Getting Into College Is Not A Secret – It’s A Science
Before you can “blink an eye”, the safe haven of middle school and preadolescence morphs into high school and (at times) the more stressful teen years. College planning is probably not the first issue that parents and kids want to tackle as the middle school years wane and high school begins, however, making a commitment to establish long range goals along with developing strategies and timelines which support this effort will pay high dividends down the road.
The “junior/senior year” crunch, which can be onerous for both students and parents alike, is not only easier, but far more efficient with a game plan that begins in late middle school/early high school. I can’t tell you how many times I have met with families and hear the lament - “I only wish I had thought about this earlier!”
L.A. School Scout has worked with you to find the right school for your child. For some of you we’ve known you since preschool or elementary, and helped you grapple with what type of education you envisioned for your child. Most of that relationship was with you, the parent, rather than the child. But now that they are ready to think about and plan for their future, we want to continue to be there for the whole family.
With all of the choices out there it can be overwhelming to decide what constitutes a good college for a particular student, and then figure out what it takes to get into that college. We can help you streamline the process, by putting together a game plan that will maximize your child’s possibilities for getting accepted into the school of their choice. This is a planning process that can start as early as middle school, or as late as 11th grade. We feel that families need at least one year to a year and a half of planning in order to maximize each student’s potential and achieve the best results.
Basic College Planning Consultation
This service includes five in-office consultation sessions, as follows:
- Intake meeting with student and parents, including review of L.A. College Scout’s College Planning Questionnaire, overview of the process and developing a timeline.
- College List session – preliminary college list; and guidelines on how to research colleges and arrange for college visits
- Application and essay session – including pointers on the Common Application and essay review
- Final College Choice session – review of the college list
- Discretionary meeting – final meeting can include an additional session on any of the above sessions, mock interview, financial aid, "Success in College" - discussion of issues relating to beginning college such as: choosing freshman classes, exploring various majors, extracurricular involvement, time management, roommate issues, etc.
The time interval between sessions is discretionary, with consideration given to the grade level and specific needs of the individual student. Within the framework of the five sessions, the Basic College Planning Consultation can include:
- L.A. School Scout’s College Planning Questionnaire and worksheets
- Comprehensive review of student transcripts and standardized test scores
- Information on how to design the most effective middle and high school curriculum
- Understanding the UC (University of California) course requirements
- Understanding standardized testing – myths and realities, and how to develop a timeline for these
- Maximizing presentation of student’s extracurricular activities
- Discussion about financing a college education
- Information about how to decide where to apply to college
- Information on how Admissions Committees really work.
Comprehensive College Planning Consultation
This service includes TEN in-office consultation sessions, as follows:
- Intake meeting with student and parents, including review of L.A. College Scout’s College Planning Questionnaire, overview of the process and developing a timeline.
- College List session – preliminary college list; and guidelines on how to research colleges and arrange for college visits
- Application and essay sessions (first of 2) – including pointers on the Common Application and essay review
- Application and essay sessions (second of 2) – including pointers on the Common Application and essay review
- Financial Aid session – financial aid application guidance and researching academic scholarship opportunities
- Final College Choice session – review of the college list
- 8, 9, 10 Discretionary sessions – four discretionary sessions can include an additional session on any of the above sessions, mock interview, review of financial aid packages, "Success in College" - discussion of issues relating to beginning college such as: choosing freshman classes, exploring various majors, extracurricular involvement, time management, roommate issues, etc.
The time interval between sessions is discretionary, with consideration given to the grade level and specific needs of the individual student. Within the framework of the ten sessions, the Comprehensive College Planning Consultation will include:
- L.A. School Scout’s College Planning Questionnaire and worksheets
- Comprehensive review of student transcripts and standardized test scores
- Information on how to design the most effective middle and high school curriculum
- Understanding the UC (University of California) course requirements
- Understanding standardized testing – myths and realities, and how to develop a timeline for these
- Maximizing presentation of student’s extracurricular activities
- Discussion about financing a college education
- Information about how to decide where to apply to college
- Information on how Admissions Committees really work.
Right College Fit Package
This service includes TWO in-office consultation sessions:
- College List session – review of L.A. College Scout’s College Planning Questionnaire and worksheets; comprehensive review of student transcripts and standardized test scores; preliminary college list; and guidelines on how to research colleges.
- Final College Choice session – review of the college list; how to arrange for college visits.
College Application / Essay Package
This service includes TWO in-office consultation sessions:
- College Application/Essay session – review of L.A. College Scout’s College Planning Questionnaire and worksheets. Comprehensive review of student application, including pointers on the Common Application and essay review.
- Final Essay Review session – final review of college essays.
Our Mission: L.A. School Scout/L.A. College Scout™ helps clients make informed and thoughtful choices about the schools that will best suit their family. Our mission is to promote, encourage and applaud children's enthusiasm for school and learning; take the mystery and anxiety out of the school finding process for parents; and provide families with comprehensive information on all of their educational choices. For more information about our services, please contact L.A. College Scout™ at 877.877.6240, or use our Contact form.
