During the pandemic in 2020, I have been blessed to guide over 120 students with SAT/ACT prep, creating  Best Fit College Lists, major and career planning,  College Application Guidance, high school resumes and activities lists, college essays and more.  I was reminded every day how grateful I am to have the opportunity to help students and parents navigate through this period of research, scholastic aptitude and decision process.

Early in 2020 I transitioned smoothly into full time Zoom Meetings and conference calls which proved to be equally as effective as in person meetings across all areas of the curriculum.  Practice SATs and ACTs over Zoom increased in popularity with students not having to leave their home to take a practice test on weekend/school break mornings. Throughout the quarantine periods, it was always a bright spot in my day to communicate with the students face to face through the computer.  

My work hours both increased and became more flexible with student school schedules varying greatly school to school and often changing day to day. I happily fielded texts and worked with students from morning to evening seven days a week in effort to be a steady guide through a turbulent year. More hours went into application guidance, essay planning and essay editing as many students graduating high school in 2021 were not able to submit SAT or ACT scores.  I anticipate this trend to continue as some colleges have elected to remain test optional or test blind for the class of 2022.

I enhanced and expanded part of my service using an editing team to help with College Essay editing. The editors use a unique personalized approach which ensures that the essay is fully written by the student and provides specific feedback to ensure the student gets the message across resulting in an essay of which the student is proud.  The response from students and parents on the process and results was fantastic and the positive admissions decisions to date indicate that the colleges liked the students’ essays too.

With the slow down of life in 2020, and more online access to events, I was also able to engage in learning activities and educational seminars that I may otherwise not have had time to.

I became certified in the Myers Briggs Type Identifier (MBTi) which enables me to provide enhanced major and career guidance to students as they navigate the process of creating a Best Fit College List.

I attended over 50 Virtual College tours which were hosted by and included conversation and question/answer time with the admissions officers who review student applications.

I participated in the following virtual conferences:

• PACAC (Pennsylvania Association of College Admissions Counselors) Spring Conference

• IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) Spring Conference

• NACAC (National Association of Admissions Counselors) Fall Conference

• IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) Winter Professional Retreat

Some of the many conference topics included at these conferences: The Evolving College Landscape, Mental Health in Teens and Young Adults, Stress in Teens, Tech in Counseling, Meeting Students Where They Are, ACCEPT (Admissions Community Cultivating Equity and Peace Today) Med School Admissions, Law School Admissions, Behavioral Intelligence, College Affordability, Homeschooling: Questions to Consider, Positivity in Counseling,  The Transfer Experience, Financial Aid, Merit Aid, Advising Student Athletes, Gap Years, Standardized Testing in the Time of Covid, Tech and Equity, What is Enrollment Management?, Navigating the Move to Online Testing, Psychoeducational/Neuropsychological Evaluations and Student Needs, Test Optional: What Does It Really Mean? Who Benefits?, Elevating Character in College Admissions , What U Need to Know About Public U Honors Colleges, Easing Parents’ Education- Induced Stress and Anxiety, Need-Aware, Motivating the Unmotivated.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE CLASSES OF 2022 AND 2023

Should my child plan to take/prep for the SAT or ACT with so many schools going test-optional? - This is a personal student decision. Things to consider:

• If a college is Test Optional, it means the college will consider test scores if they are submitted meaning, if scores are strong they can enhance the application.

• If a college is Test Blind, the college will not accept test scores as part of the application at all.

• This website lists colleges that are currently Test Optional and Test Blind as well as how long this policy will be in effect (most were Test Optional or Test Blind for the class graduating high school in 2021, some are continuing this policy for one, two, three or more years)

If planning to take the SAT or ACT, when should prep start?

Will EDNavigators meetings ever return to in person? - For now meetings are only held through Zoom.  I anticipate that when it gets safe to meet in person, students will have the option of either in person or virtual meetings.

The beauty of what I do is that my business is split among many aspects of the college application process. I know the SAT and ACT (having taken every one of each test that was given over the past 8 years) and how to prepare students for these tests.  I also know the college admissions process from start to finish, all the components that contribute to the admission decision outcome, and nuances about what some specific colleges expect from a typical student. For this reason, I have no personal agenda to advise a student to take the SAT or ACT.  I have the knowledge needed to guide students in the right direction and assist them whether they take a standardized test or do not.  If you or a friend would like to discuss test prep and/or college counseling, please complete a contact form and schedule a complementary 15 minute phone call with me. I usually book out 3 - 4 months in advance.  I’m currently accepting test prep students for tests in May 2021 and beyond and Best-Fit List students for the class of 2022.