Guiding Students With a Team Approach to College Admissions
Our advisors guide you and your student through every step of the college admissions process. We help your student find their best-fit schools, manage timelines and logistics, and write compelling essays. We personalize our approach with a deep understanding of what colleges are looking for while giving parents peace of mind.
Proven Results That Speak for Themselves:
What We Offer
Your student’s college admissions process should feel exciting, not overwhelming. With the CBA team of certified grade-level college admissions advisors as an extension of your family, we make your journey both meaningful and manageable.
That’s why we built College Bound Advising using a team approach.
1:1 College Admissions Advising
College List Building & Extracurricular Activity Advising
Essay Writing Workshops and Advising
Performing Arts Admissions Advising
Established Since 2005
Helping students and families navigate the college admissions journey with clarity, strategy, and a personal touch for over two decades.
Why Families Choose College Bound Advising
- Personalized 1:1 Guidance
We partner each student in our 1:1 comprehensive programs with a counseling team: a dedicated college coach and expert essay specialist, ensuring tailored support at every step of the journey.
- Expert Insights and Ongoing Support
From building a balanced list of colleges to the selection of majors, testing strategies, and score submissions, as well as our comprehensive essay advising, we provide deep insights to help students make informed decisions.
- Flexible Access for Ongoing Support
We work with students as they juggle their active lives. We have flexible scheduling and opportunities for in-person or virtual 1:1 counseling sessions. Plus, we host open office hours throughout the week in our Boston-area location, with quiet workspaces and access to on-the-spot help and resources.
- Supportive and Collaborative Workshops
Beyond 1:1 coaching, we hold in-person, small-group collaborative workshops focused on key milestones of college admission. But we are not only here for the students – we are here for you. We offer quarterly “Ask the Counselor” interactive sessions, 1:1 individual parent consultations, and special programs and events throughout the year.
- More Than Just Applications
As the home of Working Towards Change, our student-led volunteer initiative, we provide opportunities for students to gain leadership experience, engage in meaningful service, and build real-world skills—enhancing both their college applications and personal growth.
You're Not Alone—We're Here to Guide You
We know what you’re feeling right now—the pressure, the uncertainty, the endless questions. You want what’s best for your teen, but the process feels overwhelming. That’s why we’re here.
At College Bound Advising, we don’t just help students build a list of colleges to apply to – we help families navigate this journey from our initial meetings through their teen’s first day at college. We move beyond core counseling offerings and focus on your teen’s specific desires and needs, offering 1:1 counseling, open office hours, small group workshops, parent workshops, and more.
Our team of experts holds advanced degrees and has worked with adolescents in high school, college, and extracurricular settings, applying their experience to create a personalized plan for each of our students. Using the most up-to-date information from college admissions and social science research on adolescent development, we support students in balancing all priorities with an approach that makes this experience accessible and structured –with a dose of fun!
You don’t have to do this alone.
Proven Results That Speak for Themselves
We Know the College Admissions Process Can Feel Chaotic and Overwhelming for Both You and Your Teen
The path to college is filled with uncertainty—endless options, looming deadlines, and high-stakes decisions that often leave both students and their parents feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
- Too many choices, not enough clarity
From selecting the right schools to choosing a major, students face an overwhelming array of options without a clear roadmap or mentor to help guide their decisions.
- Complicated application process
Navigating through different application platforms, essay requirements, and submission deadlines creates a maze of procedures that can derail even the most organized students.
- Too many to-dos
The college admissions process should not feel like a full-time job. The endless checklist of tasks—from standardized testing and recommendation letters to financial aid forms and scholarship applications—leaves families struggling to prioritize what truly matters.
Without a clear plan, students risk missing deadlines, ending up at a school that doesn’t align with their goals, or submitting applications that fail to stand out.
Our Comprehensive Pathway to College Admissions
Our proven six-module approach guides students through the complete college admissions journey. This systematic process ensures students build essential skills while maximizing their opportunities for admission to their ideal schools.
While the framework is proven, every student’s journey is personalized—advisors tailor support to match their strengths, goals, and evolving needs.
Our team provides assistance on how to research schools, creates curated college lists, organizes information sessions, and prepares students for their campus tours. We conduct detailed program comparisons and help students discover schools that truly align with their academic interests, career aspirations, and personal preferences.
We help students establish the groundwork for their college journey through comprehensive assessments and one-on-one meetings. Our counselors guide students through reflective exercises and discussions to identify personal strengths, define academic and personal goals, and understand the college landscape.
