College Admissions Consulting

Need help planning for college? We can help with all facets of the college admissions process.

Complimentary 30-Minute Consultation

Customized College Admissions Counseling

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.

College Admissions Consulting

Our college counselors can help with any or all of the following and more:

  • Developing the college list

  • Organization and timeline management

  • Choosing high school courses

  • Extracurricular activities and summer planning 

  • Understanding college costs and financial aid forms

  • Strategizing to optimize merit aid

  • Preparing for interviews

  • Gap year planning

Families with applicants to middle and high school: Please contact us for information about our private school admissions consulting.

  • Creating a resume and/or an activities list

  • Providing self-assessments for interests, aptitudes, and careers

  • Planning effective campus visits

  • Brainstorming and editing application essays

  • Devising an application strategy and completing applications

  • Evaluating admissions offers and financial aid awards

  • Selecting which ‘best fit’ college to attend

Admissions consulting is billed at $200 per hour.  In addition to hourly services, we also offer a comprehensive college counseling package, and a 10-hour service package.  Contact us for details about these options.

Meet Our Admissions Counselors

laurie admissions counselor 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. As the business and human resources manager at Sandweiss Test Prep, I began to realize that what I like most about my work is the opportunity to share my knowledge of test prep and college planning resources with parents and students to guide them toward achieving their college admissions goals. After spending several years taking courses in the college counseling graduate programs offered by UCLA and UC Irvine, I was awarded certification as an Independent Educational Consultant through UC Irvine.

I’ve gone through the exciting and potentially stressful college admissions process with my own two sons, and helped many others navigate what seems to be the increasingly challenging world of preparing for and applying to college. I enjoy helping students explore and develop their strengths and passions leading them on the path toward increased personal growth. One of the most satisfying aspects of my work now is helping to match students with potential schools that best “fit” their needs – academically, socially and financially. Through my online research, meetings with college admissions representatives, attending professional conferences, and personally visiting numerous colleges each year, I am able to provide detailed college lists and help students to research and explore schools. I offer knowledge and expertise that can minimize family stress by keeping students on track to meet deadlines, potentially reduce college costs, and optimize admission opportunities at institutions where students can thrive. I’ve learned through experience that it’s never too early to begin planning for college. I recommend starting the process during the summer before or early in the Junior year, but I am available to consult with students and families as early as Freshman year and as late as Senior year in high school.

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 admissions counselorSteve 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.

 

 

Interested in Admissions Consulting?

Complete the form to request an initial, complimentary, 30-minute phone or Zoom consultation to learn how we can best help you achieve your goals.

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