Package Options

A Step-by-Step Process

Mercer-WebStill-1

Exploration Session

To start, I always schedule a free 30-minute phone/Zoom session to talk about how we might work together. The Exploration Session is typically conducted with a parent or guardian only (without the student) because I like to have a frank conversation about your family’s and student’s needs. Meeting the student is an integral part of deciding if I am the best consultant for you, which happens next.

Initial Consultation

After a free Exploration Session, we will typically move forward with a 75-minute initial consultation, during which we will cover a lot of territory – outlining goals and exploring how well specific colleges might fit your needs. This is also an important opportunity for the student and me to meet to see if there is a good fit.

Comprehensive Package

Finally, if all agree that together we make a good team you may choose to move forward with the comprehensive package. This style of working together is not based on an hourly fee. Over many months and years, we will work together to schedule meetings as conveniently as possible and complete important benchmarks and steps in the college application journey based on my custom curriculum and methods. The freedom of the comprehensive package allows you and your family to take ample time to make important decisions, adequately plan for all admission exams, and receive extensive feedback from me throughout the application process.

The comprehensive package includes access to my convenient online platform, which you can use to look up admissions statistics as well as organize personalized calendars and to-do lists. We take advantage of convenient video conferencing, email correspondence, and screencasting sessions in order to accommodate your schedule and needs.

Learn More About My Services

If you would like to learn more about my specific services, visit my Choosing A College, College Entrance Exam Preparation or Help Writing College Application Essays pages, or call me for a free 30-minute phone consultation. I would be happy to discuss your different options and answer any questions you may have about our sessions.

ONLINE SERVICES

I work with students from across the United States and around the world. All my services are available online. Students will find online sessions as convenient and personalized as if we were in the office together.

RECENT POSTS

The First Rule of Applying to College

Many of the students and families I work with experience understandable anxiety about applying to college. This anxiety begins with the many important decisions that should be made during high school: choosing which colleges to apply to, completing the application process, and making a final decision about which school to…

Zen and the Art of College Admission Interviews

A big part of my job as an Independent Educational Consultant is to help students and families understand which parts of the college admission process not to worry so much about and which parts to work hardest on. Often, clients misdirect their worry about what parts of the process to…

Zen and the Art of College Visits

In my experience, students and families often overthink specific aspects of the college admission process. Visiting colleges is one of these areas. Many clients believe they need a “strategy,” along with “tactics,” that define “measurable outcomes” for the perfect college visit that will help them get into their “dream school.”…

Replacing Prestige

If prestige is an illusion when it comes to choosing colleges, as I suggested in my post, “Rethinking Prestige,” how do you choose colleges? After all, considering what schools are the right choices for application is a pretty important decision. One that should not be taken lightly.