College Confidence provides services to high school and transfer students who have the motivation and passion to attend college. We can assist students no matter where they are in their college planning. When students accomplish the eight steps listed below they will have a full understanding of admission requirements developing a comprehensive plan to reach their college goals. Armed with knowledge, students will have the confidence to succeed and will submit dynamic and competitive college applications!

Step 1: Know your teammates
Before making a commitment, it is important to know who your team players are. When working with teachers, counselors, coaches, parents, and peers, make sure you feel confident in their abilities to support you! Interview them if you have to. This is especially true when students are working with independent college counselors.

Step 2: Know your college preferences
The first step in college admissions is thinking about where to apply. There are many factors such as financial aid packages, academic distinction, housing, campus atmosphere, distance from home (the list goes on) that factor in a student’s decision of where to apply. Remember, the college that the student attends will make up at least four years of his/her life! College Confidence reviews important factors that play into choosing a college campus including the priorities that lie within the student and his/her family. It is also crucial that students visit college campuses to get a “feel” of the college personality, atmosphere, and academic programs.

Step 3: Know the requirements
This is the core of college admissions! Requirements and deadlines may differ from college to college increasing the chances of making errors of establishing eligibility. College Confidence spends time explaining the minimum requirements for each college of interest. We also review the competitive statistics such as GPA and the SAT I scores for each college to determine realistic college goals. College Confidence utilizes personal graphs and charts to give the student and his/her family visual tools to understand what the college process will look like.

Step 4: Know what makes you unique
Meeting minimum eligibility for college admissions does not guarantee admittance - students need a competitive edge! What that really means is students need to reflect on what makes them different. College Confidence reviews pathways in which students can increase their competitiveness to include the academic course loads, extracurricular activity involvement, recommendation letters, interviews, and writing those college essays.

Step 5: Know the deadlines
A student will never be admitted to college unless they apply! College Confidence reviews all college applications carefully outlining the layers of deadlines for admissions, financial aid and housing. The goal of this step is to create a "Plan of Action" that will give students a clear picture of the application process for each college.

Step 6: Know how much college will cost you
It is one thing to be accepted to your "Dream College" and another thing to figure out how to pay the bill. College Confidence will provide the cost of attendance (COA) for each college the student applies to. We will also give guidance on where and when to apply for financial aid, including an overview of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CSS Profile, and private scholarships.

Step 7: Know the portfolio and audition requirements (if applicable)
Students who pursue the visual and/or performing arts will most likely be required to submit an art portfolio and make an audition. College Confidence has specialized advisors who are in the profession of the arts to give suggestions and recommendations on how to make the student's portfolio/audition an impressive success while meeting requirements. It’s all about the confidence and talent within each student.

Step 8: Know the final details
This is the most exciting step because the student is done with applying! College Confidence ensures that the student has completed every component of the college admission process. Although students have applied successfully, College Confidence reminds students that there are yet more deadlines to take care of such as making a decision, applying for housing, and attending orientation to the college the student is attending. College Confidence is a strong advocate of students visiting (or re-visiting) the college campuses with their families. Remember, if students are going to be attending a college for at least four years, the personality of the campus better fit the expectations of the student. At this point, students will find out that the name brand of the college means nothing, while the college “fit” means everything!