WHEN SHOULD WE BEGIN OUR WORK WITH COLLEGE COMPASS?
DO YOU WORK WITH TRANSFER STUDENTS?
DO YOU OFFER TEST PREP?
DO YOU OFFER HELP WITH ESSAYS?
DO YOU ASSIST WITH FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS?
DO YOU LEAD COLLEGE VISITING TRIPS?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
WHEN SHOULD WE BEGIN OUR WORK WITH COLLEGE COMPASS?
When to begin your work with College Compass is a personal decision. Each student operates on their own timeline: some students are ready to begin college discussions as early as ninth grade; others come more slowly to the process and may not be ready until well into junior year. That said, families typically engage College Compass early on junior year or the summer prior. Aspiring collegiate athletes will benefit from an earlier start as the recruiting process accelerates the college application timeline. Students interested in the US Service Academies also benefit from an early start.
DO YOU WORK WITH TRANSFER STUDENTS?
Each year College Compass works with a small number of transfer applicants. These are college students who have learned about College Compass through family or friends and turn to us for guidance and a new perspective on their profile. Students who have worked with College Compass previously and are considering transferring, most often, receive transfer counseling at no cost.
DO YOU OFFER TEST PREP?
We do not offer test prep but do work with students on creating a testing timeline and offer counsel on which standardized tests (ACT, SAT, SAT Subject test) can be beneficial to a student’s profile.
DO YOU OFFER HELP WITH ESSAYS?
Yes! This is an integral part of the College Compass package. Essay brainstorming, editing and proofreading are top priorities and we work to have students complete their primary college essay the summer before senior year. For families who sign on for the comprehensive counseling package are never charged extra for additional supplemental essays.
DO YOU ASSIST WITH FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS?
We will support you as you work your way through the financial aid process, introducing and explaining to you to the Net Price Calculator, FAFSA and CSS Profile. Families will be responsible for completing the applications but assistance from College Compass is just a phone call away. College Compass can also offer students guidance on pursuing scholarships both local and national as well as college specific merit scholarships.
DO YOU LEAD COLLEGE VISITING TRIPS?
We do not offer college trips (there are companies that specialize in college trips.) We encourage you to visit college campuses whether close by or a flight away. We provide suggested visiting itineraries to make the best use of your time and finances.
Several times each year, College Compass will visit several college and university campuses all over the US to stay current. We have also visited universities in the UK and Canada. Information collected from these visits informs how we guide our students as they consider what they want in a college and community. Your visits to college campuses will be one of the best parts of your college journey. Be sure to ask lots of questions, explore beyond the prescribed admission office tour and discover corners of the campus that the tour guide doesn’t show you. And always, ALWAYS, take notes!
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
We offer both a Full Service Comprehensive Package as well as hourly consultation. Please contact us for specific pricing.
For those clients who sign on for the Full Service Comprehensive Package, College Compass will initiate contact with the client to arrange meetings, to alert about deadlines, to check in on progress and to keep student on task. Beyond those contacts, Full Service Clients (student and parents) are encouraged to reach out to College Compass at any time with questions, concerns or to set up additional meetings.
Clients arranging to pay a retainer or an hourly fee will initiate contact with College Compass and request desired services. College Compass will send occasional invoices to the client, detailing what services have been provided. Funds are credited toward all work done on behalf of the client including meetings with client and/or parents either in person or via phone or skype; research; essay edits; and email correspondence.