
Do’s and Don’ts for College Visits and Campus Tours
College admissions has become a complicated process over the years. Visiting a campus is a great way to show ‘demonstrated interest’ and get a feel for a campus environment. More families are seeking out college admissions help, college essay help, ACT and SAT test prep help, and scholarship help to provide support and guidance throughout the process. As a private college admissions coach serving Brentwood, TN, Franklin, TN, and Nashville, TN students in Williamson County and

Ways to Stand Out with the Ivies
As a private college admissions advisor serving Brentwood, TN, Franklin, TN, and Nashville, TN, I meet students every year who have high hopes for attending a top tier ivy league university. That is wonderful to have such ambitious goals! That being said, it’s very important that students understand that a lot goes into ivy league applications—more than grades and test scores. The reality is that being a part of 6 clubs, playing a few team sports, and volunteering here and th

When Should I Start Thinking About College For My Child?
Learn about the important steps students should take before applying to college.

How to Start a College List
If you have a student in middle school or high school, it’s likely that you have started to receive an abundance of postcards, brochures, and mailings from different college admission offices around the country. Colleges can “purchase” names and addresses of prospective students. The brochures you receive (sometimes daily!) are all part of a college’s strategic marketing plan. After a while, brochures begin to look the same. So, what’s a student to do? With over 4,000 college

Schools Out for Summer! Top Tips for a Productive Summer Break
Summer has arrived and it’s time to sit back, relax, and lounge the months away. Right? Wrong. If you are a high school student, then you should plan on having productive and enriching summers. This not only helps build character and maturity, but it also demonstrates a commitment to working hard when your resume and college application is reviewed by an admissions committee. Every year, parents in Williamson and Davidson county ask me what their child should be doing during

How Much Weight Does the ACT or SAT Score Have in College Admissions?
Standardized exams are a very objective method that college admission officers use to measure a student’s predicted ability to succeed in college. Although not every student considers them a “good test taker”, the reality is that this factor is and will most likely be used in their college admission decisions. As a test prep service in Brentwood, TN, Franklin, TN, and Nashville, TN, I see how nerve racking it can be for students to begin preparing for these important exams. I

5 Tips for Students Accepted into Their Top Choice Colleges
College admissions decisions are in full force. For those of you who have been admitted into your top-choice schools, congratulations! All that hard work, planning, and strategizing paid off! Before you sign on the dotted line and pay your enrollment deposit (typically due May 1), be sure to consider all factors. You want to make an informed and educated decision—which means weighing out many factors. Sitting down with an admissions coach can help you consider all angles. As

Appealing a Financial Aid Award
By now, many students are starting to receive their admission letters and, if applicable, financial aid award letters. It’s always a good idea to sit down with all admission letters, merit scholarship awards, and financial aid award letters and calculate the cost of attendance for each college. Keep in mind that many colleges have “sticker prices,” which need to be considered, especially if specific merit scholarships are only eligible for just one year. Colleges are business

Scholarships for Williamson County and Davidson County Students
A very important part of the college application process are scholarship applications. Like college applications, scholarship applications take time and commitment. As an educational consultant for Franklin, TN, Brentwood, TN, and Nashville, TN students, I am aware of the amount of free money in the community that students can take advantage of applying for to help with their college expenses. The reality is that so much scholarship money goes unclaimed each year. Often, this

Mistakes to Avoid for Standardized Tests
Rarely does anyone enjoy taking standardized exams. They are long, require months of preparation, and provide an objective measurement that is then compared to all other applicants. Many colleges require the ACT, SAT, and SAT II, but some consider these components to be optional in the admissions process. The bottom line is this: If you don’t give test prep 100%, then don’t expect to get the results that you want. Slacking off, not studying, and procrastinating with test prep