Why Work With a College Counselor?

The college application process can be stressful and challenging – not just for students, but for their families as well. Asking a student how his or her essays are coming along can become a touchy subject. Sorting through the many types of schools, programs, and applications can be overwhelming. Working with an experienced college counselor can alleviate this source of stress within the family while ensuring that the work gets done, and done well.

In many ways, the application process is like taking an extra class in the hardest subject of all: knowing yourself and what you want from the next step in your life. Yet, while some high schools have a dedicated college counselor, others only have school counselors who are overloaded with hundreds of students. Nationally, the ratio of students to counselors is “nearly 500 to 1”. Many students are simply not able to get enough one-on-one time with their school counselors.

Furthermore, school counselors are not necessarily experts in essay writing, which is a major part of the application process – and often the one students stress about the most. Johanna’s background combines counseling and writing expertise with extensive experience working with students on the college application process. She works one-on-one with your student to create the strongest possible application while keeping him or her focused and on schedule. The result is on-time, high-quality work, so your student’s application rises to the top.

We will schedule individual meetings, either in person at our office in Princeton, on the phone, or via videoconference. Meetings are typically 60-90 minutes, and may be held weekly, every other week, or monthly, depending on where you are in the application process. At the end of each session, you will be clear about what you need to work on to prepare for your next session.

Personalized Services

At ObjectiveInSight, all services are customized to individual student needs.

We begin by gathering information about your academic interests and extracurricular activities, as well as about your personal interests and values. Then, we will focus on understanding what colleges look for, ensuring you have the time management and study skills that support academic success, and finding activities and community service opportunities that suit and expand your interests.

Services include:

• Recommendations on choosing classes and extracurricular activities

• Advice on building relationships with teachers, school counselors, mentors, and admissions reps

• Suggestions to improve study skills, organization, and time management

• Essay advising: writing skills, brainstorming, proofreading, and editing

• Choosing and applying for internships/summer activities

• How to research colleges, demonstrate interest, and get the most from campus visits

• When to schedule standardized tests and how to handle the test optional question

• Creating a resume and activity List

• Admissions interview preparation

• General application coaching

After you’ve achieved your objective, whether it be college or graduate school admission, an internship, or a job, we love to stay in touch with you as you develop your life and career. You can check in with an update, share challenges and successes, or reach out for guidance about your next step. Once you’ve worked with ObjectiveInSight, you become part of our network – a continually growing group of smart, motivated students and professionals who enjoy sharing their experiences to guide others who are following in their paths.