Senior Advising

• Hybrid Approach: We have found that a combination of 1:1 meeting time PLUS remote essay editing between meetings is the most productive use of time.

• Essay Guidance: Students use 1:1 meeting time with their advisor to brainstorm, strategize, outline, and draft essays. Between meetings, students continue the writing process independently and submit drafts for advisor review prior to their next meeting.

• Application Guidance: Essentials and Comprehensive packages include application walkthroughs. Students work with their advisor during 1:1 meetings to navigate applications, fill out complex sections, and get answers to questions. Students are given assignments to complete between meetings to stay on track.

• Process Mentoring: CMCA guides students through every detail that contributes to a quality application and highlights a student’s strengths.

To navigate the complex and competitive college application process, students must strike a balance between time, money, and energy. A practical approach is to apply to a balanced list of about 10-12 colleges.

CMCA provides a variety of options to assist students and families with their college applications and essay requirements. Even with a college advisor, it’s crucial for students to continue working on their applications, essays, and assignments between meetings to maximize the efficiency of their 1:1 sessions and meet deadlines successfully.

Choosing the right advising package depends on several factors:

• Number of Colleges on Student List - The more schools a student applies to, the more applications, essays, and specific requirements there will be.

• Selectivity of Colleges on Student List - Highly selective schools typically have more in-depth application requirements.

• Writing Ability - A student's writing proficiency is directly proportional to the number of revisions needed on essays. In other words, the better a student's writing ability, the fewer revisions and less advisor time will be required. Remote editing time can be purchased as an add-on as well.

• Follow Through on To-Do Items - Students who are self-starters and manage their time well can make a smaller package work by completing ALL assignments between sessions and maximizing their 1:1 time to ask prepared questions.

• Whose Eyes on Final Submission - For families wanting an advisor to review final applications before submission, a Comprehensive Package should be purchased. Alternatively, students can add 1-2 sessions to a smaller package to achieve the same ends. However, during the busy college application season, any additional sessions purchased are dependent on advisor availability. Although we strive to accommodate urgent meetings, we cannot guarantee that they will be scheduled within specific timeframes.

• A student applying to 12 schools (all UC applications count as 1, all Cal State applications count as 1, and 10 other schools of varying selectivity) can expect to fill out 3 applications and write approximately 25-35 essays.

• Students should plan to write a Common App personal essay (650 words), 4 UC Personal Insight Questions (350 words each), and 0 to 12 supplemental essays PER SCHOOL. Supplemental essay lengths vary from a few words to 2-3 pages. Specific majors and honors colleges often require additional essays as well.

• During the application process, students are also expected to:

  • Determine an application strategy for each school and manage deadlines - Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Early Action, and Regular Decision, as well as WUE and scholarship deadlines

  • Choose a specific major (and sometimes an alternate) per school, research the school and its program/major, and prepare a compelling essay as to why that school and program are the right fit

  • Write impactful activities & honors descriptions (Common App and UC App requirements differ)

  • Manage the recommendation letter process, including filling out the high school LOR packet and inviting recommenders through Common App

  • Self-report courses and grades for each class and each term (including college courses or other programs for credit)

  • Send transcripts to schools requiring them

  • Send SAT/ACT test scores to colleges when beneficial to admission odds or merit aid chances (even if test-optional)

  • Report AP test scores to colleges when beneficial to admission odds

  • Demonstrate interest in schools that consider and track it

  • Create and submit portfolios for majors requiring them

  • Interview with schools when invited

Common App

• The Common App is an online college application platform used by over 1,000 colleges and universities. It was created to streamline the college application process by allowing students to fill out a single application and submit it to multiple schools. The Common App includes sections for personal information, academic history, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. Individual tabs for each school outline additional school-specific information that is required.

• A single 650-word personal essay is required by most schools using Common App. This is a chance for admissions counselors to get to know a student deeper through the story they tell. It is NOT a resume, but the single loudest “qualitative” element of an application - one that demonstrates attributes not found elsewhere in the application. It brings a personality to life beyond the statistics and demographics. With more students applying to colleges every year, admissions officers know they can have their pick of bright and motivated students. In addition to seeing grades, talents, and achievements on paper, they need a chance to imagine what a student might be like as an engaged member of their campus community. This essay is a chance to stand out!

• In addition to the Common App personal essay, many schools require supplemental essays - anywhere from 0 to 12 essays PER SCHOOL. These requirements can vary from a few words to 2-3 pages. Specific majors and honors colleges may require additional essays as well.

• Descriptions of activities and honors (up to 20 combined) are required. It’s important to maximize impact with powerful writing with a very limited character count. Common App format and character counts differ from the UC App.

UC Application

• The 9 undergrad University of California schools all share a single application - UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz. Students check boxes for each UC campus they wish to apply to. Application fees are per campus.

• Students must answer 4 Personal Insight Questions (PIQ’s) in 350 words each. Eight prompts are given; four should be strategically chosen and strategically answered. These “questions” (not essays) are about getting to know a student – their life experiences, interests, and accomplishments. Students should be open and reflective - finding their individual voice and expressing it. This section helps provide depth, context, and clarity for the rest of the application.

• Descriptions of activities (up to 10) and honors (up to 5) are required. It’s important to maximize impact with powerful writing with a very limited character count. UC App format and character counts differ from the Common App.

Cal State Application

• The 23 Cal State schools all share a single application - CSU Bakersfield, CSU Channel Islands, CSU Chico, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU East Bay, CSU Fresno, CSU Fullerton, Cal Poly Humboldt, CSU Long Beach, CSU Los Angeles, Cal Maritime Academy, CSU Monterey Bay, CSU Northridge, Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Sacramento, CSU San Bernardino, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU San Marcos, Sonoma State University, CSU Stanislaus. Students check boxes for each UC campus they wish to apply to. Application fees are per campus.

• No essays.

• No activities and honors descriptions.

School-Specific Applications

• Some schools require their own separate application; they do NOT use the Common App. Examples are BYU, Georgetown, MIT, and some less selective state schools.

• Application and essay requirements vary by school.