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FAQ Coaching
Is it worth the investment?
When parents consider that a typical 4-year college education costs in excess of $300,000 at a private school, $200,000 at an out of state public school, and $150,000 at an in-state public school, hiring a college coach is a very small fraction of this investment.
Why so expensive?
College Coaching is time intensive. The coach will not only spend 15-30 sessions with the student, but also review their resume, essays, applications, and intervene when they see an important need. Additionally, coaches are constantly researching the market shifts, new policies, and much more. The knowledge each student receives is equivalent to hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of research and experience that they would otherwise not been able to spend.
Why is the price so low?
We are able to transfer significant knowledge to students using our years of built in material and research, software and data driven techniques, which has allowed us to keep our rates very inexpensive. Our programs start at $995, a cost most families can afford.
Does it pay for itself?
For the majority of families, the answer is a resounding YES! In 2020, most of our students received over $25,000 yearly scholarships and grants– that is over $100,000 for a four-year degree. Financial return on investment is not the only metric- coaching offers many benefits, such as helping students get into the college of their dreams, select their major, prepare for interviews, among many other life skills.
Do I have to pay everything at once?
We offer different payment plans based on each family needs. During our initial consultation we will present the options, and if needed, work with you creating a personalized payment plan that fits your budget. All fees are due by August 1 of the student’s 12th grade year.
Your Legacy
The difference in lifetime income between a 4-year college graduate and a High School graduate is over 1 million dollars, and if you graduate from a top 50 university, that difference can be as much as 4 million dollars.
I already have a school counselor
High School counselors play a critical role in the application process, but they must advise and complete the administrative tasks of 200 to 500 students.
We are student centric, not process centric. We adjust our advice to the specific needs of each student, answering their personal questions in a private setting, and being proactive in the entire process.
Why College Prep Master
For 10 years, our team of coaches have helped thousands of students prepare for entrance exams and get into their dream colleges. These include Harvard University, Columbia, University of Chicago, U Penn, U. Michigan, UVA, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Babson, UM, UF, FSU, FIU, UF, UCF, and more.
Do you guarantee acceptance?
It is against the Code of Ethics of the National Association of College Admission Counselors to offer any guarantee of acceptance. We have no control over the past academic performance of the student or the final decision of the university officers. We will work ethically to make students stand out in their application.
When should I start?
9th to 11th grade coaching
We start coaching students in 9th grade. By identifying students’ academic and personal strengths and weaknesses, we can make an early intervention.
Senior coaching
The bulk of our work starts in the spring semester of 11th grade, discussing college majors, building their resume, picking a short list of universities, ensuring they prepare for the SAT or ACT and reviewing final GPA. Summer and Early Fall are intensive as we spend this time completing college applications, essays and more. More details are listed here.
Am I late starting in my senior year?
Yes and No. Yes, you should have started earlier; but No, we can help you catch up. This will require a significant amount of your time during the week and weekends. We have taken students in December of their Senior year, and in a few weeks of intense intervention, they have submitted at least 8 college applications.
What days and times are the coaching services provided?
We adjust to the student’s schedule. During the school year, most meetings are in the afternoon and early evening, and on Saturdays. During the summer, we coordinate with the students based on their schedule.
Can you coach me if I go abroad all summer?
Many of our students spend part of their summer, and sometimes the entire summer, at a different location. We work around their schedule. We get things done!
Do you coach international students?
Yes, we have students from different countries, and understand the different education systems, GPA grading systems, and additional tests required to apply to college in the USA.
How do you communicate with students?
We reach out to students and parents by phone, Zoom, text, WhatsApp, or Skype. We have a specialized software to manage each student’s tasks and provide a portal with documents available to the student.
What is included in the Coaching Program?
Depending on the selected plan, we will provide group or individual guidance on every major task. The main tasks included in the programs are:
· Selecting a college major
· Writing a resume
· Recommending internships and summer programs
· Selecting the right-fit colleges
· Tips & strategies for the SAT and ACT
· Completing the Common App and individual applications
· Brainstorming Personal Statement
· Guiding and reviewing main and supplemental essays
· Guiding on recommendation letters, transcripts and school coordination
· Guidance on financial aid
· Final quality control of the application
· Review acceptance letters
What is included in the Gold and Platinum Packages?
Our Gold and Platinum packages include:
· Senior year curriculum review
· Three to nine supplemental essays
· Completing FAFSA and CSS Profile **
· College interview preparation **
· Parent meetings and updates ***
· Identifying scholarship opportunities
· Letters to admission officers
· And much more…
** Included in Platinum package
Which is the right program for me?
We offer three levels of service to fit every student’s needs, as well as parents’ budgets: the Silver Package, the Gold Package, and the Platinum Package.
Is the Silver Package right for me?
If the student is very independent and proactive, the Silver Program is ideal. It is very inexpensive and will transfer a lot of knowledge about the application process, relying on the student to complete the recommended steps. Parents must complete the financial aid forms.
Is the Gold Package right for me?
The Gold Program is ideal for students who are uncertain about their college major, need more help completing the application process, are average essay writers, and are applying to state schools and/or selective universities. Coaches will be on top of students’ work. Parents must complete the financial aid forms.
Is the Platinum Package right for me?
This all inclusive package is ideal for students who are applying to Top 50 universities (Ivy League), are not good essay writers, need close supervision reviewing their work, have a lot of questions, need to apply to many private scholarships, parents who don’t want face the complexity of the financial aid applications and want unlimited access to the coach for any questions related to the application. We guide the student and the parents by the hand with unlimited support for questions.
Financial Aid Application
The financial aid application is required if students want to apply for grants, scholarships, or loans from the university. We include this support in our Platinum Package. For all other packages, there is a fee associated with this service.
We encourage families whose income is under $750,000 per year to complete it, as each university has different thresholds for financial aid.
Do you write the student’s essays?
No. Besides being unethical, we would be doing a disservice to the student who will have to write hundreds of essays in college. We will, however, brainstorm ideas with the student, review essay drafts, and provide guidance on grammar, syntax, and tone.
Do you offer help with college fairs and university tours?
In our top packages, we offer guidance to students on how to prepare for college fairs.
For students planning to make a college tour, we will prepare an itinerary and advise them on questions and observations while visiting the university.
For a fee, we can accompany the student on these college trips in the Spring and Summer. A family trusted adult must be present as we do not travel alone with minors.
Do you prepare for college interviews?
Yes. We will train the student on the do’s and don’ts of the interview, the 4C’s (Camera, Connection, Conversation and Closing), the crafting of opening and closing comments, and the evaluation criteria. Our Platinum Package includes a mock interview.
Are letters to the colleges included?
On many occasions, students must write the college admission counselor to enclose information not included in the application, request support, or make corrections to a previously sent documentation.
Pre and post application emails
We will guide the students when crafting these emails and letters, advising them on how to proceed.
Post acceptance decision emails
Waitlisted and deferred students must continue expressing their interest in the university to ensure they get moved to the top of the pile. We will help the student prepare these letters.
Is Test Prep tutoring included?
Test prep tutoring is not included in the coaching package. We offer it as a separate service, and some of the coaching packages include a discount on tutoring. If we feel your student needs help preparing for the SAT or ACT, we will recommend that they get tutored.