What Parents & Students are Saying…
Jodi was the gift that keeps on giving! She understands the process, was very upfront and honest and set my daughter up for success the minute she walked in her front door. I am happy to say my daughter has received acceptances to each and every college she applied to. Jodi is no longer the college advisor, she is part of our family!
Andrea R.Parent
Jodi was AMAZING. From the setting us on the path with SAT/ACT testing to all aspects involving the application process to even making sure thank you notes were written by our daughter to reference letter writers, Jodi made sure everything was covered. We could not have found a better college counselor.
Lori L.Parent
Jodi worked with both our son and daughter, each with very different paths. With our older son, we had no idea where to start, but from our first meeting with Jodi we both felt such relief. She was quickly able to alleviate our anxiety about the process by breaking it down into manageable steps. She not only helped to identify a wide range of colleges for our children, but she did so while instilling self-confidence and pride in the choices. We all understand that there are reaches and there are safety schools, but it’s not easy explaining that to your own child. Through natural conversations with our children, she was able to pull out topics for essays that we would never have considered. During the essay writing process, Jodi responded almost immediately with edits and suggestions. She sent reminder emails about application deadlines and scholarships – always copying us so that we were in the loop. Our children were just as excited to tell Jodi when they received acceptances as they were to tell us. I have recommended Jodi to several parents. Your children could not be in better hands.
Debbie C.Parent
When trying to navigate the daunting process of college admission, there are many books and online resources, but there’s only one Jodi Sears. Jodi did what other resources couldn’t do – she translated our needs, priorities and interests into a focused strategy that exceeded our expectations and garnered results. She formulated a tailor-made approach for us that was practical, manageable and uniquely personal. And, her instincts about where our son was likely to get offers (and/or money) were spot on.
Importantly, Jodi was able to manage our son’s activities and guide the entire process. Because we decided to apply to a number of schools, our son was faced with a seemingly overwhelming number of submissions and deadlines to track. Jodi created a master calendar which was instrumental for all of us, and she held our son accountable at each milestone (so we, as parents, didn’t need to). She provided creative guidance on essay topics and constructive feedback on written drafts, all of which ultimately helped our son write better essays.
Jodi always made herself available to answer questions when they arose, and her knowledge and insights were invaluable. In the end, our son received more acceptances than we could have ever imagined, and we all truly believe that wouldn’t have been possible without Jodi’s help!
David T.Parent
The college admission process was not scary or stressful once we started working with Jodi Sears. She provides great communication and support to the parents, but most importantly she figures out who your student is and the best way to bring out their strengths. She is very knowledgeable and has the right balance of being kind but also persistent to keep the student moving along the application process. She really understands teenagers and takes great joy in finding the right college fit. I recommend her highly.
Ann C.Parent
Some of our pre-conceived ideas about the process were misguided, having listened to other parents who really only knew their own experience. Jodi was able to paint a very clear picture of our daughter’s prospects and she was able to apply to colleges feeling confident in her choices.
We had the added challenge of trying to obtain a spot on a NCAA team. Jodi helped us secure amazing scholarship funds for our daughter, and we had a few schools that ended up offering almost 100% tuition and housing coverage through grants and scholarships.
From getting the essay out of her head and on to the application, to scaling down 4,000 college choices to a handful of well-chosen options, Jodi guided our daughter easily through the process. Working with Jodi helped lower all our anxieties and stress and I can’t imagine going through this process without her. She is constantly reviewing new information and educating herself on the latest college intel. Senior year is hard on students and parents, but having Jodi as our college counselor kept us sane and moving forward, and not only did my daughter endup with amazing choices, but she ended up getting into her dream school!
Elizabeth C.Parent
At Thanksgiving, my son lead off with, “I’m thankful to my family for all of their support and for getting me Jodi because she made me feel like college would be possible.” He has decided on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), his first choice! Thanks so much for all of your help, Jodi! We wouldn’t have even known to suggest RPI without you.
Matty K.Parent
It is hard to explain in words how grateful we are for Jodi. I was hesitant to hire a college counselor because I thought I was capable of helping my son with applications and essays, but after going through this process I know that not only would my son not have received the admits that he did, but we would have been extremely stressed. Jodi changed our lives and my sons life. If it were not for Jodi, my son would not have been admitted to UCLA, USC, University of Michigan and so many others. Jodi has become a friend to me for life and we owe her so much for that.
