College Karma

Counseling Services

The help you need to make your college dreams a reality!

Whether you're looking at Harvard or Hampshire, MIT or Michigan State, Princeton or Pomona, Swarthmore or Skidmore ... or even if you aren't sure where you'd like to go, we can help. College Karma understands that the college entrance process is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each student, and we offer a variety of services to meet most every need and budget.

Today's competitive college admissions climate, coupled with a reduction in guidance services in many schools and an overload of "helpful" information everywhere, can mean that students and their parents can become frazzled and confused as they navigate the admissions maze. College Karma promises expert advice and speedy turnaround time to make the process successful and perhaps even enjoyable (well, at least occasionally).

All College Karma counseling is handled by email, which is completely convenient for clients. Such "distance counseling" means that there is no need to schedule meetings or phone conferences. The written aspect of email is also ideal for documenting each step of the college entrance process. Students and parents don't have to worry about remembering what was said in a meeting or phone call. Everything is available for them anytime through College Karma's email documentation.

Ivy Guaranteed Admissions Program - A college counseling breakthrough! College Karma offers counseling with a guarantee. We know how hard it is to choose a counselor, and this is our way of making it easier. IGAP is the ultimate in admissions help, from experts with years of success in elite-college and university admissions... Click for full IGAP details.

Stats Eval: Can you get in? What are your chances at your target colleges and universities? College Karma helps you choose schools wisely by evaluating your stats (GPA, class rank, test scores, etc.), extracurricular accomplishments, and writing ability (remember: essays are a crucial part of competitive-college applications). Just fill out the simple Stats Evaluation form and paste in your writing sample. You will receive by return e-mail a fast, accurate, and professional estimate of your level of admissions competitiveness and suggestions on how to be more competitive, and the names of additional schools to consider. As part of your Stats Evaluation, you'll also receive a follow-up response to any questions you have. View a sample Stats Eval. All Stats Evals are performed by a College Karma counseling expert - NOT a computer!

Investment: $150 (Credited in full toward all counseling packages) After finishing the payment process, please go to the Stats Eval Form and fill it out as completely as possible.

Hourly Counseling: For students who need specialized help with just one part of the college search or admissions process, or who have other needs that aren't met by a standard College Karma package, a la carte advising is available on an hourly basis. Contact us by e-mail for an estimate of time required to meet your needs, and for discount pricing on pre-purchased blocks of 5, 10, and 20 hours.

Investment: $150 per hour

Senior Year Counseling Package: This is like having a personal college consultant "on call" nearly 24/7. Those nagging, stressful questions that keep you up at night will be answered almost as soon as you've finished your breakfast bagel! The College Karma senior package offers great value to the family who wants access to professional guidance throughout the college search and admissions process and is designed for students who have a relatively straightforward profile and realistic college goals. The full-year package includes a Stats Evaluation, search assistance and suggestions (including safety - ballpark - reach recommendations), essay and application reviews (up to two unique major essays), interview advice, and full-year availability of an expert advisor. As questions occur throughout the year, College Karma will answer them promptly. Up to twelve months of counseling through June 30 of the student's senior year. (See Payment Terms.)

Investment: $4,000 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ending June 30)

Super
Senior
Package

Super Senior Year Counseling Package: This program is for the applicant (and his or her family) with complex circumstances. It is designed for students with special needs (ADHD, dyslexia, or other disabilities), for those with erratic transcripts, for returning students, homeschoolers, international students, for candidates aiming for colleges that may be just out of reach, etc. The package includes all the services of our regular Senior Year Package (above) plus assistance with two additional unique major essays (for a total of four) and two one-hour phone consultations, for a real-time discussion of special circumstances, interview prep, or any associated needs. If these phone consultations aren't needed, they may be exchanged for help with one additional main essay. The Super Senior Package is our best single-counselor service.

(See Payment Terms.)

Investment: $6,500 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ending June 30)

HYP
HYbrid
Program

College Karma's HYbrid Program is the result of popular demand. It provides comprehensive services that are identical to those offered by "IGAP," above, but at a lower cost and without the fee-refund guarantee.

The HYP Team. College Karma co-directors Dave Berry and Sally Rubenstone will personally oversee all aspects of the client's college-selection and application process. Multiple viewpoints simulate real-world admissions-committee review. [Note: Students are free to apply to additional colleges and universities but HYP assistance covers only 10 schools.]

