The Best U College Admissions Consulting

  Despite the high caseloads that school counselors may face, many high schools are providing a variety of opportunities for students and families to  learn more   about the college admissions process without having to travel for college visits. In the fall, high schools open their doors for college representatives to conduct 30- minute presentations to high school juniors and seniors. Frequently, in the fall or spring, high schools will host college fairs for all high school grade levels and open them to students at any school in the region. Many school counseling teams will provide Financing College and/or College Nights during the school year for students and parents to provide important information about paying for college and/or how to coordinate the college admissions process with counseling staff. Counseling Offices tend to post resources around the school or the office, so students can learn about colleges and experiences they may not have previously heard of. Add...

  There are so many moving pieces to the  college application process.  Check out this video to learn about the application timeline and the important pieces you need to be thinking about and doing. Families from the USA and All Over The World —  Sign up for a FREE 20-minute phone call or online video meeting now   so we can learn about your family’s college admissions needs and how we can provide support.

  Jenna Greenwood received a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Colorado, at Boulder and an M.S. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Portland State University. Since 2013, I’ve been supporting students as they navigate the higher education system in various different capacities. Early in my career, I did a term of service with AmeriCorps at a college access and retention nonprofit in Minnesota, where I developed an interest in helping students understand the  financial aid process .  I worked at the University of Oregon as a Financial Aid Counselor, where I developed a deep understanding of the financial aid system. As a Financial Aid Counselor, I advised and processed awards for a caseload of several hundred students, created and oversaw a student-run financial literacy program, and reviewed special circumstance petitions. Currently, I work as an Assistant Director of Programs and Student Engagement in the BOLD Center in the College of Engineering and Ap...

  As you prepare to join family gatherings this holiday season, here’s what we encourage you to remember about high school students– Over the next couple of months, you will more than likely have the opportunity to connect with family members or friends who are in high school.  A perfectly natural topic of conversation, one may think, is to ask that student where they’ve applied to college, what their  dream school   is, and if they’ve been accepted… From the perspective of your friendly  College Advisors ,  our professional advice is…. Don’t. If you are a parent of a high school student, you know all too well that college admissions have become exponentially more competitive in recent years. Students have lived much of their high school experience in a global pandemic, with classes, testing, activities, and social lives tossed upside down. Now, more than ever, our kids need the loving encouragement & support of their family and friends. They don’t need...

  If you plan on applying for  financial aid   to help reduce the cost of college, then check out this video. Financial aid expert,  Jenna Greenwood ,  provides advice on how to maximize your opportunities to get more financial aid. Families from the USA and All Over The World —  Sign up for a FREE 20-minute phone call or online video meeting now   so we can learn about your family’s college admissions needs and how we can provide support.

  Our College Affordability Expert   will help  9th-12th grade students & families  better understand the Financial Aid Process In this live session we will cover: General questions you have about the financial aid process Discuss the key pieces you need to know to take advantage of financial aid opportunities and move forward in your process Buy Now

  I hit submit–Now what? What to do after hitting submit on that college application: With November 1st behind us, many students have submitted their first applications and now move into the waiting period when they face the unknown with a likely mix of relief, anxiety, and uncertainty.  So what now? Read on for a few key next steps after hitting submit on those college applications — What To Do After You’ve Hit Submit: 1. Confirm your application is complete: Importantly,  the student application   (Common App or otherwise) is not the only thing required for a student’s admission file to be complete. Students are responsible for ensuring each component of the application is “confirmed” complete.  Most colleges will email students with login credentials to manage their next steps through an applicant portal. Keep these login credentials for portals in one place and  check the portal regularly for updates . Follow up politely and with appreciation to the sch...

  Dollars & Sense with The Best U College Affordability Online Workshop Series Fall 2021 Join Our College Affordability Workshops At The Best U, we know that many families have questions and concerns about approaching the financial aspects of the college process. We are thrilled to provide two workshops this fall, hosted by our  College Affordability Expert, Jenna Greenwood .  Jenna has honed tried and true strategies as a college financial aid professional and she is excited to share her knowledge with the TBU community. Our team of expert advisors  is committed to providing the knowledge, resources & tools to support students in making sense of college admissions & sharing their best selves with the world Dollars & Sense: TBU College Affordability Online Workshop #1 Financial Aid Live Q&A Online Workshop Day: Sunday, November 7th, 2021 Time: 5:00 p.m. MDT, 7:00 p.m. EDT, 6:00 p.m. CDT, 4:00 p.m. PDT USA Cost: $36.00 USD Our College Affordability...

Lauren Dodington  received a B.A. in Sociology from Vassar College and holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government. Since 2005, Lauren has devoted her career to developing the potential of students and professionals in the fields of education and college access, working in both school and community-based organizational settings in New York, Philadelphia, and New Haven, CT. Most recently, Lauren was the Director of College Counseling at a leading public charter school in New Haven, Connecticut where she built a student-centered college counseling program and partnered with colleagues across the college landscape. In the spring of 2019, Lauren launched College Vision Consulting to continue to share her empowering and effective approach to college counseling with schools and organizations. As a counselor, Lauren is passionate about partnering with her students and their families and empowering young people to pursue a ...