Strategies For College, Inc.

Services

We offer two distinct types of services in our private practice: Comprehensive Services and Targeted Modules.

To purchase services click here or to your left.

Comprehensive Services

Our Comprehensive Programs include professionally managed oversight and unlimited ongoing counseling for every aspect of the college process. Services with or without college financial planning are available. If you are interested in either of our Comprehensive Programs, please request a consultation.

Here are just a few of the benefits of our comprehensive services:

UNLIMITED ongoing counseling

Professional project management and supervision centered around critical milestones

a personal project manager who provides alerts and guidance as you progress through the program ensuring that events are started and finished in a timely fashion

priority access during peak seasons

interaction with your other professional advisors (CPA, CFP, JD) at no additional charge

financial and cost management services regardless of whether or not you qualify for need-based financial aid

no additional charge for supplemental essays

“retention management assurance” to ensure that your student remains at the college initially selected or we work with your student to facilitate a transfer at no additional cost

reduced fee for any other family members who enroll in this program in subsequent years

Fees range from $2,995 - $4,995. Flexible payment plans. Call for details.

The Modules

These targeted engagements focus on specific area(s) of concern to you. We help you articulate the concern, then create an action plan and immediately get to work solving your problem. If you begin with one or more modules, you may at any point upgrade to a Comprehensive Program. We will credit any amount paid for modules less 5% toward the cost of the Comprehensive Program.

Module 1:

College Aid Eligibility & Personal Affordability Review

This module includes a thorough analysis of your current financial position as calculated by the actual formulas used by private colleges and the federal government to determine eligibility for need based grants, loans and jobs. Typically, we determine your “current status” and compare that with one or several “strategic alternatives” as appropriate to your situation. The end result is an accurate forecast of your eligibility for federal and institutional need-based financial aid. We also provide advice about how to best arrange your resources for the long term. By using various combinations of cash flow, borrowing and assets you will have options when it comes time to pay for college. Finally, we put all of this into a spreadsheet for future reference and updating according to your needs.

Note: We are able to forecast financial aid eligibility using aggregate data reported by most colleges in the U.S.. While we cannot forecast specific amounts to an individual student, we have found that our forecasts are very accurate.

Cost: $650

Module 2:

Financial Document Preparation, Award Letter Review & Appeals

This module includes professional oversight of the financial aid application process. We will:

Calculate & optimize your EFC (both Federal and Institutional)

Provide an “aid eligibility estimate” for each college on your student’s list

Identify the application forms you need to file at each college (FAFSA, CSS Profile, Inst. Application, etc.),

Work with you to collect and organize the required tax and financial data for your applications,

Prepare and submit the aid applications,

Evaluate the pros and cons of the financial offers made by each college

Compare your offers to the “affordability review” from Module 1 if that service was purchased

Assist with the appeals process if your financial aid package is substantially less than your aid eligibility

Provide assistance to noncustodial parents when required

Cost: $950

Module 3:

Tailored College Search, Demonstrated Interest & Visit/Interview Coaching

This module allows the student to get an objective evaluation of his/her chances of admission to selective and highly selective colleges using our Personal Assessment and Academic Merit Profile Index (AMP). The AMP Index, a strictly quantitative measure based on a proprietary algorithm, has proven highly accurate in assessing students’ academic credentials for admission.

Also included:

· review of the 11th Grade PSAT (or diagnostic ACT or SAT) to determine the best test strategy,

· review of Myers-Briggs or Do What You Are assessment,

· thorough evaluation of the high school transcript and extracurricular activities,

· calculation of “college gpa” based on core courses and curriculum strength

· a tool to clarify and quantify the family priorities for college selection

· extended discussion of the family priorities from exercise above

· an evaluation of merit scholarship eligibility

· identify 18-26 colleges that “fit” the qualitative criteria identified in the family priorities exercise and

· “fit” the quantitative criteria identified with the AMP Index, AND, when appropriate, conform to any financial boundary conditions specified by the family.

· extensive counseling to assist the student with researching the colleges using college websites, other internet resources, and commercial guides in order to start refining the list to 8-12 preferred schools for which visits will be arranged

· visiting a college campus is essential for a student to get a sense of what it would be like to attend that school, so we also coach students on preparing for visits and interviews and cultivating the required “demonstrated interest” for each college to which they might apply

· in-depth counseling about the “5 Must Do” activities when visiting a campus and the essentials of meeting with regional admissions officers, faculty, department heads, and coaches

· guidance on attending college fairs and “open houses”

· preparing for interviews is emphasized through our “Interview Guide” and a mock interview with one of our professional staff.

· College Evaluation Checklist which provides an opportunity to quantify observations and interactions about each college and make meaningful comparisons among them.

· After at least four visits to college campuses, we meet to discuss observations and further refine the college list and/or college search criteria if necessary and assist with defining the final college list.

Cost: $1,650

Module 4:

Application Management & Document Review

Focused primarily on the electronic Common Application, the preferred application for nearly 400 colleges, we

· Walk students through the application process from initial setup through online submission of the core application and any required supplements for each college

· Show students how to coordinate faculty letters of recommendation, high school counselor evaluations, transcript release forms and official SAT/ACT score reports with the submission of the application so that each document (ideally) arrives at its intended destination on time

· Instruct students as needed with using Naviance Family Connection at their high school for coordinating, transcript release forms, letters of recommendation, etc.

· Coach students on how to organize their work load to balance school work, extracurricular activities, college applications and essay writing

Cost: $650

Module 5:

Writing Standard College Essays

Our professional staff includes personnel who specialize in assisting students with the college essays. While we cannot and do not write essays for students, we can help them brainstorm for suitable and appropriate topics, refine their approach to the topic, provide editorial input and make sure the real “voice” of the student is expressed. This is perhaps the most neglected area in the college admissions application especially with regards to the specific essay prompts which have become more prevalent among highly selective colleges. This module includes input on the Common Application Personal Essay and Short Answer.

Any additional supplemental essays are billed separately at $100 - $125 per essay.

Cost: $450