Get It Write College Advising + Essay Counseling

I love this question because I get to set families' minds at ease.

Most students aren't behind.

They're just trying to make sense of a process filled with endless advice, hot takes, and conflicting opinions.

The advantage isn't doing more.

It's knowing what actually matters.

You don't need to add three more activities. You may be better off taking on more responsibility in one or two you're already involved in.

You don't need perfect grades. Colleges also value students who challenge themselves, learn from setbacks, and show growth over time.

You don't need the "perfect" summer. A job, volunteering, family responsibilities, or exploring an interest can all be meaningful experiences.

There will always be another conversation, another parent group, another post that makes you wonder if you're missing something.

The hard part isn't finding advice.
It's knowing what you can safely ignore.

The families who worry the least aren't the ones doing the most.

They're the ones who understand that doing more and doing what matters aren't the same thing.

Reach out to check availability to work with me 🎓

I hear it all the time.

Somehow, we've come to believe that success starts with getting into the "right" college.

College satisfaction data tells a different story.

The biggest predictors of a meaningful college experience have nothing to do with rankings, prestige, or selectivity.

That's why I never start college planning with rankings.

We start by figuring out where you'll thrive.

Because getting in is only the beginning.

If applying to college feels like a lot to keep track of, you're right.

The rules keep changing.

Since my last update, I've been tracking:

• New testing requirements

• New Early Decision options

• Application process changes

• Expanded financial aid programs

And that's just from the past few weeks.

Missed the first update? Check out my previous post for additional admissions changes I'm tracking for the Class of 2027.

I'll continue sharing admissions updates and trends for the Class of 2027.

Follow along and share this with someone who needs to know.

One thing I wish more families knew:

By the time applications open, many important decisions have already been made.

That's why I spend so much time helping students build a plan before things start feeling high stakes.

Roadmaps for my Class of 2028 juniors are headed out this week. 💙

I currently have openings for students heading into 9th and 10th grade, plus 2 remaining spots for Class of 2028 juniors.

As a college admissions consultant and 3x mom of college kids, I know that college admissions isn't just about getting in.

It's about making it to move-in day with your relationships intact, and hopefully even stronger.

Because when there's uncertainty, stress has a way of showing up everywhere.

Between parents.
Between parents and students.
Around the dinner table.

I've even had parents tell me I should add marriage counseling to my services. 😂

The reality is that a clear plan solves more than application problems.

The acceptance letter matters.
So do all the steps along the way. ❤️

Someone recently asked me:

“Wait… isn’t this what school counselors do?”

Fair question. High school counselors are an essential part of the college admissions process.

In fact, one of the first assignments I give students is to introduce themselves and build a relationship with their counselor.

Your counselor is the expert on your high school:

graduation requirements
scheduling
course offerings
school context
letters of recommendation

My role is different.

I help families navigate the bigger-picture strategy behind college admissions and all the decisions that happen outside the counseling office:

activities
summer planning
testing strategy
college lists
applications and essays
financial fit
deadlines
decision-making

Most people outside this world don’t realize how much of the process happens long before applications open.

The strongest outcomes usually happen when everyone works together.

Different roles.
Different capacity.
Same team.

Here’s how we prevent seniors from feeling paralyzed by perfection over here:

clearer next steps,
constructive feedback,
real deadlines,
and enough momentum to stop overthinking every tiny decision.

We keep things moving because deadlines don’t.

Somewhere along the way, high achievement started getting confused with chronic stress.

And a lot of families can feel it happening in real time.

What I worry about most in college admissions isn’t students doing “too little.” It’s students quietly burning out while trying to optimize every inch of their lives in the name of being “competitive.”

The strongest applications usually aren’t coming from students frantically doing the most.

They’re coming from students with:
clarity,
direction,
healthy support,
and enough breathing room to actually develop depth over time.

Colleges can tell the difference between meaningful engagement and chronic overextension.

This process has gotten louder, faster, and more performative over the years.
More pressure.
More comparison.
More fear of falling behind.

The goal was supposed to be growth.

Not exhaustion dressed up as ambition.

This is the kind of work we think about a lot over here.