One-On-One College Application & Preparation Mentoring (Ongoing)

*New Sessions Starting in June have been posted! 

**I am taking the month of April 2025 off from Outschool, as I work on a project for my college consulting business.**

MY SCHEDULE: My 'weekend' is usually Sunday - Monday.  I typically am available only afternoons and evenings to respond to messages. Please keep my weekends/personal time in mind when messaging me, as my response may be delayed.

MEETING AVAILABILITY: Due to the fact that I manage my own college consulting business, the number of students I accept on Outschool is more limited than in past years. So, if you'd like your teen to work with me on their applications for Fall 2025, I recommend you begin meetings now to reserve your spot.

First Outschool Course? Get $20 towards any Outschool class (even if it's not this one)! Enter this code when enrolling: CARISSAH20

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

- In the welcome message, you'll see the refund policy. Please read carefully and let me know if you have questions.
- For those who want to do the class with a friend/sibling looking at the same types of schools/degree programs (and who are okay discussing their own situations in front of their friend/sibling), please message me before enrolling to be sure both students can register in the same section.

*All students are expected to have their cameras on due to the conversation style of this one-on-one course.
**Non-North American/international students hoping to attend college in the USA are welcome. If you don't see a time that works for you in your time zone, please message me and Iet me know when you're available.

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WHY WORK WITH A COLLEGE CONSULTANT/MENTOR: 
Applying to college does not need to be stressful and overwhelming. It can be organized, broken down into steps, and infused with empowering information, all of which can help a student feel more at ease and make the process much smoother. 

The college application process has become so much more intense in recent years. It has changed completely from when parents applied (and from when I applied). Students are expected to be able to stay organized, manage their time, think critically, write clearly, and plan ahead while managing the rest of their lives. In addition, there is so much information about colleges out there that students can get lost in a sea of endless details, but, with the right guidance, there are also so many more options out there that students can choose from! This course seeks to help bring back some sanity to the college application process. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides ongoing guidance, structure, and mentoring as students begin their college journey:
- Goal of class is to reduce stress by bringing structure, organization, and helpful tips to an often dizzying process
- Conversation-based mentoring that is fully student-centered and customized to each student
- Designed for high school students, wherever they are on their college journey
- Provides accountability and encouragement to help students apply and/or plan for college
- Meet as many times as you'd like! 

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
As this is an adaptable course, students of various backgrounds will benefit. This course is open to students planning to attend a traditional 4-year college/university, community college, or trade school. It is open to non-American students hoping to attend an American university as well as American students considering colleges abroad (in certain cases). This course is an ideal fit for those students who need an accountability partner, those who identify as first generation college students, those who are stressed with applying to college, or any student who may just need a bit more help staying on-track and motivated to complete all college application aspects on-time.  The more students understand about the process, the more confident they will feel in owning their own transition into college.  

WHAT IS THE COURSE STRUCTURE?
As this is an ongoing course, the general format will be:

1. Getting to know each student's goals and the areas they need help with during the first class
2. Depending on the needs of the student, creating a plan or list of things for the student to accomplish or focusing on an area the student needs help with right now.
3. Working on each item, and continue to provide personalized assistance at each meeting.

Students may choose to stop the meetings at any time. As the first session typically acts as a 'get to know you and your needs' session, most students will meet at least a few times to accomplish what they would like to achieve, such as completing their college applications, becoming confident with what to expect at college, deciding on a major, etc. 

EXAMPLES OF TOPICS OFTEN DISCUSSED:

- The application process 
- Financial Aid 
- Writing powerful essays
- Proofreading and providing detailed VERBAL feedback on essays (I don't do track changes, as most students don't learn anything that way.)
- Discussing a student's college list. (This course does NOT include my doing research outside of class time to suggest colleges, nor does it include time for me to fully evaluate their college list. If you're interested in this service, please see the Personal College List Evaluation Course/message me with what you're looking for.)
- All about college majors/selecting a major
- College living options, and their impact on the college experience
- What professors (and advisors) expect from students
- Online classes at the college level
- Building a strong resume during college
- Study abroad
- Internships 
- Part time (or full time) employment during school
- The American college system/structure (for international students)
- Other topics possible upon request

LIMITATIONS:

Outschool has strict privacy rules (which I follow). This often limits the information that students may share with me, such as some information on their transcripts, their full college applications as there is personal data in them, etc. Yes, I'm a college consultant, but no this course is NOT full college consulting, and I will not do any outside-of-class research on a student's behalf due to the nature of this course.  The fee for this course is lower than my business' regular college consulting fees to reflect these limitations but also to make college knowledge more accessible. During class, ask any questions you'd like to know about college admissions!

WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY?
This course follows Outschool's Refund Policy: Cancel subscription at any point, no refund for past meetings. Payments can be refunded within 24 hours of purchase if prior to the start of a meeting. More details are included in the Welcome Message upon enrollment. ***Missed classes cannot be made up and no refund is issued for a missed class.

As a mentoring-style class, consistency and participation are important. Students are expected to come ready to discuss ideas and be open about their questions and concerns.