Frequently Asked Questions

There are a variety of reasons a family may choose to work with a college consultant. Those who hire a consultant often fall into one of these categories: They are seeking the support of an admissions expert because:They feel the admissions process has changed since they went to college.They were educated in a different country and not familiar with the US admissions process.The student will be a first-generation college student whose parents did not experience the college admissions process.They feel college admissions has become more competitive and want to partner with someone who understands what colleges are looking for and can coach their child on what it takes to meet the requirements of selective colleges.They want to preserve their relationship with their child and enjoy their last year at home, while letting someone else (an objective, college admissions expert) handle the college planning and application process.Whomever a family hires, they should check that the consultant is a member of IECA or HECA, ensuring top-notch professional training, access to a trove of resources, ethical standards, and support from a network of colleagues and mentors.

If a family only wants support in one or two specific areas, such as list building or writing the personal statement, hourly may be the best option. Families seeking more comprehensive support benefit from a package.

Each package involves concierge service to cover all aspects of the college planning and application process. The first meeting is an introduction to college admissions and overview of what our work together will look like. Subsequent meetings are dedicated to grade-level appropriate tasks, activities and conversations to educate and prepare students for the admissions process tailored to their specific goals.Students in the Kansas City metro have the option of meeting in-person in Vicki's South Overland Park home, with zoom as an option for both local and nonlocal students.Each student is provided access to CustomCollegePlan, a proprietary college research platform, and CollegeCompanion, a robust spreadsheet documenting each step along the way, to include auto-populated admissions and application data for each college.Students meet quarterly during freshman and sophomore year, monthly during junior year and, weekly or bi-weekly during the application season of senior year, and as needed during the balance of the senior year. Scheduling frequency is flexible based on the needs of the student, and those starting later in the grade-level year receive all services by meeting more frequently.For detailed description of services, see the appropriate package:Senior Year PackageJunior/Senior PackageSophomore and Younger Packages

Families decide what services they want and schedule time to meet at their convenience. Hourly services are paid at the time of service. An hourly client may choose to convert to a package, and any hourly fees paid within that grade level year roll into the package fee. Hourly is available in one-hour and five-hour blocks.Go to Hourly Services.

College admissions has become more and more about applying to a college major than the school itself. Especially for competitive majors such as Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Pre-Med and Nursing, selective colleges will expect applicants to have demonstrated "fit to major," which involves academic and extracurricular choices in high school that align with intended majors. 9th- and 10th-grade clients of VP College Consulting focus on college major exploration, academic course selection, and extracurricular planning to show intentional rather than random choices. While we continue this into later years, early planning helps students create a more cohesive 4-year applicant profile. Our clients begin building their college list during sophomore year by identifying the characteristics that are most important to them, exploring colleges that align with those priorities, and learning how to research schools effectively. By starting early, families have plenty of time to thoughtfully evaluate colleges, visit campuses, and refine the list well before applications are due.

Students may start working with Vicki at any time. The package year runs from June 1st through the end of May. For example, a Junior/Senior package can begin as early as June 1st prior to the student's Junior year, and students may begin anytime up to the end of the Junior year. As the end of the year approaches, a family may opt to wait until June 1st and sign up for a Senior package, or work with Vicki on an hourly basis until they can sign up for the Senior package on June 1st.

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Schedule a free consultation. Choose to meet in person, by zoom, or by phone call. Discuss your goals, ask questions and find out more about how working with Vicki can support your family during this busy and exciting time.