A College Advisor's Confession

This is a personal note from me. I'm sending this only to a small group, so do me a favor and keep this between us kids.

I've been thinking a lot about legacy lately.

Not in some heavy or Lifetime movie dramatic way, just... what's actually mattered most to me over 25 years as a college advisor.

It's not the TV appearances on Fox, CBS, or even that weird Netflix "Varsity Blues" college admissions documentary thing that I was in...

It's not my books hitting bestseller status five times, or Pearl’s and my podcast charting at #2...

It's not the speaking gigs or the "college planning guru" label people sometimes use...

That's all ego stuff. 

What matters most: 

The kids.

Like Ava, paralyzed for weeks over her essay. I unlocked it in less than 10 minutes.

A few weeks later:  Admitted Early Decision.

And Liam, who couldn't figure out how to stand out, because, frankly, he really didn't.

I mapped out a multi-step “passion project” in four minutes that he implemented over the next half year.  It made the difference. 

He’s in at Notre Dame, $25K per year.

And Brian, who trusted me to write about his father's suicide. He wrote arguably the most powerful essay I've been involved with, about a subject that guidance counselors tell you to avoid at all costs.

So far, Brian had gotten into two top 30 colleges and I expect an additional flurry of acceptances in a few weeks.

It's about the students I worked with directly, one-on-one, when they were stuck... who went on to their dream schools.

That's what lights me up. It's what I would miss the most if we rode off into the sunset, which has crossed my mind... 

I realized something strange, recently:

I'm now the same age my dad was when I was applying to college.

Back then, there was no "me" to go to for college advice. I sure wish he had a me. 

I ended up with $100,000+ in student loans. It took decades to dig my way out.   And lots of dings on my credit, rental apartment denials, all sorts of depressing stuff.

So I've decided to do something I haven't done in a long time...

I'm opening up a handful of spots for my private P4 College Advising Program to people “off the street” (who weren’t referred by current clients).

More than 80% of our clients are referred by other clients.  But instead of hanging it up, I decided to go the opposite direction.  To reach more families.

You, your kid, and me. Working together personally on Zoom or in our Glen Head or Boca Raton office. 

No hand-offs.

No junior advisors.

Just focused, strategic work to help your child overcome what’s really standing between them and the college acceptances that they deserve, even in today’s turbulent admissions times.

If you want in on the details, reply "INTERESTED" and I'll send you everything tomorrow. 

-Andy