Frequently Asked Questions
How does your service work?
For the Comprehensive service plans, I hold a series of meetings and discussions with the students, and at various times, the parents too. Each meeting corresponds with the next step in the process, and a set of instructions or guidelines to follow, articles to read or documents to complete. In this way, the process is simplified, and the student (and the family) is more in control and less likely to feel overwhelmed. I work with them through every step until the student enrolls at their chosen school, from high school course advising, to activities recommendations, to entrance testing planning, to selecting schools, to completing essays, applications and interviewing. Families can also hire my services on an hourly basis for a variety of individual aspects of the process.
How are you different from other consultants or counsellors?
What I have found to be truly unique or rare in my field, is that my experience has been on both sides of the desk – having been a university admission officer, and a preparatory school admission director and university counsellor – and in both the U.S and Canada. Given that, I have intimate experience with a large range of selective institutions and the inner workings of their admission processes, as well as an understanding of the needs of students. I also have a background and degree in student counselling which assists me greatly as I work to understand each individual student and their circumstances.
How much time will students get with the consultant?
As much as they need. Having worked at two competitive independent, university preparatory schools in the past, I have learned to manage working with a larger number of students (over 100 at a time) in any given year. However, in my independent practice, I limit the number of clients in each graduating class, in order to provide the utmost of personal attention and one-on-one support, and in greater detail than one can provide in a preparatory school setting (where one typically bears responsibility for a greater range of tasks, and where programs are often delivered in groups versus individually).
Is there a big time commitment involved for the student, in working with a consultant?
Partnering with Hilary will actually save time for the student and family. While Hilary will need time to get to know the student, especially at the beginning, the structure of the process and the direction Hilary can give prevents families from wasting time going in directions that don’t make best sense for the student in the end. It also counteracts the sense of overwhelm and “going in circles” that families experience when going it on their own.
Do you work with athletes?
Yes. I work with students with a tremendous range of experiences, abilities, talents and interests. I have had great success in working with athletes seeking scholarships, from DI to DIII levels, NCAA and NAIA all over the US, as well as at competitive Canadian universities, specifically, in soccer, ice hockey, field hockey, baseball, track, tennis, softball, swimming, equestrian, volleyball, water polo, cheerleading and gymnastics.
Should I hire a consultant if I attend a private school?
In many cases, private school students can benefit as much, and in the same ways as, students attending public schools. This is because the consulting relationship allows the student more one-on-one time and support in building self-awareness, evaluating options and making decisions. Many schools are staffed with knowledgeable and helpful counsellors. Sometimes they run presentations for families and workshops in school for students. However, speaking from experience, when working in a school setting, a counsellor’s time is divided, and the one-on-one student support is limited.
How do you come up with a recommended list of schools?
his is probably the single most valuable part of the services I offer. After 30 years in this field, I have well-honed instincts, and have developed both a wealth of knowledge about how admission processes work and what a competitive applicant looks like. I also have gained familiarity with hundreds of colleges and universities specifically through visits to their campuses, ongoing research, and experience through my former students. Most importantly, I spend ample time getting to know and understand the student, so that I have a good sense of what kinds of environments, academic offerings and level of competitiveness, services, student climates, and other characteristics would be the best fit, before I suggest any particular college. I feel this ability to match students and schools is my greatest strength, and I have been very successful in doing so…as my clients’’ successes attest.
Do you do career counselling?
Yes. In fact, for most of my clients, this is a part of the initial process of getting to know them and guiding them in the right direction. I have training in career counselling through my graduate school program, directly focussed on a later high school and university-level age group. I utilize some tools to help generate some information and “talking points” and then utilize my background and current knowledge to help the student identify their strongest potential career directions at this stage. This forms a jumping off point from which the student can then develop and continue to research while in university.
Do you guarantee admission?
No. Although virtually all of my students have been successful, neither I, nor any consultant or counsellor can make a guarantee of admission. A multitude of factors, many unpredictable, will play into this process, including the student’s own desire, persistence, and work ethic as things unfold. I also do not accept any kind of compensation from colleges or universities wishing to promote their programs, so my recommendations of schools are completely unbiased and objective and in the best interests of the student.
When do you recommend a student should start the process?
It depends! Ideally, I would want to see a student in Grade 8 or 9 if they wish to seek advice on course, activities, or summer enrichment planning to prepare for highly selective admissions; Grade 10 if they are a prospective student athlete or are seeking career advising, or want to get an early start on entrance test preparation; or Grade 11 if they are ready to begin exploring colleges and developing the foundation for building their college list. However, I will sometimes take on a student as late as fall of their Grade 12 year in specific circumstances and on a selective basis.
Can you assist students in finding scholarships?
Absolutely, yes. Given the rising and high cost of a post-secondary education, many of my clients are seeking merit funding, or have, sometimes significant, financial need. The best way to enable this is to take this into account when helping the student to develop his/her list of schools. This can be done in a way that increases chances of receiving college-offered merit scholarships and “gift aid” (funding that does not have to be repaid). And, I also provide assistance in accessing scholarships outside of those offered by colleges. Our work together on resume-building and application essay-writing will provide them with tools they can use in applying for scholarships, and I have many resources to assist them in finding scholarships for which they may be eligible.
What if we find that our child isn’t ready to go off to college at the end of the process?
his does happen, and for many students, for a range of reasons, a well-planned “Gap” year or Gap semester is what they need before starting their degree. I can give you resources or even a referral to a specialist in Gap year planning. And statistics show higher levels of success on a range of measures, for students who begin college after a Gap year. Also, in many cases, colleges and universities will allow a student to defer the starting term. And when this is not allowed by their first choice school, they can reapply in the following fall, or even apply to other colleges. I have even had students experience success in gaining admission to a highly selective first choice college that did not offer them a place the first time around.
What are your fees?
It depends. I provide information about my fees on the first consultation (which is 30 minutes, free of charge). The family’s needs and choice of comprehensive plan type determine the total cost. In most cases, though, families receive merit funding in the end that far surpasses my fees. Or, they report the sense that they have opened doors or uncovered options that they would likely not have encountered without these services, making the investment well worth it.