Ms. Heather has been providing professional admissions, personal statement editing, and international student college consulting for over 20 years. As a graduate of Harvard with extensive experience in the admissions process, Ms. Heather has mentored hundreds of American and International students in preparing competitive application packages for admittance into North America’s top academic undergraduate and graduate programs.

Applying to Universities: A Comprehensive 10-Session Workshop

Essay Drafts / Application review, correction, final revisions 

This comprehensive course will cover all aspects of preparing for the college admissions process, from planning your high school academics strategically to completing the admissions and financial aid packages. The course is relevant and valuable for any high school student, from a 9th grader planning their coursework and high school journey to an 11th grade applicant actively navigating the application process. Parents are also welcome and encouraged to attend with your student, ask questions and become more familiar with all of the ins and outs of the admissions process and how to create the most competitive application.

Through private Google Classroom correspondence and weekly Q&A sessions, parents and students will also have the opportunity to ask your student-specific questions and receive customized guidance and feedback.

Topics will include:

1.     Pre-College Planning: Extracurricular, Academic, Study Abroad and other Strategic Choices to Bolster the Competitiveness of Your Admissions Package

2.     Understanding the Western College Admissions Process: Application Types (Common App and Others), Deadlines (Early Admission, Early Decision, Early Action, etc.), College Planning Timelines

3.     Standardized Testing (SAT/ACT) and TOEFL Requirements, Timelines, Covid Considerations and Training Tips and Resources for Improving Your Scores 

4.     Funding Your Education: Financial Aid Applications, FAFSA, Government Aid and Researching External Grants/Scholarships

5.     Researching and Comparing Universities, Narrowing Down and Prioritizing Programs, and Overview of Admissions Decision-making Process and Admissions Statistics 

6.     Planning and Completing Your Applications

7.     Writing and Revising a Compelling Admissions Essay: Tips, Tricks and Case Studies

8.     Supplementary Essays: Strategies and Mistakes

9.     Recommendation Letters: Strategies and Preparing your Student Dossier

10.  Campus Visits and College Interview Tips

11.  Optional Supplementary Sessions (On Demand):

–       Applying to US and Canadian Colleges as an International/Non-Resident Student

–       Applying to Graduate Schools and Post-Doc Programs