Frequently Asked Questions

An independent educational consultant guides a family through the entire college planning process, from choosing majors and exploring future career paths to building a school list, essays, applications, and financial fit. I work with a small number of families each year, no more than 12 per graduating class in the Comprehensive Package, so every student gets real, individualized attention. The goal isn't just an acceptance letter. It's helping your student head into that next chapter with confidence about where they're going.

The CEP credential comes from the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners and is the highest professional certification available to independent educational consultants in the United States. Earning it required visiting more than 100 college campuses in person, completing ongoing continuing education, and passing a peer review process. I'm one of about 18 CEPs in Texas and roughly 272 nationally. When you work with a CEP, you're working with someone who has actually walked those campuses, not someone who read about them online.

School counselors do important work, but they're typically responsible for hundreds of students and have limited time for individual college planning. I keep my roster deliberately small so I can learn who your student actually is, what drives them, and what kind of college environment they'll thrive in. I also stay current on admission trends, testing policy, and financial aid strategy through weekly professional development.

Earlier is better, but it's never too late. I accept students as early as the start of sophomore year, which leaves time for course planning, extracurricular development, and building a thoughtful school list without deadline pressure. Juniors and seniors can absolutely still benefit. If you're not sure where your student stands, a free new family meeting is the right first step.

Yes. I work virtually with families across the country, though I'm based in the Austin area.

Two main paths, depending on your family's needs. The Comprehensive Package is full support from school list through submitted applications. Seminars & Workshops is a more independent option, better suited to families who've been through this before or whose student already has a clear direction. Both start with a free new family meeting. Full details, including pricing, are on the Services page.

Yes. Essay support is available on an hourly basis through Chris Sherry, my writing specialist, and additional one-on-one time with me beyond what's included can be booked at $200 per hour, as space allows.

Possibly, depending on availability. The Comprehensive Package is capped at 12 students per graduating class, so a switch only works if a spot is open.

No, and this is a firm boundary, not a preference. My role is to coach: I help students find their real stories, give feedback on whether a draft answers the prompt, and flag where it needs more clarity or specificity. The words belong to the student.

Parents don't get editing access to student essays. That's intentional. Even well-meaning edits tend to shift the voice toward an adult tone that admissions readers recognize immediately. Protecting your student's authentic voice is part of my job.

Yes, to a degree. Comprehensive students can use meetings to review applications before submission, and I'll walk through the Common Application, supplemental materials, and deadline management with you. Ultimately, you and your student decide how to use the meetings available.

I see AI as a tool, but using it to write the essay doesn't let the university get to know your student. For brainstorming or grammar checks, AI can be useful. Ultimately, I want to meet the student through their own writing, and that can't be duplicated by AI.

No, and any consultant who tells you otherwise isn't being straight with you. Admission decisions belong to universities, not consultants. What I can do is help your student put together the strongest, most authentic application possible, and help your family build a list with a realistic range of options.

No, packages are non-refundable. If you're unsure whether a package is the right fit, that's exactly what the free new family meeting is for.

For the Comprehensive Package, I ask for a $2,000 deposit at enrollment, with the final payment due by May of your student's junior year. After that point, payment is upfront. Seminars & Workshops is paid upfront in full. Payment plans and questions about fees can be discussed directly with me.

I'm based in Leander, Texas, in the Austin area. All meetings are held virtually over Zoom, with students logging in from a laptop or desktop since sessions involve screen sharing and working directly in documents together.

Three things: engagement, honesty, and follow-through. I need complete academic records, students who show up ready to work and follow through on what we agree to between meetings, and parents who support the process without taking over their student's essays. Families open to adjusting expectations based on realistic admission data consistently get the best outcomes.