FAQS

Why work with an independent educational consultant?

A Beasley College Consultant (BCC) helps students and families with the following:

• Reduce stress by providing expert knowledge and guidance
• Track deadlines and help with organization
• Assist with choosing high school courses
• Explore interests as they relate to college majors and careers
• Help choose extracurricular activities and summer experiences
• Create a testing strategy
• Build a tailored and well-balanced list of colleges
• Teach how to conduct thoughtful college research and showcase demonstrated interest
• Help brainstorm, craft and edit application essays
• Assist with the completion and submission of all applications in a timely manner
• College interview preparation
• Provide ongoing support throughout the senior year after applications are submitted
• Evaluate admissions offers

How are BCC consultants different from other educational consultants?

Simply put, college admission is in our DNA. Every member of our team of consultants has extensive experience in selective college admissions (Harvard, Tufts, Michigan, USC and UCLA) as well as significant counseling experience. We have evaluated thousands of admissions applications, reviewed tens of thousands of essays, visited hundreds of colleges and helped numerous students find the right college fit. Our experiences have provided us with a deep understanding of the college admissions process from all sides which uniquely position us to offer each family exceptional advice and attention. Our students have gained admission to over 250 different colleges including all of the Top 100 colleges in the U.S.—from small liberal arts colleges to flagship state institutions to Ivy League universities. We also regularly serve as admissions experts to local and national media and are members of several professional organizations including: Independent Educational Consultants Association, Higher Education Consultants Association and the National Association of College Admission Counselors.

When should a student begin work with us?

Students typically begin their work with us through our comprehensive package in either sophomore or junior year. We believe that early involvement increases knowledge and decreases stress for families. Because we limit the number of students with whom we work, we tend to fill by the fall of junior year. We generally meet with students three times in sophomore year and monthly throughout junior year. The summer prior to senior year, we work with students biweekly to get a jumpstart on applications and essays and continue to meet into the fall until all applications are complete. We continue to support students throughout the fall and into the spring with interview coaching, updating colleges, talking through admissions offers and making the final decision.

Do you only work with students applying to highly selective colleges?

Absolutely not. We know that each student is different and has unique goals and aspirations. Our focus is to help each student find the schools that will be the best match for them, where they will be happiest and thrive.

Why hire an educational consultant when my high school student has a counselor at school?

The college search and application process can be confusing and overwhelming. Student to counselor ratios at many high schools are over 500:1 and current research shows that high school students receive only 38 minutes of personal college admissions guidance from their high school counselors. BCC consultants have the knowledge, expertise and passion to assist families through successfully navigating every step of the admissions process with less stress. Our personalized approach to the process ensures we have the time and resources to research colleges extensively, work closely with families to find the right fit and help students stay informed, organized and on schedule.

How involved are parents during the college search and application process?

We believe an important part of the college admissions process is helping students build confidence and maturity in an effort to help them prepare for life in college and beyond. Therefore, we believe the process should be student-centered. However, we also recognize and appreciate that parents are an essential part of this process and we help them identify their appropriate roles while enabling them to contribute their unique knowledge regarding their student. After each student meeting, we provide a detailed email recap to the student and parents covering what we discussed and next steps to be completed prior to the next meeting. At several points throughout the process we also facilitate family meetings as we view communication as a critical component of the support we provide. Parents are always welcome to check in on the process, ask questions and express concerns.

Can you share some useful college planning resources?

College Research:

• Fiske Guide to Colleges by Edward Fiske
• Big Future from The College Board
• College Navigator from the National Center for Education Statistics
• Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope
• The Best 386 Colleges by Princeton Review
• College Scorecard from the US Department of Education

On average, how many colleges do your students apply to and how many essays do they write?

We recommend that most of our students apply to 7-10 colleges. Not only does this number ensure the student has a well-balanced list in terms of chance of admission (likely, target, reach) but also this enables students to have the time and energy to thoughtfully and carefully craft each application to stand out. In addition to the main personal essay that most colleges require, many colleges also require students to write supplemental essays and answer additional questions. On average, our students write 20-25 essays. We begin essay work with our students in spring of junior year and into the summer to help them brainstorm, draft and edit their essays so the bulk of the work is completed before senior year begins.