Our Services
Our 5-Step Roadmap to College
Less stress, greater confidence, exceptional results.
Astra Admissions guides students through a unique 5-step Roadmap to College, empowering them to take control of the process while offering expert advice and guidance. Our comprehensive college consulting package supports students and families through every step.
STEP 1
Organize & Build Strong Academics and Activities
Develop a comprehensive timeline to keep the student on track through each step of the college admissions process. Expert advice on course selection, exploring summer programs and activities, and advising on test prep strategy.
STEP 2
Create & Refine a Resume
Guidance through crafting a strong resume, using Astra Admissions’ unique and customized template, tailored to the specific needs of the college admission process, and geared towards the categories and priorities that admission officers look for in an application.
STEP 3
Build a Balanced College List & Admission Strategy
Determine the best college profile and fit based on the student’s desired characteristics and academic profile. Develop an admissions strategy that aligns with the student and family’s goals.
STEP 4
Craft Authentic & Polished Applications
Guide the student through the completion of each piece of the Common App, assist in crafting a compelling personal statement and supplemental essays, and prepare student for college interviews.
STEP 5
Continuous Support & Expert Guidance
After applications are submitted, support decision-making, including developing defer and waitlist strategies and crafting letters of continued interest. Provide expert guidance throughout the entire process with flexible and accessible support.
“The college admissions process can be overwhelming for students and parents. Patty helped us avoid that by taking the lead on all aspects of the process. She established a clear work plan, met with our son consistently, helped with compiling the right mix of schools to target, recommended SAT tutors, and navigated all the application and essay writing mechanics. In the end, our son was accepted to his number one choice, Stern Business School at NYU, which in his application cycle had a less than 5% acceptance rate.”
-David and Ana, parents, Florida (NYU Stern)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I hire a college consultant/advisor?
According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the recommended caseload for a high school counselor is 250 students, with the current average ratio as high as 376 students to one counselor. Faced with this volume, it is not always possible for high schools to offer individualized, detailed college admission support. Hiring a college consultant provides your son or daughter with an advisor solely focused on the college process who can provide an organized and strategic plan to follow, thereby reducing stress on both the student and parents.
As your college advisor, I offer expert advice, feedback, and personalized guidance. I keep students on a timeline to ensure everything is completed well before deadlines and that applications are thoroughly reviewed before they hit the submit button. Many parents have commented that hiring a college consultant helped them maintain a positive relationship with their child by having an advisor take on the role of keeping on top of the process with their son/daughter (instead of mom and dad!)
Do you work with students from throughout the country?
Yes! I work remotely with students from all over the United States and internationally. I am happy to meet both remotely and in person with local students.
When should my son/daughter start working with a college advisor?
Many students begin working with me toward the end of their sophomore year, into the beginning of junior year. Students who begin advising earlier have the advantage of receiving expert advice in choosing their future courses and identifying extracurricular opportunities, including summer programs and volunteer experiences, that they would enjoy and fit with their goals. The earlier a student starts with advising, the more time there is to develop a broad and varied high school experience and a strong resume. I also have families that sometimes realize later that they need help navigating the process and begin advising at the end of junior year into early senior year.
Will Patty be the consultant working with my son/daughter?
Yes! I will always be the person working directly with your son or daughter.