College Admission Success Team, 1-on-1 Coaching

Serves Banning, CA

35244

Hired 14 times

3 employees

36 years in business

Not yet available

5.0

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, Venmo, and Zelle.

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Credentials

Background Check

Randall Sherman 
Completed on 4/1/2021 

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Introduction

90%+ of my College Admissions Success Team students get into their top schools, often their #1. I only accept a limited number of serious students each year (freshmen through seniors; most targeting Tier-1 colleges), so each applicant receives my maximum, personal attention to get into their schools of choice. My Expert/"Coach" Background: Ivy-League (Brown University, BA with honors), worked in Brown Admission Office all 4 years attended there; Emory Law school. 35+ years experience working with families/students cross-country & worldwide at college admissions (16 US states, Canada, UK, China, India, Korea, Singapore, others). I use writing, inside-knowledge, marketing expertise to organize students, build confidence (parents too!), amplify students' applications, activities, essays. Have interviewed, vetted for admissions, and "coached" 1000+ students while working closely with their families & Admissions. We'll work closely like teammates & have some laughs too (there's enough stress!). I've been involved in college admissions since working in the Brown Admissions Office for all four years as a student (nicknamed "Junior" by Admission Officers (AOs) for "junior AO"). I know the inside Admissions game and secrets & consult with life-long AO friends (who will review the work we do together). I've mentored/"coached" hundreds of students how to get into schools of choice (including my children, who got into their #1 schools), . I work with all types of students, who have different interests; but I specialize in serious ones targeting top tier colleges. My Process: I work closely, 1-on-1, involved in each step in the often overwhelming admission process, from the beginning through college decisions. I get to know my students very well while mentoring/"coaching" them to (i) research schools (to organize them and explore if they like each school, not just its "brand" name), (ii) write killer applications and "WOW" essays that grab AOs' attention and present personal insights & experiences that AOs value. My differences from corporate or large Admissions counselors: First, this is a labor of love; I treat & care for students as if they're my own children (who got into their #1 schools), and work closely with parents. Second, the big corporate or college counseling services offer rigid scheduling & limited input; I offer lower pricing for same expertise, proven strategies tailored to your child, and always-available personalized service. I'm a 24/7, supportive mentor/coach/big brother for the student (and parents!) to lean on & learn from. BONUS: I also stand in parents' shoes, a "buffer" to give guidance they follow without fights and lower the usual admissions parent-child "stress". And I try to keep things light, laugh; there's enough stress! Unfortunately, these days, just very good GPA & SAT/ACT scores are usually not enough. So, using my business-media-legal background, I also become intimately involved in helping students build valuable volunteer & extracurricular activities that capture AOs' attention. For essays, we'll work hard to develop their unique personal anecdotes, which AOs like & value (my specialty). We'll also engage in unique "marketing" strategy, to give AOs the best picture of who they are and why they STAND OUT from their classmates. This increases chances to "get in" to desired schools in today's competitive college environment. I look forward to a complimentary Zoom session with the family, to ask me questions, discuss your goals, concerns, etc. Together, we'll build the most impactful applications & essays so your child stands out & gets in to schools of choice. (Please see Thumbtack's parent/student reviews; I'm happy to connect you with prior clients.) Some schools recent students I've coached have gotten into: Johns Hopkins, U of Chicago/Michigan/Virginia, Cornell, Penn, Brown, NYU, Pomona, USC, UCLA, Berkeley, UCs Davis-Irvine-S.Diego-S.Barbara-Riverside, Pitzer, Scripps, LMU, Tufts, Boston U, Northeastern, Boston College, UMass-Amherst, Emerson, Colby, Wesleyan, Georgetown, Carnegie Mellon, Vanderbilt, Rice, Georgia Tech, Emory, Tulane, OSU, U of Wisconsin/Miami/ Indiana/CO-Boulder, UT-Austin, Texas A&M, Purdue, Clement, Case-Western, Newhouse School (Syracuse), U of Toronto, ASU, others. * Note: I'm connected & introduced to clients from many sources, often word-of-mouth from prior families I've worked with. Entertainment/Media/Marketing Counsel. Seasoned expert with legal and business background in this area. Enjoy working with start-up or up-and-coming businesses and talent, and guiding them how to get going in the best, most efficient way, with the proper documentation, strategy, communications, relationships. I work with a variety of people who need writing help and preparation, including emails, resumes, proposals, business communications, and reports. English-as-Second Language tutor/partner. Helped many different clients (from Germany, France, Japan, China, Italy, Brazil) improve their English language and writing skills, and helped them with their everyday needs and goals. Personal tutoring to quickly learn proper grammar, pronunciation, and phrases & colloquialisms of "Americanized"English, writing for their work/school, business and educational guidance. I enjoy very much working closely one-on-one with people from other countries, business people, students, entrepreneurs, and others, to give you warm, personalized service to help gain confidence and improve your skills with: - Speaking and writing the difficult "American" English language for your particular needs. - Creating clear, excellent emails, proposals, reports, websites, etc., for your business, school, or group activities (which I will help you do) - Improving personal skills, strategy, and proposals for your business, school, media, entertainment, or talent opportunities I look forward to speaking with you about what you need and helping you succeed.

