How It Works

The process begins with a family meeting that lasts up to two hours to explore the interests and needs of the student; the primary goal of this conversation is information gathering.  It is a two-way street, helping Tina get to know what the student and family needs are and helping the family understand that none of their questions will go unanswered.

Tina purposely takes a limited client load to maximize service. She wants to be accessible to her students via email, text, FaceTime or in person. Once a student and family are enrolled with COLLEGECHOICE there is no limit to the number of meetings, telephone calls and e-mail conversations that clients may have with us.  No two students are the same, and the approach to working with students is highly individualized.

How does Tina come up with “the list?”

Of course there is student and parental input by way of questionnaires and conversation. Academic records, standardized test scores and the courses taken in various grades are all factored in. Additionally, Tina visits colleges. Lots of colleges! She likes to have an idea of the environments and personalities of different campuses. Finding appropriate matches for students means knowing the students and the colleges.

Once the list has been honed to reflect the matches that are appropriate for the student, the applications and the essays need to be addressed. Tina will work with the student throughout this process. All essays and applications are reviewed several times before the student is given the “okay” to click the submit button.

When should we sign up?

Students can begin the process with Tina as early as the freshman year of high school. Although the bulk of our work together will happen later, the selection of courses and activities at this time makes a difference. In personal meetings or using FaceTime or Skype, we can work together on what courses that are available make the most sense for a particular student. It is better to begin your participation in activities early on in high school, and Tina will have some creative suggestions in that regard. With an early enrollment, Tina can get to know a student and help prepare for the next step. She will be there for ongoing support, whenever there are questions about any facet of the process.

If not signed up earlier, Junior year, after the PSAT scores are returned, is a great time to get started with Tina. She can help plan college visits for spring break and assist students in understanding the college timeline. During the summer between Junior and Senior years, we brainstorm for essays, work on initial drafts, and help students gather all of the information that will be needed when the applications are available online.

Tina’s job is not finished when the applications have been submitted. In the spring of Senior year, she is ready to help families decide among the wonderful choices that are available, taking into consideration financial aid and scholarships that have been awarded.

Contact Tina today to get started!