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College Journey Coaching offers a range of services including college planning, application assistance, essay editing, financial aid guidance, and more.
Most families start in 9th or 10th grade, but it’s never too late. Early planning helps with courses, activities, and reducing stress later.
Colleges care about whether a student challenged themselves within what their high school offers. AP, IB, and honors are all good, as long as the choices fit the student and don’t overload them.
Quality matters more than quantity. A few consistent, meaningful activities have more impact than a long list of one-off clubs.
Yes, but whether to submit scores depends on the colleges on the list and the student’s academic profile. The strategy varies case by case.
Summer programs can help, but only when they connect to a student’s genuine interests or goals. What matters most is meaningful engagement, not name-brand prestige. Programs that simply require a fee to participate carry less weight than opportunities a student earns or intentionally pursues, like selective programs, internships, or shadowing experiences.
Most students do well with a balanced list of 8–12 schools, including reach, target, and likely schools.
Match academics, personality, budget, campus vibe, and long-term goals. Balance means strong options at every level.
Campus culture, academic fit, learning support, advising, housing, and student life. What a student feels on campus matters too.
Most students begin brainstorming in late spring or early summer, prior to their senior year. That keeps the fall less chaotic.
Parents help with logistics and provide support, but students should own the actual application process. I help families keep this balance.
Merit aid is based on achievements. Need-based aid is based on family finances. Many students receive both.
Yes, fill out the FAFSA. Many colleges use it to award their own need-based aid, not just federal aid. Even if you don’t expect to qualify, it’s worth having the form on file. Family finances can shift quickly through job changes, divorce, or medical issues, and having the FAFSA submitted keeps options open.
Course selection shapes how colleges see a student’s readiness and interests. Picking appropriate rigor and electives that reflect genuine strengths and interests helps show growth and academic curiosity. It’s less about taking every hard class offered at your high school and more about making thoughtful, aligned choices.
Yes. They look at the full transcript, the level of rigor, and how a student progressed over time.
A college interview is usually a relaxed conversation with an admissions rep or an alum who wants to learn more about you beyond your application. Be ready to talk about your interests and experiences, show real curiosity, and ask a few specific questions that show you've looked into the school. A little prep goes a long way in helping you come across confident and engaged.
Taking each test at least once can be helpful. See which one fits their strengths, then focus prep and retesting on that test to maximize scores.
Very. They give colleges insight into character, work habits, and growth. Choosing the right teachers matters.
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