College Admissions

Consultant & Coaching Services

Accessible. Affordable. Authentic.

College should be an accessible goal for young people, and the college application process should be empowering, not overwhelming.

I offer personal, affordable college application counseling that is completely tailored to the individual student. I work with my students to build a college list and a targeted plan that makes sense for them. Together, we collaborate to create a strong holistic application and to craft essays that highlight their strengths and unique voice.

Meet Lisa

Lisa Paradise has been a college admissions consultant for 13 years, combining her expertise as an award-winning writer, a top publicist, and writing teacher to help her students achieve their college dreams. Throughout her life, she has served as an advocate for children and a mentor for young people.

Working With Me

COLLEGE SEARCH AND PLANNING

Using a personalized approach, I’ll help you identify, research, and target colleges that match your interests and goals. We’ll create a personalized plan and a timeline that fits you and your future.

COLLEGE APPLICATION ADVISING

We’ll build a strong, holistic college application that showcases your unique strengths. I’ll guide you through the Common Application, or other college-specific applications, and advise you on testing, grades, recommendations, and interviews.

ESSAY COACHING

As a professional writer, and a writing teacher, I’ll guide you through the essay process, from brainstorming to final proofreading. I’ll help you craft essays that strengthen your application and that express your unique and authentic voice.

READY TO GET STARTED?

For Parents

For Students

“Lisa was absolutely amazing to work with. She has an incredible talent for enhancing your writing while maintaining your unique tone and style – it’s still you, but better! Her friendly, kind, and open demeanor, combined with her honesty, made the experience even more enjoyable. I genuinely looked forward to our sessions. I have no words to express how highly I recommend her; she played an instrumental role in improving my essay writing and helping me get into my dream school. Thank you, Lisa!”

—Grace, Cornell University

“Lisa’s college counseling was an invaluable resource for my daughter. She provided a comprehensive college application strategy, excellent advice, and the most incredible support throughout the entire process. Lisa eliminated the parent-child stress factor, and she was a joy for all of us to work with. I cannot recommend her service highly enough.”

—Kristen, Parent

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

I offer experience, compassion, and individualized service. With over a decade of college consulting experience, I combine my expertise as an award-winning writer and top publicist with my years as a writing coach to help my students achieve their goals. As a parent myself, I understand that it can be challenging to work with your own child. I lessen the anxiety for parents and students, so everyone can enjoy senior year. And, when you work with Lisa Paradise College Consulting, you work solely with me, and I tailor everything to your student’s individual needs. By using a collaborative and dialogue-based approach, we’ll work together to make their college dreams a reality.

I believe that college should be an accessible goal for all young people, and that the application process should be empowering, rather than nerve-wracking. Everything in my practice is tailored to the individual child. My mission is to open as many doors as possible for your child while reducing their—and your—anxiety throughout the process. My goal is to meet my students where they are, guide them along their path to college, lessen their stress load, and give them tools to navigate their future.

Ah, procrastination! As a writer, I know and understand it well, but I don’t have problems with it with my students. I treat my students as adults and the application process as a collaborative effort. I believe in giving students empowerment and ownership in the process, with the understanding that this is their future and their responsibility. I guide them in setting a structure and a schedule with check-points that work for them. I offer students my enthusiastic support and encouragement, while setting the adult expectations that will help them be successful in college.

I tailor and personalize every aspect of the college application process to the specific student, and I work with students with all kinds of backgrounds, challenges, experiences, and goals. As a college counselor and as a parent, I understand that each child’s path is different, so I’ll adapt the process to whatever works best for them. As well, I’m happy to work with guidance counselors, coaches, caseworkers, or other professionals who are part of their team.

I’ve been through this process with my own kids and…I get it. Senior year is a jam-packed and emotionally charged time for both you and your child. I’ll reduce the stress for you by keeping track of the deadlines and the details. All of my students breathe a sigh of relief after we come up with an organized, individual plan and timeline, and we even manage to have some fun. My most important responsibility is the mental health and well-being of my students, and I always put that first.