When I applied to colleges in 2001, I was waitlisted at Harvard University. I had the opportunity to attend Harvard if I was willing to take a gap year or spend my freshman year at their partner school, St. Andrew’s in Scotland. Harvard may be the most prestigious educational institution in the country, but ultimately it was not the right fit for me. I was ready to dive headfirst into college life, so I wasn’t willing to wait. Thankfully, I was accepted to the college of my choice. The moment I stepped foot on the George Washington University campus I felt right at home, and I knew it was the place for me. I enjoyed it so much that I stayed beyond my bachelor’s degree years to pursue my graduate education. Upon reflection on the decision I made to give up a spot at Harvard and pursue a different path, I became passionate about assisting students in finding the best match, as opposed to focusing on getting students into top-tier colleges.

I am not going to promise you that I can get your kid into an Ivy League school. I won’t even promise you that I can get your kid into the University of Florida. The fact of the matter is that top-tier acceptances are a gamble regardless of your credentials and qualifications. My father attended Harvard, so I was a legacy. Clearly that, in addition to graduating with honors from a highly regarded preparatory school, did not guarantee me admission. What I will promise is that I will guide you on a path that will help you establish which schools are appropriate matches for the individual student, and identify where they will thrive. The most important objective is to end up at a place where you will be happy and successful.

The concept of success is relative and manifests differently for everyone: preparation for graduate school, preparation for a professional career; increased independence; improved socialization skills; or improved communication skills. In an initial consultation, we will discuss priorities. I will ask the student to list in order their top five priorities in life. This list can include things like academics, athletics, video games, painting, partying, working, community service, traveling, cooking, etc. It isn’t realistic to expect everyone to regard academics as their top priority. By identifying what is most important to a person, we can proceed with realistic expectations that will inform us about what type of educational environment will be a good fit for the student, and thus where they will be successful. Other factors discussed in the initial consultation include geographic location desires, size of school preference, and programs of interest. Additionally, we review academic performance and progress, and evaluate extra-curricular involvement. Depending on grade level, a high school course plan based on college admission goals, as well as extracurricular suggestions, may be discussed. If at a later stage, a preliminary list of colleges to consider may be created during the consultation.