College admissions counseling for U.S. high school students, international students, and community college students


Create a path to your dream college now!

A UCLA-certified independent educational consultant (IEC) will guide you from start to finish.

"I felt lost with the whole college admission process and didn't know where to begin. Peter created a strategic college prep plan that was customized to my goals and circumstances and guided me on each step I needed to take. He also offered great advice for my college application essays and assisted with my financial aid and scholarship applications. Not only did I receive acceptances from Johns Hopkins, Duke, USC, UCLA, and UC Berkeley, but I also received a comprehensive financial aid package from USC that allowed me to attend my dream school tuition-free as a National Merit and Presidential Scholar. Years later, I'm now attending dental school and will be a dentist soon, something that Peter encouraged me to pursue when he followed up with me to see how I was doing in college. None of this would have been possible without Peter's guidance and expertise with college and dental school admissions. Thank you, Target & Reach!" - Joanne K, USC graduate

 

"I was always interested in robotics and coding and wanted to go to a top engineering school that was research-focused. Peter helped me narrow down my college search, based on my interests, extracurricular activities, and GPA. He helped me craft a compelling application essay and apply for financial aid. I got accepted to Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, and Cornell. I'm currently attending Cornell with the majority of my tuition costs covered by scholarships and grants. Thank you, Peter! " - Thomas C, Cornell

"Thanks to Peter's assistance with my college application, I was admitted to all my dream schools: Dartmouth, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and Brown. If you need guidance with your college application, whether it's choosing which schools to apply to or fine tuning your essays, trust that Peter will get you where you need to be. I recommend Peter at Target & Reach College Counseling Services to everyone I know, including my younger brother!" - Sarah M, Columbia

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Contents

  1. College Application Prep Timeline
  2. Self-Assessment & Career Options
  3. College Search & Best-Fit College List Building
  4. Academic Rigor
  5. GPA
  6. Extracurricular Activities
  7. Standardized Tests
  8. Personal Statement / Essays
  9. Application Forms & Timeline
  10. Letters of Recommendation
  11. College Application Résumé
  12. Financial Aid Basics
  13. College Visits
  14. College Interview
  15. Social Media Management
  16. Award Comparison & Enrollment Decision

Additional Resources (Bonus Sections)

  1. Financial Aid – Free Money Resources
  2. Essay Tips and Templates
  3. Common App vs. Coalition App
  4. UC (University of California) Application Guide
  5. Extracurricular Activities - How to Present on College Applications
  6. College Application Resume Template and Tips
  7. STEM School Guide
  8. Art & Music School Guide
  9. International Student Guide
  10. College Application Guide for Athletic Students
  11. College Application Guide for Students with Disabilities
  12. College Application Guide for Homeschooled Students
  13. College Application Guide for Community College Transfer Students
  14. College Application Guide for First-Generation, Low-Income Students
  15. U.S. College List – Prestigious and Selective Colleges & Universities


News, Tips & Resources

(Updated frequently)

A Complete Guide to the College Application Process

(Source: U.S. News & World Report)

The Step-by-Step Guide to Applying to College

1. Complete the FAFSA
2. Fill Out the Common App
3. Write a Standout College Essay
4. Ask for Recommendation Letters
5. Learn the Ins and Outs of Financial Aid
6. Decipher College Tuition Costs
7. Find Scholarships to Pay for College

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9 College Application Tasks for the Summer Before Senior Year

(Source: U.S. News & World Report)

1. Narrow Down Your College List
2. Visit College Campuses
3. Work on College Essays
4. Ask for Recommendation Letters
5. Research Scholarships
6. Study for Standardized Tests
7. Learn About Financial Aid Requirements
8. Start Filling Out Applications
9. Create a Checklist

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How to Apply for Financial Aid Using the FAFSA

(Source: Forbes)

- How to Prepare for the FAFSA
- 6 Steps to Fill Out the FAFSA
- How to Understand Your FAFSA Submission Summary
- How to Make Changes to the FAFSA

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State Financial Aid Programs

(Source: NASFAA - National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators)

Almost every state education agency has at least one grant or scholarship available to residents, and many have a long list of student aid programs.
Click here to find out what financial aid programs may be available to you through your state education agency.

How to Write a College Essay
- College admissions experts offer tips on selecting a topic as well as writing and editing the essay.

(Source: U.S. News & World Report)

1. Getting Started on the College Essay
2. How Long Should a College Essay Be?
3. How to Pick a College Essay Topic
4. Writing the College Essay
5. How the Affirmative Action Ruling Could Change College Essays
6. Editing and Submitting the College Essay

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Essays That Worked

(Source: Johns Hopkins University)

The essays are a place to show us who you are and who you’ll be in our community.
It’s a chance to add depth to something that is important to you and tell the admissions committee more about your background or goals. Below you’ll find selected examples of essays that “worked,” as nominated by our admissions committee. In each of these essays, students were able to share stories from their everyday lives to reveal something about their character, values, and life that aligned with the culture and values at Hopkins.

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Essay Tips from the Readers

(Source: Carleton College)

The college essay is often the most difficult part of preparing your application. To help you get off to a good start, we’ve put together the following tips and hints. These are comments from our admissions staff who actually read your essays and evaluate them in the admission process. We can’t guarantee results, but this advice might help you get started.

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