Counseling Services & Fees

*Please Note*
Some of our package services reach capacity early in the year. Please contact us at 301-907-7604 to learn which services are currently available and would work best for you and your student.
Tailored Educational Advising and College Admission Counseling
We provide one-on-one admission counseling and educational advising, customized to suit the needs of each student and family. From a single hourly session to a year-long package, we work with our clients to make an effective, efficient plan for academic success.
Educational Planning Services and Fees by Grade
Hourly
Analysis, advice, and discussion by the hour.
Fees: $400/hr for a Counselor or $750/hr for Nina Marks and Team.
Hourly
Analysis, advice, and discussion by the hour.
Fees: $400/hr for a Counselor or $750/hr for Nina Marks and Team.
Fundamentals
The 9th Grade Fundamentals Package includes three 60-minute conversations spaced throughout the academic year.
To prepare for our first meeting, we conduct an extensive review of grade reports, teacher comments, test results, and other available documents. In the first meeting, we help students start in high school strong, with a focus on planning ahead for an appropriately challenging curriculum, building the foundation necessary for testing, and choosing authentic extracurricular activities. In the subsequent meeting, we revisit and refine prior goals as needed, confirm 10th grade curriculum, and discuss summer opportunities. After each meeting, we memorialize the conversation and send a list of action items.
Fee: $2,500 for a Counselor for the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Hourly
Analysis, advice, and discussion by the hour.
Fees: $400/hr for a Counselor or $750/hr for Nina Marks and Team.
Fundamentals
The 10th Grade Fundamentals Package includes three 60-minute conversations spaced throughout the academic year.
To prepare for our first meeting, we conduct an extensive review of transcripts, grade reports, teacher comments, test results, and other available documents. In the first meeting, we discuss the student’s progress to date, set goals, and plan tentative testing and extracurricular timelines. In the subsequent meeting, we revisit and refine prior options and goals as needed. After each meeting, we memorialize the conversation and send a list of action items.
Fees: $3,000 for a Counselor for the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Comprehensive
Through the 10th Grade Comprehensive Package, we conduct a full analysis of the scope and sequence of a student’s curriculum and standardized testing plan. We offer comprehensive, strategic support through the academic year, checking in on a regular basis — via email, in person meetings, Zoom, and/or by phone.
We place special emphasis on aligning testing with a student’s curriculum, and particularly on navigating standardized tests (PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, APs). We help a student to make the most of high school by developing an academic and extracurricular profile that highlights authentic strengths and interests. After each meeting, we memorialize the conversation and send a list of action items, and throughout the year, we are available to answer questions that might arise.
Fees: $5,000 for a Counselor for the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Hourly
Analysis, advice, and discussion by the hour.
Fees: $400/hr for a Counselor or $750/hr for Nina Marks and Team.
Fundamentals
The 11th Grade Fundamentals Package includes three 60-minute conversations spaced throughout the academic year.
To prepare for our first meeting, we conduct an extensive review of transcripts, grade reports, teacher comments, test results, and other available documents. In the first meeting, we help students identify key priorities, using forward planning to avoid avoidable stress, especially related to standardized testing. We encourage students to develop strong, authentic profiles in academic, extracurricular, and summer commitments. In the subsequent meeting, we revisit and refine prior options and goals as needed, as well as provide advice on best-fit colleges for each student. After each meeting, we memorialize the conversation and send a list of action items.
Fee: $3,500 for a Counselor during the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Comprehensive
With the 11th Grade Comprehensive Package, students get ready for the application process by creating a strong, authentic academic and activities profile, preparing for and taking standardized tests, and building a college list. We offer comprehensive, strategic support through the academic year, checking in on a regular basis — via email, in person meetings, Zoom, and/or by phone.
We help students identify key priorities, using forward planning to avoid avoidable stress. We encourage students to develop strong, authentic profiles in academic, extracurricular, and summer commitments. Students will refine best-fit college choices and focus on distinguishing interests and strengths. Since college admission officers look particularly closely at an applicant’s 11th grade year choices and performance, we remind our clients that there is much that they still can do to highlight their strengths and be compelling college candidates. When relevant, we advise students on applying for testing accommodations, navigating athletic recruitment, and developing an artistic portfolio. After each meeting, we memorialize the conversation and send a list of action items.
Fees: $7,000 for a Counselor during the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Hourly
Analysis, advice, and discussion by the hour.*
Fees: $400/hr for a Counselor or $750/hr for Nina Marks and Team.
*Hourly Services for 12th Grade are limited and are provided based on space availability.
Fundamentals
The 12th Grade Fundamentals offers one-on-one support designed to help students get the most from each stage of the application process, from finalizing the college list to brainstorming essays to polishing applications.
The 12th Grade Fundamentals provides 10 hours of support with Hugh McIntosh or Meg Singer. This time is typically used for detailed feedback on the Common Application and supplemental essays, advising on college lists, and preparation for campus interviews, but the Package is flexible depending on the individual student’s needs. Fundamentals Package clients might use a portion of their time, for example, for résumé review, scholarship application essay review, or any other aspect of their application work.
Fee: $4,500 for a Counselor for the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Comprehensive
The 12th Grade Comprehensive Package provides comprehensive support throughout the year when a student applies to college.
While a student’s applicant profile is largely complete by senior year, there is still a great deal that an applicant, parents, and a college counselor can do to highlight a student’s strengths. This package builds on the work completed in 11th grade, and provides a comprehensive, strategic, and structured approach throughout the college application process. We gather current, accurate information on college admission statistics and profiles, so we can help students select the best-fit colleges and, when appropriate, identify a first choice. We then tailor a comprehensive strategy to highlight each applicant’s authentic strengths, even in the most competitive pools. We work closely with our students to help them prepare their college application submissions, from thorough brainstorming to mindful editing and revision. As the application process can be complex, we assist students and families in remaining organized throughout the year, including tracking deadlines and application requirements, using forward planning to avoid avoidable stress.
Fees: $9,500 for a Counselor during the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
College Transfer Services
Hourly
Analysis, advice, and discussion by the hour.
Fee: $400/hr for a Counselor.
Learn more about our college transfer services.
Fundamentals
The Transfer Fundamentals Package offers one-on-one support designed to help students get the most from each stage of the application process, from finalizing the college list to brainstorming essays to polishing applications.
This 10-hour service with Robert Clark includes tailored support for supplemental essays and the Common Application, critical opportunities for students to showcase their backgrounds, interests, and passions. The service typically begins with a one-hour meeting to analyze the student’s current priorities and create a strategic application approach. The remaining time will be dedicated to essay and application support.
Fee: $4,000 for the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Comprehensive
The Transfer Comprehensive Package provides comprehensive support throughout the year as students look to transfer from one institution to another.
Robert Clark will help students assess their current priorities, develop a new list of schools, create and edit applications, and make a final decision. This package provides a comprehensive, strategic, and structured approach throughout the transfer application process. We tailor a comprehensive strategy to highlight each applicant’s authentic strengths, even in the most competitive pools. We work closely with our students to help them prepare their college application submissions, from thorough brainstorming to mindful editing and revision. As the application process can be confusing, we assist students in remaining organized, including tracking deadlines and application requirements, using forward planning to avoid avoidable stress.
Fee: $7,500 for the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Graduate School Educational Planning
Hourly
Analysis, advice, and discussion by the hour.
Fee: $400/hr for a Counselor.
Comprehensive Graduate Educational Planning
With access to a Counselor between meetings throughout the year, students set goals, assess priorities and strengths, plan for needed testing, target schools, and then complete successful applications. Learn more about our graduate educational planning services.
Nisha Sardella works with college students and graduates who are applying to law schools, post-baccalaureate premedical programs, medical schools, business schools, and other graduate programs. When you enroll with Mrs. Sardella for Graduate Services, you begin with an initial conversation about your goals, priorities, and strengths, as well as the factors involved in graduate school admission decisions.
Mrs. Sardella will then help you target strategic choices and differentiate yourself to make your application more compelling. She also will discuss your plan and preparation for appropriate standardized tests and help you select the best individuals to provide recommendations. As you complete your applications, she will provide detailed feedback on personal statements and accompanying essays, as well as help you prepare for any interviews and follow-up with admissions committees.
Graduate Fundamentals
The Graduate Fundamentals package provides 10 hours of support with Nisha Sardella This time is typically used for detailed feedback on strategy, honing relevant, tailored essays, drafting a résumé, and coaching for interviews, but the Package is flexible depending on the individual student’s needs. Fundamentals Package clients who need more help may, in the same contract year, request additional hourly support or move to the Graduate Comprehensive Package service if available.
Fee: $5,000 for the July 2021-June 2022 contract year.
Graduate Comprehensive
This package provides a comprehensive, strategic, and structured approach throughout the graduate application process. Nisha Sardella gathers current, accurate information on admission statistics and profiles, to help students select best-fit graduate programs and, when appropriate, identify a first choice. She then tailors a comprehensive strategy to highlight and differentiate each applicant’s authentic strengths, even in the most competitive pools. She helps applicants to complete excellent submissions, present polished résumés, and prepare for interviews. As the application process can be complex, she assists students in remaining organized throughout the year, including tracking deadlines and application requirements, using forward planning to avoid avoidable stress.
Fees for the 2021-2022 application cycle:
- $8,500 for law school admission services.
- $9,500 for business and PHD program admission services.
- $12,000 for medical school admission services. (covering the multi-part process: AMCAS application, secondary essays, and interview preparation).
- 12,500 for other joint degree application services (e.g. JD/MBA, JD/PhD or MBA/PhD, JD/MPP or MBA/MPP
*Depending on the intended graduate program, intensive work associated with an individual application process may begin as early as spring 2021 or may conclude as late as summer 2022.
94% of our Seniors in Early Decision I and II, Early Action, and/or Rolling admissions pools have received acceptances.