Lisa L.Parent
As parents who had never gone through the college application process, my husband and I were quite overwhelmed. We have a high achieving child and the idea of navigating this process and potentially missing crucial details and insights terrified us. Jodi relieved us of the responsibility of “nagging” him to meet deadlines allowing all of us to more thoroughly enjoy this precious time in our lives.
Vanessa R.Parent
The most important thing you’ll ever do during the college process is hire Jodi! She’s the best kept secret. From start to finish, she makes navigating the intimidating college process a breeze. Honest, caring, engaging, knowledgeable, thorough. She connected with my daughter and really was the best guidance.
As my financial husband said, “The return on investment is huge!”
Jodi is a class act.
Jamie N.Parent
Jodi is amazing to work with. She helped our daughter with the essays and all of aspects of the application process. She was extremely flexible and effective while working through the pandemic on Zoom.
Steve J.Parent
I am so grateful to Jodi for the support she provided to my kids and me. I have a demanding job, so to be able to have someone take this daunting task of the college application process off my plate was such a relief. Jodi helped my kids choose reach, target and likely schools, understand the application timeline, choose essay topics and she also provided feedback on the essays after my kids wrote them. She gave them due dates of when they should have different tasks completed which was great because it helped them manage their time accordingly. Jodi was also there for me to text or call anytime I had a random question. She was very available to all of us and made the application process organized and easy. All four of my kids got into schools they hoped to attend (Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB and UC Davis) and we are so grateful for the support Jodi provided.
Eileen H.Parent
Jodi is an angel! The college process can be overwhelming, especially when you are the oldest child and it is a new process for everyone in the family. But with the guidance, support, and dedication that Jodi brings, along with her insight, experience, and deep understanding, the seemingly overwhelming college process became a pleasant and exciting one! I could always count on Jodi for her wealth of knowledge on every aspect of applications and colleges, and furthermore for the sense of comfort she provided. Above all, Jodi is always personal and thoughtful, and for that important touch, I will always be so grateful.
J.M.Student, University of California Berkeley
I had the best possible college application experience with Jodi. She consistently kept me on track and updated me with admission information, essay ideas, and college feedback. She was always available and responded to my texts, emails, and essays immediately, while treating each of her students as a top priority. She was also very realistic with me, but constantly encouraged me to consider new colleges and open my options for success. I do not know how I could have gotten through the application process without her. I am indescribably appreciative!
M.L.Student, University of Southern California
Thank you so, so, so much for all of your help and advice! You were so instrumental in getting me into both of my dream schools. You spent so much time getting to know me, and what was truly best for me, and then you advocated your hardest to make it happen! You always had my best interest in mind. You are truly awesome and have changed my life forever!
B.L.Student, University of California Los Angeles
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Jodi this year! I know my college process and end results would not have been the same without her assistance and guidance. Working on my applications with Jodi never felt like a burden. Our collaborations were always fun-filled, and we always had good laughs along the way. She really helped me dive deeper into who I am, which enabled me to craft greater essays about myself.
R.F.Student, University of California Santa Barbara
I am so grateful for all the help that I received from Jodi. Not only did she help me with my applications, but she also helped me stay confident and calm during the stressful application process. I wouldn’t have been able to get into USC, UCLA, LMU, UCI, UCSB, and Pepperdine without the help of Jodi!
R.A.Transfer Student, University of Southern California
Thank you for all your help with the college process throughout high school. I couldn’t have been successful without you.
M.L.Student, University of Pennsylvania
The college application process was a gnarly beast which I could not have battled without Jodi by my side. She guided me through what seemed like such a daunting, never-ending process and helped me turn it into a series of successful (and totally manageable) endeavors. From narrowing the list to editing my Common App, I am forever thankful for Jodi’s help and I’m thrilled to be attending my dream school in the fall.
J.F.Student, Emerson College
From the very beginning, Jodi instilled within me a sense of comfort and confidence as she helped me build my resume, select schools, and refine my essays. Once she took the time to get to know me and my goals, she helped me craft my college list and explained why I might be interested in attending a specific university. Perhaps forming a college list is the most daunting part of the process, and Jodi was there for me every step of the way. During our weekly meetings, Jodi would check in with me to make sure I was on task, and her support helped me stay on track during a rather turbulent part of my high school experience. Even though our meetings were virtual, Jodi always imbued a sense of warmth that made me feel at ease. I would one-hundred percent direct my friends and family members to Jodi Sears, and she will be seeing my sisters in just a few years!
