What school is a great fit for you and you a great fit for it?
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.
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.
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.
Testimonials
The college application process was so much less painful with the help of Todd and the Next Level Up team when compared with the experience with my older children! Todd evaluated my daughter’s results and listened to her goals, as well as considered my expectations, and came up with a realistic and detailed plan. He paid attention to the timeline and reminded us about to do tasks and deadlines. Todd generated a detailed Excel sheet with a list of schools that were right for her: safety; reach; and match colleges. This master sheet included key factors, such as deadlines, tuition fees and school rankings. He reviewed my daughter’s school grades and activities and helped with the essays. Exactly what we needed! Thanks to his follow-ups and pep talks, for my daughter it was more of an inspiring educational experience, not just the application's process.
Eva G. - Needham, MA (1/5/2021)
Mr. Blechner relieved me from a lot of stress about colleges. His optimistic approach really helped; I am so happy that he supported me. Without him, I would not have known about some of my preferred colleges that I applied to. We met multiple times (virtually) to come up with the right choices of colleges and met to brainstorm and to choose the best ideas for application essays. Mr. Blechner inspired me to perform at school to my best ability and followed my academic performance through multiple meetings. The writing tutor edited with me all the application essays up to perfection. I got into my favorite colleges with the first round of early applications. I am lucky to have Mr. Bleckner as a longtime supporter, tutor and college counselor.
Lucy G. (daughter of Eva G.) - Needham, MA (1/22/2021)
The college application process was so much less painful with the help of Todd and the Next Level Up team when compared with the experience with my older children! Todd evaluated my daughter’s results and listened to her goals, as well as considered my expectations, and came up with a realistic and detailed plan. He paid attention to the timeline and reminded us about to do tasks and deadlines. Todd generated a detailed Excel sheet with a list of schools that were right for her: safety; reach; and match colleges. This master sheet included key factors, such as deadlines, tuition fees and school rankings. He reviewed my daughter’s school grades and activities and helped with the essays. Exactly what we needed! Thanks to his follow-ups and pep talks, for my daughter it was more of an inspiring educational experience, not just the application's process.
Eva G. - Needham, MA (1/5/2021)
Mr. Blechner relieved me from a lot of stress about colleges. His optimistic approach really helped; I am so happy that he supported me. Without him, I would not have known about some of my preferred colleges that I applied to. We met multiple times (virtually) to come up with the right choices of colleges and met to brainstorm and to choose the best ideas for application essays. Mr. Blechner inspired me to perform at school to my best ability and followed my academic performance through multiple meetings. The writing tutor edited with me all the application essays up to perfection. I got into my favorite colleges with the first round of early applications. I am lucky to have Mr. Bleckner as a longtime supporter, tutor and college counselor.
Lucy G. (daughter of Eva G.) - Needham, MA (1/22/2021)
Our service
Depending upon the age 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:
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 from acceptance/deferral/rejection/wait list through to final decision
Next Level Up provides a comprehensive list that easily compares and contrasts your chosen schools based on the following 30 features, facts, opportunities, requirements, and other important decision making factors:
a. Application deadlines
b. Common App? Universal College App? Coalition App?
c. Public or Private
d. Location, nearest big city, climate
e. Undergrad student population
f. Cost - tuition, fees, room and board
g. Schools and Majors known for and offered
h. Interview - optional, required, not available?
i. High School Course Requirements
j. Average GPA
k. Demonstrated Interest Factor
l. Acceptance Rate
m. Graduation Rate
n. Test Optional?
o. SAT/ACT Average Scores
p. Study Abroad Opportunities
q. Internship and Research Opportunities
r. Student to Faculty Ratio
s. Division 1 notable sports teams?
t. Academic Support Center
u. Career Services
v. Type of campus, size of campus
w. Driving distance from your home, Can first year students have a car on campus?
x. Types of on campus residences, Are first year students required to live on campus?
y. On site health services, banking services
z. On campus recreation centers, number of club/intramural sports teams
aa. Number of student run clubs and organizations on campus
bb. Greek life
cc. Student job opportunities
dd. Average salary 10 years after graduation
- 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:
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 from acceptance/deferral/rejection/wait list through to final decision
Next Level Up provides a comprehensive list that easily compares and contrasts your chosen schools based on the following 30 features, facts, opportunities, requirements, and other important decision making factors:
a. Application deadlines
b. Common App? Universal College App? Coalition App?
c. Public or Private
d. Location, nearest big city, climate
e. Undergrad student population
f. Cost - tuition, fees, room and board
g. Schools and Majors known for and offered
h. Interview - optional, required, not available?
i. High School Course Requirements
j. Average GPA
k. Demonstrated Interest Factor
l. Acceptance Rate
m. Graduation Rate
n. Test Optional?
o. SAT/ACT Average Scores
p. Study Abroad Opportunities
q. Internship and Research Opportunities
r. Student to Faculty Ratio
s. Division 1 notable sports teams?
t. Academic Support Center
u. Career Services
v. Type of campus, size of campus
w. Driving distance from your home, Can first year students have a car on campus?
x. Types of on campus residences, Are first year students required to live on campus?
y. On site health services, banking services
z. On campus recreation centers, number of club/intramural sports teams
aa. Number of student run clubs and organizations on campus
bb. Greek life
cc. Student job opportunities
dd. Average salary 10 years after graduation