College Admissions Advising ProgramProgram Summary and Philosophy

Summary KlassTutoring's COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ADVISING PROGRAM (CAAP) begins with an assessment of where you are in the college admissions process. In the first session ("Getting Started"), your Advisor will ask questions to get to know you, to understand your strengths and interests, and to find out what you're looking for in a college. In the second session ("The Timeline"), your Advisor will review the admissions process timeline, locate your position on that timeline, and discuss how to establish a pace and schedule that will enable you to meet your goals and deadlines. Beyond the first two sessions, your Advisor guides you through a series of Learning Modules (summarized below). Each of these Modules spans one or more 90-minute sessions. The time required to cover each Module will depend on your unique timeline, your deadlines, and the number of schools to which you are applying. If there are any Modules you would prefer to skip, your Advisor will work with you to customize a program that emphasizes the parts of the process where you want the most help. Ultimately, the Modules you work on are up to you. Billing is hourly and pay-as-you-go ($130/hour). Sessions last 90 minutes.

1. Getting Started (1 session)
2. The Timeline (1 session)
3. Generating a List of "Good-Fit" Schools
4. Writing Application Essays
5. Obtaining Letters of Recommendation
6. Getting the Most out of Campus Visits
7. Completing Applications
8. Preparing for College Interviews
9. Understanding Financial Aid

Philosophy You've heard the old adage: Give someone a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. This is the KlassTutoring approach to College Admissions Advising. We're not going to give you a fish, i.e. we don't fill out your applications for you. We do something much more valuable. We offer education. We teach you how to successfully navigate the college admissions process.

The college admissions process is fundamentally a learning process. As students navigate it, they will hone practical skills in the areas of research, writing, organization, and time-management. These skills will be valuable during the admissions process, but more importantly, throughout college and beyond. In other words, students will be more successful at whatever college they attend if they can research topics thoroughly, write effectively, organize their materials, and manage their time well. In addition to the practical skills they will acquire, students will also learn about themselves during this formative journey. We take an introspective approach that encourages students to honestly ask themselves, "What do I want to get out of my college education? How can I make the most of this opportunity?"

A Student-Centered Service Admissions officers warn against applications that are "over-packaged" from too much professional handling. Such applications are not well-received by admissions committees. Colleges want to see the "authentic" student. KlassTutoring's College Admissions Advising Program provides tools, guidance, and structure, but the student is always at the center of the process. There will be opportunities for students to learn a great deal about themselves, to be reflective about their interests, goals, and priorities. Think of our College Admissions Advisors as knowledgeable coaches who provide assistance at every stage in the process.

Our Director The CAAP curriculum was designed by Dr. Tamara Luque Black. Dr. Black earned her Ph.D. from UCLA in 2008 and possesses over a decade of experience teaching, advising, and mentoring students. Dr. Black is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and has participated in numerous educational seminars on a variety of admissions-related topics. She is also the co-author of The Tutor System, a guidebook for independent tutors who want to employ the KlassTutoring method to effectively teach their students.

Contact us today to get started with a College Admissions Advisor!

Click here to view slides from Dr. Black's workshop on how to begin your college search.

Disclaimer Advisors will guide, assist, support, and facilitate at all stages of the admissions process. Advisors will not write student essays, complete applications or financial aid forms on behalf of clients, submit or file application materials, or take responsibility for student deadlines. The responsibility for completing and filing applications and forms, as well as meeting deadlines, ultimately lies with the student and his or her family.