Personal College Counseling

8th to 11th Graders

“My daughter truly appreciates Sonia and we’ve been so thankful for her valuable help and advice during the college application process. Sonia is diligent and responsible, very organized and down to the details, and to kids, she is a patient and encouraging nice lady. Through weekly meetings with Sonia, my daughter stayed on track for the process especially with college essays and resumes, and finished tasks well on time. At last, with Sonia’s assistance my girl got acceptance from her first choice school! We highly recommend her to you if you are looking for an expert to help ease your way towards your or your kid’s dream school.”

-Proud Mother, Northwestern University Student ★★★★★

SERVICES

Create a High School Action Plan

Description:

Students learn how to create a personalized, goal-oriented high school action plan to follow from now until high school graduation. The plan has key deadlines and checklists so that students don’t miss a beat. The earlier you start preparing for college admissions, the better.

Online Class Material:

“Your High School Action Plan” Video, High School Deadlines Sheet, Sample High School Action Personal College Counseling: Students submit their action plans for review by a professional college counselor.

Personal College Counseling:

Students submit their action plans for review by a professional college counselor.

Select High School Classes

Description:

Students learn how to choose the most relevant and challenging classes in high school in line with their goals. This includes consideration of AP and honors classes at the high school, community college classes, and accelerated summer classes at universities.

Online Class Material:

“Selecting High School Classes” Video, Sample High School Action Plan

Personal College Counseling:

Students submit their list of high school classes for review by a professional college counselor.

Explore Careers

Description:

Students learn how to explore careers through research, job shadowing, internships, clubs and summer camps, books, documentaries, multiple intelligence assessments, and personality type assessments.

Online Class Material:

“Exploring Careers” Video, 2 Podcasts with College Admissions Experts, Career Exploration Tip Sheet

Personal College Counseling:

Students work with a professional college counselor to complete a structured career exploration program, including reflection exercises and activities.

Find Your Academic Focus

Description:

Students learn to focus on an academic area during high school. Such focus can demonstrate in-depth mastery of a subject, which college admissions officers appreciate. It is especially important when applying to a specialty school or program (engineering schools, accelerated medicine programs, dual-degree programs, music schools, etc).

Online Class Material:

“Find Your Academic Focus” Video, 1 Podcast with a College Admissions Expert, Sample High School Action Plan

Personal College Counseling:

Students receive one-on-one guidance from a professional college counselor on how to develop mastery in their chosen area of focus.

Develop Leadership Skills

Description:

Students learn how to engage in personal reflection and outline their values, vision, and goals in life. They learn time-honored secrets of success and leadership. They learn effective communication and community building skills, how to implement these principles in their daily lives, reflect on their experiences, and continue to grow as leaders in their communities.

Online Class Material:

“Develop Your Leadership Skills” Video, 5 Podcasts with College Admissions Experts

Personal College Counseling:

Students work one-on-one with a professional college counselor to develop their leadership skills.

Plan Your Summer

Description:

Students learn how to find rewarding summer activities, jobs, internships, and community service experiences that are looked upon favorably by colleges. Summer activities that help strengthen a student's application will be different for each student. For one student, an 8-week community service trip in a rural area will be an important life-transforming event. For another student, working at a local business will demonstrate a strong work ethic. Students learn how to apply to various programs, as well as create a week-by-week plan for the summer to utilize this important time.

Online Class Material:

“Planning Your Summer” Video, 1 Podcast with a College Admissions Expert, Sample Summer Plan, Summer Plan Template, Reading List

Personal College Counseling:

Students submit their summer program application essays, as well as their weekly summer plan, for review by a professional college counselor.

Learn Study Skills

Description:

“Work smarter, not harder!” Students learn key study skills to save time and effort: memorization techniques, mind-mapping, the Cornell note-taking method, speed reading, time management, shorthand, and many other techniques!

Online Class Material:

“Study Skills” Video, 2 Podcasts with College Admissions Experts, Study Skills Tip Sheet

Personal College Counseling:

Students receive one-on-one guidance from a professional college counselor on how to save time and improve their academic performance with study skills.

Choose Extracurricular Activities

Description:

Students learn how to select challenging and rewarding extracurricular activities to participate in. Students are encouraged to take leadership roles and participate in meaningful activities. We use a model based on multiple intelligence to understand a student’s strengths, help them discover their genius, and do what they love.

Online Class Material:

“Extracurricular Activities” Video, 1 Podcast with a College Admissions Expert, Extracurricular Activities Tip Sheet, Sample High School Action Plan

Personal College Counseling:

Students work with a professional college counselor to make sure they are participating in the right number and kind of extracurricular activities.

Develop a Test Prep Plan

Description:

Students learn how to create a standardized test prep plan. They also learn about the details of test score reporting. They learn which tests to take, test taking strategies, and how to use super-scoring and score choice in their favor. We provide guidance on SAT, ACT, AP, and IB tests. Students who wish to take advantage of our one-on-one tutoring for standardized tests will learn about tutors who can work with them to help boost their scores.

Online Class Material:

“Acing Standardized Tests” Video, 1 Podcast with a College Admissions Expert, Test Prep Tip Sheet

Personal College Counseling:

Students submit their standardized test plans and scores for review by a professional college counselor.

Ignite Your Creativity

Description:

Students learn to how to develop their creativity from world-renowned experts. They study the lives of great geniuses such as Leonardo DaVinci and develop all nine types of intelligence: naturalist, musical, logical-mathematical, existential, interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, linguistic, intrapersonal, and visual-spatial. College admissions officers appreciate students who are creative, make connections between different disciplines, and think outside the box.

Online Class Material:

“Ignite Your Creativity” Video, 1 Podcast with an Expert on Creativity

Personal College Counseling:

Students work one-on-one with a professional college counselor to ignite their creativity and keep it alive.

Personal College Counseling

8th to 11th Graders

Create a High School Action Plan

Select High School Classes

Explore Careers

Find Your Academic Focus

Develop Leadership Skills

Plan Your Summer

Learn Study Skills

Choose Extracurricular Activities

Develop a Test Prep Plan

Ignite Your Creativity

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