The college admissions process can be stressful. Choose a partner that will help navigate the ins and outs with frank (but kind) guidance and direction. KD has college counseling solutions to meet families where they are in the process—from small group sessions to one-on-one meetings to boot camps for essays—we can help you and your student successfully tackle the entire college admissions process. After all, college admissions isn’t a game to be won—it’s a fit to be found.
Small group sessions that guide students and parents through the entire college application process. Includes 16 classes covering essential application topics, as well as additional activities.
Hourly one-on-one sessions with members of the college counseling team focused on areas of the college admissions process specific to students' individual priorities
Three day (2 hours per day), small group sessions to help students get a head start on the development of a college essay/personal statement to be used or adapted for college admissions
Session that helps identify a student’s strengths and interests, followed by a one-on-one meeting to interpret results
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is college counseling?
College counseling assists middle and high school students and their families with the college admissions process, including college selection, application assistance, college essay guidance and editing, interview preparation, resumes, career paths and majors, high school course selection, and more. As high school counselors are now tasked with more responsibilities and increased caseloads, an independent college counselor can provide additional support for families.
KD College Prep offers several different programs in various formats. Small-group programs like the APPLY NOW! Advantage Program and the APPLY NOW! Essay Boot Camp are cost-effective ways to get guidance for the admissions process. Pinnacle Sessions are hourly, one-on-one meetings with the college counseling team that address specific areas of the admissions process based on a student’s individual priorities.
Regardless of the setting, our college counseling team provides unbiased and honest advice based on knowledge gained by experience, continuing education, and college research. Our counselors do not write essays or complete application materials for students, nor do we guarantee admission, but we will provide detailed feedback and support along the way.
Choose a program that fits best with your student’s unique needs. Have questions? Sign up for a free consultation to learn more about our program options.
Why should I hire a college counselor?
To put it simply, the college admissions process can be challenging. It’s nice to have a little expert guidance along the way.
Since 1992, we have helped families just like yours navigate this stressful process. Our college counseling team can help students and their families choose the best path. The support of our staff can help students take charge of the process, eliminate costly mistakes, stay on track, and maximize the chance of admittance into his or her dream college.
If any of this sounds familiar, then you may want to consider asking for some expert guidance.
- Stressed about finding the right college fit?
- Not sure how to start your college application essays?
- Concerned about how to pay for college?
- Confused about the different types of financial aid?
- Worried about preparing for college interviews?
- Super-anxious about completing applications?
- Have questions and need more detailed information about certain topics?
- Need help reviewing items within the admissions process?
Many of our families say that working with a college counselor helps maintain family relationships and decreases stress.
How does college admissions consulting work?
The first step is finding out more. Give a member of our team a call to schedule an information session. Here are just a few of the questions your student might hear:
- What activities are you involved in?
- What is your GPA? Does your high school report class rank?
- What classes have you taken in high school?
- Have you taken the national PSAT, SAT®, or ACT® tests? How did you do?
- What are your college goals?
- Have you thought about possible careers or college majors?
- Where are you in the college admissions process?
Based on your student’s goals, dreams, priorities, and opportunities, we’ll make some recommendations on which of our college counseling programs is the best fit. Talk it over as a family, and then the real work begins!
How do I choose a counselor?
Sign up for a free consultation with a member of our college counseling team to talk about your student’s admissions goals and next steps.
It’s also important for students to understand the amount of time that is involved in the admissions process. Students will be held accountable for doing the work and meeting deadlines—just like in college and the real world.
Our team has professionals who specialize in various areas of the admissions process. Depending on a student’s needs, we can help him or her reach those goals.
What programs does KD offer?
At KD College Prep, we offer four college counseling programs: the APPLY NOW! Advantage Program, Pinnacle Sessions, APPLY NOW! Essay Boot Camp, and an Aptitude Assessment.
APPLY NOW! Advantage Program (11th Grade)
KD’s newest offering guides students through the entire college application process in a small–group setting beginning in the 11th grade. The 16 classes, some of which parents attend, cover essential topics such as the following:
- Understanding the college admissions process
- Finalizing your college list
- Paying for college
- Completing applications
- Brainstorming and writing your personal statement
- Exploring majors and careers
- Comparing financial aid packages and more
- Preparing for quality interviews
The program also includes hands-on “labs,” counseling team “office hours,” and two one-on-one Pinnacle Sessions, providing expert guidance on the student’s individual priorities.
Find out more about the APPLY NOW! Advantage Program.
Pinnacle Sessions (7th – 12th Grade)
Pinnacle Sessions allow you to pay by the hour for expert guidance in specific areas of the admissions process with the college counseling staff. Hourly sessions could include the following:
- Middle school or high school course selection
- Essay topic brainstorming and/or editing
- Building and finalizing an ideal college list
- Aptitude assessment and review of results
- Interview skills and more
Families may purchase single-hour sessions or bundles of five hours at a discounted hourly rate. Learn more about Pinnacle Sessions.
APPLY NOW! Essay Boot Camp (12th Grade)
Boot camps are fast-paced, small-group events held periodically during the year for 12th graders. During the boot camp (3 days, 2 hours each day), KD’s college counseling team guides students through the development of a personal statement which students may use or adapt for college admissions. Students will also brainstorm on supplemental essays. (Note: the APPLY NOW! Advantage Program includes all the pieces of the essay boot camp.)
Learn more about APPLY NOW! Essay Boot Camps.
Aptitude Assessment (7th – 12th Grade)
Students take an aptitude assessment to help identify their strengths and interests. In a follow-up, one-on-one session, a member of the college counseling team will review results which can help guide important decisions such as middle school and high school course selection, college selection, college major and fields of study, career opportunities, and more.
Learn more about the Aptitude Assessment.
When should my student start working with a college counselor?
It all depends on the student and what his or her goals are. In a perfect world, students would meet with a counselor in middle school or early in high school to understand the college admissions process and get help selecting high school courses and identifying interesting extracurricular activities. Students would then use 10th and 11th grade to explore colleges and develop a foundation for the application process, leading into a busy 12th grade college application season, which generally begins the summer before senior year.
Students who plan on applying to highly-competitive schools or who need more assistance may benefit from starting the process earlier. On the other hand, a well-prepared student may only need finishing touches on a few essays before deadline season during his or her 12th grade year.
No matter where our college counseling students apply, we recommend starting early and finishing the application process by October 15th in senior year, if at all possible. College deadlines vary and so will students’ timelines, depending on when they start with us.
This process is often much more time-consuming than you think. Call to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team so we can offer some recommendations based on your student’s specific situation.
Which schools have accepted KD's former college counseling students?
Our students have earned acceptances into every Ivy League school (Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, and Princeton), Emory, NYU, Duke, Georgetown, UCLA, UC-Berkeley, Carnegie-Mellon, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, University of Arizona Honors College, University of Chicago, Caltech, Michigan, Georgia Tech, SMU, MIT, Vanderbilt, Rice, Davidson, St. John’s, Trinity, the University of Notre Dame, Bowdoin, Texas A&M, University of Texas Engineering Honors, and many more.
How much does it cost?
KD College Prep college counseling pricing varies by program:
College counseling is expensive. Is it worth it?
The average cost of attending college varies. Here are some ranges for you and your family to consider.
- Public, in-state college—$30,000+/year
- Public, out-of-state colleges—$40-$70,000+/year
- Private colleges—$50-$80,000/year
Many of our college counseling students obtain outstanding scholarship offers that help them afford the overall cost of college.
College counseling can be well worth it for students who have important goals, need help understanding the process, or want professional guidance to make the most of college and scholarship opportunities.
