My Priority Is You!

Serving students from

Lake Oswego High School
Lakeridge High School
Jesuit High School
West Linn High School

My mission is to identify a path for each of my students.
Simultaneously, I do a lot of calming down and encouraging. While getting into college is what people talk about, my ultimate goal is to help students matriculate to schools where they will be successful and graduate. Getting in is only the start of the journey.

Services I Offer:

College List Development

Assist student in identifying school priorities

Discuss schools through the lens of academic, personal and financial fit

Evaluate and discuss potential fields of study

Help families plan visits and communicate with colleges

Create an initial portfolio of schools for student to consider applying to

Assist student in narrowing portfolio to balanced, reasonable list — students take responsibility for researching colleges and must be able to articulate why they wish to apply to each school on their final list

Standardized Test Planning

SAT? ACT? AP Test?
Should I test? Or not?

Testing is perhaps the number one stress point for students currently. Many colleges are test optional. Yet several have indicated scores will be required for future applicants. This is an individual decision and one I can assist with. Should we decide together that test taking will strengthen your application, I assist students in connecting with a qualified professional test tutor.

High School Planning

I like to sit down with students at least once during the beginning of sophomore year. After that, visits become more frequent but remain in keeping with your personal needs. Each family and student differs in the amount of support needed.

Review transcript to date

Discuss course selections — balance of high school career

Evaluate activities + suggest additions or changes as needed

Brainstorm careers of interest and discuss personality test results

Suggest ways student can further self-knowledge before college

Identify personal traits that will impact college list choices

Encouraging skills such as time management, seeking assistance from teachers, self advocacy, etc. – practicing these in high school will enhance college readiness

Application Management

The school list is finished, the tests have been taken, junior year is completed, now what? At some point students will need to actually dive in and get those applications filled out. I am here to help you by:

Discussing and deciding optimal application timing — Early Action? Early Decision? Regular Decision?

Brainstorming topics for your personal statement also known as the infamous “College Essay”

Setting deadlines to get tasks done on time, or even early

Navigating nuances of the Common Application and Naviance/Family Connection

Giving input (but not rewriting) on essays — long, short and in between

Ensuring activities are communicated to your schools in a clear and concise manner

Encouraging you to keep your applications sounding like you, rather than someone else

Getting from “I think I might want to apply” to pressing “send” on that application screen

Reducing the sometimes inevitable parent/student friction that can accompany this process