We create customized application timelines, offer specialized test prep resources, and host application and essay workshops. Our counselors conduct detailed academic profile reviews and help organize all application materials through our proprietary tracking system to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Our writing specialists help with brainstorming essay topics, offer advice on best practices, and equip students with tools to craft their best essays.
Our writing specialists provide substantive feedback on essays through multiple revision cycles, while our counselors conduct mock interviews and help with Glimpse video uploads. We help students strategically highlight their achievements and unique qualities to create compelling, authentic applications that stand out to admissions committees.
We guide students through each submission with final application reviews, interview preparation sessions, and decision strategy consultations. Our counselors remain accessible throughout the waiting period, providing timely advice on waitlist strategies, additional material submissions, and evaluation of admission offers.
We believe in celebrating every milestone throughout the admissions journey. From completing a challenging essay to hitting “submit” on applications, our team recognizes each achievement with personalized acknowledgments. We host regular progress celebrations and create a supportive community where students share and honor each other’s successes. While college acceptances are certainly celebrated, we emphasize that the growth, skills, and confidence gained throughout the process are equally worthy of recognition.
Each module builds upon the previous one, creating a supportive and structured pathway where our expertise transforms the complex college admissions process into a manageable and successful journey.
Your Child's College Admissions Journey
Reduce the stress out of college admissions with our proven, step-by-step process—designed to help students gain clarity, craft standout applications, and secure acceptance into their top-choice schools with confidence.
Step 1: Get Clarity With Expert Advising
Schedule a free consultation to map out your child’s personalized college search and application strategy.
Step 2: Build a Winning Application
From choosing coursework and extracurriculars to essays to interviews, we guide your child through every step with expert insights.
Step 3: Celebrate Your Acceptance
Watch your child confidently submit applications and get into their top-choice schools!
Upcoming Summer College Essay Workshops
Last year’s workshops SOLD OUT! Get expert coaching in a small-group setting to craft a compelling personal statement or standout supplemental essays.
- Personalized feedback from Eydie and her team
- Proven essay strategies that make applications shine
- Supportive, low-stress environment
We’ve Been in Your Shoes—And We Know What Works
We understand the pressure of college admissions because we’ve been there—both as experts and as parents. With over 20 years of experience, advanced degrees from Harvard and UPenn, and memberships in the nation’s top admissions organizations, we bring both empathy and expertise to the process.
And as moms who have guided our own children through the college journey nine times collectively, we deeply understand the challenges families face—because we’ve lived them.
As members of the Independent Education Consultants Association, Higher Education Consultants Association, and National Association for College Admissions Counseling, College Bound Advising adheres to all ethical guidelines to provide all our clients with sound advice, integrity, respect, and confidentiality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common questions parents and students ask about how College Bound Advising can support their journey.
When your teen is ready - some are ready earlier than others, so we suggest checking in with your teen before jumping in with both feet. We recommend beginning the college exploration process in 10th or 11th grade, with serious application work starting in the summer before senior year. Our expert guidance ensures that students stay ahead of deadlines and reduce last-minute stress. Some students are ready earlier than others, so we suggest scheduling a free consultation session so we can discuss options for your teen.
The average student-to-school counselor ratio at public high schools is 415:1.;even counselors at independent schools can have upwards of 50 students on their dockets. An IEC will give you continuous support and develop a customized college admissions plan that works for your family. Applying to college can be confusing. There are so many dates and deadlines to abide by that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Having a third party can help to alleviate stress by streamlining the process and, in turn, minimizing conflicts, improving the entire experience for the whole family.
We go beyond just deadlines and applications—we take a human-centered approach, blending curiosity, strategy, and a sense of humor to make the process engaging and stress-free. With over 20 years of experience, a 98% retention rate, and a Game Plan for each student, we ensure families feel confident every step of the way.
No! While we help students aiming for competitive schools, we strive to find the best-fit college for each student—academically, socially, and financially. Whether it's a top-ranked state university, a restrictive admissions liberal arts college, or a specialized program, we help students get into schools where they’ll thrive.
Both! Parents play a key role in the college process, and we offer guidance, clarity, and peace of mind to help them support their teen effectively—without the stress. Our parent-student collaboration ensures everyone is aligned, informed, and confident throughout the journey.
Our prices are dependent on the service you choose. If you would like more information about pricing, please sign up for a free 30-minute consultation to hear about all our services and which would suit your family best.
We offer both in-person and virtual options for individual counseling. All workshops are in-person at our offices in Newton, Massachusetts.