My Method:

Phase 1
Effective college counseling begins with academic guidance: making certain that students meet requirements and expectations of the colleges that interest them. Ideally, students start working with me in the ninth or tenth grade, but great value can be derived as late as the beginning of senior year.

We establish a schedule for taking standardized exams, and recommendations for test preparation as appropriate for each student.

The key to successful college choice is helping each student recognize his or her talents, identifying what each student has liked and disliked in his or her high school years so far, and then structuring personal goals.

Phase 2
Intensive sessions with each student and his or her parents define the criteria by which schools will be selected. Do you want to major in journalism? Do you want to be near home? Should there be ski slopes nearby? There are almost 3000 accredited colleges and universities in the United States. From these, we develop a list of schools uniquely suited to each student, then divide these schools into "safety", "target", and "reach" categories.

Many students will, in phase 2, visit colleges with their families. Only with proper planning and pointed inquiry are these trips as valuable as they should be. I help students shape their approaches to different campuses, so they can get the most out of each visit.

Phase 3
I work personally with students to make sure that they create applications for each school that showcase their strengths and meet the expectations of the school's admissions officers. Those points most likely to attract a school's interest are brought to the fore. When needed, I coach students on all-important interview techniques.