College Admissions Counseling
The reality
The college planning and application process has become an increasingly complex endeavor for parents and students alike. Next Level Up’s college admissions counselors are here to help make this process less stressful and more individualized. We provide the support that can help your child find the right college fit for them, while taking into consideration a multitude of personal factors.
Typically our professional services begin with getting to know who your student is through conversation and guided questioning. We will also review school records, discuss goals and aspirations, prioritize preferences, and address any misconceptions about the process that have taken root.
It can seem that colleges and universities expect the impossible from your child: a top scholar, varsity athlete, involved in the community, budding musician, aspiring artist. What colleges are truly looking for is the right fit for their school and campus. Next Level Up is also looking for the college that is the right fit for every student that comes our way. Additionally, the process of considering, researching, and applying to schools can be overwhelming. Our service and our counselors are here to provide real, multifaceted support and guidance through the entire college application process.
Top schools want evidence of intellectual vitality, a love of learning outside of the classroom, and an extremely angular extracurricular profile that shows that a student is the best at one or two activities.
Typically our professional services begin with getting to know who your student is through conversation and guided questioning. We will also review school records, discuss goals and aspirations, prioritize preferences, and address any misconceptions about the process that have taken root.
It can seem that colleges and universities expect the impossible from your child: a top scholar, varsity athlete, involved in the community, budding musician, aspiring artist. What colleges are truly looking for is the right fit for their school and campus. Next Level Up is also looking for the college that is the right fit for every student that comes our way. Additionally, the process of considering, researching, and applying to schools can be overwhelming. Our service and our counselors are here to provide real, multifaceted support and guidance through the entire college application process.
Top schools want evidence of intellectual vitality, a love of learning outside of the classroom, and an extremely angular extracurricular profile that shows that a student is the best at one or two activities.
Our philosophy
Throughout the process of planning for your high school graduate’s next step, regardless of when it begins, ongoing communication with and feedback from the student is necessary. This dialogue with your student is crucial to our ability to develop a list of appropriate, realistic, and best fit colleges for him or her to choose from.
We will guide your child through each step of the application process and help them present their individual strengths and interests to each college, while showcasing the best version of themselves. The actual forms associated with the applications focus on individual student’s academics, their extracurricular activities, and interests. Some may include a number of short writing samples, a longer personal essay, and, depending upon the college, an interview via phone, online, or in person.
We will stay in touch with the student and family once applications have been submitted until the potential acceptances, deferrals, denials, and wait list notifications come in and a final approach is enacted. Our goal is to always focus on what will best serve the student, to empower them to pursue their own goals and aspirations, and to provide practical support and guidance in the most constructive way possible.
We will guide your child through each step of the application process and help them present their individual strengths and interests to each college, while showcasing the best version of themselves. The actual forms associated with the applications focus on individual student’s academics, their extracurricular activities, and interests. Some may include a number of short writing samples, a longer personal essay, and, depending upon the college, an interview via phone, online, or in person.
We will stay in touch with the student and family once applications have been submitted until the potential acceptances, deferrals, denials, and wait list notifications come in and a final approach is enacted. Our goal is to always focus on what will best serve the student, to empower them to pursue their own goals and aspirations, and to provide practical support and guidance in the most constructive way possible.
Our service approach
Since it depends upon the year of your child, our services may include:
- Initial meeting and assessment of student’s abilities, interests, and goals
- High school record review - communication with HS guidance counselor - Entrance exam review
- Utilization of Naviance
- Recommendations and goal setting with:
High School Curriculum/Course of study/Major
Entrance exam testing strategy, timeline, optional? - Score choice
Tutoring support & testing prep
Athletic recruiting strategy and timeline
Fine Arts portfolio
Extracurricular activities
Internships and paid employment
College visits
Learning challenges - IEP, 504
Interview prep, mock interviews
- List of best fit colleges
- Application assistance
- Virtual meetings and correspondence throughout the process
- Polishing of student profile
- Guidance through acceptance/deferral/rejection/wait list to final decision
- Initial meeting and assessment of student’s abilities, interests, and goals
- High school record review - communication with HS guidance counselor - Entrance exam review
- Utilization of Naviance
- Recommendations and goal setting with:
High School Curriculum/Course of study/Major
Entrance exam testing strategy, timeline, optional? - Score choice
Tutoring support & testing prep
Athletic recruiting strategy and timeline
Fine Arts portfolio
Extracurricular activities
Internships and paid employment
College visits
Learning challenges - IEP, 504
Interview prep, mock interviews
- List of best fit colleges
- Application assistance
- Virtual meetings and correspondence throughout the process
- Polishing of student profile
- Guidance through acceptance/deferral/rejection/wait list to final decision