TOP 20 QUESTIONS ASKED BY PARENTS & STUDENTS
Once engaged in the Spark Process, students own the college planning process, parents can be supporters, not case managers, and the entire process is less stressful and more rewarding. Because Spark takes such a highly personalized approach with students certain answers require a conversation with Elizabeth. That said, below are answers to the questions most frequently asked by parents and students.
PARENT QUESTIONS
As an independent college counselor, I help with all aspects of the college planning process. I help my students carefully craft their lists, including looking at colleges they may not have considered on their own. Through a structured process, I work with each student as they write their essays, encouraging them to write about what they value in their own voice. Through frequent meetings and communications, I facilitate the completion and submission of the student’s applications. Perhaps best of all, I take the burden of managing the process off of parents, allowing them to enjoy their student’s last year at home before college.
My personalized process lowers the stress surrounding this important time in a student’s life for all concerned. I encourage student ownership of the process, which has both short term and long term benefits. In the short term my students take pride in their applications, and realize that they can get organized and be responsive to deadlines. In the long term, the confidence they gain from successfully managing their application process helps them thrive in college and beyond.
The college planning process begins in earnest at the end of a student’s tenth grade year, although I am happy to begin working with students as early as the beginning of ninth grade. The ideal time to contact me is during the first semester of sophomore year.
When a student is in ninth or tenth grade, I meet with them 2-3 times over the course of the year, primarily to discuss course selection and extracurricular activities. We begin meeting approximately monthly in May/June of tenth grade, and begin meeting approximately every other week from May of junior year through December of senior year.
I charge one comprehensive price for the complete college planning package, which includes all aspects of the process, from list building through determining where to enroll.
I do not provide services on an hourly basis.
While I do not provide test preparation, I work with students to decide when to take their standardized tests, and I am happy to make recommendations for test prep to each student based on their needs.
All of my meetings with students are virtual, held over Zoom. Most meetings are scheduled for 45 minutes.
One bedrock principle of my practice is student ownership of their college planning process. While parents are welcome at most meetings, and will receive frequent communications about the process, it is important that each student feels in control of the process, including everything from scheduling meetings to writing their own essays. I have found that the students who have the most successful process and feel the most pride in their outcome are those who took charge and did the work by themselves.
No I do not. No college counselor can ethically guarantee admission to any school. Spark College Consulting, LLC abides by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Code of Ethics, and maintains the highest standards of integrity and practice. While I work to set appropriate expectations with every student, and stay on top of all admissions trends, admissions results can still be surprising.
STUDENT QUESTIONS
Working with me does not guarantee that you will be admitted into a top ten college. As we work together, however, we will come up with a solid list of colleges that will include target and likely schools as well as super exclusive, highly rejective ones.
Join the club! Most people procrastinate to some extent, and I’ve worked with kids who wait until the last minute to do everything. That said, if you follow my process, you should be done early. And, you’ll likely be surprised – even if you consistently miss internal deadlines, you’ll have the tools to finish your application before the deadline. Keep in mind, however, that the ultimate responsibility for completing your applications on time is yours! You’ve got this!
While I only meet with my students via zoom, I’ve found that my students really appreciate the format. You’re a busy person, and by meeting online we can schedule our meetings whenever you have an opening.
We will spend most of your junior year working together to create and refine your list. We’ll discuss how best to do research into schools. Then, as you utilize the process and look into different universities, you will begin to understand more completely what you’re looking for in a college. By the end of your junior year, you’ll be really clear about what you’re looking for. You’ll understand which schools are a good fit for you and will have built a well-rounded list – one that ensures you will have choices you’re excited about in the spring of your senior year.
As you look more carefully at the college landscape, you’ll realize that exclusivity does not guarantee that a school is a good fit for you. You may be surprised to find that impressive programs exist at less exclusive colleges. In addition, you’ll feel less stressed throughout the process and in the spring of your senior year, you’ll have exciting choices you REALLY like. In fact, based on the offers you receive, you may even opt to attend a less exclusive school instead of a more exclusive one!
Schedules change, and although I completely understand if you end up needing to reschedule, it is important to prioritize your college application process. To reschedule, it’s best if you text me as soon as you realize you have a conflict, but you need to give me at least 24 hour notice. While changing the schedule is less consequential through junior year, once we start working on essays it’s VERY important to make every meeting, as missing one will put you behind in the process.
While there may be a role for AI in some parts of the essay process, I do not recommend that you use AI to write your essays. AI essays lack the personal detail and voice that your own writing provides. You may also wonder… How much can my mom or dad help? Keep in mind, college admissions counselors have read thousands of essays, and they can tell when a sentence was written by a 40+ year old parent versus a seventeen year old student. My essay process ensures you write authentic essays – ones that reflect your voice, showcase your experience, and that you will be proud to include in your applications.
Great question! Part of the research process is discovering which academic topics are of interest to you. Even with that understanding, at the beginning of senior year, close to a third of college bound students simply don’t know what they want to study in college. We will talk about applying as an undecided student, the pros and cons of various majors, and how easy or difficult it is to switch majors once you are at college. Remember, 30% of students apply undecided, and the rest change their minds when they get to college! (A “joke” told by a college admissions officer.)
While the common app has a limit of twenty schools, I don’t recommend that you apply to that many. Part of what we’ll decide, as we create your list, is its optimal length. As a general rule, Spark students apply to between 12-16 colleges on the common application. In addition, students frequently complete applications for both the UC and CSU schools.
Your first deadline will likely be November 1st of your senior year. All Spark students apply Early Action (the non-binding form of early admission) to at least one school. There are many benefits to getting your first app in early: you’ll be first in line to get your letters of recommendation from your teachers and counselor, you’ll complete your application and be able to move forward with supplemental essays, and most importantly, you’ll hear in December from at least a few of your schools!