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Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

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I like to talk together first, on Zoom or the phone, to have a consultation to find out your needs and concerns, and what type of payment arrangement you are comfortable with. We'll find a good solution for your situation. The bottom line is my fee will be reasonable and less than big consulting operations, but provide much more personalized, close attention to your college-bound child.

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

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First, you and I will either meet or speak on Zoom/the phone about what you feel you need, what your goal is, ask any questions, and get comfortable with each other. It's important to do this so we both understand exactly what you want and the best way to proceed. Then, whether it's your child faced with the overwhelming college admissions process, or your personal business-writing-volunteer activity, we'll work closely together, like a team, to achieve your goals. I look forward to speaking with you about what you need and helping you succeed. Please feel free to email or call any time.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

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I have an Ivy League (Brown) and legal (Emory) education , with 35+ years of college admissions/business/marketing/legal experience - I'm a trained wordsmith, essential for top college admission essays. At Brown, I worked in the Admission Office all four years, made life-long Admission Officer (AO) friends, learned the process & know what AOs like to see. Your student's essays will be compelling and valued by AOs. I've learned to use words effectively to help clients, businesses, students achieve, as well as to create numerous business ventures and writing business proposals, agreements, marketing-advertising-PR materials. I ran the Brown Alumni Assoc. of Southern California (the school's largest) for twelve years, dealing with admissions regularly and thousands of alumni for Brown/other Ivies-Seven Sister schools, including writing/marketing/publishing all its communications and media. I created the "Ivy League Education Bank," a tutorial service for underprivileged children, and have mentored/taught hundreds of people, from 12 -52, with their speaking, writings, resumes, college/job applications, emails/papers, proposals, life plans, and strategy for business or activities.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

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Helping and coaching people to improve themselves and/or be admitted to top colleges of their choice, through their language/writing skills or business/group/school activities, has always been a passion and joy for me. Been doing it almost all my life, as well as for my two daughters.

What types of customers have you worked with?

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I have worked with a wide range of people, providing a variety of self-improvement, personal/business consulting services. I specialize in helping people from other countries, wishing to improve their "American" English skills, to speak/write/comprehend better. Now working with an executive from Italy who heads a large consumer products company. Have long experience helping film, marketing, business executives from Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, China, Japan, to help with their writing/speaking/business/legal needs. Helping guide business start-up/up-and-coming entrepreneurs and participants, particularly in the entertainment, media, and marketing industries, to have the tools and right strategy to achieve their dreams, including preparation of materials and agreements. Tutoring students of all ages, helping with writing projects, study habits, organizing time/efforts, college/other applications, resumes.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

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Developed a comprehensive social media plan for an online global video distribution network, aimed at growing its audience base, video views and engagement, and attracting sponsorship/advertising.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

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I always think it's best to take the time to talk first, to find out information or questions you didn't have initially, and see if there's a good fit between us. I'm always happy to take your call or Zoom, and answer any inquiries you may have. I'm looking forward to speaking with you.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

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They should think through two main things, and questions will evolve from those: 1. Why did you choose your particular "mission"; why are you doing the thing that you're seeking help for? 2. What is your particular skill or asset that you think will help you succeed? (A particular passion, expertise, experience, relationship, etc.) These will help the professional decide what is the basis of your asking for help and which steps need to be taken to help you get started the right way and hopefully succeed in your goals.

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