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.
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.
.png)
Fundamental Program
• Finalized college list
Your counselor will build a customized college list with a balanced number of safety, target, and reach schools based on evaluation of your profile and frequent input from you and your family.
• Strategic major selection
Your counselor will teach you to identify strategic majors 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 programs to help you form an educated opinion on selecting a major.
• Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision game plan
Your counselor will walk you through the strategic advantages and disadvantages of each deadline, focusing on how to maximize your chances at the greatest number of institutions.
• Assistance with student questionnaires/brag sheets
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 who can offer unique perspectives on who you are beyond your grades and coach you on when and how to ask for letters of recommendation so you don’t come across as insincere.
• 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.
• Meeting 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/review, 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.
• Access to exclusive live webinars with our founder, specialists in niche areas, and college admissions officers
You and your family will have unlimited access to Great Expectations events, including live Q&A sessions.
• Access to proprietary 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 build a customized college list with a balanced number of safety, target, and reach schools based on evaluation of your profile and frequent input from you and your family.
• Strategic major selection
Your counselor will teach you to identify strategic majors 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 programs to help you form an educated opinion on selecting a major.
• Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision game plan
Your counselor will walk you through the strategic advantages and disadvantages of each deadline, focusing on how to maximize your chances at the greatest number of institutions.
• Assistance with student questionnaires/brag sheets
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 who can offer unique perspectives on who you are beyond your grades and coach you on when and how to ask for letters of recommendation so you don’t come across as insincere.
• 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.
• Meeting 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/review, 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.
• Access to exclusive live webinars with our founder, specialists in niche areas, and college admissions officers
You and your family will have unlimited access to Great Expectations events, including live Q&A sessions.
• Access to proprietary 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.
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.
Core Program
Includes everything listed in the Fundamental Program, as well as...
• 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.
• In-depth research and exploration of majors
Your counselor will collaborate with you to conduct thorough research into specific colleges and majors, as well as the profiles of admitted students, to suggest how to position your application and essay content to align with the university's ethos.
• Campus visit preparation and college tour/info session sign-ups
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.
• 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 assist you in completing application forms, writing essays, preparing for interviews, and securing letters of recommendation for scholarships specific to your profile.
• 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 the outcome.
• 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.
• 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.
Your counselor will assist you in creating and refining a professional resume that effectively highlights your achievements and can be utilized for applications.
• In-depth research and exploration of majors
Your counselor will collaborate with you to conduct thorough research into specific colleges and majors, as well as the profiles of admitted students, to suggest how to position your application and essay content to align with the university's ethos.
• Campus visit preparation and college tour/info session sign-ups
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.
• 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 assist you in completing application forms, writing essays, preparing for interviews, and securing letters of recommendation for scholarships specific to your profile.
• 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 the outcome.
• 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.
• 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.
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
Comprehensive Program
Includes everything listed in the Core Program, as well as...
• 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.
• 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 the outcome.
• 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 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.
• 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 the outcome.
• 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.
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
Subscribe for updates and insights.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
© Great Expectations College Prep All Rights Reserved
