IvySelect Services

Generally:

• Flexible hours
• Local & distance counseling
• Process-oriented approach to meet deadlines
• Goal-oriented approach to achieve superior admissions results
• Philosophical approach to secure admission to best match colleges
• Set a standardized testing schedule
• Tutor referral for course work & standardized tests

Preliminary Steps:

• Client & family intake conference: interests, goals, dreams
• Analyzing school record & background
• Strategic planning to boost credentials, improve high school record & ameliorate weaknesses
• Positioning based on specific philosophies, needs and approaches used at top schools
• Defining "stand out" academic, extracurricular & summer activities
• Identifying and maximizing "hooks" that differentiate the student from other applicants
• Facilitating internships that are thematically consistent with interests & abilities

Career Counseling:

• Structured interview
• Values & interests assessments
• Career exploration
• Refine activities & academics based on assessments

The College Search:

• College major search
• College selection criteria surveys/conference
• Guidance on combined college/graduate programs (e.g., B.A./M.D., B.A./J.D)
• College list emphasizing best fit (multiple sessions — preliminary to final list)
• Conferencing on best financial fit in developing college list

Campus Visitation Preparation:

• "Virtual" tour sources
• Assistance planning visits
• Visitation tips & questions to ask
• Ratings sheets

The College Application:

• Decisions Options & Strategies, including EA, ED, SCEA, Rolling & Regular
• Develop a specific plan of action to meet deadlines
• Fine tune strategic plan to maximize credentials
• Tips on filling out the Common Application & individual college applications
• Brag sheet development & design
• Resume assistance
• Managing applications & deadlines
• Tracking supporting documentation

Essays:

• Brainstorming ideas to develop the "unique" voice
• Writing & editing sessions that avoid packaging, that reveal life themes & that break through
• Expert guidance from an award-winning writer and professional editor
• "Essay Only" package available
• See our essay page for more details

Letters of Recommendation:

• Input on how to get the best letters of recommendation
• Appropriate methods to emphasize "defining moments" to recommender
• Timing & follow through

Interviews:

• Mock interviews, using actual interview questions
• Develop a specific question list for each college, to ask the interviewer
• Videotaping of interviews to improve techniques and raise comfort & confidence

Demonstrated Interest:

• Strategies that maximize "demonstrated interest," where relevant
• Avoidance of common pitfalls, which will separate the student from the pack

Athletes:

• Guidance on leveraging athletic talent in the admissions process at elite schools
• Programs at top colleges
• NCAA rules and regulations regarding recruiting
• Counseling on what to and what not to include in videos
• Counseling on appropriate student contact with coaches
• Coach contact by our Athletic Consultant
• Resume preparation
• Strategies for athletic letters of recommendation
• Program evaluation, based on acceptances
• Scholarship evaluation

Application Submission:

• Application components (including essays & brag sheets) readied for maximum impact
• Thorough review of applications prior to submission

Financial Considerations

• Strategic merit scholarship planning
• Overview of financial aid & college funding process — programs, methodology, & the importance of applying regardless of family income level
• Cost reduction acceleration strategies
• Review aid awards & counsel on negotiation strategies to increase awards

College Selection Advisement:

• In depth college selection advising, based on acceptances
• Final comparison of academic programs
• Emotional fit
• Financial analysis

Services Tailored By Academic Year

Generally

• High school year-by-year planning
• Emphasize importance of Early Strategic Planning Methodology
• Long-term development of passion, goals & interests
• Step-by-step building blocks toward elite state and national recognition in fields of interest
• Explore internship & job opportunities

Freshmen

• Detail crucial information about the college admissions process & timeline
• A head start for students seeking admission to highly-competitive colleges
• Review academic record for weaknesses, strengths, interests & strategic planning
• Comprehensive course advisement — both within the context of the high school as well as pursuing outside academic & college programs
• "Talented youth" and summer college program guidance
• Standardized testing advisement
• Referrals to tutors
• Early college visitation advisement
• Summer activities advisement — multi-year summer planning
• Guidance in developing distinct profiles — accentuating extracurricular interests, increasing responsibilities & broadening horizons
• Progressive academic & extracurricular activities advisement

Sophomores

• Continuation of freshmen program: ongoing advisement
• For new clients: introduction to the process
• Detail crucial information about the college admissions process & timeline
• Review academic record for weaknesses, strengths, interests & strategic planning
• A head start on critical aspects of the college admissions process
• Comprehensive course advisement — both within the context of the high school as well as pursuing outside academic & college programs
• Testing advisement: PSAT, SAT, SAT II, PLAN, ACT, AP
• Referrals to tutors for academics and standardized testing
• College visitation recommendations
• Summer activities advisement — multi-year summer planning
• College coursework and college program guidance
• Guidance in developing distinct profiles — accentuating extracurricular interests, increasing responsibilities & broadening horizons

Juniors

• Provide motivation for the most critical year for academic performance
• Comprehensive services enumerated, leading up to applications
• Strategic planning for boosting academic & extracurricular profile throughout the last two years of high school
• Referrals to tutors for academics and standardized testing
• Development of preliminary college list
• Campus visit preparation to refine college list
• Standardized testing schedule & strategies
• Develop strategy for letters of recommendation
• Explore essay concepts
• Summer activities addressed
• Summer application & essay work

Seniors

• Final college list
• Emphasis on application process — strategy, setting deadlines & getting things done
• Decisions Options & Strategies utilized: EA, ED, SCEA, Priority, Rolling & Regular
• "Nuts & Bolts" — the college application, essays, letters of recommendation, interviews
• Nuanced positioning based on credentials
• Interview preparation
• Maximize demonstrated interest, where appropriate
• Financial considerations
• College selection advisement

Fees For Services

Package Options:

• Comprehensive admissions package for juniors & seniors
• Freshman & sophomore packages
• "Essay Only" package

A la carte Options:

• Initial prepaid four-hour block for any service requested
• Renewable blocks available in two-hour increments

Call for Pricing