Know the Schools. Know the Business.
Love the Kids.
The college application journey can feel like a frenzied and bewildering race to gather information, sort through masses of paperwork, websites and applications, and meet deadlines. Students considering playing a sport in college also encounter the added stress of athletic recruiting.
I started my business to come alongside students and families to help them navigate the college admissions and athletic recruiting journey with perspective, order and faith. There is so much more going on now in this process than the past generation had to deal with. There are more college choices to consider, more financial aid needed - and offered, more pressures and choices earlier on in athletic recruiting, and a general barrage of information overload as well as misconceptions about how it all works. As a former full scholarship swimmer at Stanford University and the United States National Team member for many years, my business philosophy has partially grown out of my own elite college and sports backgrounds.
Connor College Consulting was created with this in mind.
Working with a college consultant often helps family relationships in what can be a very stressful time. I work with students as we navigate the college admissions process to find the "right-fit" colleges based on four criteria - academic, social, financial and athletic - all very important! Choosing a college for your kids is the second largest investment most families will make (after purchasing a home). The process of choosing this college is also costly to families in terms of energy, time and money and so approaching this decision wisely is very important to the emotional and financial health of the entire family. It is crucial to begin this process on solid footing and proper perspective.
“It’s my passion to help students find a place where they will thrive and grow,” Kathy says. “They don’t need to attend an elite University for their lives to be successful. This isn’t a Race to Nowhere but a journey where meaning, faith, humor and perspective allows each student to find the right place for a wonderful undergraduate experience. I will be there every step of the way – to counsel, calm, encourage, motivate and equip both student and the parents as we find the best college fit for each young scholar.
“We initially contacted Kathy because our elder son was slated to attend a public high school where the counselor / student ratio was 500:1 and our son and his friends began to rely on one another for information which was, sometimes, incorrect. Since then, she has worked one-on-one with each of our two children and took a genuine interest not only in their academics but their lives as well and was there every step of the way. Both of our children benefitted from Kathy’s fantastic organizational skills, her active listening, and her unique ability to bring out the best in each person she works with. She was the gentle, but firm guiding hand that helped both our boys successfully navigate what has become an incredibly complex and, at times baffling, college admissions process. As teachers and school counselors came and went, Kathy was the constant factor throughout their high school years. She had a solid and in-depth understanding of each of our boys given the time and attention she devoted to each. We cannot say enough about the time, effort, and enthusiasm that Kathy has for her students and believe that Kathy was a major reason that our boys found the right colleges that aligned with their personal interests and passions. Obviously, we can’t recommend her highly enough.”
As a former student and athlete at Stanford and Oxford Universities, Kathy works with families to walk through a logical and ordered sequence of steps:
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Bring a sense of clarity, order and calm to the application process.
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Plan ahead for appropriate course forecasting, testing strategies, letters of recommendation.
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Analyze the students unique academic, social, and financial criteria to determine appropriate colleges.
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Understand financial aid and identify need and merit aid opportunities.
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Manage the application process through assistance with deadlines, essay editing, and submitting all supporting documentation.
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Maximize the students opportunity to be accepted at their school(s) of choice.
With Connor College Consulting, there is a way for families to enjoy the journey to college; with relative calm, a shared sense of adventure, and anticipation of exciting things to come!
My Mission
I truly believe that there is a plan for each of us and therefore we do not need to get caught up in the "college frenzy". Students do not need to attend an elite University for their lives to be successful! While this may be appropriate for some, finding the right match for each student is the goal. The transition to college has as many variables as there are students. The joy of the process is finding the right path for each individual. I will be there for every step – to counsel, calm, encourage, give perspective, motivate and be a general presence to both student and parents all along the way.
Reduce a family’s stress during the college selection process
Admission to college has become much more competitive in recent years, but at the same time, collegiate opportunities in the United States are tremendous. The college selection process doesn’t have to be overly stressful. Students, regardless of background, test scores, grades or extra-curricular activities have a range of college choices. Working with a counselor who can introduce and inform about such opportunities available to each student can relieve tension and bring order to an otherwise bewildering process.
Build a student’s independence and initiative
In college, we learn to take tests and write papers. But isn’t it also about discovering how to think critically and analytically? Isn’t it about developing life skills and learning to live independently? Even the process of finding a college builds important, lifelong skills in taking initiative and making decisions. Through this process, students will gain a great deal of understanding that can translate into a lifelong direction of self-awareness and independence.
Find great fit colleges as we work through an ordered process with faith, humor and perspective
With proper guidance and support, all students can find a college where they will be successful. Once students and their families replace the quest for “the best college” with one focusing on “the best fit,” the level of tension can be reduced significantly. Connor College Consulting takes your student through a sequence of steps that leads to solid, suitable college choices, making this a journey to gain perspective, confidence, and self-awareness.