College Advising

Directed by Pauline Bordonaro, Director of Reading & Writing

Test scores are one input. Advising is the rest of the application. Ascension advises students privately through the full cycle, from building the school list to submitting the last supplement. The work is done online with a senior advisor, in your time zone, on a schedule set against real deadlines.

School list

We build a list against your student’s actual profile, not against a ranking. Reach, target, and likely are assigned from data, and every school on the list has a reason for being there.

Application strategy

Early decision, early action, and regular are strategic choices with real consequences. We make them deliberately and we explain the tradeoff before you commit. Most students apply through the Common Application, and we build the submission calendar around its deadlines and each college’s own requirements.

Essays

The personal statement and every supplement, drafted and revised with an advisor who will tell your student when a draft is not working yet. Essays are treated as writing, which means structure first.

Interviews

Mock interviews with direct feedback. Students practice until the answers sound like them.

Financial aid and scholarships

We help you find and file what your student qualifies for, including the FAFSA and, where colleges require it, the CSS Profile.

What you receive

A Roadmap for the application cycle, with every deadline on it. A Progress Report at each milestone. You will always know what is done, what is drafted, and what is outstanding.