College Transitions

College Transitions is a team of counselors, academics, and former admission officers. We leverage our quantitative background, professional network, and inside knowledge to help students identify good-fit schools and gain a competitive advantage in the admissions process. Over the past decade, College Transitions has supported thousands of applicants, helping them secure admission at more than 500 of the most competitive colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad.

We have authored two critically-acclaimed books: The Enlightened College Applicant: A New Approach to the Search and Admissions Process (Rowman and Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money: A Guide to What America's Top Schools Can Do For You (Rowman and Littlefield, 2020).

Our counselors have published in education’s top academic journals, including Education Evaluation & Policy Analysis, Research in Higher Education, and The Journal of Higher Education, among others. Our research and commentary has also been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, CBS MoneyWatch, U.S. News & World Report, Inside Higher Education, The Chronicle of Higher Education, NPR, and more than a dozen other media outlets.

College Transitions works with high school students applying to college as well as transfer applicants with all phases of the search and admission process including: 

Preliminary Review

Typically, we begin by reviewing your transcript (courses and grades), standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, talents, and courses that you are currently taking, as well as the courses that you plan to take in the following year(s). In addition, we discuss admissions positioning strategies, focusing on what you can do to ensure maximum consideration of your credentials.

Developing the College List and Assessing Your Admission Prospects

Based on our preliminary review, we compile a list of colleges and academic programs that represent the best match between your interests/credentials and the institution’s admissions standards and offerings. We also provide an assessment of your admissions prospects at each of your “target” colleges.

Completing Applications

Once we have devised a list of suitable “target” colleges, we will assist you in coordinating application materials and completing all applications. We clarify application instructions, review forms, and provide guidance on all questions/items. After drafts are completed, we review each application for omissions, unanswered questions, inconsistencies and any other “red flags” that may negatively impact your admission prospects.

Essays/Personal Statements

Initially, we work with you to brainstorm essay topics that are capable of reflecting your best attributes. We then assist you in developing essay content, while teaching you the elements of an effective college essay. Finally, we review your essays for clarity of expression and grammatical correctness, and offer further suggestions on how you can enhance your writing. It’s important to note that we will spend as much time as needed to help you draft authentic and compelling essays that represent the best of what you have to offer to your prospective colleges.

Student Activity Sheet/Resume and Extracurricular Planning

The student activity sheet or resume has become an increasingly important part of the college application. We will help you devise an activity sheet/resume that is clear, concise, and reflective of your involvement both inside and outside the classroom. In addition, we will help you identify and deepen your involvement in the extracurricular activities that will distinguish you from similarly accomplished applicants and enable you to further explore/develop your interests.

Course Planning

The strength of your curriculum (i.e. the difficulty level of your courses) is often times viewed as equally or more important in the admissions process than your grade point average or standardized test scores. Each year, we advise you on which courses you should choose in order to maximize your admission prospects without compromising your class rank/GPA and ability to engage in extracurricular pursuits.

The College Interview

The college interview can prove as an important factor in the college admissions process, and can even prove as the key to admission for a borderline applicant. As such, we provide extensive coaching on the college interview. We teach you how to prepare, what questions to expect, and what questions to ask. In addition, we review interview etiquette and teach you how to leave a positive impression with your interviewer. Finally, through our mock interview sessions, we help you to achieve a high level of comfort and confidence on interview day.

Standardized Testing Strategy

Whether you are a high school freshman, high school senior or potential college transfer, we will advise you on which standardized tests to take or re-take in order to maximize your admissions prospects and minimize time to major-related coursework and your college degree. Testing strategies encompass SAT, ACT, AP, IB, CLEP, and various subject tests, among others.

Please visit our website for more details.