Frequently Asked Questions

Working with Topsail

  • I work with any students and families interested in receiving support and guidance in the college admissions process. Many students are interested in applying to highly selective schools, but I also work with students looking outside of traditionally top ranked schools. I also have a lot of experience working with applicants looking to come to the US from abroad, and those in the US looking to apply around the world,

  • Some families like to get started on the process early. 9th and 10th graders don’t yet need tons of specific college prep, but I am happy to work with your family to set a roadmap for these early years. Most clients start in their junior year, when they are moving into more advanced coursework and starting to explore their college options. Some approach me over the summer leading into senior year, and this can leave us scrambling depending on what they’ve done on their own, but I’m happy to sit down and see what we can do.

  • Outside of a list of schools that maintain “assured” or “automatic” admissions programs, usually based on GPA and SAT/ACT, no college counselor can ethically make this claim. My role is to collaborate with you to present your profile in as compelling a way as possible.

  • I created Topsail College Counseling to bring my student-centered, experience-driven process to applicants from around the world. My goal isn’t to make myself look good by handpicking students I work with, I want to meet each of my students where they are and empower them to put forth the best application they possibly can.

    I bring experience from the university side, having conducted over 100 interviews for Dartmouth College and having read nearly 1,000 applications for UC Berkeley, along with years of experience on the high school side, guiding students to apply to competitive schools across the world.

  • How and when we meet is individualized for each student and time of year. With students in 9th and 10th grade, we may meet quarterly to check in on the roadmap we’ve made. Moving into junior year, the meetings may become monthly, as the tasks to prepare to apply begin to pick up. Senior year, meetings may be weekly as we finalize supplemental essays and put finishing tweaks on activity descriptions.

Applying to College

  • If I had to summarize it in a word it would be “authenticity.” So much of what you see and read online about college admissions is pressuring applicants to be a certain way for college admissions. When I read applications, I was always most excited about the students who were engaged with their activities because they were interested in them; they were learning and growing, not trying to be some admissions committee exemplar.

    Academic excellence is a must, this the baseline of your application. The college need to know that you will be successful at the next level academically.

    Activities and honors are the place to show how you’ve spent your time. What excites you? How did you make your community a better place?

    Letters of recommendation put your grades into context. Who are you in the classroom? How do your peers, counselor, and teachers see you as a learner and a community member?

    Your essays are windows into your life and experience. How did you get here? What shaped you or drives you?

  • My advice is typically to apply to 8 to 12 schools, maintaining a strategic balance of likely, target, and reach schools. This approach is designed to give you options and build confidence.

    However, I believe in empowering you to pursue your unique goals. I’ve worked with students who had a laser focus on just four schools in one city and I’ve also guided students applying to over 20 schools across multiple countries. The right number is ultimately about balancing your ambition with a practical strategy, ensuring you feel confident and excited about your options come April.

  • A compelling college essay tells a unique and personal story that reveals something about your character, values, or passions. It’s an opportunity to show colleges who you are beyond your grades and scores.

    It should be written in your voice and help the person reading your application understand more about you.

  • There are a LOT of moving parts when you’re applying to college. You need to juggle essays, making a college list, brag sheets for recommendations, and filling out applications alongside your normal school work and activities that you’ve been doing for years. The good news is that each of those areas can be broken down into smaller, easier to accomplish steps. Topsail College Counseling can help you identify those steps and turn them into a roadmap or timeline to make the process less chaotic and stressful.

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