10th Grade Program Comparison
Which program is best for your student?
Successful college planning begins with intentional high school planning. Are you taking the right classes? Are you involved in enough extracurriculars? Are you seeking out meaningful experiences beyond the classroom? Great Expectations counselors encourage students to find academic and extracurricular pursuits that align with their general interests and showcase their strengths, ensuring that every hour spent is both rewarding and purposeful. At the end of the day, colleges want strong students, but they also want real people with real commitment to their interests, and our goal is to help you create a narrative that is both authentic AND unique.
Scroll down to explore each program and find the best fit for your student!
Scroll down to explore each program and find the best fit for your student!
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Fundamental Program
Fundamental programs are ideal for two types of students: 1) highly motivated, independent students who are already clear on their goals and interests, and who can complete strategic assignments between sessions to build/articulate/strengthen their personal brand and 2) students who simply want to make well-informed choices during high school and ensure they don’t overlook any important steps in the process. In both cases, after receiving personalized advice and instruction from their counselor, students are empowered to stay engaged, think critically, and give their best effort.
What's included in Fundamental?
• 3-year plan with strategic academic roadmap and course selection
Your counselor will map out an academic plan that ensures you meet graduation requirements and complete the suggested coursework for not just your dream university, but your dream major.
• Basic overview of college knowledge and admission trends
Your counselor will outline the application process, including its various timelines, key terminologies, how admissions committees evaluate applications, and recent changes in the college admissions landscape.
• Completion of activities and awards worksheets
Your counselor will review your list of extracurricular activities, formatted as they are on the Common Application, to identify and address any perceived gaps or deficiencies.
• Profile assessment to identify potential strengths and weaknesses
Your counselor will evaluate your transcripts, standardized test scores (if any), and extracurricular profile to identify strategies for highlighting strengths and addressing weaknesses.
• Extracurricular advising for the school year
Your counselor will help you explore and expand your involvement in extracurricular activities that strengthen your profile and support your unique application strategy.
• Identification of potential summer experiences/opportunities
Your counselor will identify competitive summer programs, internships, etc., that align with your admissions strategy and personal interests.
• Standardized testing game plan (with SAT and ACT diagnostic exams)
Your counselor, along with a GE College Prep tutor, will create a personalized testing timeline, help you sign up for SAT/ACT exams, and weigh in on your target scores so you’re prepared to put in the effort to achieve that goal.
• Progress reports with action items after each session
Your counselor will provide a detailed recap of each meeting in writing and assign concrete, achievable tasks for you to complete by your next session.
• Access to exclusive live webinars with our founder, specialists, and college admissions officers
You and your family will have unlimited access to Great Expectations events, including live Q&A sessions.
• Access to month-by-month checklists and platforms
Your counselor will ensure consistent progress by establishing monthly checkpoints and introducing you to college counseling software with detailed college information and proprietary resources, including college research worksheets, campus visit questionnaires, university guides, and more.
Your counselor will map out an academic plan that ensures you meet graduation requirements and complete the suggested coursework for not just your dream university, but your dream major.
• Basic overview of college knowledge and admission trends
Your counselor will outline the application process, including its various timelines, key terminologies, how admissions committees evaluate applications, and recent changes in the college admissions landscape.
• Completion of activities and awards worksheets
Your counselor will review your list of extracurricular activities, formatted as they are on the Common Application, to identify and address any perceived gaps or deficiencies.
• Profile assessment to identify potential strengths and weaknesses
Your counselor will evaluate your transcripts, standardized test scores (if any), and extracurricular profile to identify strategies for highlighting strengths and addressing weaknesses.
• Extracurricular advising for the school year
Your counselor will help you explore and expand your involvement in extracurricular activities that strengthen your profile and support your unique application strategy.
• Identification of potential summer experiences/opportunities
Your counselor will identify competitive summer programs, internships, etc., that align with your admissions strategy and personal interests.
• Standardized testing game plan (with SAT and ACT diagnostic exams)
Your counselor, along with a GE College Prep tutor, will create a personalized testing timeline, help you sign up for SAT/ACT exams, and weigh in on your target scores so you’re prepared to put in the effort to achieve that goal.
• Progress reports with action items after each session
Your counselor will provide a detailed recap of each meeting in writing and assign concrete, achievable tasks for you to complete by your next session.
• Access to exclusive live webinars with our founder, specialists, and college admissions officers
You and your family will have unlimited access to Great Expectations events, including live Q&A sessions.
• Access to month-by-month checklists and platforms
Your counselor will ensure consistent progress by establishing monthly checkpoints and introducing you to college counseling software with detailed college information and proprietary resources, including college research worksheets, campus visit questionnaires, university guides, and more.
Core Program
Core programs are intended for the average, yet diligent, high school student who has some general interests but needs strategic guidance on how to develop them in ways that will impress admissions officers. These students benefit from regular check-ins with a trusted mentor who will help them stay focused, refine their goals, and use their talents to make an impact on the world around them. The program provides the right balance of independence and counselor involvement, empowering students to deepen their interests while staying on track to build a compelling profile that helps them stand out from the crowd.
Includes everything listed in the Fundamental Program, as well as...
• As-needed access to specialized counselors
Meet with specialists who will provide detailed guidance on niche application elements (financial aid, athletic recruitment, arts portfolio development/review, audition preparation, etc.) to best optimize outcome.
• Emphasis on personal branding and building your unique narrative
Your counselor will develop a personalized application strategy with you based on your genuine interests, showcasing who you are to admissions committees in a way that sets you apart from other applicants.
• Creation of formal resume
Your counselor will assist you in creating and refining a professional resume that effectively highlights your achievements and can be utilized for internships, job applications, and scholarship applications.
