Candid College Advisors

What's Included

Building a preliminary college list based on your student's profile, goals, and realistic prospects.
Incorporating college-visit takeaways to refine and narrow the list.
Advising on essay strategy across the Common App personal statement, supplements, and all additional required writing.
Shaping and refining the Common App personal statement through structured feedback and revision.
Identifying opportunities to repurpose essays efficiently across multiple applications.
Advising on high school course selection to strengthen the overall application profile.
Reviewing application components, including the activities list, awards, and additional information sections.
Strategizing application timing: Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision.
Interview preparation and coaching.
Advising on admissions offers once decisions arrive, weighing all relevant factors to identify the right fit.
Waitlist strategy, if applicable.

What's Excluded

Writing any portion of the student's essays.
Financial aid planning or advising.
Completing the FAFSA or other financial aid forms.
Communicating directly with your student's high school or college counseling office.
Rush or last-minute requests that adequate planning would have prevented.
Test preparation or academic tutoring.

A Note on Who We Work For

The student is our primary client. We serve their best interests — taking into account the context and constraints parents share (financial parameters, geographic preferences, school-size considerations) — but we do not act as an extension of the parent. The student's application is, ultimately, the student's.