12th Grade Program Comparison
Which program is best for your student?
When deciding which program is the best fit, twelfth graders should consider both the number of schools they’re applying to as well as the specific colleges on their list. Some applications require zero essays while others require as many as twelve, so it's nearly impossible to anticipate the workload without a fairly solid list in place. NOTE: Typically, the more competitive a school is, the more essays it requires—but there are certainly exceptions.
Regardless of the program chosen, our goal is to empower students to navigate this process with pride and confidence in their work and leave them knowing that they earned their achievements.
Scroll down to explore each program and find the best fit for your student!
Regardless of the program chosen, our goal is to empower students to navigate this process with pride and confidence in their work and leave them knowing that they earned their achievements.
Scroll down to explore each program and find the best fit for your student!
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Fundamental Program
Fundamental programs are designed for intrinsically motivated, independent seniors who thrive with clear direction and can complete the majority of application work outside of sessions, or students who are perhaps less independent or confident in writing, who are targeting a limited number of schools with simpler application requirements and no complex essays. After receiving personalized advice and instruction from their counselor, students are empowered to take ownership of the essay writing and application process by completing assignments in between sessions. These programs generally entail 1-2 meetings per week and 3-5 rounds of asynchronous edits per essay.
Who is the Fundamental Program right for?
Example Student A
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 4.0 with excellent writing skills; can brainstorm, write, and implement suggestions efficiently and effectively
- College List: 5-10 highly selective colleges (Top 25, UCs, etc.), typically with multiple long-form and short-form supplemental essays per school
- Priorities: Quality control on essays; high-level guidance on application content with ability to implement changes outside of sessions; reliable feedback from trusted advisor as questions arise throughout the process
Example Student B
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 3.5 with average to above average writing skills; needs help brainstorming, researching, and refining content through targeted feedback
- College List: 8-10 moderately competitive colleges (Top 50-100, UCs, etc.), typically with 1-2 supplemental essays per school
- Priorities: Structured timeline and check-ins for accountability; guided feedback on essay drafts; help tracking completion of the Activities, Honors, and Additional Info sections; submission of strong applications without intensive essay support
Example Student C
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 3.0 with below average to average writing skills; needs help choosing appropriate topics and editing for clarity, focus, and purpose
- College List: 8-10 colleges with higher acceptance rates and fewer supplemental essays
- Priorities: Plan to track application materials, requirements, and deadlines while reducing stress; assigned tasks with follow-ups each week to meet all deadlines; guidance deepening written ideas for the personal statement and supplemental essays; proofreading for grammar, vocabulary, etc.
What's included in Fundamental?
• Support on up to 10 applications
Your counselor will guide you in completing every aspect of every college application, including all essays, short answers, videos, interviews, and other content requested.
• Finalized college list
Your counselor will solidify a customized college list with a balanced number of safety, target, and reach schools based on evaluation of your profile and input from you and your family.
• Strategic major selection
Your counselor will evaluate academic departments, faculty research, and special grants to identify the specific major or concentration that maximizes your likelihood of admission at each institution.
• Admissions cycle and deadline strategy
Your counselor will architect a game plan for Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision deadlines, analyzing the tactical advantages and limitations of each while maximizing your competitive edge at the greatest number of schools.
• Student questionnaire/brag sheet support
Your counselor will work with you to fill out forms that give your recommenders a detailed understanding of who you are by selecting anecdotes and personal details that support your specific application strategy.
• Letters of recommendation strategy
Your counselor will help you select strategic academic and extracurricular recommenders and coach you on when and how to ask for letters of recommendation, so you come across as authentic and sincere.
• Completion of activities and awards sections
Your counselor will help you craft compelling descriptions of your activities and awards for the Common Application and other applications’ Extracurricular Activities sections.
• College interview coaching
Your counselor will explain the essentials of effective interviewing, help you develop answers to commonly asked questions, and schedule practice sessions to ensure you present yourself with poise, professionalism, and authenticity.
• Scholarship research
Your counselor will help you locate scholarships specific to your profile.
• Consultation with a specialized counselor
Your counselor will connect you with one specialist of your choice who will provide feedback on niche application elements (athletic recruitment, arts portfolio development, audition preparation, etc.) to best optimize outcome.
• Regular access to our financial aid specialist
Our financial aid expert will assist you in navigating the financial aid process and answer any questions you may have.
• Deferral, waitlist, and post-admit decision support
Your counselor will help you review your admissions results, write letters of continued interest if deferred or waitlisted, and provide guidance and support for choosing a school out of the options.
• 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.
• Planning systems and tools
Utilize a structured framework for success through month-by-month milestone tracking and access to our dedicated counseling platform. Our suite of proprietary resources – including research frameworks, campus visit guides, and essay brainstorming tools – is designed to ensure organized, consistent progress throughout the year.
Your counselor will guide you in completing every aspect of every college application, including all essays, short answers, videos, interviews, and other content requested.
