We use a state-of-the-art, data-rich comprehensive search and app management platforms Counselmore, College Kickstart and college financial planning software College Aid Pro to help build a list that meets your needs and your values. We offer suggestions for schools to start looking at, coaching in how to do college research, a template for organizing information in a shared online platform  (that will come in handy during essay-writing), deadlines for getting it done, coaching for preparing for virtual and in-person visits, listening and consulting as you reflect on your research--what do you like and what do you dislike? What feels like a good fit? Liberal Arts College? HBCU? Big State U? College Promise and then transfer?

What do I have to bring? We do a series of short questionnaires and values exercises to help discern what makes you amazing. Clarifying your values and strengths helps with everything from deciding what activities and coursework to pursue in high school to which majors to pursue in college to which colleges are the best fit for you and what you want to write about in your essays. 

Should I do Running Start? Which extracurriculars are a good fit for me? What might I do in the summers and on breaks? What are colleges looking for? Should I try to continue my activities or sports in college? 

Should I apply Early Action or Early Decision? What’s the difference? How can it fit with my existing workload?

You get access to a research-based interest and aptitude assessment to help discern strengths and possible majors/careers. We can support your resume writing and your LinkedIn profile creation.

(Great!) Certain schools are better for this than others—we can help guide you.

We will help you find a simple way to share who you are, what’s important to you, and what skill, values and qualities you’ll bring with you do college—we’ll do this one step a time so it will feel pretty easy.

College essays are a unique genre unlike what we are taught in school. They want to be shown who you are—just tell an authentic piece of you.

You have a limited amount of space to fit it all—we will prioritize those activities that help you tell the story of who you are and what you will bring to the college community. We will help package your activities and interests in a format that helps colleges see how much they need you on their campus. 

If you have an IEP or a 504, we can support you in finding a good-fit school and in getting the support available once you enroll. We subscribe to College Supports for comprehensive data from each college’s accommodations office so you don’t have to, plus have first-hand experience with schools that are strong for students with learning differences.

We will support you and your family in completing the forms and financial aid and/or scholarship applications to help determine what your target schools might be before you create your college application list. This is an important family conversation Brynnen has supported with many families, including two-household families. Our shared subscription software offers Financial Fit and a professional version of CollegeAidPro both of which will help evaluate projected costs to guide college list-building and also help you complete the forms step by step.

Should I submit my scores? ‘Depends on which schools you’re targeting; we’ll do the research and make a plan to prepare, test, and submit if that’s what’s needed, or to apply without scores if that’s what’s indicated. Take a practice ACT and SAT and decide which test shows your best result. The shared software has data to compare your performance to currently enrolled students at most colleges so you see “what your chances” are.

Many students do this and we can consider whether this is a good fit for you and what you might do with that year. Brynnen has done 10+ hours of training with the Gap Year Association.

Coaching is also available to:

• Prepare for visits with college reps 

• Prepare for a college interview 

• Prepare for a virtual or in-person college visit or plan a college visit itinerary 

• Communicate with college admissions counselors and financial aid officers

• Review offers and/or aid packages prior to enrollment 

• Work the waitlist 

• Support for FAFSA and CSS 

• Apply as a recruitable athlete—can also refer you to PerfectCollegeMatch.com or rlopezcoaching.com for complete services for aspiring college D1 or D2 athletes. 

• Answer any other questions/issues.