Are you preparing to embark on the exciting journey of college admissions and feeling unsure where to start? Whether you are planning ahead in middle school or early high school or ready to start the college application process, our college counselors are prepared to advise you. We hear over and over from families that seeking help from Marks Education helped them feel prepared and reassured through the college planning and application process.
In this article, you’ll gain insight into what you can expect from an hourly consultation at Marks Education. Whether you’re considering hourly meetings or investing in a package, contact us to learn about how we can help you set and achieve your educational goals.
Before the Meeting: How to Prepare
Before your scheduled meeting, your Marks Education college counselor will request a few essential documents from you to understand your academic and extracurricular background. These documents may include your grade report, transcripts to date, standardized test scores or practice test results, and an activities list or resume.
To ensure a productive meeting, we ask that you send these documents to us at least 48 hours in advance. This allows us to review your information and prepare for our discussion effectively. We include 15 minutes of prep time in the fee for your hourly session so we can come to your meeting prepared to make progress.
The Meeting Framework
We often start the meeting by talking about any questions you have, to make sure we understand your concerns so that we can provide clarity on those issues. With our meeting goals established, our counselors use a general framework to guide our conversation with students and families. This will vary based on the individual needs of the student, but we will typically cover the following topics to help us gain a comprehensive understanding of who you are as a student and individual and what your aspirations are.
1. Academic Discussion
We start by discussing your academics, looking beyond just your grades. We’ll ask about your workload, time management skills, and the amount of sleep you’re getting to ensure a balanced approach to your studies. We’ll also explore any study skills you can implement and your relationship with teachers.
2. Extracurricular Engagement
Next, we delve into your interests and activities outside of the classroom. This includes community service, sports teams, and any other extracurricular pursuits. We want to understand how you spend your time and what you’re passionate about.
3. Grade-Specific Advice
Depending on whether you’re an older or younger student, we’ll tailor our discussion to address your specific needs. For older students, we’ll focus on college-related opportunities and considerations, such as the size and types of colleges you’re interested in. For younger students, we might discuss how you can make the most of your summers to pursue your academic and personal interests or what extracurriculars interest you and align with your academic plans. We love getting to know our students and hearing about their unique interests, from speed cubing to rock climbing!
4. Strategy
One key theme throughout our meeting is the idea of maximizing your options. We believe in helping you develop interests, connect with teachers, and make the most of your current academic year. Your Marks Education college admissions counselor is here to guide you on how to navigate the college admissions process strategically while maximizing your personal and professional growth.
We often bring up the importance of understanding your school’s profile as part of your planning process. If this information is not readily available on your school’s website, we’ll request it and reference it during our discussion. It’s crucial to comprehend how your academic achievements and activities fit into the context of your school, your local area, and the national landscape. This is something colleges consider very carefully, and it is an important concept to understand in your application process.
5. Review
The final step in our meeting is to review key points from our conversation, including any “to do” items that come up during our meeting. We want students and families to have clear next steps to follow, from testing out new study skills to researching a recommended summer program.
Expectations
Our team at Marks education is equipped to provide you with the best guidance possible. Through decades of helping students through the admissions process, we have established timelines and communication practices to ensure that students at each stage understand what they can do to experience a smooth application process. Our college admissions counselors’ goal is that students and their families have peace of mind throughout their academic journey.
Conclusion
An hourly meeting with Marks Education is an opportunity for you to receive personalized guidance and support as you navigate the college admissions process. Our experienced counselors are dedicated to helping you make informed decisions and maximizing your options. Whether you’re a high school freshman planning for the future or a senior finalizing your applications, we’re here to assist you every step of the way.
Reach out to schedule an hourly session with a Marks Education college counselor now!