Unlimited Essay Advice. Applicants will get assistance on all application essays (up to those required by a maximum of 10 institutions) even when multiple, unique, major essays are required. Also included is assistance with those short, but important (and often annoying!), narrative responses ("What did you do this past summer?" etc.). "Elite" applications require extensive writing, and the applicant's task can be daunting. Essays can also be the tiebreaker that will send some applications to the "Accepted" pile while others, from equally qualified candidates, land in "Denied." HYP's comprehensive essay services can make a significant difference. Note: Scholarship essays and/or other writing requirements that fall beyond the scope of the formal application are not included as part of the HYP service.

(See Payment Terms.)

Investment: $10,000 (6 - 24 months of counseling, ending June 30)



UNIQUE TO COLLEGE KARMA: Theater & Musical Theater Counseling Services


Musical Theater and Drama Counseling Package: This exciting package provides the services of a College Karma counselor who is not only skilled in every aspect of college advising but also in the exacting demands of musical theater and drama programs. The package includes all the services of our regular Senior Package, above: college selection, assessment of admissibility; two full-length essays, application reviews, etc., plus guidance through the audition process and preparation of special requirements, including selection of audition material, headshots, and compilation of a theatrical résumé. Parents and students often underestimate the rigor and competition of musical theater admissions, and this package offers a unique opportunity to navigate the maze with an expert guide. (See Payment Terms and Musical Theater Counseling Testimonials.)

Investment: $4,500 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ending June 30)

Junior/Senior Musical Theater and Drama Counseling Package: The complex theater-program selection, application, and audition process should ideally begin early in the junior year of high school. This package provides all of the services of the Senior Package and the Musical Theater and Drama Counseling Package (above) plus it offers help with the selection of extracurriculars, summer activities, and senior classes, and it addresses other long-range needs of aspiring performers. (See Payment Terms.)

Investment: $5,500 (18 - 20 months of counseling, ending June 30 of senior year)

Musical Theater and Drama Transfer Counseling Package: This package combines the services of our regular Transfer Package (see below) and the Musical Theater and Drama Counseling Package (above). It is aimed at students who are already specializing in musical theater or drama--as well as those who wish to but are currently not. The package provides extensive assistance with the selection of appropriate colleges and theater programs (BA, BM, or BFA) and with all other aspects of the complex application and audition process. (See Payment Terms.)

Investment: $4,000 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ending June 30)



OTHER College Karma Counseling Services


Transfer Counseling Package: While many students will attend the same school for four years, there are times when a transfer makes sense. A change in majors can also dictate a different college, or strong academic performance in a student's first year or two may provide a realistic chance for admission to a more elite university. College Karma will help with the entire transfer application process: assessing the chances at individual schools, identifying other possibilities, developing a transfer strategy, essay and application reviews (up to two unique major essays), and full-year availability of experienced counseling. (See Payment Terms.)

Investment: $3,000 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ending June 30)

College Application Essay Help: When a college considers two similarly qualified candidates, the deciding factor can sometimes be the application essay. Admission committees seek essays that provide insight into candidates that may not be found elsewhere in the application. The College Karma counselors understand what makes a college application essay outstanding. CK helps applicants to identify appropriate and interesting essay topics and to develop essays that are well written and unique. Note that, while a student will probably complete multiple applications, a single, versatile essay can often be used with minor changes for many of them. College Karma does not write application essays for our essay-help clients. Ours is a comprehensive conceptual, developmental, and editing service that provides creative guidance for drafting, focusing, and polishing written statements.

Investment: Undergraduate - $250 (per each 500 word essay)

Investment: Graduate/Professional - $450 (per each 750 - 1000 word essay)

NEW!
Deferral
Reversal

Deferral/Waitlist Action: Have you been deferred via Early Decision or Early Action or waitlisted at a top-choice college? If so, what can you do to turn that thin envelope into a fat envelope? If you do nothing, that's exactly what will happen: nothing. Our Deferral/Waitlist package includes our best-selling Stats Evaluation plus four hours of expert counseling. We'll guide you through the proper strategies and help you make your best-possible appeal.

Investment: $600