High School Development

Grades and class rigor are the most important element in college admissions.

Four Year Plan. Together, coach and student review the school’s course offerings and build a fluid four-year plan.

Rigor. We encourage students to pursue rigor where appropriate, but never recommend courses that will overwhelm them.

Academic Tutoring. Academic stretch is great—if paired with the right support, so we will suggest it when appropriate.

Electives matter. We help students identify electives that align with their interests and goals, building a cohesive narrative that supports their college applications.

Family choice is central. Our role is to provide expert guidance, including teacher input and support options, but final decisions rest with the student and family.

Colleges are ultimately looking for initiative, follow-through, and the desire to make an impact on the community. To this end, we help students identify, develop, and deepen interests that feel authentic to them. 

We suggest activities, clubs, and service opportunities linked to their activities, throw out a range of ideas to see if any stick, and try to expand their thinking by sharing articles, ideas, and media that might interest them.

By the end of junior year, we have a story to tell the college that makes sense with the student’s academic strengths and extracurricular activities.

“Ben comes away from meetings with you lit up and energized. It’s priceless seeing him find his voice. Deep gratitude. It’s a true gem in this harrowing process of entering adulthood.”

We collaborate with families to design a summer experience that aligns with the student’s interests, strengths, budget, and schedule.

Every plan is tailored to the individual, with the goal of initiative, growth, and authenticity, the qualities that will make them stand out to admissions.

Coaches keep conversations exploratory, focused on the student’s academic strengths, personal interests, and values. From there, they discuss possible college majors.

For students with a specific career in mind — business, medicine, education for example — our coaches will get more granular, introducing possible avenues, talking about various specializations, and even connecting students with people in the industry.

We build this document over the course of our work together, approaching the resumé as a chance to show personality and purpose.

For example, we don’t need to say the Editor of the school paper edits articles since admissions officers know that. Instead, we use to space to go beyond titles and responsibilities to show what the student brings to the role.

We use the resumé to fill out the activities section of the Common App. We might also send it to recommenders and regional admissions counselors.

Strong test scores improve acceptance rates, serving as critical differentiators on the college application. Rampant grade inflation means that half of college applicants apply with straight As.

We discuss the pros and cons of applying test optional and develop an AP strategy when appropriate.

We help students decide if a postgraduate (PG) or gap year makes sense by getting to know their academic, emotional, and personal readiness for college.

If they need more time to grow, build confidence, or gain clarity about their goals, we work closely with the student and family to design a meaningful year. That might include identifying structured PG programs, internships, travel, work opportunities, or community involvement aligned with their interests.

For athletes, we can explore PG options that offer additional training and recruitment exposure. We also help students strengthen their applications if they plan to reapply to college, ensuring that the gap or PG year adds real value.

The goal is to make the time purposeful and personal—something that supports long-term success, not just a pause.

In a session with our College Financial Strategist, families will gain a strong understanding of the financial aid landscape, including how merit aid, need-based aid, the FAFSA, and the CSS Profile work. We'll cover common mistakes to avoid when planning for college costs and share practical tips to maximize eligibility for aid.