• Finalized college list
Your counselor will solidify a customized college list with a balanced number of safety, target, and reach schools based on evaluation of your profile and input from you and your family.
• Strategic major selection
Your counselor will evaluate academic departments, faculty research, and special grants to identify the specific major or concentration that maximizes your likelihood of admission at each institution.
• Admissions cycle and deadline strategy
Your counselor will architect a game plan for Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision deadlines, analyzing the tactical advantages and limitations of each while maximizing your competitive edge at the greatest number of schools.
• Student questionnaire/brag sheet support
Your counselor will work with you to fill out forms that give your recommenders a detailed understanding of who you are by selecting anecdotes and personal details that support your specific application strategy.
• Letters of recommendation strategy
Your counselor will help you select strategic academic and extracurricular recommenders and coach you on when and how to ask for letters of recommendation, so you come across as authentic and sincere.
• Completion of activities and awards sections
Your counselor will help you craft compelling descriptions of your activities and awards for the Common Application and other applications’ Extracurricular Activities sections.
• College interview coaching
Your counselor will explain the essentials of effective interviewing, help you develop answers to commonly asked questions, and schedule practice sessions to ensure you present yourself with poise, professionalism, and authenticity.
• Scholarship research
Your counselor will help you locate scholarships specific to your profile.
• Consultation with a specialized counselor
Your counselor will connect you with one specialist of your choice who will provide feedback on niche application elements (athletic recruitment, arts portfolio development, audition preparation, etc.) to best optimize outcome.
• Regular access to our financial aid specialist
Our financial aid expert will assist you in navigating the financial aid process and answer any questions you may have.
• Deferral, waitlist, and post-admit decision support
Your counselor will help you review your admissions results, write letters of continued interest if deferred or waitlisted, and provide guidance and support for choosing a school out of the options.
• 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.
• Planning systems and tools
Utilize a structured framework for success through month-by-month milestone tracking and access to our dedicated counseling platform. Our suite of proprietary resources – including research frameworks, campus visit guides, and essay brainstorming tools – is designed to ensure organized, consistent progress throughout the year.
Core Program
Core programs are designed for the average senior in high school who wants regular check-ins while applying to a balanced list of safety, target, and reach schools. Counselors help students build said college list, research academic programs at each school, and navigate standard application requirements. Students receive personalized guidance to develop a strong personal narrative and an effective application strategy. With clear direction and detailed feedback during sessions, students collaborate with their counselor on key tasks—such as researching schools, brainstorming and writing essays, and preparing for interviews—while maintaining steady progress independently between meetings. These programs generally entail 2-3 meetings per week and 5-10 rounds of asynchronous edits per essay.
Who is the Core Program right for?
Example Student A
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 4.0 with excellent writing skills; generates strong ideas and has a clear voice but needs help staying under word count limits, supporting arguments with examples, and maintaining thematic focus throughout their essays
- College List: 10-15 schools (including extremely competitive reaches), typically with a high volume of challenging supplemental essays
- Priorities: Collaborative sessions to workshop ideas and push essays from “good” to “outstanding”; strategic insight into the competitive admissions landscape; assistance developing and articulating a compelling and authentic student brand; submission of exceptional, strategically crafted applications
Example Student B
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 3.5 with average to above average writing skills; needs help generating more mature essay ideas and polishing content
- College List: 10-15 colleges, typically with 2-3 supplemental essays per school
- Priorities: Collaborative brainstorming and outlining work during sessions; more frequent check-ins to stay on schedule and ensure consistent progress; increased competitiveness by presenting a cohesive application narrative that clearly communicates strengths, interests, and academic potential through a distinct voice and personal brand
Example Student C
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 3.0 with below average to average writing skills; needs help identifying their goals and strengths, has difficulty completing writing between sessions
- College List: 10-15 colleges, typically with 1-2 supplemental essays per school
- Priorities: Frequent sessions to conduct research for school-specific essays; patient support at every stage of the personal statement and other prompts, including brainstorming, outlining, editing, and proofreading; on-time submission of complete, well-written, thoroughly reviewed applications with minimal stress
Core includes everything listed in the Fundamental Program, as well as...
• Support on five additional applications (up to 15 total)
Your counselor will guide you in completing every aspect of every college application.
• 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 applications.
• Strategic major selection
Your counselor will evaluate academic departments, faculty research, and special grants to identify the specific major or concentration that maximizes your likelihood of admission at each institution.
• 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 school-specific essays.
• Strategic contact with admissions representatives
Your counselor will help you connect with local or national admissions representatives, either in person or in writing, to demonstrate interest in their universities and introduce yourself as a serious candidate for admission.
• Scholarship application support
Your counselor will identify high-value scholarships tailored to your specific academic, extracurricular, and personal profile, ensuring you are positioned to pursue the opportunities that best align with your achievements and financial goals.
• 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.
