Know Your Options

Home
United States
Fairfax, VA
Know Your Options

Know Your Options is a full service educational consulting services firm

Know Your Options guides its clients in making informed decisions about their educational choices -- we focus on college planning, and graduate and professional school consulting.

08/20/2026

📱 Comparison has always been part of college admissions.

Social media just made it louder.

Someone else's acceptance list, test score, or campus visit doesn't change what's right for you.

The goal isn't to keep up.

It's to make good decisions.

08/17/2026

Your Parents Don't Need to Do the Applications

🏡 Parents should absolutely be part of the process.

But students should be the ones emailing admissions counselors, requesting information, and owning deadlines.

College is the beginning of independence.

The application process should reflect that.

08/10/2026

Ask Questions Google Can't Answer

🎤 When you're on a campus tour or in an admissions interview, skip the questions that are already on the website.

Instead ask:

"What kind of student is happiest here?"

"What's something students complain about?"

"If you had to start over, what would you do differently?"

Those answers tell you far more about a college.

08/06/2026

You don't need more schools on your list, you need better reasons for all the schools already there.

🎯 Every college on your list should earn its spot.

If the only reason a school is there is because someone else mentioned it, it's worth asking whether it belongs.

A thoughtful list is always better than a long one.

08/04/2026

Stop looking for the "Perfect" essay topic!

✍️ The best essay topic usually isn't the most dramatic one—it's the one only you could write.

Admissions officers don't need another essay about winning the championship. They want to understand how you think, what you value, and what shaped you.

Authentic beats sensational almost every time.

07/30/2026

Here's Permission to Cross a School Off Your List
❌ Didn't love the campus?

Didn't like the location?

Couldn't picture yourself there?

Good.

That's exactly what college visits are supposed to help you discover.

07/27/2026

Happy Birthday to our Undergraduate Consultant Alex Trefftz! It’s been 15 years since he applied to college and the college application process sure has changed a lot. Can you believe the SAT was still scored out of 2400 when he applied!?

07/21/2026

Don't Confuse Busy With Productive
📅 Every summer someone asks us how to fit in another activity.

Instead, ask yourself: which activity actually deserves more of my attention?

Depth usually tells a stronger story than constant motion.

07/20/2026

Don't Let Reddit Build Your College List 💻 The internet is full of strong opinions from people you've never met.
Take advice. Ignore panic.

A school isn't suddenly "bad" because someone had one disappointing experience.

07/14/2026

The Essay Topic You're Trying to Force Probably Isn't the One. ✍️ Students spend weeks searching for the "perfect" essay topic.

The better question is: what story would your friends expect you to tell?

Authenticity usually beats originality.

Address

9691 Main Street
Fairfax, VA
22031

Telephone

+17032685886

Website

http://www.knowyouroptions.net/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Know Your Options posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Know Your Options:

Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Fairfax?