Your Path to College...
Educational Consulting Services
Welcome from Erin Mitchell, M.Ed.
Regardless of your grades, test scores, learning style, and life obstacles, my mission is the same: To assist students and their families in finding colleges that fit their needs and desires in a collegiate experience and then guide students through the admission process by providing personal, one-on-one attention to the unique needs of each student. I offer my expertise regardless of where you are in your high school career.
I currently work with students in San Diego County. I welcome the opportunity to meet with you for a free, no obligation consultation so you can better understand my services and my personal style in working with students. I look forward to discussing your needs further.
It's never too early or too late to begin preparing for the college admissions process, regardless of where you are in your high school career. I work with students and families as early as the second semester of 8th Grade and as late as early fall of Senior year if space is still available. Please contact me if you have any questions about my services.
The Timeline
Below is an overview of the services I offer. Because no two students are exactly alike the hours spent together and services provided vary and are adjusted to fit the needs of your student. I love to meet students as early as the second semester of eighth grade to review their course selections, extracurricular activities and summer plans. Typically freshmen and sophomores don't need me more than 1-2 hours a year but are welcome to contact me as needs arise. The second half of junior year we start with the college list compilation. Then the application work will begin the summer before senior year and through the fall and winter until applications are complete. I will also work with students in the spring of senior year to assist in the decision-making process or, if needed, in writing appeal or waitlist letters.
Comprehensive Package
Though individual students may have varying needs, my comprehensive package includes the following services:
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A suggested list of colleges that fit your student’s individual desires in a college environment as well as his/her test scores and grade point average within a spectrum of selectivity – safety to reach. This includes our meeting time together, my research and report compilation time, and our meeting to review the report.
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In person and online work with your student to consult on personal statements/essays, activity lists, and advisement on any other components of the application needed including the application itself.
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Consultations on aspects of college preparation including: high school course selection, test taking/preparation, extracurricular activities, summer activities, letters of recommendation, and choosing a major.
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Like any good educational consultant, I spend a great deal of time visiting schools, conducting research on admissions changes, attending professional conferences and seminars, and reading about admissions practices. This is in addition to the specific research I will do on behalf of my students throughout the process.
Freshman and sophomore consulting services are part of my comprehensive package and include:
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Creating a 4 year plan
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Advising on extra-curricular involvement
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Advising on summer activities
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Advising on standardized test preparation
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Advising on high school course selection as potential changes to the 4 year plan arise.
College List Only
Want to tackle the college application yourself but just need a list of schools to help narrow down your research? I offer a “College List Only” option to get you started on a space available basis. This service has to be requested prior to April 15th of your student's junior year.
The College List is a suggested list of colleges that fit your student’s individual desires in a college environment as well as his/her test scores and grade point average within a spectrum of selectivity – safety to reach. The college list cost includes our meeting time together, my research and report compilation time, and our meeting to review the report.
If after I present the list you decide to change to the full package, the price of the “List Only” option will be applied to the package price.
Application Process Only
Already finished with your college research and know where you want to apply? Then the "application process only" option is the one for you. The College List cost will be subtracted from the package price, but all other services listed for the comprehensive package will remain.
One-Time Consultation
Have a number of unanswered questions about the college application process, but feel a consultant is unnecessary for the college application process overall? On a space available basis, I am happy to sit down with families and answer questions and provide resources to direct your own research on the college application process. This is different from the free, no obligation consultation in that your intention is not to shop for the right consultant, but just get information to help you run your own process. However, if after our meeting you decide you would like to work together on the college application process, I will apply the hourly fee for this meeting to the full package price.