College Search and Planning

Exploring Your Options

Finding Your Path

Making Your Plan

Let’s make your college search empowering, rather than nerve-wracking! I’ll meet you wherever you are in your college journey. You might be a high school freshman or sophomore starting to explore your goals. Maybe you’re trying to navigate that critical junior year. Perhaps you’re a rising senior with a dream college—or you’re well into senior year and still not sure where to begin. Or you may be a college student applying to graduate school. I customize my services to your individual situation, and I’ll create a tailored application plan that fits your goals and reduces your stress.

I tailor every step of the college process to fit your unique needs.

Assess Your Goals and Dreams

We start with a conversation! With humor and enthusiasm, I’ll talk to you about your interests, goals, and academics, and we’ll discover what you envision for your college career and your future.

Research Your Options

With 13 years as a college consultant, and as a former investigative journalist, I’m a pro at research. I’ll save you time and stress by cutting through the information overload and sending you specific links to explore.

Build Your College List

I’ll build you a customized list of colleges, including potential majors and academic programs. Then we can narrow it down, or open up a wider list of options. I can help you plan college visits or direct you on how to explore your colleges more thoroughly.

Customize Your College Plan

It’s all about balancing your life with your college search. We’ll figure out your application deadlines and the best standardized test options for you.

“Lisa and I spent many hours together, and she offered me a safe space to talk about my experiences. She helped me effectively tell my story and research my options. Her kindness and support meant a great deal to me as we navigated this stressful process together.”

–Lily, Colorado State University

FAQ

Take the stress out of senior year by starting early! I’m happy to work with students during the crucial junior year to help them balance classes, tests, and activities with an eye toward their college search. I’ll also meet with freshman or sophomores to do a check-in; we’ll discuss their academic plan and find extracurricular and community service activities that will be meaningful to them.

It’s totally fine not to have your life figured out before you’re 18! Our goal will be to open many pathways for you, so you’ll have options. First, let’s just talk. We’ll consider what’s important to you in terms of academics, geography, campus culture, and financial aid. While discussing your passions, your values, and your likes and dislikes, we’ll put together an initial college list, and then I’ll help you research and explore what interests you. After we form a targeted list, we’ll focus on your application, recommendations, and essays.  I can advise you on college visits, whether they are in person or virtual, and, when you receive your acceptances, I’ll support you through the final decision-making process as well. Many of my students return to me for help with post-graduate programs or even job applications, so I’ll be here if you need me!

By all means, let’s put your dream school on your list and work to make your application the strongest it can be! However, beware of anyone who claims they can get you into a specific college. Also, there are hundreds of colleges out there, and the right one for you may be your dream school—or it may be one you haven’t even heard of yet. I tailor everything to fit your individual needs and goals, so we’ll carefully craft the right application strategy for you.

All of the things that make you a great candidate for college also make you an extremely involved person. But I’m available on weekends, and (as a lifelong insomniac) I also work late, so we can find time for your college applications. I try to be flexible with fluctuating schedules, but I also expect you to be responsible and professional in communicating with me. Together, we’ll get it all done!

One of my favorite authors, Douglas Adams, said, “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” There’s a lot of stress and activity during senior year, and it’s easy to freeze up or just put off college applications until the last minute. I try to help students wherever they are in the process, so give me a call ASAP, and we’ll see what we can do.