Dear fellow parent:
Thank you for your interest in our college advising services. Let me be straight with you:
Our proprietary "P4" system is really a backward approach to creating a college plan, integrating four separate disciplines. We're the only game in town when it comes to this approach - to our knowledge, no public high school guidance counselor, private school advisor or any other college planner addresses the following critical elements in a comprehensive, integrated way.
Plus, we don't bribe, photoshop or take standardized tests for you! (C'mon, I had to say something!)
Here's how we approach advising in four steps:
1. Plan. First, we explore your child's "wiring" and what that translates into in terms of where they can fit into the world AND make a living (i.e. getting off Mom and Dad's payroll. :)
2. Path. Immediately thereafter, we build a strategic and balanced college list that includes schools that are highly reputable across the cluster of best fit majors and careers that we mutually decide to focus on, as well as "best fit" for other, more traditional college planning considerations.
3. Position. The next component is reverse engineering what will resonate with admissions officers, which involves uncovering the unique qualities of each child to position them to stand from thousands of competitor-applicants. This includes resume-building, essay writing, test prep and tutoring, visits, interviews, and more.
4. Produce. The last step involves scholarships, financial aid advice and forms preparation, and creative funding strategies that frequently involve tax-related advice for high earning business owners. We are experts at negotiating scholarship and financial aid awards, also.
The customary charge for a College Strategy Session is $499, but you can book one - gratis - if you do so within 72 hours of attending one of our presentations.
College Advising Fees and your Return on Investment.
I won't beat around the bush, we're not an el-cheapo operation. But the investment to work with us is commensurate with the value we provide in terms of scholarships and financial aid we're able to help clients obtain...
...not to mention clarity about which colleges to apply to, what to write on essays and applications, which courses and extracurricular activities to pursue, college visits and interviews, holding your child accountable through the entire process so you don't have to scream at them and similar concerns and more...
...which ALL equates to a huge reduction of uncertainty and stress that, frankly, is impossible to quantify.
Andy takes on 24 select students per graduation class, e.g. 24 for the Class of 2021, 24 2022's. His capacity fills up earlier each year.
Current college advisory fees start at $6,000 and can be more than $20,000 (subject to change, without notice). The range depends on whether families work with us for financial aid and other college funding advice, or our more comprehensive program that includes each of the four areas (Plan, Path, Position, Produce), above.
Fees to work with Andy's associates start at $3,500. Lockwood College Prep also offers standalone SAT and ACT prep and financial aid applications preparation and consulting.
NOTE: because we are a 'boutique" firm with limited capacity to work 1-on-1 with families, we are extremely choosy about whom we work with. If we sense, in an initial College Strategy Session phone call that a child or parent will not be a good fit (e.g. easy to work with), we will politely inform them so and conclude the call, no hassles or hard feelings.
However, if we mutually decide that it's appropriate to discuss these details on your call, you'll get everything you need - including pricing, deliverables and MUTUAL expectations - to make a decision about working with us.