Advising
Guiding Students to Success
We offer personalized college planning and advising services designed to meet students at different stages of their high school and college application journey. Families may choose ongoing strategic guidance, early high school planning, or focused consulting based on the student’s needs, timing, and level of support required.
Strategic College Planning Program
Designed to begin in summer, fall, or early winter of the junior year, the Strategic College Planning Program provides highly personalized guidance throughout the college planning and application process.
Support is structured around key milestones and phases and may include individualized meetings, our proprietary College Toolkit, planning and organizational resources, essay and application guidance, final application review, and ongoing communication designed to maintain momentum, accountability, and thoughtful progress.
Key areas of guidance include academic and summer planning, standardized testing strategy, activities and leadership development, college list development, essays and applications, and final college decision and commitment support through May 1.
Key Areas of Strategic Guidance
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Academic course, scheduling, and summer planning
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Standardized testing strategy and preparation referrals
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Activities, leadership, and student positioning
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Personalized college list development
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Personal statement and supplemental essay guidance
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Activities list, résumé, and application strategy
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Final application review prior to submission
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Admission decision, deferral/waitlist, admitted-student visit, and final college commitment guidance
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High School Planning Essentials (9th & 10th grades) and Early Bird (8th grade)
High School Planning Essentials (9th–10th Grades)
High School Planning Essentials helps students develop a strong academic and co-curricular foundation while engaging in a productive, meaningful, and enjoyable high school experience.
Guidance focuses on academic planning, summer opportunities, activities and leadership development, standardized testing preparation, and long-term college readiness while encouraging increasing independence, exploration, and student growth.
Key areas of support include:
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Academic course and schedule planning
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Summer opportunities and long-term testing preparation
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Activities, leadership, growth, and college readiness
Participation in High School Planning Essentials reserves the student’s place in IEP’s Strategic College Planning Program for junior and senior year, provided the student remains continuously enrolled in annual planning services.
Early Bird (8th Grade)
Early Bird provides a gentle, encouraging introduction to high school planning, course selection, involvement, and readiness skills for a confident start to high school.
Students and families receive guidance related to freshman course planning, extracurricular exploration, organization, and developing healthy habits for a balanced and meaningful high school experience.
Key areas of support include:
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Freshman course planning
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Extracurricular exploration
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Organization and high school readiness
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Participation in Early Bird provides priority access to High School Planning Essentials.
Specialized Guidance for Student-Athletes
Playing a sport in college can be an experience of a lifetime, offer an opportunity to further pursue a passion, provide scholarship money, and sometimes allow a student to be accepted into a university that might otherwise have been out of reach. When a student desires to play a sport in college, sometimes the pathway to identifying best-fit colleges and creating that list of target schools looks a little bit different from other students. It’s important to know how to approach thinking about opportunities and be open about possibilities and the realities of playing college sports.
Sports recruitment and college advising guidance is offered in the context of overall college counseling and planning. This process is very individualized and dependent upon the realistic assessment of the fit between the student’s academic and athletic abilities. Colleges consider a number of other factors when making admissions decisions about athletes, including students’ academic, intellectual, and extracurricular accomplishments. Colleges also recruit students who have excellent interpersonal skills and would make invaluable team members. For that reason, we coach students on preparing for official team visits, writing to coaches, participating in recruitment interviews, and more.
Specialized athletic advising may involve additional scope and fees depending on the complexity of the recruitment process.
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Education and guidance around NCAA and NAIA eligibility and how the process works
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Identification of fit between academic and athletic abilities, while taking financial and college interests and priorities into consideration
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Timelines for ideal recruitment initiation, camps and showcases, club participation
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Development of an athletic resume and suggestions for use
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Guidance on creating highlight film (game, showcases, practice, training scenarios) and resources for assistance
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When and how to contact, follow up on camps/showcases and share updates with college coaches
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Example emails, direct messages and texts to coaches
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Preparation for conversations with college coaches
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Use of proprietary Varsity 360, an easy-to-use tool to assist with self-recruitment, offering organized access to search for colleges, coach contact information, tools to structure and record ongoing correspondence, direct links to athletic questionnaires, and collegiate athletics programs
Specialized Guidance for Film & Media / Cinematic Arts Applicants
Applying to college programs in film production, television, media arts, or broadcast journalism is a creative process—and a competitive one. These programs often require more than strong academics; they’re looking for emerging storytellers, visual thinkers, and students who can communicate a clear artistic voice through their work.
At Innovative Education Partners, I offer tailored guidance for students applying to film and media programs, helping them navigate the unique demands of these applications while showcasing their authentic voice, creativity, and potential.
Whether your student is focused on directing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting, media studies, or journalism, I help them position their current work, develop application materials, and create a compelling narrative that reflects who they are and where they want to go.
Specialized film/media advising may involve additional scope and fees depending on portfolio, artistic submission, and program-specific requirements.
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Guidance on program-specific supplemental essays
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Assistance with creative statements that reflect artistic identity and intent
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Support in building a creative résumé that highlights relevant experience and skills
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Feedback on film submissions, including:
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Narrative structure
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Cinematography and visual storytelling
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Editing and pacing
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Advising on how to present and position current projects, even if still in progress
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Help selecting and organizing materials for art supplements or digital portfolios
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Tips for showcasing versatility, collaboration, and voice—key traits programs are seeking
Focused Consulting
Focused Consulting is designed for students or families seeking targeted support in a specific area of the college planning or application process without ongoing advising.
Focused Consulting is offered on a limited basis and is subject to advisor availability, current caseload, timing, and IEP’s professional judgment regarding whether the student’s needs are appropriate for this type of support.
Areas of support may include:
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College list development or refinement
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Essay brainstorming and review
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Activities list or résumé development
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Common Application or UC application review
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Interview preparation
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Athletic or film/media application strategy
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Transfer application and guidance
Focused Consulting begins with a minimum engagement and may continue hourly if additional support is needed. Acceptance of a Focused Consulting engagement does not reserve a place in the Strategic College Planning Program or guarantee future availability for additional services.