2021 Early Application Acceptances
Congratulations to the Class of 2021! As we noted earlier this month, this has been quite the year in admissions. We’ve seen unprecedented application pool increases and record-low early admit rates. With our strategic, layered approach to application timing, our goal is for all of our clients to have good news by the end of… Read more »

Early Application Pool News Shakes up College Admissions
News from this year’s early college application pools As we reach the midway point of this year’s admissions cycle, we are reflecting on what we’ve seen so far. The coronavirus pandemic has changed much in life, and college admissions is no exception. Colleges make unprecedented changes during Covid-19 pandemic This past spring and… Read more »

Updates on 2021 Advanced Placement Exams
AP exams will cover the full AP curriculum Plan on taking the full-length regularly formatted Advanced Placement (AP) tests this May. Although COVID-19 has continued to disrupt the 2020-2021 school year for most students, the College Board has announced that its 2021 AP exams will be in the same format as usual and will cover… Read more »

College Board Announces the End of SAT Subject Tests and SAT Essay
College Board Places Greater Emphasis on Advanced Placement Tests On January 19, the College Board – maker of the SAT, Advanced Placement (AP) Tests and SAT Subject Tests – announced that effective immediately, it will no longer offer SAT Subject Tests in the United States and that it will discontinue the SAT Essay after the… Read more »