What is this page all about?
Practical advice and tips for students and parents who are struggling with the college transition process. If you think of the process as three separate steps it will reduce your stress level. The earlier you start and the more time you spend on selection, the easier the application and financial aid steps will be. Thus, the web address www.SelectApplyPay.com.
How do I navigate this site?
This site has four subpages (the links on the left side of this page). The first link contains contact and biographical information about me. The next link is devoted to those families that may need individual help (more on that below). The next link is filled with tips, hints, suggestions and commentary on what you really need to be thinking about when you approach this monumental task. The last link contains one of the most comprehensive collections of external links related to these topics that you will find online.
Why am I posting all of this information for free?
Every year I field the same questions and concerns about college rankings, SAT/ACT, applications, essays, interviews, visitations, letters of recommendation, and financial aid. So many students and parents fall into the same traps year after year and spend a tremendous amount of time and effort working through the process. If you start the process early and are diligent in your research, it is manageable. All of this information is based on my experience in helping more than a thousand students get through this process.
Who am I?
I am a high school guidance counselor and I am passionate about helping students navigate the confusing, frustrating and difficult process of selecting, getting accepted to, and figuring out how they are going to pay for college. I take pride in helping students find the schools that fit them best and these schools range from short term trade or technical schools to four year colleges and graduate schools. I have over ten years experiencing in this field and I have earned two Masters Degrees in the process (M.Ed. in Secondary School Counseling and an M.S. in Online Teaching and Learning).
How can I help you?
Please take full advantage of your high school guidance counselor or college counselor at your school. Some families do an extensive amount of research and homework and take advantage of the assets available to them at their school but find that they still desire more help. If that is your situation, please utilize all of the content that I have on this website and feel free to contact me. I am available on a paid basis for individual help. College consulting is something that I love to do. I take great pride in working with students and parents in order to help them to better understand the process, and thus maximize their chances of being admitted to their first choice college. College consulting is also referred to as "educational consulting," and "private college counseling." For more information, click on the College Consulting link above.
