Referred to as a College Counselor, Consultant, Advisor or Coach, families choose to hire a professional to guide the search and application process for a variety of reasons. The most common are:

• Searching for colleges beyond immediate geographic area

• Navigating the admissions landscape

• Maximizing merit offers

• Provide new insights and recommendations

• Help in managing details and deadlines

• Preserving the parent-child relationship 

An ethical and reputable college consultant will teach, encourage, remind, guide and suggest as they walk alongside the student’s independent college search and application process. It is no different than a swimming coach who helps a student refine their technique to shave time off their PR or the student who aces calculus tests after working with a math tutor. Coaches and tutors teach and guide students to gain confidence and perform at their peak.  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/28/magazine/college-admissions-consultants-ethics.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR2qyGNguqRdlw9oqB5_uHtMAsZqrMtBCAFnXmCKMH_lomGa0ZfraQUvFWM

Some High Schools hire dedicated College Counselors that can help students and families navigate the College search and application process. If you are fortunate to attend one of those schools, you should definitely take advantage of those free services. Many such programs will host evening parent sessions and offer 1:1 student meetings specific to college planning. That is sufficient for many students, especially those that that already know where they want to go to school and what they want to study. 

For those attending smaller or less-advantaged high schools, or those students and families who desire more comprehensive or individualized support, the nature of the public school caseloads limits the frequency and duration with which School Counselors are available for non-crisis support. 

The process of applying to a "highly rejective" or "lottery" school (current terms for those schools that accept a tiny percentage of its applications) is generally the same as applying to schools that accept a larger percentage of its applicants. At the most selective schools (such as those in the Ivy league), ALL applicants are highly qualified and admission offers are often based on institutional priorities. As a College Advisor, I can ensure the student is applying to an appropriate range of schools with the strongest applications possible and ensure they meet all required deadlines. An ethical college advisor cannot guarantee admission to any school or program. And no counselor can make an inadmissible student admissible. 

As a High School Counselor, I have been affiliated with the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), not IECA. Over my career spanning 25+ years, I have supported thousands of students in their journey to post-secondary education. Although it is important for families to ensure the professional history and qualifications of any potential college consultant is a match for their needs, there are many paths to gaining expertise in the world of college advising.  Do not hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions about my background and services. 

Executive function is the management system of the brain. When people struggle with executive function, it impacts them at home, in school, and in life. There are three main areas of executive function: working memory, flexible thinking and self-control. Together, these areas are responsible for many skills that impact academic achievement, including attention, organization, prioritization, task-initiation, regulating emotions and self-monitoring.  Although it is common to think of “struggles with executive function” as a symptom of ADHD, it is also impacted by other conditions, like autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities and even anxiety and depression. In fact, since the part of the brain responsible for executive function is not fully developed until into our 20’s, EVERY TEEANGER is still developing their executive function skills. Factors like sleep deprivation, stress, and our fast-paced, technology-obsessed world simultaneously make those skills more essential and harder to develop.

Tutoring focuses directly on academic skills. Coaching is best for kids who have adequate academic skills but are not living up to their personal potential. Coaching addresses those things that may be interfering with academic success, like organization, time management, study strategies, motivation, confidence and perseverance. Additionally, Academic Coaching can provide services to parents through consultations and recommendations.

Therapy focuses directly on Mental Health concerns, such as depression or anxiety. Although Academic Coaching may positively impact mood and affect as students become more confident and successful, mental health concerns are not the focus. If the initial or ongoing assessment reveals mental health concerns as the primary barrier to achievement, families will be referred to other practitioners. 

Many schools will offer executive function intervention before referring a struggling student to a special education evaluation. This class or group may be called something like “Study Skills,” Learning Lab” or “College & Career Readiness”. These are typically classroom or small group settings with a generalized curriculum not specifically targeting the needs of each student. Schools that offer such courses generally have eligibility criteria that include a history of underachievement along with a team recommendation, meaning families cannot register for these classes directly. At the secondary level, these courses will take the place of other elective options (like language, music, art or technology). In some schools, these courses are essentially a supervised study hall --which can be beneficial, although often insufficient.

Your School Counselor may be a knowledgeable resource for academic coaching, but the nature of the public school caseloads limits the frequency and duration with which School Counselors are able to meet with specific students. 

Services are provided outside of the typical school day, typically between the hours of 4-8pm on weekdays (Monday-Thursday) and 10-12am on Saturdays. 

Services will typically be provided virtually. This works well for many students. Between the pandemic and students’ online activities (like TikTok and multi-player video games), adolescents are typically comfortable engaging in a virtual environment. Virtual sessions also allow parents to join from remote locations when necessary and allow for easy screen sharing. 

There is limited availability for in-person sessions in the Northwest Metro area of Minneapolis (St. Michael). These options, or additional fees for other service areas, can be discussed during our intake meeting. 

Coach-facilitated, subject-specific tutoring will always be provided virtually, as the tutors are college students. Those hours will be arranged with your assigned tutor, who is an independent contractor. 

Possibly. If you qualify for the education tax credit or subtraction, you may be able to include the costs for Academic Coaching or College Advising. Check with your tax professional to see if you qualify. 

Think of the investments you’ve made in your child’s passions — sports camps, private lessons, or theater classes. They may not be headed to the NBA or Broadway, but you’ve supported every step, knowing these experiences build confidence, resilience, and skill.

Academic coaching works the same way. Progress is a journey, not an overnight fix. There will be wins and challenges along the way, but with expert guidance and consistent effort, your student will develop stronger habits, greater self-belief, and lasting academic growth that extends far beyond the next deadline.

Getting started is easy. Complete our College Advising Interest Form or  Academic Coaching Screening Form to let us know more about your interests and needs. You can expect a follow-up email within about 5 business days to arrange a brief phone consultation. If our services seem matched to your needs, we will schedule an initial session to dive deeper.  

Following the initial session, a program will be proposed, in consultation with the parents and student. There is no obligation to commit to services.