When Should We Begin the College Search Process?

One of our most widely FAQ is “when do we start?” So much of an intentional answer is grounded in each student’s needs, academic strengths, goals, and timeline. Yet, because we subscribe to the philosophy of “beginning with the end in mind,” we strategically partner with parents and students to develop a personalized College Application Roadmap that works best for them.

We have students as young as 8th-graders who engage with us to take full advantage of our Freshman Focus package, which offers complete support throughout a student’s freshman year to properly position him or her for competitive applications to predetermined schools of their choice. We have students who partner with us at the beginning of sophomore and junior year, as well—primarily to leverage their best chances when it comes to the college application process. It almost goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically disrupted the college application process. We’ve seen college applications soar, in-state scholarship packages become more and more competitive, and families left with difficult decisions between paying for online classes or remaining in-state and navigating transfer options down the road.

Because of the uncertainty of the college application landscape, we subscribe to an “the early, the better” philosophy. This approach gives us the opportunity to fully understand your student—their needs, fears, goals, objectives, strengths, and areas for improvement. This also gives us a runway to develop an open dialogue with parents as we become an integral part of the family’s advocacy team. Some of our most “successful” (and I use that term loosely) placements have stemmed from family partnerships that were 2-3 years in the making. We’re able to truly serve as a student’s advocate because we are trained to recognize the pain points and areas of triumph.

We also believe that a strategic, individualized approach is key to eliminating unnecessary stress and anxiety throughout a nerve-racking process. By getting ahead of deadlines, strategically building a resume to tell a consistent application story, our students are widely less stressed than their peers. They are held to high standards, yes, but that layer of accountability helps them exercise their independence muscles as they now have “skin in the game.” In the same way, our parents have an open dialogue with us and know that they can reach out with follow-up questions or clarifications about check-list items that are well on the horizon. By developing a strategy before we even reach the task, both parents and students feel a sense of security about the process at hand.

Still have questions? Want to know the best strategy for your child? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we’ll guide you through a complimentary Discovery Call as we explore possible next steps.