Take control of your college application journey.
Remember when applying to college really was as easy as 1-2-3. Not anymore! These days, the application process can be overwhelming and fraught with anxiety. This year, specifically, Covid-19 is impacting the college application process in unprecedented ways. We’re here to help you through it. Applying To College 123 will give your students the guidance and tools to select their best fit schools and submit winning applications.
Our mission is to reduce the stress and anxiety students (and families) may feel as they navigate the college process. We help students learn how to research schools, write compelling essays that show colleges who they are, and organize all the parts of a successful college application. We’ll show them step by step how to maximize their potential, assess financial considerations, social fit, and return on investment so they select the best fits for them.
Applying to College 123 is the first of its kind: an interactive, modulated course that walks students through all aspects of the application process. From the first module where we encourage students to evaluate their best college choices, to the last where we celebrate their acceptances, Applying To College 123 is your partner throughout this process.
Through a combination of videos, online meetings, worksheets and personal feedback, we’ll provide your student with the tools they need to be successful - and confident - in this daunting process. Each module also includes a Parent FAQ so you can be prepared and confident to discuss each activity with your student. Additionally, we’re here for you with online parent “coffee chats” so we can address any concerns or questions you might have.
Module 1
Researching Your College List
We show students how to conduct self-assessments so they know what is important to them in their college selections and then show them the tricks of the trade to research schools in depth and breadth. Their college research and information ends up in a trackable format, not in random notes in their phones or scraps of paper on their desks. When they finish this module they’ll have a college comparison worksheet that allows you to have a meaningful conversation with them about their options.
Module 2
Understanding Application Platforms and Meeting Timelines
We’ll introduce students to the various application platforms and the nuances within each one. Students will be given worksheets to complete for teacher recommendations, extracurricular activities, and standardized tests. We’ll teach them how to organize their application timelines and strategically determine which application deadline (ED? EA? RD? Rolling?) is right for them and for their college acceptance odds.
Module 3
Considering Finances
If financial considerations are important to you, this module addresses the scholarship and financial aid aspect of applying. For many families, the financial obligations of college impact the final decision as much as factors like academic programs, ranking, location and fit.
Module 4
Brainstorming and Writing Personal Essays
This is one of the key aspects of the college application as it shows colleges who students are and why they would be an asset to their academic community. After guiding hundreds of students through the brainstorming and editing process, we know what is required to stand out from the crowd. We’ll also share some little known industry knowledge about essay dos and don’ts. This year, more than any other as colleges need to look beyond the tests, the college essays might be the most important component of the application.
Module 5
Creating Resumes and Preparing for Interviews
Many schools rely on interviews as part of the application process. We’ll highlight how to prepare for these interviews, demonstrate interest, and be memorable in a virtual sea of applicants. We’ll also provide tips for strategic follow-up with admissions representatives. In addition, we’ll help students prepare resumes that highlight their academic, extracurricular, work and service activities. These resumes, incidentally, follow the same formats that are used at the most prestigious colleges and graduate schools in the country. Not only will these resumes help distinguish students in the application process, they’ll send them off to college ready to apply for internships, research positions, and other career growth opportunities.
Module 6
Submitting Supplemental Work
For some students, especially those interested in the arts or applying to BFA programs, submitting a visual arts portfolio, audition materials, or films is an integral part of the application. For non-BFA seekers, submitting supplemental art materials can show the breadth of their talents and passions, enhancing applications for studies in STEM or humanities as well.
Module 7
The Waiting Game
Acceptances, deferrals, or waitlists — as responses return from schools, the temperature rises. For deferrals and waitlists, we show students how to respond to schools to improve their chances of acceptance. Acceptances may also be accompanied by financial aid packages that fall short of expectations. In these instances we show families how to negotiate these offers.
Module 8
Making Final Decisions and Planning for New Beginnings
This module culminates the journey and celebrates student successes guiding them to create their personal roadmap to success in college. This self directed guideline gives students the tools to ensure that their return on their college investment is achievable and memorable.
“Oh, the places you'll go!”
— Dr. Seuss
Let Applying to College 123 be your guide to a strategic and successful college application process
Start your college journey today! Take our free survey to see if Applying to College 123 is the right program for you.