Helping Students Realize Their Dreams
Assisting Students and their Families throughout the College Admissions Processs
About Acclaim College Counseling
Acclaim College Counseling is an organization of dedicated specialists committed to preparing students for undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools admissions.
We recognize that the admissions process is an integral part of a student’s total education experience. Our goal is to help students be successful by identifying and recommending schools that best match their individual academic profile and career goals.
We are committed to assisting students with the application process, and helping them maximize their gifts, reach their optimal potential, and, ultimately, realize their dreams.
The Higher Purpose of Acclaim College Counseling
Acclaim College Counseling’s mission is to
- Provide students with individualized attention to properly and effectively navigate the undergraduate, graduate, or professional schools admissions process
- Focus on students’ interests and help match students to the right schools
- Assist students with academic planning, refinement of extracurricular and academic interests, school selection, personal statement and essay advice and review, application package development, interview preparation, and waitlist and extended-waitlist strategies/actions
- Reduce out-of-pocket costs for higher education through financial aid, grants, and scholarship opportunities
- Reduce risk of applicants lowering their grades during the application process, potentially ending up in the “wrong” educational institution, losing interest in what they are passionate about, or becoming frustrated and discouraged
- Help relieve stress and maximize results for students and their families
- Honor the universal value of educating our young leaders
- Strengthen families, communities, and our nation in this process
Acclaim College Counseling’s World-Class Services
Planning and Preparation
Evaluate transcripts, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, community service, elected and non-elected leadership roles, higher education pursuits, and research; identify gaps, assist with course selection, and provide recommendations to help prepare students for standardized tests; use web-based college research tools to track former students’ grades, scores, and other variables, to optimize the application process
School Selection
Create an “apply to” list; assist with decision upon acceptance(s) with the ultimate goal of finding the best fit academically, financially, and socially
Personal Statements / Essays
Assist students with incorporating their strengths into their personal statement and provide guidance and support in all steps of essay writing, from essay idea generation to the final draft
The Application Process
Guide students strategically through the entire application process, including undergraduate and graduate programs, and medical, dental, business, and law schools; assist in obtaining the best possible letters of recommendation
Interviews
Prepare students for alumni interviews
Financial Aid
Research financial aid, grant, and scholarship opportunities and assist in the application process
Follow-Up Strategies
Develop deferred, waitlist, and extended-waitlist action plans
Message to Parents
Starting with our mission – to provide students with individualized attention to effectively navigate the college admission process – Acclaim College Counseling is organized around the student. Student focus is built into everything we do.
The compassionate and collaborative team at Acclaim College Counseling is prepared to support a diverse array of students with different educational, learning, socioeconomic, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds.
We focus on students’ interests and help match students to the right schools – finding the best fit for her or him. With emphasis on effective preparation for undergraduate and graduate programs, we are committed to helping students pursue their choice colleges and universities.
Throughout the process, we focus on the present with an eye on the future!
Message to Students
Welcome to Acclaim College Counseling! We recognize that this is an extraordinary time in your life, and we are excited about the possibility of taking this journey with you.
Students have more opportunities, choices, and freedoms today than at any other time in the history of the world. While this abundance of options can be exciting, it can also be overwhelming. So, control your focus, keep an open mind, and jump at the chance to create your life’s masterpiece. The time you spend preparing for higher education is an investment that will pay dividends if you give it the proper time, attention, and focus. And Acclaim College Counseling is here to help you do just that.
Our goal is to assist you in finding the fire within you, following your internal compass, and becoming who you were born to be.
Planning and Preparation
As you are probably aware, completing applications for undergraduate and post-graduate programs can be a daunting process. But it does not have to be! With the appropriate level of planning and preparation offered through our services, success is within reach.
Applying to colleges should be the culmination of many years of preparation and effort, rather than an overwhelming one-time process. This procedure should be viewed as preparing for your future – not just completing the applications.
We will help you to seek the truth about yourself, give meaning to the application process, understand the power of purpose, emphasize the qualities that make you stand out, dare to dream big, and create a schedule to make it all happen.
Remember that power lies in proper planning and success goes hand in hand with the right level of preparation.
“If you pour your heart into your work or into any worthy enterprise, you can achieve dreams others may think impossible.”
– HOWARD SCHULTZ
Submitting a Quality Application
Managing the quality of the application package is crucial to a successful college admission. As the competition increases at all universities, admissions officers look for the best possible candidates, which begins with a solid, high quality application. Not only does the quality of your application influence your reputation, it may also be looked at as an indication of your ability to perform in an educational institution. Invest time, energy, and effort to prepare an effective application package. You may only get one chance to impress, so this is the time to give it your best shot!
“There is no passion to be found in playing small—in settling for a life that is less than what you are capable of living.”
– NELSON MANDELA
Managing College Prep’s Multitude of Challenges
Colleges are looking for students with high grade point averages, demanding courses, top percentile class ranking, strong scores on standardized tests, active involvement in community service and development, insightful and well-written essays, quality letters of recommendation, demonstrated leadership, and research, work, and entrepreneurial experiences. They also look for intangible qualities such as wisdom, ambition, energy, ability to overcome adversity, high ideals, and concern for the welfare of the world.
During the college application process, you will be investing extensive time managing a variety of critical tasks. You will be studying for your academic courses, preparing for and/or taking standardized tests, completing projects and papers, participating in extracurricular activities, and you may also be employed. In addition to all of these demands on your time, you will be faced with writing a personal statement and essays, acquiring letters of recommendation, completing applications, and submitting supplementary materials. You may also have to complete scholarships, grants, and financial aid applications.
In order to effectively handle these challenges, it is important to stay focused and organized, to persevere, and to maintain a positive mental attitude in any given set of circumstances.
“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’ “
– MUHAMMAD ALI
Surviving & Enjoying the College Application Process
The college application process does not have to be intimidating. With our step by step guidance, you won’t just survive – you may actually find it to be a pleasant experience. Let your heart and passion drive you! Be confident, give it your all, and, most importantly, enjoy the process!
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”
– ROBERT BRAULT
