FAQs

An IEC provides personalized support and guidance to complement the work done by your school counselor. Having worked in high schools, I know that school counselors have hundreds of students to support, but as an IEC, I can provide more personalized support given I work with fewer students each year. I will comprehensive support throughout high school or support with managing applications for rising seniors. My goal is to help your student find colleges that are the best fit for their academic, social, emotional and financial needs. My hope is to alleviate stress for families who often don’t have time to navigate the college application process on their own. t goes here

My focus as a counselor is on fit. Most students have only heard of schools in their local area, the “Ivies” or those with elite athletic programs that compete on ESPN. There are over 2000 4-year colleges in the US, and it’s important to reflect on where you will best thrive. Do you want to be in smaller classes where you get to know your professors well? Do you need to find colleges that give merit aid because you don’t qualify for need-based aid? My focus is on helping students develop balanced colleges lists and finding a range of schools where they see themselves succeeding.

As a parent of two teenagers myself, I also know how stressful this process can be. Parents play an important role in supporting their teens with the colleges application process, but hiring a college counselor can help provide outside perspective and manage the process for you. I am here to simplify things, provide a roadmap and be in the passenger seat in partnership with parents to guide the student on their journey.

Absolutely! Finding Your College Fit operates fully online, so we can support students living anywhere in the United States. I regularly visit colleges whenever I find myself in a new state or city, and I engage in regular professional development so that I am continually learning about colleges all over the country. I have also lived and attended colleges in the West, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic areas so I have a diverse background of educational experiences.

I offer free consultations for 9th and 10th graders to help give you a roadmap for what you should be doing early in high school. The majority of our work together will take place during your junior and senior years, but I’m happy to start working with families sooner if your student is ready to start talking about college. All students are unique, and some are eager to have a conversation earlier in high school.

I recommend that students in general apply to 8-12 colleges. However, every student is unique, and some will apply to fewer or more depending on their list. The most important thing is to create a balanced list of schools. What is a balanced list? It includes what I refer to as “likely,” “possible” or “match,” and “reach” schools. The important thing is to find colleges in all categories that your student would be excited to attend. Here is a sample chart I use to help California high school students who are planning to apply to both in-state public universities and private colleges. I will personalize the categories for all students depending on their interests.

Yes! I will engage your student in multiple brainstorming activities, provide feedback on multiple drafts of their writing and share my insight as an experienced professional who has literally read thousands of essays. I do hold high ethical standards of practice and will not write any part of the personal or supplemental essays for the student. It’s incredibly important for the writing to reflect the student’s authentic voice and be their own work.

I provide general resources about the FAFSA and CSS Profile (if applicable) and help you understand basic financial aid formulas and terms. I also provide information about the breakdown of merit versus need-based aid for individual colleges. If you are looking for merit aid, I can support you in identifying colleges that are known for giving scholarships to a high percentage of students. However, I do not give financial advice, and I recommend talking to a financial advisor if you have specific questions about your assets and income. The most important tool for your family will be each school’s net price calculator, which is on each college’s website.

In regards to scholarships, I will provide resources for where to search and I can give feedback on essays, but I will not actively search for scholarship funds for an individual student.

Finding Your College Fit offers a variety of packages ranging from comprehensive services to mini plans tailored to your student’s needs. Please check out our services page for more information. Specific pricing will be shared during our initial consultation.