College is a large investment
— PLAN, CHOOSE, AND APPLY WISELY

Description of Services:

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• “Housekeeping” Assessment
  This service is to assist the student with course selection and high school activity planning, and to provide standardized testing advice, transcript review, and a resume critique.
   

• Career Interest Assessment
  This optional service is to expertly administer and interpret the YouScience assessment for the student in order to discover potential college majors and career areas. This is a perfect service for a student uncertain about his or her future vocation.
   

• Finding the “Hooks”
  As it is necessary to distinguish oneself, this service serves to help a student discern his or her “hooks,” unique qualities that make him or her stand out from other highly qualified applicants.
   

• Creating the College List
  This in-depth process selectively matches a student’s personal and academic goals with a list of approximately 15-20 colleges, tailored to the student’s individual needs. The list focuses on finding the “right fit” colleges for the student and includes an equal balance of “likely”, “target”, and “reach” schools. jj College Admission Advising facilitates refinement of the initial college list with students and parents. The College List creation process includes:

  • Meetings with the student to discuss college interests.

  • Meeting with the parent(s) or guardian(s) to discuss college interests.

  • jj College Admission Advising conducts hours of independent preparation to create the college list.

  • Meetings for the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss the college list.

   

• College Tuition Strategy and Financial Aid
  With skyrocketing college costs, it is critical to discuss costs and strategies before families embark on the college process. This discussion includes an overview of the college financial aid process, strategies to receive maximum need and merit money, the role student grades and tests scores play in the financial award, and how to choose colleges to receive the maximum amount of money.
   

• Resume
  A complete and current resume is helpful for completing college applications. This service is to assist the student in creating a resume or revising a resume if the student already has one.
   

• Activities Descriptions for Application
  To prepare college applications, particularly the common application, the student needs to craft language to describe his or her activities. This service is to assist the student in preparing descriptions of the various activities on his or her resume, and in determining the amount of time spent with each activity.
   

• Application Checklist, Action Plan, and Timeline
  This service is to help the student pace submitting applications in a timely manner, and to put applications in order by both due dates and priority. With this service, the student receives a suggested timeline for applications to all of the colleges on the student’s list. The student also receives personalized lists of application requirement along with checklists for the student to use as he or she completes each item.
   

• College Application Review
  Recognizing that the application is the most important tool a college uses to determine whether a student is accepted, waitlisted or denied, the purpose of this service is to coach the student in editing applications line-by-line to ensure that the applications are error free and that they effectively highlight the student’s strengths and accomplishments.
   

• College Essay Prep
  These essay preparatory meetings are to discuss and review the pertinent essay prompts, brainstorm essay topics, and discuss college application essay structure, purpose, and intent (which is different from essay structure and purpose in high school classes).
   

• College Essay Critique and Guidance
  This service is for review, guidance, direction, and comment on content, structure, and polishing, as the student completes drafts and final versions of essays. 

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• Interview Skill Preparation Meeting
  Armed with the questions college admissions representatives ask students, this service allows students to practice actual interview questions and receive direct feedback on ways to improve the quality of the response. The goal of this interview preparation and practice is to have the student feel so comfortable with the interview that it enhances his or her chance for admission.
   

• General Meetings
  General meetings are available for families who have outstanding questions not otherwise encompassed by the other services listed.
   

• Final Choice of College
  Recognizing that there are many factors to consider when a student makes his or her final choice of college (after obtaining all admission decisions), this service is to give guidance and assist in comparing college offers to the degree the student and the student’s parents would like input.
   

• Success in High School Discussion
  This service is to generally discuss what the student can do to make the rest of the high school experience a successful endeavor, in light of his or her goals.

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• Athletic Recruitment Advising and Planning
  If the student plans to play varsity athletics, jj College Admission Advising offers service to guide students through the recruitment process, including guidance regarding the process and rules of recruiting for DI, DII, and DIII athletics, providing a suggested college list with coach contact information, and advice regarding creating an athletic profile, recruitment videos (advice- not creating of the video itself), communications with colleges and coaches, official and unofficial visits, and national letters of intent.
   

• Art Supplement and Audition Information
  If the student plans to submit an art supplement with his or her college applications, or if the student plans to apply to a visual or performing arts program, it may be necessary for the student to prepare a portfolio, pre-screening recording, or audition. This service is to discuss the process, requirements, and timing of such requirements.