Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a college consultant?
College admissions are increasingly competitive—good GPAs and SAT scores are no longer enough. A college consultant brings experience and strategy to guide you through the admissions process. They help craft a compelling story that's reflected throughout every part of your application. They also ease stress for both students and parents by keeping the process organized and on track.
Why can’t I use AI to help with essays and applications?
While AI is a very powerful tool, it may actually hinder your chances of admission. Most admissions officers and application reviewers can tell when an essay has been written with AI due to the specific cadence, grammar and sentence structures used by generative AI tools. If an admissions personnel suspects you have used AI to create your application, that may be a negative point for you. AI often cannot make the compelling, authentic stories that help you stand out. Also, remember AI is trained on publicly available data, you never know if there are parts of your essay that are unintentionally plagiarized from other essays, which may cause issues as well.
Is career planning really necessary for an early high school student?
As college admissions become more competitive, top majors look for demonstrated interest and experience in the field. Even if your student isn’t sure what they want to pursue yet, it’s important to plan activities that keep their options open and strengthen their application. A college consultant can help create a plan that lets students explore their interests while building a strong profile.
What is your process like?
Our process is tailored to the individual needs of the student but on average you can see how things will go below:
I spend one-on-one time getting to understand the students’ interests, passions, and academic/extracurricular background. This will help identify their individual value proposition.
Through worksheets and various thought exercises, I help you identify the correct topics for your personal statement and school/major-specific essays. I offer multiple rounds of line-by-line revisions.
As we complete the various parts of your application, I will be analyzing every detail to ensure we’re building a holistic, well-rounded application. This comprehensive approach will showcase your strengths, passions, and unique qualities, giving you the best possible chance of standing out.
Why should I choose Cedar Pines College Consulting?
Cedar Pines College Consulting is, first and foremost, a boutique firm committed to working with a limited number of students each year to ensure personalized attention and support. As a single-consultant firm, you know exactly who you’re working with and the experience they bring. Vennela brings three years of recent application reading experience from UT Austin to the table, along with her deep understanding of what top universities are looking for.