Applying to college now is very different from 20 or 30 years ago. Parents often say “I only applied to one school and that is where I went.” But, then they often go on to say, “In hindsight, I realize it wasn't an ideal fit” or “I transferred colleges four times before I finally got my degree.” And that is when they have the “aha” moment.

They realize that the stakes are higher now, as college is more expensive and more competitive. It makes sense to do upfront research, in order to put together an effective list, complete with reach, match and safety schools, taking into consideration academic, social and financial fit.

It is crucial to understand the timing of PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP tests and IB tests. And, how to best approach studying for these exams. For some students a traditional test prep course will work. For others, private tutoring is more effective. And some very highly motivated students are able to study on their own.

Visiting colleges is an important part of the process. But junior year is jammed with deadlines and often the student is taking his or her most rigorous course load to date. How do you decide which colleges make the most sense to visit? I am able to help families work through all of these issues and more, including:
Designing the “List” of Colleges
Visiting Schools
SAT/ACT/AP/IB – timing and suggestions for preparation
Brainstorming Essay Ideas
Polishing the Common Application
Early Action and Early Decision Strategies
Merit Scholarship Applications and Deadlines
Practice Interviews
Creating an Activities/experience resume
Planning Summer Activities
Taking a Career Survey

About Me

Are you a high school student, or a parent, wondering how to get started on the daunting process of choosing the right college?

Thompson College Consulting can help! Common questions include:
Do I have the grades and test scores to get into my dream school?
What does it take to get into an Ivy League college?
How do I put together a list of schools?
What types of schools will be a good fit for me?
What are the real college costs?
Where can I find scholarship money?

No matter where you are in the process, Thompson College Consulting can help. If you are a high school freshman trying to decide which courses to take or a senior putting the finishing touches on your application, or anywhere in-between, Thompson College Consulting is here for you!

Specialty Areas

Students Enrolled

Princeton University, University of Rochester, Barnard College, Maine Maritime Academy, Bates College, Syracuse University, Temple University, University of Vermont, University of California, Santa Barbara, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, University of Denver, University of Washington, Seattle, Santa Clara University, University of San Diego, Occidental College, Northeastern University, Boston University, Trinity College, Tufts University, Union College, Washington State University, Gonzaga University, University of Portland, University of the Pacific, Oregon State University, University of Colorado Boulder, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Colorado School of Mines, Trinity University, St. John's University, College of the Holy Cross, The University of British Columbia, American University, The George Washington University, Xavier University, Emory University, University of California, San Diego, University of California -- Los Angeles, Arizona State University -- Tempe Campus, University of Southern California, Fordham University, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, College Park, Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia, University of Leeds, University of Minnesota -- Twin Cities, New York University, Colorado State University, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Florida, University of Miami, Southern Methodist University, Fairfield University, University of South Florida, University of South Carolina -- Columbia, University of Delaware, Whitman College, Western Washington University, University of San Francisco, Lewis and Clark College, University of Washington, Bothell, Montana State University -- Bozeman, University of Oregon, Kenyon College, Wheaton College, Dickinson College, Hamilton College, The University of Utah, Loyola Marymount University, University of California, Irvine, Scripps College, Florida Southern College, Clemson University, Loyola University New Orleans, The University of Tampa, The University of Arizona, University of Georgia, University of California, Davis, The University of Montana, University of California, Santa Cruz, University of Victoria, University of St. Andrews, Skidmore College, Wellesley College, Mount Holyoke College, Colorado College, Earlham College, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, DePaul University, College of Charleston, Belmont University, Marist College, Clark University, Willamette University, University of Puget Sound, University of Redlands, Whittier College, Texas Christian University, Muhlenberg College, Chapman University, St. Olaf College, Oberlin College, University of Alberta, North Carolina State University -- Raleigh, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Lehigh University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin -- Madison, Middlebury College, Rice University, University of California, Berkeley, Pennsylvania State University -- University Park, College of William and Mary, Lawrence University, Hawaii Pacific University, Seattle University, Carroll College, Iowa State University, Salve Regina University, Gettysburg College, Hope College, Elon University, Miami University -- Oxford, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Queen's University Belfast, Villanova University, George Mason University, James Madison University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Sarah Lawrence College, Bennington College, Ithaca College, Macalester College, San Diego State University, Pitzer College, University of Toronto, McGill University, Adelphi University, University of St. Thomas, The University of Alabama, Georgia Institute of Technology, Virginia Tech, Carleton College, Purdue University -- West Lafayette, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Colgate University, California State University, Long Beach, San Jose State University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Southern Oregon University, Case Western Reserve University, Brandeis University, University of Iowa, Tulane University, Loyola University Chicago, University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor, Northern Arizona University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Susquehanna University, Texas A&M University -- College Station, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University -- Prescott, University of Central Florida, Vassar College, Reed College, Cornell University, Boise State University, Pacific Lutheran University, Stony Brook University, Louisiana State University, Central Washington University, Knox College, Connecticut College, University of Washington, Tacoma, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey -- Camden, University of Nevada, Reno, University of North Texas, Michigan State University, Marquette University, Grinnell College, The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, Rochester Institute of Technology, Arizona State University -- Polytechnic Campus, Providence College, Smith College, Amherst College, Creighton University, SUNY -- University at Buffalo, Williams College, Durham University, University of Mary Washington, Bowdoin College, Boston College, University of Edinburgh, Simon Fraser University, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, The Evergreen State College, University of Kansas, Bowling Green State University, Lynn University, The Ohio State University -- Columbus, Colorado Mesa University, Eastern Washington University, Beloit College, Bryn Mawr College, University of Connecticut, University of New Hampshire, Quinnipiac University, St. Lawrence University, University of Stirling, Illinois College, Albion College