Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT ARE THE BASICS OF THE COLLEGE COUNSELING PROCESS?

College counseling consists of three primary stages and we are there throughout all three, namely, long-term planning, testing and final preparation, and senior year/actual application.

The long-term planning phase is intended to be mindful, not obsessive or stressful. Your student should have some basic goals going into their freshman year of high school. We help them set educational and extracurricular priorities and explore how they can develop them.

The testing and final preparation phase begins during your student’s junior year of high school. This is typically the most academically rigorous year of high school and also the year when your student will take the PSAT and the ACT or SAT. We are here to guide them as they consider high school courses to take, research colleges of interest, attend college fairs, and make college visits.

During their senior year we help ensure that the foundations of the student’s applications are complete. Students can retake standardized tests, but will primarily focus on writing essays and getting strong letters of recommendation to apply to the schools on their final college list. We are also there as they apply for student aid via the FAFSA, CSS profile, and other institutional forms. We celebrate with you as they receive acceptances and choose which school to attend by May 1st!

WHY HIRE AN INDEPENDENT COLLEGE COUNSELOR WHEN THERE ARE COUNSELORS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE FREE?

Every student’s situation is different, but there are times when the extra help an independent college counselor provides is worth the money spent. One of the biggest deciding factors for college admission is how competitive your student’s grade point and standardized test numbers are in relation to the university or college they wish to attend. The reality for many students is that essays will make the difference between an acceptance or rejection from a particular school. We are here to give individualized attention to your student to ensure that both they and their essays stand out.

CAN YOU GET ME INTO MY DREAM SCHOOL?

There are many factors that go into a college acceptance, and it is, therefore, impossible to make any guarantees. A good college counselor, however, will help students polish applications that target specific cultural components of each university. We provide experienced counselors who not only do this, but who also find the aspects of your student’s qualifications, personality, and experiences that set them apart from other applicants in the minds of college admissions counselors and give them their best chance at attending their dream school.

CAN I GET INTO MY DREAM SCHOOL IF I WAS HOMESCHOOLED?

Homeschooled students typically find that their SAT or ACT scores, SAT II subject tests, and AP, IB, or AICE scores carry more weight when a college struggles to verify the exact content of the courses listed on their transcript. Similarly, college admissions departments will put increased weight on essays and letters of recommendations and they will typically employ a wholistic approach to the homeschooled student’s application. We are experienced and know what to emphasize to ensure your student has equal consideration.

CAN YOU HELP ME FIND A COLLEGE THAT WILL WORK WITH MY STUDENT’S LEARNING DISABILITIES?

There are lists of schools out there that have decided to put an increased emphasis on ensuring the success of all their students. Some examples include the University of Arizona, University of Georgia, and Landmark College in Vermont. North Fulton College Counseling is happy to include research in this area as part of creating a personalized college list.

DO YOUR SERVICES INCLUDE TEST PREP?

At this time, we do not offer standardized test preparation services.

DO YOU PROVIDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING?

Financial counseling is limited. We are not certified financial planners and would, therefore, recommend that you consult one for information specific to your family’s financial situation. We can, however, help you with questions pertaining to filling out financial aid forms and with deciphering and comparing financial aid packages offered by your colleges.

DO WE RECEIVE UNLIMITED SERVICES WITH OUR FEE?

Our goal is to provide services at a price point accessible to middle-income families. In order to keep our prices low, we do limit the amount of college applications and essays that are included in the package prices. The comprehensive college counseling package is intended to provide specific guidance on 6-8 applications, which will meet the needs of the majority of students. If your student wishes to apply to more than 8 colleges, you can either pay hourly fees for additional help or use the training they received for their priority colleges to successfully navigate the rest of their applications.

HOW WILL YOU HELP MY STUDENT GET INTO AN IVY LEAGUE COLLEGE?

Ivy League colleges could fill their seats with students who have either perfect or near-perfect GPAs and standardized test scores, but they have discovered that those credentials alone do not make for a particularly interesting incoming freshman class. These schools genuinely pursue a holistic approach to the application process, reading all of the essays and letters of recommendations. When it comes to highly selective colleges, there are simply no guarantees. We encourage and support your student to employ the best strategy: do their best by putting forth the most interesting and unique components of their life story into a polished, coherent application that will pique the interest of an admission counselor.

WHAT ARE THE NEWEST TRENDS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS?

One of the increasingly important trends is demonstrated continuous service or employment. It is important, however, that you see the service as part of a student’s overall character development and not just a hoop they need to jump through. This is why a part-time job can be just as helpful to an applicant. Employment and volunteer work both demonstrate that a student has had to manage their time and has chosen to interact in selfless ways with those around them. We stay current with newest trends and make sure to keep your student apprised of them.

DO I NEED TO VISIT COLLEGES TO INCREASE MY CHANCES OF ACCEPTANCE?

While college visits do help admissions counselors understand a particular student’s level of interest and help the student learn whether or not they will enjoy a particular campus culture, it is not the only path to accomplishing either goal. Alternative ways to indicate interest and educate a student are to follow a college on social media, contact the admissions office, and attend college visits and college fairs.