Depending on how many hours rendered and which option is chosen, the consultant may provide some, or all, of these services to the student:
- Offer support and structure for the family for the college process.
- Provide structure, organization and time management to the college process.
- Evaluate the student's record, including high school transcript, standardized test results, extracurricular activities, athletics and unique talents.
- Assist in selection of high school academic choices and help guide decisions for extracurricular activities as well as meaningful summer enrichment.
- Explain and provide guidance through the college planning process.
- Discuss family college budget or financial restraints that student and consultant must take into consideration.
- Share information on FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
- Clarify students’ priorities and requirements for his/her college experience, understand the selection criteria of specific colleges/universities, and research appropriate schools to help generate a list of match schools.
- Refer to resources for test preparation and academic tutoring, if necessary.
Develop student interview skills and confidence through mock interviews, if needed.
- Assist in narrowing down a list of schools.
- Discuss and evaluate early decision, early action, and regular decision options.
- Assist with preparation of activity list and résumé.
- Assist with selection of recommendation letter writers.
- Assist with personal statement and essay writing, including topic development.
- Assist with application preparation, including organizational assistance, and suggestion for information to be included in the application.
- Assist with picking a college major and career exploration.
- Discuss scholarships and how family can find and apply for them.
- Assist with stress management.
- Assist with application follow-up procedures.
- Assist with final decision concerning which college to attend.
- Assist with waitlist or appeal process, if necessary.
- Assist student and family with transition to college process.
- Monthly email giving specific steps for each grade and helpful information for parents and families.
- Student has access to my cell phone and my calendar to schedule appointments as needed.
- Detailed email after every meeting sent to student and parents stating progress, where student is in the process, next steps, concerns, to-do's, etc.
These are the services the consultant will not provide:
- Consultant does not guarantee that student will be admitted to any particular college or university.
- Consultant will not write the student's essays.
- Consultant will not fill out financial aid applications.
- Consultant will not research scholarships nor help with scholarship applications or essays. If family would like help with these, it is at consultants discretion at consultants hourly rate.
- Consultant will not oversee, organize, or facilitate college athletic eligibility, scouting, or signing.
- Consultant will not oversee tasks outside of the Common Application, including but not limited to: Wix,portfolio, website, etc.
- Consultant will not take the lead in any Honors College essays or applications. Student must be strong enough academically to organize, write, and submit Honors College applications and essays before due date(s), without consultant leading this charge. If family would like help with these, it is at consultants discretion at consultants hourly rate.
- Consultant will not be held responsible for any omissions, errors, or misspellings within each application. Final proofing is by student before application submission.
- Consultant will not guarantee any availability after the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through the 1st week of January.
- Consultant will not edit essays "last minute." Student must be completing essays at a regular and steady pace leading up to application submission. All applications need to be submitted at least two weeks before application deadline.
- Consultant cannot see inside the student's college portals. Student is responsible for meeting all deadlines for additional materials that the college/university needs to make a decision.
- Consultant will not re-edit an essay that a 3rd party has reviewed.
- Consultant will not provide copies of essays/personal statements to the parent. The student is the owner of these and has the option to share.
- Consultant will not ensure that deadlines are met.
- Consultant will not be on call 24/7.
These are things the parent/guardian is expected to do:
- Support their child throughout the process.
- Understand the pressures on the student.
- Assist in helping keep student invested in the process.
- Allow the student to take the lead.
- Discuss openly with student and consultant the college budget or any financial constraints that the student should be aware of when exploring college options.
- Understand that parent phone calls and excessive emails will be deducted from counseling hours that were slated for student use or be billed at hourly rate.
- Understand that the rising senior student must be showing continuous weekly progress on essays and applications.
- Understand that consultant will not respond to parents via text or social media. I request that parents contact me via email: SouthernRootsCCC@gmail.com.
- Use the Net Price Calculator on each school the student is interested in to ensure that the college/university is within budget.
- Use a financial advisor for advice on the FAFSA/CSS profile and college finances, if needed.
- Understand there is a 48-hour cancellation policy for all clients. Comprehensive families will be charged at consultant's hourly rate after second session missed, and hourly fee must be paid before a new session is scheduled. (Hourly clients who do not cancel 48 hours in advance of session are charged the full hourly rate each time).
- Schedule official campus visits for/with student.
- Read the newsletter each month and the emails I send after each session.
- Keep consultant informed of all college decisions and financial offers.
- Enjoy the process
These are things the student must do for him/herself:
- Put full effort into the process.
- Bring your laptop to every session.
- Do the very best academic work possible.
- Cooperate with consultant.
- Meet all deadlines required for testing and completing applications.
- Understand applications must be submitted 48hrs prior to the due date. Consultant will not work on essays and apps where student has procrastinated.
- Find and complete all portfolios, interviews, Slideroom submissions, surprise essays, honors applications, and honors essays that are outside of the Common Application within the timeframe given by the institution.
- Understand consultant expects all applications to be submitted by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, or earlier, to meet deadlines for apps and scholarships.
- Have continuous weekly progress, between sessions, on applications and essays starting on, or before, August 1st of senior year. Do not procrastinate.
- Request letters of recommendation from teachers providing a minimum of two week turnaround and write them thank you note immediately following.
- Understand that the student is the final proofreader of all applications and essays and takes full responsibility for omissions, errors, and misspellings.
- Understand there is a 48-hour cancellation policy for all clients.
- Ask questions when things are unclear.
- Do what is asked between appointments and alert consultant when tasks are ready for review.
- Must not seek outside help for essay/resume writing (including parents or other sources) as it ultimately sets us back. Essay/resume writing takes place with consultant and student without additional advice or input.
- Take the initiative to call, text, email, or sign up for session when student wants/needs an appointment, has questions, or has essays ready for review.
- Be on time for appointments.
- Enjoy the process!