Frequently Asked Questions
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Why should I hire a college consultant or admissions coach?
We provide undivided attention to each of our students. Our college coaches work in teams of 2, which ensures the best support system in the market. Our customized services ensure that you get the exact support you need in the precise areas you need it, so you get a personalized package without any fluff. This targeted support will build your confidence and optimize your application.
Read more about the benefits of working with a College Collective consultant here.
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Q:
When should I start working with a college consultant?
We recommend getting started junior year, as that gives you a solid runway to receive comprehensive guidance and tackle each task when it comes time to fill out your applications. Our teams’ rosters tend to fill up quickly, so waiting until senior year starts can be a little risky.
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Q:
What do the meetings with your college coaches typically look like? Where are they held?
We conduct our meetings via Zoom, and we utilize Google Drive so we can share screens and provide real-time feedback on your documents. It also enables us to record our meetings, which puts less pressure on you to digest and process everything we discuss in the moment.
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Q:
What are my options beyond customized, high-touch college coaching?
It’s called AppsGenius! We broke the college application process into 17 modules that are jam-packed with resources such as workbooks, templates, brainstorming sheets, deadline checklists, dos and don’ts, and more. We also host live webinars and Q&As for each module, which are recorded and uploaded for AppsGenius member access.
Determine if AppsGenius is a good fit for you here.
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Q:
How do I ensure I get into my dream school?
While there are things you can do to put yourself in the strongest position for acceptance, there is no way to guarantee admission to your reach school. No matter how impressive your application is, you only control about 50% of the college admissions process.
Read more on how to find the best schools for you here.
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Q:
How important are college rankings?
Honestly, way less important than you’d think. College rankings can be based on a number of factors, and one of the biggest is name recognition by high school counselors and college deans. So of course all the ivies will remain at the top—everyone everywhere has heard of those.
A much more reliable metric is the program rankings of your potential major(s). This will streamline your search and ensure you’re looking at colleges that’ll be a good fit, as you’re focused on opportunities available within your area(s) of interest.
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Q:
How many colleges and universities should I apply to?
The average student applies to 8-10 schools. As long as you have a balanced list of schools (a range of safety, target, and reach) each of which you’d be excited to go to, applying to fewer than 8 is just fine.
We do caution against applying to too many schools, though. The time, effort, and money adds up, and the application process can very quickly become more overwhelming than it should be.
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Q:
How important are college tours?
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So. Important. There is no better way to get a feel for a campus than to set foot on it. Even virtual tours are helpful, in that they provide inside information on what the school is most proud of, which is a good way to see if that aligns with your passions and interests.
Read more about college tours here.