KOPPMAN
COLLEGE
COUNSELING
Yes, your college application process can be fun, exciting, and a lot less stressful.
Let’s Talk
HOW IT ALL STARTED
When my son was a junior at The Willow School in New Orleans, I began a deep dive into the crazy world of college admissions. And by the time he graduated in 2023, I realized that I’d learned too much not to share it with others. I had poured over books, spent countless hours researching schools, joined online communities for advice, figured out how to increase the chances for merit scholarships, and nailed the essentials of writing strong essays. All while nagging and cajoling and dealing with the emotional ups and downs of deadlines, financial realities, and hopes and dreams. When all was said and done, he was accepted to 11 great universities. A few were highly selective, a handful offered generous merit aid scholarships, and a couple included admission to their Honors colleges. The fact is, he had wonderful options – and that’s the position I’d like to see every student in when it comes time to make a college decision.
Let’s turn down the heat
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the process. It can be ridiculously complicated, and every school has different needs and requirements. But by relying on me as a trusted advisor who has been in your shoes, you’ll seriously reduce your stress levels. In fact, I can help make the process -- dare I say it -- exciting and fun.
Fair and flexible pricing
While other consultants offer one-price-fits-all packages, I’ve found it’s more affordable, fair, and flexible to charge an hourly rate. That way, you and your student get help with the things you need, rather than paying for the things you don’t.
MY BACKGROUND AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
As a marketing writer with 30 years of experience, I’ve honed my skills at branding, launching new products, content development, and storytelling, while working for consumer packaged goods, non-profits, higher education clients, and real estate brokerages. I’m endlessly curious, and my ability to find the nugget of a great idea, research it, craft a story, and persuade others is what makes my transition to college consulting so fitting. I want to get to know your student, help them tell their own unique story, and find the schools where they will thrive.
I’ve now helped awesome young adults through different parts of the college applications process, and I’ve loved every minute of it. And I’ve found that junior year in high school is a great time to get started.
Counseling Services
Discussing Today’s College Landscape
Getting to Know Your Student
Finding Great-Fit Colleges
High School Planning
Describing today’s changing landscape, the smoke and mirrors of rankings, the surprising factors that drive college satisfaction, and how different application deadlines and impacted majors affect the chances of acceptance.
Asking questions and learning about your student’s interests, preferences, strengths, and academic performance. Exploring geographic locations of interest, college size, vibe, and more. (And if your student doesn’t know what they’re looking for, I can help with that, too.)
Doing a deep dive to research and develop a personalized college list custom-tailored to your student. Creating a balanced list that maximizes student success and takes into account financial considerations.
Advising your student about high school course selection, showing rigor, extracurricular activities and clubs, summer jobs and experiences, dual enrollment, and letters of recommendation.
Counseling Services
Planning College Visits & Tours
Tactically grouping relevant college visits and tours into trips, finding major-specific tours, offering travel & tour tips, and helping track your student’s take-aways.
ORGANIZING AND
SCHEDULING
Planning for different application deadlines, organizing to-do’s in the application process, and keeping your student on track to meet deadlines.
ESSAY
COACHING
Making sure essays capture your student’s authentic voice, share a point of view, highlight strong suits, and reveal vulnerabilities. (That’s a tall order for the average adult, much less a teenager who’s still figuring out who they are.) Identifying areas for improvement, editing, and fine-tuning.
Common App Coaching
Strategizing the best ways to showcase your student’s high school experience in the Common App. Making sure the Activities & Honors descriptions fit within the character limits and pack a punch.
Counseling Services
Merit Aid, Scholarships & Testing Guidance
Providing guidance on how to maximize merit aid, how to approach scholarship applications, prepare for admissions interviews, and prep for standardized tests.