E.R. Student, Northwestern University
I truly can’t begin to describe how helpful Jodi was throughout the college application process! With her sincere dedication and valuable wisdom, Jodi has made the daunting and seemingly insurmountable task of applying to college an absolute breeze. Jodi’s personal touch and commitment add so much to the overall experience and instill a genuine sense of confidence in what can often be an anxious period of time. On top of this, her utter knowledge and insight were beyond helpful in almost every aspect of the college application journey. Anybody working with Jodi will find that her accessibility and deep understanding are the foundations of her practice and are what make her students so grateful and successful moving forward!
N.M.Student, University of California Davis
Jodi Sears helped me so much during the college process. The essay she helped me to write brought tears to my mother’s eyes when she read it. She helped me to achieve my goals and receive a full-tuition scholarship to the University of Wisconsin Madison.
A.B.Student, Posse Scholar recipient, University of Wisconsin
The college process, especially for someone like me who didn’t know a lot about it, was very intimidating and seemed like a huge load. However, working with Jodi helped to relieve much of the stress and confusion that often comes with this process. She is an absolute expert on every aspect of the college process and was always there to answer my many questions. Jodi was an important guiding factor for me, whether it be from the initial gathering of ideas for my essays or perfecting the final touches on my application as a whole. I attribute much of my success in my applications to the help and guidance that Jodi gave me.
L.L.Student, Notre Dame University
I honestly can’t thank you enough for everything. That excellent application was because of your guidance, wisdom, and all-around amazing support that never once let me feel any pressure from this whole experience.
C.G.International Student, University of California Berkeley
Jodi Sears is the most insightful, talented, funny, knowledgeable, and friendly college counselor on the market. She rejects the model of large-scale college counseling that views their (overabundance) of clients as mere statistics to boost their own reputation but instead views her clients as people. In other words, Jodi embodies the mantra of people-centered counseling that focuses on helping a given student find the college that is the best fit for their specific circumstances and helping a given student represent their best, authentic self on their application.
Before my Senior Year, she expertly advised me on what coursework to take, both inside and outside the conventional classroom, to build my application and explore my interests. She pushed me in a caring way to reorient my approach to standardized testing preparation and referred me to the study materials that allowed me to score in the 99th percentile on the SAT. She informed me of—and assisted in the application for—research opportunities that opened the gates to engage with my passions at a high level while building my application.
During my Senior Year, Jodi was the rock that allowed me to navigate the rough waters of applications. She helped me craft a college list, helping me clarify my jumbled thoughts on where I should apply, where the programs that best suit me and my interests are, and where I would fit in. Through the maze of deadlines, application materials, essay prompts, and video supplements, Jodi showed me where to spend my time and how to manage the tasks without stress. Through the tenuous and anxious process of college essays, Jodi was able to calm me down and show me—in a logical, thoughtful, and caring way—how to artfully represent my true self while making the admissions officers that read these essays crave to admit me.
If you want a counselor who will care about you as a person, make jokes with you over coffee, listen to your rants and then advise you on which classes to take, spend hours researching during a pandemic to help you find an online course that will let you explore your super esoteric academic interest, give candid constructive criticism to bring your college essays to the next level, and be an anchor point through the torrent of college applications, then Jodi is the college counselor for you.
Christopher B.Student, University of Chicago
I felt very overwhelmed by the college admissions process. With so many different deadlines, it felt daunting to start. I completely believe Jodi helped improve my chance of admissions. From helping me come up with the idea of “looking out the window”, her suggestions and guidance were extremely helpful. With her knowledge on what makes college essays better/more memorable, her insight was vital to my success. She understood my strengths and could therefore help me best showcase my strengths in my applications.
T.J.Student, Dartmouth College
Jodi helped me at every point of the process, with absolutely anything that I was unsure about. She was someone I could bounce ideas off of, as well as guide my choice of essay topics. Jodi also helped me manage my time during a process and created checklists for me sorted by date, spreadsheets that designated which universities required what, and helpful tips and reminders that influenced how I allotted my time. Without Jodi’s help, especially her essay guidance, I know that I wouldn’t have been admitted to a top ten school. The process would have been infinitely more difficult without her.
T. W.Student, Duke University
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