Private College Advising
Serving 11th and 12th Grade Students Since 2012
Every student deserves a counselor to walk with them every single step of this process, no matter their background, their income, or their life circumstances.
Our goal is to bring peace of mind to your family.
We make the process as stress-free as possible, while simultaneously helping your student grow and develop the ability to think introspectively about her academic goals, needs, and desires.
We spend time researching and visiting colleges so that we can bring our knowledge of schools to your family and assist your student in his college search process.
We spend time getting to know and mentor your student and we advocate for her best interest every step of the way.
As a part of the Barrier Breakers® non-profit, we work hard to make sure that we’re increasing access to first-generation, minority, and immigrant students.
That’s why we’re proud to offer our Give the Gift Matching Program.
For every college counseling package that is purchased, we’re able to gift a package to a student who qualifies for Free and Reduced Meal Service at no cost to that family.
We also offer 10% off all our packages to first-generation, BIPOC, and immigrant students and families.
We Offer Two Packages for 11th and 12th Grade Private College Counseling
We offer a 10% Discount for First-Generation, BIPOC, and Immigrant Students. Payment Plans Offered with All Packages.
Advanced Package – 35 Hours
Best for students who are applying to:
Highly selective schools (admission rate < 30%)
An average of 12+ schools
35+ essays
International Application Assistance
Specialized Schools and Conservatories
Art, Music, Dance, or Architecture Portfolios
Standard Package – 25 Hours
Best for students who are applying to:
More public and state schools (at least 50% of the schools have an acceptance rate of 50% or higher)
An average of 9-11 schools
Less than 20 essays
Schools without additional writing supplements
Included in All Packages:
Unlimited text and email guidance
Zoom meetings with students and families/parents
Subscription to Custom College Plan
Guidance on Extracurricular Activities
Academic Course Planning
SAT/ACT Diagnostic Exams
College List Development
Common App / Coalition Essays
Supplemental Essays
Interview Preparation
Private Scholarship Search and Essay Assistance
Financial Aid Guidance (for Students and Parents)
Waitlist Guidance
Summer Program/Internship Research and Application Assistance
Athletic Recruitment Guidance
Visual/Performing Arts Supplements
Gap Year Programs
Free Guide to Writing Impactful College Essays
Our Values
We believe that educational consulting is not transactional, but is instead about forming a relationship with your teen that will help them grow into their full potential. As such, we believe in serving the whole child and mentoring in the following areas as it relates to the educational goals and college process.
Encourage Intellectual Curiosity
Sometimes students don’t quite know where their interests lie, and that’s okay! As consultants, we expose our students to career and major exploration opportunities and encourage them in their dreams to help them reach their full potential, uncover their interests, and step into their purpose.
Celebrate Differences
We have worked with numerous students with executive functioning needs, ASD, and other learning differences. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, we don’t see learning differences as a weakness, but rather as something that makes your teen exceptional.
Create Organizational Mastery
The key to a successful educational journey is an organized educational journey. We use time management and project management applications, spreadsheets, and a dedicated college planning portal to stay organized throughout the process.
Instill Confidence
We overcame self-esteem and confidence issues in high school, as well as anxiety and depression, and am able to relate to teens in a way that boosts their self-confidence, empowers them to passionately pursue their goals, and be more honest and introspective with themselves.
Develop Social Skills
Through the Beyond Barriers Student and Alumni Platform, we match students with mentors and expose them to career chats and teach networking skills that will aid them for the rest of their life.
Support Spiritual Development
Our students are Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Athiest, Agnostic, and everything in between. Whether spiritual development means learning about on-campus resources to connect to other students of the same faith/culture or simply encouraging a practice of mindfulness and reflection, we work to make sure that your teen stays grounded throughout the process.
Empower Barrier Breakers®
We empower our students to become Barrier Breakers®. Whether your student is a first-generation student, an aspiring entrepreneur, a fearless woman leader, an artist, an athlete, or all of the above.
Advocate Passionately
We will fight for what is best for your student educationally. I strongly believe that we should not create artificial barriers to a teen’s educational growth and as part of academic planning, we work to make sure your teen is being challenged by their course schedule and believed in by their teachers and school counselors.
What People Are Saying
“Overall, my daughter and I were satisfied with the program, as we were advised through every step of the program. I greatly appreciated the guidance through the different periods of the application process, from college searching, to selection, to application completion (especially essay writing). Frequently, we were advised when to begin (and complete) a step of the process; this was most helpful. The college app process is overwhelming and having Sydney guide us through each step, helped make the experience less daunting and achievable in finding a school, best suited for our daughter. She and our family are very happy with her college selection. Sydney's great support and guidance has helped us get there.”
— Parent, Univ. of Maryland, College Park
“Sydney has worked with two of my children, focusing mostly on essay and interview preparation. She makes the most of every session by providing effective feedback, asking pertinent, focused questions, and providing targeted advice. She has a wealth of knowledge and has been instrumental in helping both me and my children successfully navigate the complexities of the application process. Most importantly, she focuses on the whole child, not just the college application. She has always taken the time to truly get to know my children and has encouraged and counseled them based on their unique and individual needs.”
— Parent, Class of 2021 and Class of 2019
“I feel so fortunate to have connected with Sydney as I was starting my journey through high school. I can tell that she takes an interest in my growth not only as a student but as a person. I look forward to my calls with Sydney where we discuss a wide range of topics, including my four-year high school plan, AP classes, possible career paths, summer courses, and more. I always leave the calls with an action list and am very grateful to have her in my corner. I feel like nothing will fall through the cracks with Sydney and for that, I am so thankful.
— Rising 11th Grade Student
"We love Sydney! She’s help guide our daughter through tests, courses, NCAA guidelines, college essays etc. She gives my daughter a “to do “ schedule, is very responsive to any questions my daughter and I have. She has made the college search easy and stress free!"
- Bea M., Class of 2021 Parent
These are just some of the schools our students have been accepted to:
American University
Arizona State University
Binghamton University
Catholic University
Christendom College
Columbia College Chicago
Cornell University
Drew University
Drexel University
Elon University
Frostburg State University
George Mason University
Georgia State University
Goucher College
Hampton University
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
James Madison University
Loyola University Maryland
Macalester College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
McDaniel College
Morehouse College
Morgan State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Old Dominion University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Roger Williams University
Rutgers University
Salisbury University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Stony Brook University
SUNY, Albany
SUNY, Binghamton
Syracuse University
The Ohio State University
Temple University
Towson University
University of British Columbia
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rochester
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia State University
Yale University