College Planning Services

Your College Planning: Process to Progress

College planning is often a stressful process – but we can take steps to mitigate that stress!

With Stella Maris’s support, finding the right college can be an exciting adventure, unlike the difficult process other students may have experienced before.

Let’s get started! 

How we work

Stella Maris works primarily with high school juniors and seniors, with many students joining us at some point of their junior years. We also assist with class and activity planning for younger students, typically starting with eighth and ninth graders. For students embarking on their college admissions journey, Stella Maris can help choose classes and activities, brainstorm ideas for interesting summer experiences, and offer PSAT and Pre-ACT help for sophomores and juniors.

Our approach is hands-on and cooperative; we like to work with our students on each step, no matter where they start in the planning and application process.

Working collaboratively allows us to better understand your children, so we can maximize their applications and showcase the talents and achievements that will get them noticed by admissions. We bring all stakeholders to the table and have honest discussions about our clients’ must-haves so we can tailor the process to each individual family. Accordingly, parental involvement is an essential aspect of some client meetings.

Finding the right college fit for our students is extremely important to us. That does not mean we will ignore names as the college list is created. It means we will take a look at all aspects of every school, including campus life, student body size, academics, sports, clubs, Greek life, financial aid – the entire picture.

College planning is a journey, one that takes time, thought, preparation, and courage. When done correctly, it is an exciting and hopeful journey for young learners. Rest assured that there is a college for you and that we will find it together!

Why work with Stella Maris?

It is no secret that college admissions is competitive...and getting tougher every year. What it does not have to be is overwhelming for you and your family.

A big part of Stella Maris’s approach is breaking each step of the college planning and application journey down into manageable pieces, while demystifying the myths that surround today’s college process. We help our students manage the pressure that accompanies this time, so they can stay focused on themselves, their applications, and their futures.

Stella Maris serves as a resource for your family.

Please ask us questions and express your concerns. We are here throughout the entire process to advise, recommend, research, and listen. We can suggest universities for you to look at and provide coaching to help you ask the right questions about aid packages and merit scholarships. If you want to have a more enjoyable, less stressful college application experience, we are here to help!

The services we offer:

• Class choice review for ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders

• Standardized test preparation for the PSAT, Pre-ACT, SAT, and ACT exams

• College list generation

• Admission interview preparation

• Assistance with applications, including the Common App, Coalition for College application, and school-specific applications

• College essay application writing and review, including brainstorming, providing feedback, proofreading, and editing

• Resume creation

All our services are charged at a flat hourly rate.
Please contact us to learn more.