About Us

The college admissions process has significantly changed over the past 20 years, and the level of competition to be admitted into a university has increased over 200% since 1990. Times have changed. Even getting into a smaller, less competitive school can be challenging. The entrance requirements are constantly changing and the number of students applying with top grades is increasing, making it challenging for High School counselors to keep up with the current trends.

School guidance counselors provide much of the help students need. However, school-based counselors are often burdened with other duties and simply do not have the extra time to spend on college placement.

According to 2005 statistics put forth by the American School Counselors Association, the national student-counselor ratio is 482-to-1. In our home state of California, the average is an astounding 972-to-1.The recommended ratio is 250-to-1.

Reasons to Hire an Educational Consultant

Outside of purchasing a home, your child’s college education will be the second biggest investment you will make. Applying to and selecting the “right” college can be difficult. Keeping up with the current demands of the application process, the changes in requirements, the additional “recommended” or “suggested” coursework, extra-curricular activities, and exams can make this process very stressful.

OUR SEMINAR INSTRUCTORS

Our SAT/ACT academic seminars are taught by credentialed teachers who have had additional training in the SAT/ACT exams strategy and test taking skills. They are used to working with high school students and offer their knowledge about the tests in great depth. Our instructors focus on specifics such as time management while under pressure, understanding the differences between the SAT and ACT, how to view questions- deciphering what is being asked, how to raise your score by identifying the level of difficulty of a question, as well as learning techniques for writing the essay portion of the exam.

All other seminars are taught by teachers or professionals who have worked with high school students in the specific area of study, who have depth and strong knowledge of the specific subject matter, and who are able to deliver it competently to the students. All instructors are trained by the founder of StepAhead, Trish Pietrzak, who requires a high level of professionalism and education. Although these seminars are academically based, our instructors engage students to collaborate and ask questions. We try to bring ‘fun’ to the course, allowing students to learn techniques to reduce test taking anxiety.

StepAhead takes prides with our extensive first-hand knowledge of colleges, big and small, around the country. We spend 20% of our time on the road, meeting with admission officers, touring campuses, and exploring the campus environment. Our consultants regularly attend conferences and workshops to stay current on developments in their field. We have experience in college admissions and know the intricacies of test preparation, applications, essays and financial aid. We can even help students decide which high school courses to take to best prepare for success in college.

This personal insight provides a student with a much deeper understanding of a college than a catalog or web site can convey. Because our consultants are familiar with a multitude of colleges, we can present students and families with a wider selection of possibilities.

StepAhead’s educational consultants can be a welcome resource for families who recognize they need more help than school counselors are able to provide. Our consultants bring the knowledge and skills of an experienced professional, coupled with a commitment to assure the child's best interests are met. We dedicate time with the student and parents getting to the heart of a student's personality, interests, and aspirations. We work with the entire family to help identify what's best for the student and what options are available.

According to a July 2005 article in the Wall Street Journal, tuition at private colleges across the nation is expected to rise 5.7% with the average cost at $31,051. This is almost double the cost of tuition since 1990. Are you possibly looking towards the private schools or the Ivy League? The cost of attending Harvard is over $50,000, including room and board, an increase of over 5% from last year.

What else can an educational consultant do for me?

• Assist with a variety of tasks associated with the college processes.
• Create a personalized planner and calendar, including expenses for fees, etc.
• Help student understand the competition for specific colleges and universities.
• Meet at times that are convenient to your schedule .
• Access to information and advice from a variety of colleges and universities.
• Avoid frustration and confusion caused by information overload.
• Make educational investment decisions with the benefit of professional college planning and college financial aid advice.
• Financial Aid /Scholarships assistance.
• Identification of alternative colleges and universities.
• Maintain calm during a potentially stressful time
• Reduce likelihood of costly transfer from one college to another.
• Discuss value of various college choices with experienced professional in college counseling.
• No worries about missing deadlines for college applications.
• Confident that college match is based on factual information rather than what “someone said”.

Further assistance with:
• Essay writing
• Test preparation
• Internships