MyCollegeAdvisor.Net

What shall we expect on the first day of counseling? 

A meeting with the entire family for a presentation and a questionnaire to help you begin discovering your best college choices or testing options.

 

What types of customers have you worked with?

We work with students from every socioeconomic strata.  We work with students in public, private, parochial and home-schooled situations, within the United States and internationally. Students range in interests from undecided majors, to pre-med or pre-law.  They are athletes, artists, dancers and other specializations.  We welcome students who need accommodations, as well as students who have excelled and are bound to the highest ranked colleges in the country.  We are a full-spectrum college counseling service. 

 

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their college advisor?

College counseling is an odd field, in that many enter it not by choice, but by default.  A school assigns a teacher to the role, and the person has to do it, not because s/he loves the work, but because it was an assignment.  Or, they may love the work, but feel overwhelmed by the student/counselor ratios:  500/1 in many urban public schools.  Counselors need to love the job, love working with students to find colleges, have experience with admissions staff and visits to colleges.  Look for this in your counselor.

 

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Meet as a family with the person before you start the engagement.  Make sure that person understands your child and is committed to giving the family significant time and attention.  Beware of schemes and people who guarantee a certain test score or a certain college admit.  We do not advise working with international agents who guarantee admission to a college for a fee.

 

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I have been in education for over 20 years: as a high school teacher, as a college faculty member and as a former Director of Education at the Smithsonian.  For many years, I oversaw the office that provided college internships and graduate fellowships.  I am also an AP exam instructor certified by the College Board for history, government and English language.  Teaching is what I love and designing effective curricula is what I do best.

 

What are your most popular services? 

• In 2021 Pandemic shutdown educational assistance:  Math is the number one request; followed by writing

• College counseling and merit aid applications

• ACT and SAT exam preparation in all areas of the exams

• Accommodations testing and IEP/504 plan development

• AP Exam tutoring

• General tutoring in subject areas for high school students

• Summer internships and study abroad for high school students

 

 

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I have taught high school for many years.  I also been on faculty at the undergraduate level at several colleges and been an administrator for K-Grad programs at the Smithsonian.  I am the Regional Coordinator for my professional association. I regularly attend conferences in my field.  I generally visit 10-20 colleges a year.  I have visited over 150 colleges, including those most popular along the East Coast in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, west and southeast coastal areas.  As a result, I am called on to train other AP teachers and guidance counselors.

 

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

This was a phenomenal year for test preparation.  32 was the average ACT composite for most of my students.