Question 1

When do you start meeting with students for college planning?

Accepted Answer

We meet with students at any point from 8th grade through high school in their college planning journey and onward transitioning to college. Ideally, we suggest meeting with students early in their high school careers, enabling us to know their abilities, interests, and aptitudes, guiding individualized curricular choices, setting priorities, and discussing extracurricular interests.

Question 2

How often do you meet with students?

Accepted Answer

We offer highly individualized support and meet with a students on a regular basis. We have a system and plan that has worked well for us. We generally recommend three to four meetings annually during 9th and 10th grade. By late fall/early winter of the junior year, we suggest more regular meetings up to twice per month to fulfill the planning needs of the individual applicant, working consistently until applications are submitted. Once August comes senior year, we are commuting very frequently and maintaining ongoing communication to get to the finish line when all applications are submitted.

Question 3

Do you work with students with learning differences or social and emotional needs?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We tailor our approach to meet each student's unique needs. We carefully review 504 plans, IEPs, and other assessment reports to identify the best-fit schools and create personalized strategies for success. If a student's needs are outside of our area expertise, we refer to trusted professionals to ensure they receive the support they deserve.

Question 4

When and where do you meet with students?

Accepted Answer

Meetings occur in our office in Manhattan Beach, in your home, or virtually. We try to accommodate and meet each student’s needs and preferences. If possible, even for students outside our geographical area, we try to meet your student and family in person at least once early in the college planning process.

Question 5

Do you assist with summer and co-curricular planning?

Accepted Answer

We believe every experience is valuable and enriches your student’s story, and summer is a great time to find ways to build on interests or explore something new. Whether writing poetry, photographing sporting events, attending a computer science camp, working in a doctor’s office, or delivering pizza, there is a value that develops the student as a person and an applicant. We look for ways outside the classroom to build on your student’s interests where they can contribute and shine in a unique way. We offer resources and advice on identifying and applying to summer programs and other ways students can further shape and enrich their personal stories, focusing on engagement, having fun, connecting with others, and learning.

Question 6

What if my senior still needs to start the application process?

Accepted Answer

Don’t panic. We meet your student wherever they are in the college application process. Our caseload for each graduation year tends to fill before the end of the junior year. Due to our comprehensive service model, we will not take on additional seniors unless we can meet their individual needs. If we cannot help your senior student, we can refer you to a qualified associate.

Question 7

Our high school has a college counselor. Do we need an educational consultant?

Accepted Answer

We encourage students to develop and maintain a communicative, positive relationship with their school counselors. School counselors work with many students and may be unable to provide the personalized services we offer or have the time to get to know your student as well as we do over our time together. We do not consider ourselves replacements for students’ school counselors. Instead, we try to complement the high school timeline and counseling guidance rather than competing or offering conflicting or different information and timelines. We create a complete college admissions plan, identifying schools that best match students’ needs and interests. We also provide application management, deadlines, reminders, and an organizational digital counseling platform that helps to consolidate all application materials and communications. Please refer to the additional benefits of working with a college counselor.

Question 8

Do you help students with college essays?

Accepted Answer

We work with students as they develop and write their personal statement, supplemental essays, and short answer responses. Using a highly personalized approach, students learn to communicate their unique and authentic stories in their own voice. We do not write the essays for the students but support their efforts, including brainstorming, scaffolding, and editorial feedback, from original drafts through submission.

Question 9

Do you complete the college application for students?

Accepted Answer

No, we serve as advisors for the college application process, including brainstorming, research, feedback, and editorial suggestions. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and do not complete any part of the student’s application; however, we will walk through, answer questions, and provide context and understanding for the students.

Question 10

Do you work with transfer students?

Accepted Answer

We work with transfer students, adhering to the sometimes differential timeline and identifying each college’s specific transfer requirements.

Question 11

Do you offer ACT/SAT preparation?

Accepted Answer

We offer an overview and test planning guidance; however, we do not do test preparation. We do discuss the value or need for testing related to each student’s abilities, academic interests, and college choices. We also review different approaches and methodologies to test preparation and can refer students to test preparation tutors or services that best meet the student’s needs and abilities.

Question 12

Do you help with course selection?

Accepted Answer

Of course! We provide insight into pathways, coursework, electives, need for rigor, and clarify questions related to the impact on GPA, preparation for particular majors, and overall academic engagement.

Question 13

How do you use or discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) with students?

Accepted Answer

AI is part of our world, and when used ethically and thoughtfully, it can help with research, brainstorming or organizing ideas, but it should never replace a student’s own voice or writing. Colleges want to hear directly from students—admissions officers can recognize AI-generated work and much prefer personal, authentic storytelling. That’s why we focus on real idea development, thoughtful drafting, and refining essays together to make sure each student’s voice shines through.

Frequently Asked Questions