Need help planning for college? We can help with all facets of the college admissions process.
College is a huge investment in a young person’s future, and there are over 4,000 colleges and universities to choose from in the U.S. alone. Determining where and how best to apply, and understanding college costs can be a stressful experience for students and parents alike, especially in uncertain times. We provide personalized guidance to families throughout the college planning and application process. We keep up with changes in the field, and educate families to understand the new realities of college admissions. Our individualized support is designed to maximize each student’s opportunities at schools that ‘fit’ them best – academically, socially, and financially.
We help with the following college planning tasks, and more:
Families may choose our comprehensive service package or hourly services. Hourly admissions consulting is billed at $200 per hour. Families with juniors or seniors who need a great deal of support will find our comprehensive package worthwhile as it effectively provides a discounted rate. For families who feel comfortable managing much of the admissions process themselves, our hourly services may be purchased in five (5) hour blocks of time. Contact us for details about these options.
Families with applicants to middle and high school: Please contact us for information about our private school admissions consulting.
Laurie Gordon, M.S.W.
I’ve spent my entire adult life and career working in fields that involve supporting children and adolescents. With my undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology and social work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I began my career counseling and supporting families and individuals with all sorts of issues, including the adolescent transition to adulthood. I taught parenting classes and spent several years in the 1990s working in local elementary schools as a School Social Worker. After subsequently managing the business and human resources needs of Sandweiss Test Prep, I realized that I looked forward to sharing my college planning knowledge with parents and students whenever the opportunity presented itself. To be most effective, I decided to further educate myself by completing college counseling courses offered by the University of California – UC-Irvine and UCLA. Finally, in 2016, I was awarded certification as an Independent Educational Consultant. But my education did not stop there! I regularly partake in numerous professional development activities – classes, professional conferences, meetings with admissions reps, numerous college visits each year, and much more.
I understand the excitement and stress involved in the college planning and admissions process, and I strive to minimize anxiety and make the process fun! We begin by exploring the student’s strengths, needs and wishes, and the family’s financial constraints, followed by college research to develop “the list”. We focus on the schools that can best meet the student’s academic and social/emotional needs, as well as each family’s financial parameters, so as to optimize admission opportunities at institutions where students can thrive. We attend to every detail involved in the application process. Although students must do the work, we help them to maximize efficiency and to take care of each step in a timely manner in order to meet deadlines.
I’ve learned through experience that it’s never too early to begin planning for college. Working with a college counselor can begin as early as 8th grade, but whenever possible, I recommend beginning academic and activity planning in the middle of the sophomore year, or as early as possible during the junior year. Families may even be able to access our college planning and application support as late as the summer or fall of senior year.
I am currently a member of four professional organizations: IECA Associate Member, (Independent Educational Consultants Association), HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association), PNACAC (Pacific Northwest Association for College Admissions Counseling), and SACC (Seattle Area College Consultants).
Steve Sandweiss, M.A.
Along with my extensive test preparation experience, I have been assisting students with the college, grad school, or secondary school application process for nearly 20 years. I’ve done plenty of advising regarding the creation of a college list, but my primary area of expertise is in working with students to identify appropriate essay topics for the personal statement and supplemental essays. Once this challenging task is surmounted, I enjoy helping students through the process of creating and revising multiple drafts, so that the final product offers a sincere, insightful window into an applicant’s personality, background, and future goals.
Complete the form to request an initial, complimentary, 30-minute phone or Zoom consultation to learn how we can best help you achieve your college goals.