• Application guidance and support for up to three summer experiences/opportunities
Your counselor will identify competitive summer programs that align with your admissions strategy and personal interests, providing full support for all essays and application materials until submission.
• Awards profile support
Your counselor will evaluate your awards profile and recommend relevant competitions to enhance this section of your application, including essay contests, art shows, science fairs, music qualifications, academic bowls, leadership certifications, and more.
• Guided college research
Your counselor will help you research schools to assess suitability by exploring size, location, student demographics, specialized programs, campus resources, student organizations, campus traditions, and more.
• In-depth research and exploration of majors
Your counselor will guide you in researching majors (and minors) that can increase your chances of admission by reviewing departmental websites and examining major-specific coursework, faculty members of interest, ongoing research, study abroad opportunities, academic grants, and special aspects of the program to help you form an educated opinion on selecting your major.
• Mid-year progress review and Q&A with the Director of Counseling
Join our Director of Counseling for a mid-year progress review, where we’ll reflect on key achievements, challenges, and goals for the months ahead. This session will also include an open Q&A to address your questions and provide guidance on supporting your student effectively.
Meet with specialists who will provide detailed guidance on niche application elements (financial aid, athletic recruitment, arts portfolio development/review, audition preparation, etc.) to best optimize outcome.
• Emphasis on personal branding and building your unique narrative
Your counselor will develop a personalized application strategy with you based on your genuine interests, showcasing who you are to admissions committees in a way that sets you apart from other applicants.
• Creation of formal resume
Your counselor will assist you in creating and refining a professional resume that effectively highlights your achievements and can be utilized for internships, job applications, and scholarship applications.
• Application guidance and support for up to three summer experiences/opportunities
Your counselor will identify competitive summer programs that align with your admissions strategy and personal interests, providing full support for all essays and application materials until submission.
• Awards profile support
Your counselor will evaluate your awards profile and recommend relevant competitions to enhance this section of your application, including essay contests, art shows, science fairs, music qualifications, academic bowls, leadership certifications, and more.
• Guided college research
Your counselor will help you research schools to assess suitability by exploring size, location, student demographics, specialized programs, campus resources, student organizations, campus traditions, and more.
• In-depth research and exploration of majors
Your counselor will guide you in researching majors (and minors) that can increase your chances of admission by reviewing departmental websites and examining major-specific coursework, faculty members of interest, ongoing research, study abroad opportunities, academic grants, and special aspects of the program to help you form an educated opinion on selecting your major.
• Mid-year progress review and Q&A with the Director of Counseling
Join our Director of Counseling for a mid-year progress review, where we’ll reflect on key achievements, challenges, and goals for the months ahead. This session will also include an open Q&A to address your questions and provide guidance on supporting your student effectively.
Comprehensive Program
Comprehensive programs offer additional depth and breadth and are ideal for students who benefit from a more hands-on, collaborative approach and want a strategic partner from start to finish. These programs are a great choice for two types of students: 1) those who have difficulty staying on top of tasks but have ambitious goals, needing regular check-ins to ensure their projects move forward, and 2) students who lack a clear sense of their personal brand and benefit from guided self-reflection and brainstorming to find their direction. Counselors will work closely with students during sessions to complete key tasks—and if something doesn’t get done between meetings, the counselor will help ensure it gets done together.
Includes everything listed in the Core Program, as well as...
• Application guidance and support for an additional two (up to five) summer experiences/opportunities
Your counselor will identify competitive summer programs that align with your admissions strategy and personal interests, providing full support for all essays and application materials until submission.
• Campus visit preparation
Your counselor will help you sign up for campus tours and information sessions, formulate questions to ask school representatives, and take meaningful notes during your visits so you can reference these details in future school-specific essays.
• Hands-on support for in-session task completion
Your counselor will provide you with real-time guidance and support to complete tasks during sessions, ensuring nothing gets overlooked or delayed. This approach helps streamline workflows and build confidence in managing responsibilities efficiently.
• Personality and career assessments
Your counselor will guide you through career/behavioral assessments and use the results to suggest potential majors, concentrations, or careers based on your unique personality, interests, and intellectual strengths.
• Soft skill development and guidance for high school
Your counselor will guide you in developing and enhancing your interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, creative problem-solving abilities, independence, and self-confidence.
• Quarterly progress reviews and Q&A with the Director of Counseling
Join our Director of Counseling for quarterly progress reviews, where we’ll reflect on key achievements, challenges, and goals for the months ahead. This session will also include an open Q&A to address your questions and provide guidance on supporting your student effectively.
Your counselor will identify competitive summer programs that align with your admissions strategy and personal interests, providing full support for all essays and application materials until submission.
• Campus visit preparation
Your counselor will help you sign up for campus tours and information sessions, formulate questions to ask school representatives, and take meaningful notes during your visits so you can reference these details in future school-specific essays.
• Hands-on support for in-session task completion
Your counselor will provide you with real-time guidance and support to complete tasks during sessions, ensuring nothing gets overlooked or delayed. This approach helps streamline workflows and build confidence in managing responsibilities efficiently.
• Personality and career assessments
Your counselor will guide you through career/behavioral assessments and use the results to suggest potential majors, concentrations, or careers based on your unique personality, interests, and intellectual strengths.
• Soft skill development and guidance for high school
Your counselor will guide you in developing and enhancing your interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, creative problem-solving abilities, independence, and self-confidence.
• Quarterly progress reviews and Q&A with the Director of Counseling
Join our Director of Counseling for quarterly progress reviews, where we’ll reflect on key achievements, challenges, and goals for the months ahead. This session will also include an open Q&A to address your questions and provide guidance on supporting your student effectively.
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