How is working with a private college counselor different from working with my student's school counselor?

We have so much respect for school counselors. They are working incredibly hard for a lot of students at once, and we genuinely love when we get to partner with them. But most high school counselors are responsible for hundreds of students at a time, which makes deep, individualized support nearly impossible. It's also worth knowing that school counselors and independent educational consultants actually come up through different training paths. School counselors are trained broadly across academic, social, and emotional support for students. It's important, wide-ranging work. Independent consultants like those at Strides specialize exclusively in the college admissions process, with ongoing training, campus visits, and direct relationships with admissions offices as a core part of what we do.

Working with Strides doesn't replace your school counselor. It adds another layer of support. We're happy to work alongside them, and many of the school counselors here in West Hartford and the Farmington Valley know us and know that we share the same goal: helping your student find the right fit and get there.

When should we start working with a college counselor?

Earlier than most families think. The families who feel most calm and prepared during senior year almost always started building a foundation in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. That doesn't mean pressure. It means having a clear sense of direction so that senior year feels manageable rather than overwhelming. That said, if your student is already a junior or senior, it is absolutely not too late. We meet families wherever they are.

What does the college process actually look like today? Has it changed?

It has changed a lot, and honestly, it keeps changing. Test scores are making a comeback at schools that went test optional during the pandemic, and demonstrated interest is being tracked more closely again at a growing number of colleges. The essay still matters, though how it's weighted is evolving as AI becomes more prevalent. Early application strategies are more important than most families realize going in.

The hardest part for families trying to navigate this on their own is that the rules genuinely shift from year to year, and sometimes mid-cycle. Staying current on what each school is actually prioritizing right now is a big part of what we do, so your family doesn't have to.

What's it actually like to work with Strides day to day?

It means you have a real person in your corner. Not a portal, not a chatbot, not a form to fill out. When your student is stressed at the night before a deadline, we're reachable. When you see something on TikTok about the Common App and you're not sure if it's actually true, you can ask us. When your student gets a deferral and you don't know what to do next, we'll walk you through it calmly and honestly.

College admissions content is everywhere right now, and a lot of it is confusing, contradictory, or just plain wrong. Part of what we do is cut through the noise so your family can focus on what actually matters for your specific student. You don't have to figure out what to believe. That's what we're here for.

What role should parents play in the college process?

An important one, but a different one than you might expect. The families who navigate this best are the ones where parents are engaged and informed without taking over. Your student needs to own this process. Our job is to make sure they have the support, the strategy, and the confidence to do exactly that, while keeping you in the loop every step of the way so you never feel left out or in the dark.

Can't my student just use ChatGPT or AI for college counseling?

This is one of the most important questions we get right now, so let's be honest about it. AI tools can be genuinely useful for certain things: researching schools, understanding deadlines, getting a general sense of how the process works. We have nothing against families using them as a starting point.

But there's a real difference between general information and personalized guidance. AI doesn't know your student. It doesn't know that they froze up on their first SAT and need a different testing strategy. It doesn't know that the school at the top of their list just quietly started tracking demonstrated interest. It can't read a draft essay and hear that the voice doesn't sound like the kid you're raising. It can't sit with your family during a stressful decision and help you think it through.

On the essay specifically, AI can generate words, but it cannot generate your student. What admissions officers are looking for is a voice, a perspective, a moment that makes them stop and remember a name. AI produces the same polished, competent-sounding prose for every student who uses it, and admissions officers are increasingly trained to spot it. Our essay coaching helps your student find the story only they can tell, in a voice that is unmistakably theirs. That's something no tool can replicate.

What you get with Strides is a real person who knows your family, stays current on what's actually changing in admissions, and is there when things get hard. AI can answer a question. It can't be in your corner.

How do you help students figure out which schools are actually a good fit?

Fit is about so much more than rankings. We look at academic programs, campus culture, size, location, financial aid, and a whole range of factors that matter to your specific student. We also draw on our experience visiting campuses and working with admissions offices directly. The goal is a list your student is genuinely excited about, with a mix of schools where they have a real shot, not just a list of reaches held together by wishful thinking.

Do you guarantee admission?

No, and we'd encourage you to be cautious about anyone who does. What we can promise is that your student will have a stronger application, a clearer strategy, and a team in their corner who genuinely cares about where they land. We've seen that make a real difference, and our families right here in West Hartford and the Farmington Valley will tell you the same.

How do I get started?

Schedule a free consultation and we'll talk through where your student is, what you're hoping for, and whether Strides is the right fit for your family. No pressure, no pitch. Just a real conversation.

And one thing worth knowing before you reach out: while we do have packages, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all anything. Every family we work with is different, and we build around what your student actually needs. If a package fits perfectly, great. If something more customized makes more sense, we'll figure that out together.