Use a college counselor if you can! We made the mistake of navigating the college applications process by ourselves for our first child, and realized we needed help for our youngest. Laurie and Matt made an incisive evaluation of where we had gone wrong the first time, and we were so impressed with their insights that we engaged them immediately to help our son.
Laurie and Matt are generous with their time. They interviewed our son comprehensively to assess his interests, strengths and weaknesses and helped us prepare a comprehensive list of ‘reach’, ‘likely’ and ‘safety’ schools with deep knowledge that we ourselves did not possess. This led to a more precise and realistic choice than we would have made for ourselves.
Teenage children do not take advice or suggestions from their parents, but they do from other people. Laurie and Matt were very good at reminding our son what was due, and when, somehow without nagging – and got him to prepare more thoroughly than we would have been able ourselves. This is especially important for interview preparation as well as submission deadlines. All the time they showed their extensive knowledge of different universities and how to make the best impression with each of the admissions directors. They provided constant advice and encouragement, connecting with us and checking in even when we hadn’t asked. They never watched the clock or ended sessions before we finished the matter at hand. They were also extremely detailed in editing and making suggestions for our son’s essays, and their help brainstorming for his personal essay was crucial for us.
This is a very personal service. Once we were informed of colleges’ decisions, Laurie and Matt consulted with us extensively to find the best potential match for our son, having taken the trouble to get to know him properly. Children have the skills to attend college, families have the ambition for their children, and Laurie and Matt have the expertise and knowledge to ensure students make the most realistic mix of applications and ultimately make the best choice.
Engage them!
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