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