The Uncommon Applicant is a premium service that expertly guides families through the ever-changing college admissions landscape. The program inspires students to uncover their unique qualities and identities so that they can confidently tell their stories and grow as reflective thinkers who will succeed in college and beyond.
About Christina
Christina has worked in education for over twenty years and uses her unique experiences to guide her students through the college admissions process.
Academic Counselor and Admissions Reader. Christina worked as an Academic Counselor at Georgetown University, where she helped students create four-year plans and explore majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. She also served as an Admissions Reader and an Alumni Interviewer.
Admissions Application Expert. As the former Director of College Counseling at a college preparatory school, Christina managed SAT, ACT, and AP Testing; wrote counselor letters of recommendation; and provided personalized support to students on every aspect of the application process.
Writing Instructor. Christina holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from Georgetown University, and she taught English composition at both the high school and college levels. Students often say that her college advising program is the writing class they never knew they needed.
Professional Educational Consultant. Christina has worked with hundreds of students over the years and is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). She regularly attends professional development conferences and visits colleges throughout the United States and abroad in order to keep up on the latest admission trends and statistics.
Services
9th, 10th, and 11th Graders
This program offers students guidance with academic and career exploration and the development of a unique profile. We will focus on course selection, academic progress, research opportunities, extracurricular activities, standardized testing strategy, summer program applications, competitions, and resume-writing. However, the most important goal of this program is to develop students into authentic and engaged members of their communities.
Seniors
The Senior package will provide you with the guidance and support you need to navigate the college admissions application process. This program will educate students and families about the ever-changing admissions landscape and offer stress-free, organized solutions to enhance outcomes. Students will learn to identify their unique strengths and interests and tell their stories in a dynamic and cohesive way. Highlights of this package include:
Academic and Extracurricular Advising
Standardized Test Planning
College List Development and Deadline Strategy to Maximize Admissions Results
Personal Statement and Supplemental Essay Brainstorming and Editing
Teacher and Counselor Recommendation Bragsheet Development
Interview Coaching
NCAA Athletic Recruitment Advising
Scholarship Application Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
-
For most families, it can be beneficial to begin speaking with a college consultant when the student is in ninth grade. I can help with course planning and study strategies and guide students to find meaningful extracurricular activities that will help them explore their interests outside of the classroom. I educate families about trends in college admissions and provide strategies to find colleges where students would thrive. The goal of advising for underclassmen is to help students develop authentic interests and skills that will serve them well in college and beyond.
-
No, it is not too late! In fact, this is when many families seek out college advising services. The bulk of the work will happen between May of junior year through January of senior year, and we can address everything from teacher brag sheets to personal statements to scholarships. Please see a list of services that I offer to students in their senior year.
-
At this time, I do not offer hourly services or essay-only packages. I spend a significant amount of time getting to know students before they even begin the writing process in order to help them develop an application that reflects their talents, experiences, and interests. This gives students an opportunity to reflect and make important connections so that their applications are authentic, cohesive, and unique.
-
Most of my meetings are held in the evenings when students are available. I also have some weekend hours, and I am available to meet with homeschooled students during the weekdays.
-
Yes, I love working with student-athletes! I have assisted athletes who have participated in a variety of sports including golf, swimming, tennis, basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball. I have helped them navigate the NCAA recruiting process, from understanding academic eligibility requirements to developing effective communication with college coaches to demystifying the commitment process.
-
The first thing we will do is make the most of the time we have to improve grades as much as possible. One of my “superpowers” is coaching students to manage their time and find motivation to succeed in the classroom. Many colleges do understand that sometimes it takes students a little bit of time to understand how to succeed in high school coursework, and they appreciate an upward trajectory in grades. We can also discuss approaches to improving standardized test scores and finding the right test for your student’s strengths. Most importantly, I can help your student tell his or her story. Colleges need to understand the context of a student’s experiences and unique skills in order to fully evaluate their potential to succeed in college–and that’s where I can help!
-
Yes, I appreciate all learning styles! Please contact me to discuss your student’s needs.
-
American University
Auburn University
Baylor University
Clemson University
College of Charleston
Columbia University
Cornell University
Davidson College
Duke University
Elon University
Emory University
Emerson College
Fordham University
Furman University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgetown University
Harvard University
James Madison University
Lehigh University
Michigan State University
Middlebury College
New York University
Northeastern University
Purdue University
Reed College
Rice University
Savannah College of Design
Sewanee: University of the South
Southern Methodist University
Syracuse University
Texas A&M University
The Citadel
The University of Alabama
Tufts University
United States Naval Academy
University of California Berkeley
University of California Davis
University of California Los Angeles
University of California San Diego
University of California Santa Barbara
University of Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Maryland
University of Miami
University of Mississippi
University of Notre Dame
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of South Carolina
University of Tampa
University of Tennessee
University of Virginia
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Virginia Tech
Washington University in St. Louis
William & Mary
Williams College
Wofford College
Yale University
Testimonials
“Your strong emphasis on genuinely understanding my story, strengths, wants, and needs truly helped me throughout the process. I appreciated the constant communication, and I always felt comfortable asking for help, no matter the time of day. You took the time to consider my ideas and provide feedback and suggestions. It was an interactive, back-and-forth process. With your help, I built confidence in my ideas and created pieces of work that I was truly proud of.”
“When I went into the process, I only knew that I was interested in going into nursing. You helped me find eight very strong matches. Now I am attending one of the top nursing programs on a full scholarship because you went above and beyond to help me every step of the way.”
Have Questions?
Schedule a Free Consultation
Are you interested in learning if The Uncommon Applicant is a good fit? Please fill out the form below and provide some preferred times for a free 30-minute consultation with Christina!
