Consultation #3
Getting Admitted: Preparing your college applications; writing a powerful essay; preparing for interviews; implementing your admissions strategy; evaluating your options; selecting the best college for you
List of Services Provided
You’ll receive the following services that set Upstate College Planning Services apart from our competitors:
- Discuss what makes one applicant stand out over another from the perspective of an experienced college executive
- Share insider knowledge about colleges’ priorities when reviewing applications
- Discuss whether institutions juggle competing goals when admitting students, and how that juggling can affect your application
- Discuss whether it’s likely that a college will modify its stated admissions policies
- Find out whether attending one college over another really will improve your chances of success/employment
- Discuss how to set the stage for developing productive relationships with faculty
Plus, you’ll receive all of the following:
- Continue to develop your college list; prepare a final list of desired colleges
- Review the strategic considerations associated with the decision to apply Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision
- Help you decide if early action or early admission is right for you
- Assist you with every aspect of the college application (excluding financial aid): personal essays, extracurricular achievements, references, awards, resumes, and background information
- Assist you in developing a detailed work plan to ensure that all applications and supporting materials are completed well in advance of deadlines
- Provide a critical assessment of your strengths and weaknesses as a college applicant, and discuss how to capitalize on your strengths
- Help you distinguish yourself from other applicants so that you improve your chances of acceptance at your “target” and “reach” schools
- Offer guidance on obtaining letters of reference, including how to prepare, whom to ask, and how to evaluate your alternatives if you cannot find a strong reference
- Provide advice on writing a clear, concise resume that highlights your experiences and strengths
- Edit and critique your resume
- Assist you in brainstorming, evaluating, and selecting essay/personal statement topics
- Help you identify a personal theme or area of interest around which your essay/personal statement(s) can be constructed
- Guide you through the essay writing process, helping you create a strong, unforgettable essay
- Fine tune your final essay, editing for both content and grammar
- Provide guidance about what to expect during alumni and on-campus interviews
- Offer tips on interviewing, conduct practice interviews, learn how to emphasize the same themes discussed in your essay/personal statement during the interview
- Review your applications for completeness and accuracy
- Assist you in choosing a college once acceptances have been offered, providing an insider’s perspective on the colleges you’re considering
- Discuss the options available to you if you’re not admitted to your first-choice institution; help you evaluate the alternatives, select the best option for you, and implement your alternative strategy
- Provide guidance about actions to take if you are deferred or waitlisted, including submitting follow-up correspondence and/or additional materials
- Provide suggestions for comparing, evaluating, and if necessary, appealing the financial aid packages offered by your target institutions
- Guide you in undertaking final campus visits to firm up your choice of school
- Discuss why senior year courses, grades, AP exams, and community/volunteer activities are critical to your successful application
- Discuss the pros and cons of professional versus liberal arts education
- Suggest possible college majors, fields of study, and potential careers based on your expressed skills and interests
- Help you evaluate and choose among room/housing options (including fraternities and sororities), meal plans, payment arrangements, and related services
- Offer advice on purchasing dormitory/room amenities, technology, health insurance, debit/ID cards, and related products
- Describe what to expect during your first year of college
Contact us now for further information