• Personality and career assessments
Your counselor will utilize behavioral and career assessments to identify potential majors and professional paths that align with your unique intellectual strengths. By synthesizing these results, they provide recommendations for concentrations that resonate with your specific interests and personality profile.
Your counselor will guide you in completing every aspect of every college application.
• 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 applications.
• Strategic major selection
Your counselor will evaluate academic departments, faculty research, and special grants to identify the specific major or concentration that maximizes your likelihood of admission at each institution.
• 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 school-specific essays.
• Strategic contact with admissions representatives
Your counselor will help you connect with local or national admissions representatives, either in person or in writing, to demonstrate interest in their universities and introduce yourself as a serious candidate for admission.
• Scholarship application support
Your counselor will identify high-value scholarships tailored to your specific academic, extracurricular, and personal profile, ensuring you are positioned to pursue the opportunities that best align with your achievements and financial goals.
• 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.
• Personality and career assessments
Your counselor will utilize behavioral and career assessments to identify potential majors and professional paths that align with your unique intellectual strengths. By synthesizing these results, they provide recommendations for concentrations that resonate with your specific interests and personality profile.
Comprehensive Program
Comprehensive programs provide the most extensive level of support, including as-needed meetings and guidance that is both broader in scope and deeper in focus. These programs accommodate unlimited applications (including talent-based portfolios and auditions), a competitive school list, and difficult long-form essays. They are ideal for students who benefit from a highly hands-on, collaborative approach and want a strategic partner from start to finish, ensuring nothing gets overlooked or delayed. These programs allow for as many meetings as are necessary, as well as unlimited rounds of asynchronous edits.
Who is the Comprehensive Program right for?
Example Student A
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 4.0 with excellent writing skills; needs consistent, thoughtful feedback on how to present themselves beyond grades and achievements and infuse their writing with deep personal insight and emotion
- College List: 10-20 schools, including highly competitive programs (such as BS/MD) and a large volume of challenging supplements/portfolios, scholarship, and honors college applications
- Priorities: High-touch support to help brainstorm, edit, and perfect every piece of writing; help managing various portfolio timelines, auditions, and/or program-specific requirements; strategic contact with admissions representatives; development of a unique narrative that tells a compelling, consistent story across all application materials
Example Student B
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 3.5 with average to above average writing skills; needs support connecting specialized extracurricular interests with future academic goals
- College List: 10-20 schools, including those with specialized admissions requirements (such NYU Tisch, Michigan Ross, RISD), typically with a large number of complicated supplements/portfolios, requiring in-depth school and program research
- Priorities: A highly collaborative and rigorously structured process that includes active in-session outlining, writing, and revising of a large number of essays; in-session assistance researching schools and majors to develop an application strategy; submission of thoroughly researched, thoughtfully curated applications.
Example Student C
- Profile: Unweighted GPA of 3.0 with below average to average writing skills; needs significant support to draft essays, refine ideas, and maintain momentum to meet deadlines; requires frequent accountability check-ins to manage their time and complete application materials, often needing to work through key tasks during sessions
- College List: 10-20 schools with specialized programs
- Priorities: Significant exploration of potential majors and career ambitions before starting the application process; frequent, high-touch support to ensure quality and completion across the board
Comprehensive includes everything listed in the Core Program, as well as...
• Support on unlimited applications
Your counselor will guide you in completing every aspect of every college application.
• Unlimited 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.
• Hands-on support for in-session task completion
Your counselor will provide as-needed guidance and support to complete tasks during sessions, ensuring nothing gets overlooked or delayed. By managing technical requirements and administrative hurdles in real time, they ensure uninterrupted momentum and empower you to produce high-quality work without the stress of a growing "to-do" list.
• Soft skill development and guidance for high school
Your counselor will help you develop and enhance your interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, organizational skills, creative problem-solving abilities, independence, and self-confidence.
• AP Diagnostic Exams
Your counselor will coordinate practice exams for your APs in the early spring, and you will review the results with a GE College prep tutor to ensure you are on track for the official May exams.
• Final roundtable application review
Department heads conduct final strategic reviews and polish applications prior to submission.
Your counselor will guide you in completing every aspect of every college application.
• Unlimited 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.
• Hands-on support for in-session task completion
Your counselor will provide as-needed guidance and support to complete tasks during sessions, ensuring nothing gets overlooked or delayed. By managing technical requirements and administrative hurdles in real time, they ensure uninterrupted momentum and empower you to produce high-quality work without the stress of a growing "to-do" list.
• Soft skill development and guidance for high school
Your counselor will help you develop and enhance your interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, organizational skills, creative problem-solving abilities, independence, and self-confidence.
• AP Diagnostic Exams
Your counselor will coordinate practice exams for your APs in the early spring, and you will review the results with a GE College prep tutor to ensure you are on track for the official May exams.
• Final roundtable application review
Department heads conduct final strategic reviews and polish applications prior to submission.
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