12th grade student athletes who plan to compete at the collegiate level and are exploring the recruiting process. Conducted by former NCAA All-American and NISCA Scholar All America athlete Brooke Bernstein, this service will build an educational foundation about college recruiting procedures. Brooke assists with recruitment strategies and building a college list while sharing a customized recruiting timeline and framework for correspondence with coaches. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Exploring Community College Options is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students considering earning a vocational certificate, associate degree or transferring to gain a bachelor’s degree and interested in the rigor and programs available at a community college. The counselor will review with the student unique options, benefits, and resources available to them at community colleges, both in- and out-of-district (i.e. honors programs, varsity athletics, study abroad programs, support services, transition and transfer program). The counselor will also help the student identify steps for success in transferring if that is their chosen path. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- Growing Through a Gap Year is best suited for 11th or 12th grade students considering taking a gap year to gain travel, career or life experiences prior to applying to or attending college. The counselor will help the student identify their values, discuss the financial and logistical elements of pursuing a gap year, and assist the student with finding gap year programs. The counselor will also help the student evaluate their post-gap year plans, including working with 4-year college institutions. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes twelve 30-minute meetings total.
FOR SENIORS
Apply: Essays, College Applications & Scholarships
There are many steps along the way to your child achieving their career goals and many parts to the college application and graduate school application. We will help your child prepare their application so that it will be noticed by admissions counselors and scholarship committees. Authentic and well-written essays will help your child share their unique story, and a customized plan will help your child stay ahead of deadlines. Our counselors and specialized team members can help with:
This service option is best suited for 12th grade students who are applying to college. The counselor will develop an individualized timeline of the college process, provide suggestions and best practices for any requested college application pieces (i.e. resume development, essay prompt selection, letter of recommendation requests), and assist the student with creating their resume or “brag sheet.”
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing their time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program consists of three phases and six 30-minute sessions, during which the counselor will help the student:
- Discover: assess how the student’s interests, skills, values, and personality define their unique traits;
- Explore: use the student’s unique traits to explore and match them to “best fit” career options and opportunities; and
- Decide: select and participate in elective courses, internships, job shadowing, or enrichment programs to validate their career choice and position themselves to make the right decisions regarding major course of study and college/advanced training opportunity
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are seeking a small, best-fit college in the Midwest at an affordable price. Conducted by higher education writer and author Peter Pitts, who has 42 years of experience in small college admissions, this service offers in-depth information on liberal arts colleges. Peter provides unique insights on how the financial aid system works in the world of small colleges.
Includes three one-hour sessions plus all of the additional research required to meet the student’s needs.
Note: Clients must reside in the Chicagoland area; all sessions are in-person.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in including mostly or only Christian colleges in their college list. Conducted by the leader of Bethel University’s Strategy, Policy and Community Coalitions division, Weltonette Taylor is well-versed on ensuring that all students have what they need to successfully complete college. Weltonette provides individualized recommendations and guidance on factors to consider when exploring Christian colleges.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade student athletes who plan to compete at the collegiate level and are exploring the recruiting process. Conducted by former NCAA All-American and NISCA Scholar All America athlete Brooke Bernstein, this service will build an educational foundation about college recruiting procedures. Brooke assists with recruitment strategies and building a college list while sharing a customized recruiting timeline and framework for correspondence with coaches.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students considering earning a vocational certificate, associate degree or transferring to gain a bachelor’s degree and interested in the rigor and programs available at a community college. The counselor will review with the student unique options, benefits, and resources available to them at community colleges, both in- and out-of-district (i.e. honors programs, varsity athletics, study abroad programs, support services, transition and transfer program). The counselor will also help the student identify steps for success in transferring if that is their chosen path.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th or 12th grade students considering taking a gap year to gain travel, career or life experiences prior to applying to or attending college. The counselor will help the student identify their values, discuss the financial and logistical elements of pursuing a gap year, and assist the student with finding gap year programs. The counselor will also help the student evaluate their post-gap year plans, including working with 4-year college institutions.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who need support writing or editing a college admission essay. The counselor/essay coach will facilitate brainstorming with the student and meet with the student to provide feedback on the essay for up to three drafts.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
This service option is best suited for 12th grade students who are planning to search and apply for scholarships outside of institutional scholarships or 11th grade students who are eager to learn about private scholarships. The counselor will help the student prioritize and organize the scholarship search and application process, identify specific scholarships based on the student’s profile, and assist in brainstorming and/or reviewing a scholarship essay or application.
Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Note: Scholarships are not guaranteed. Return will depend upon the student’s eligibility for scholarships, types of scholarships applied to, and level of effort in applications including time spent in searching for and applying to scholarships.
Help your student discover their “why” and “where” through this service package that includes the Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration and Developing a Balanced College List service options. With the combination of these two service options, students will examine “how ready am I to make my transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?”, “what is my ‘why’ behind my post-secondary education/training goals?”, and “where will I consider going for my post-secondary education/training?”. This service package is ideal for sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school.
- Focusing Your Future: Career & College Major Exploration is for any age student who wants to learn more about themselves and their career options. The results of this program are intended to help the student examine “how ready are you to make your transition to post-secondary education/training successfully?” before committing time and money to post-high school plans. The “Focusing Your Future” Career Planning Program uses assessments to help students discover their unique traits, explore their “best fit” career options using those traits, and decide which career(s) may be best for them. Includes six, 30-minute sessions broken into three phases.
- Developing a Balanced College List is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are getting ready to apply to college. The counselor will start with an overview of college fit factors and how to balance a college list, teach students how to research colleges through the lens of how colleges align with their fit factors, and provide catered college suggestions. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by 90 minutes of counselor research to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes nine 30-minute meetings total.
For the high school senior facing the often intimidating process of applying to college, this service package offers College Application Support and College Admission Essay Support. With the combination of these two service options, students have a sounding board and coach for their college applications. Students should ideally begin this package during the summer before or at the beginning of 12th grade.
- College Application Support is best suited for 12th grade students who are applying to college. The counselor will develop an individualized timeline of the college process, provide suggestions and best practices for any requested college application pieces (i.e. resume development, essay prompt selection, letter of recommendation requests), and assist the student with creating their resume or “brag sheet.” Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- College Admission Essay Support is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who need support writing or editing a college admission essay. The counselor/essay coach will facilitate brainstorming with the student and meet with the student to provide feedback on the essay for up to three drafts. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes six 30-minute meetings total.
Our service packages are designed to provide a comprehensive path through multiple tasks in the career and college planning process while offering financial value for our clients. The à la carte service options listed here are also included in the following service packages:
The Junior-Senior Bridge College Prep Series is designed to support high school juniors and seniors as they search for colleges, choose where to apply, and begin their applications as they become high school seniors. The service package includes the Developing a Balanced College List, College Application Support, and College Admission Essay Support service options, and can be well-timed to make the summer before senior year proactive and productive.
- Developing a Balanced College List is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who are getting ready to apply to college. The counselor will start with an overview of college fit factors and how to balance a college list, teach students how to research colleges through the lens of how colleges align with their fit factors, and provide catered college suggestions. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- College Application Support is best suited for 12th grade students who are applying to college. The counselor will develop an individualized timeline of the college process, provide suggestions and best practices for any requested college application pieces (i.e. resume development, essay prompt selection, letter of recommendation requests), and assist the student with creating their resume or “brag sheet.” Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
- College Admission Essay Support is best suited for 11th and 12th grade students who need support writing or editing a college admission essay. The counselor/essay coach will facilitate brainstorming with the student and meet with the student to provide feedback on the essay for up to three drafts. Includes three, 30-minute counselor sessions followed by up to 90 minutes of counselor research or other indirect support services to accommodate the student’s needs.
Includes nine 30-minute meetings total.