I’m SO excited to share some news with you! I’ve updated my logo to add “AND CONSULTING.” What does that mean? Basically, I want my brand to reflect my services and avoid confusion. With my background in journalism and PR, I tell my students that college admissions is a combination of those two approaches. Applicants are asked to be journalists (great storytellers & researchers & reporters of their life experiences) AND PR experts (learning to set themselves apart in a competitive process). It’s persuasive creative writing, something not typically taught in English class, AND something that will fuel your future in so many ways (job applications, cover letters, careers, etc.).
So while I’ll continue to focus most heavily in the writing/editing lane, I consider myself a student of the overall admissions process and have learned a TON that I share with my students to fuel their process. To me, POWER HOUR means delivering the most valuable information as quickly as possible. Here are highlights of some ways I go beyond just editing:
- Planning. KEY! I’ve been a spreadsheet person forever and even launched a mom blog helping other moms thrive in the “business of motherhood.” I was that mom with color-coded carpool schedules, etc., and bring my creative organizational skills to provide my students with a robust, weekly planner to manage the process.
- Research. Critical now more than ever. I give my students unique ways to find research to answer these questions: WHY YOU? WHY NOW? WHY HERE? It sounds simple, but finding unique facts that really CONNECT you to EACH school in a compelling way will absolutely increase your chances of success. I also provide examples so students can model their own responses in a powerful way. Class date JUST announced if you want to spend a POWER HOUR learning this tactic!
- Activities/Resume. This is your story over time, and how you present it makes a difference. I LOVE ACTIVITY LISTS! There’s such potential on this part of the app, and with such limited space, every character counts. I counsel students on how to report activities in a way that will work hard for them. Also, having seen thousands of activities over the years, I have a huge database of activities, community service, etc. I’ve seen so many unique examples of how students dive into so many things, and I love to advise students on how to find their best-fit activities. It’s such a win-win! Check out my video on “Pandemic Pivots” including a panel of students who found a way to get involved during a challenging time. Class date JUST announced if you want to spend a POWER HOUR learning how to build your list!
- Supplements. I research school supplements and talk to admissions officers to get specific tips to share with students. I’ve created outlines & links for many schools, and I assemble supplement documents for many of my students in the summer so they can focus on writing! Check out my interview with BU Admissions on what they look for.
- Demonstrating Interest or Appealing Decisions. Again, it’s marketing + writing! I teach students how to find persuasive information to stand out and sometimes reverse decisions based on new information.
- Financial Aid. Definitely not my area of expertise. I’m all about words, not numbers 🙂 But I study it, including the FAFSA’s recent relaunch and subsequent challenges associated. I’m answering BASIC questions and am about to announce an affiliate relationship with incredible expertise in this area who will be able to help my students take a deeper dive into the process to maximize their aid. People come to me to help with WORDS, and last year, I helped a family secure an additional $5K/year with a letter I wrote for them appealing their aid. I’m excited about how much more people might be able to save with some new strategies I’m hearing about.
- And more! I see applications as a series of puzzle pieces, and I advise students to move FORWARD with each and every piece they present. I’ve developed great relationships with experts I love to refer to in many areas of the admissions process (list specialists, test prep, resources for neurodiverse students, etc.) and am happy to share information to help my families find subject-specific experts for anything they need. College lists are one area that I ABSOLUTELY refer to colleagues when needed or requested by families. With the test-optional wave, this is becoming more critical than ever before, and I highly recommend that students make sure their lists are balanced.
My motto: I am committed to helping my students in many ways, and if I can’t, I’ll find someone who can!
So…while I’ve gradually expanded what I do, adding AND CONSULTING to my logo means a lot to me and my students!
