Harvard M.Ed; 21yrCollegeCounselor; Gr9 OnlyAvail

$225/hour

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Introduction

For over 21 years, Susan Taub has been advising students to attain their goals of finding the best fit colleges and guiding them through the admissions process to achieve a positive outcome. Susan’s advisees come from a wide range of academic profiles; a variety of academic interests; a diverse mix of family backgrounds; public, private, boarding, parochial, and home schooled; freshmen and transfer applicants. Susan has particular expertise in highly selective college admissions and in specialized performing arts degree programs. Susan assists students and parents throughout the United States and internationally. Susan has 44 years of experience in the field of education, and earned a BA in Child Study from Tufts University and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. WHAT CAN I OFFER YOU? • Evaluate academic, personal, and extracurricular background. • Guide selection of appropriate and desired colleges and assess chances of admission. • Develop an individualized admissions timeline. • Suggest ways to make the most of campus visits and contact with college personnel. • Guide students in identifying strengths to highlight on their application. • Assist in every aspect of the application: selection of essay topics, editing of essays and short answer questions, presentation of extracurricular achievements via a resume. • Help with specialized arts program selection and admissions and the specific artistic review process requirements. • Suggest how to solicit the most effective letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors, including supplemental recommendations. • Prepare for interviews through tips and mock interviews. • For 10th & 11th graders, assist with course planning, testing schedule, and planning extracurricular and summer activities. • Guide strategies for deferrals and waitlists, and choosing a college among acceptances.

Overview

Hired 24 times

Serves Jersey City, NJ

Background checked

1 employee

21 years in business

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This pro accepts payments via Check, Venmo, and Zelle.

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Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.

2022

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College Admissions Counseling - Libertyville 2023
College Admissions Counseling

Reviews

Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and responsiveness.

Exceptional 5.0

14 reviews

100%

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Marianne S.

Apr 17, 2023

Hired on Thumbtack

The college admissions process is as confusing as it is competitive. I hired Susan to assist my niece through this process (college identification, application, and selection) as she was floundering on her own. The results were tremendous. Susan worked with her during her junior and senior years. Over that time, Susan helped her clarify what was important to her in a college, establish a schedule to work through the admissions process, understand how to present herself as a candidate and have more confidence during admission interviews. With Susan's guidance, my niece received multiple offers of admission. In addition to the help Susan provided my niece, she was always available to me and her parents to answer questions and provide advice. My nephew will begin working with Susan this year and we anticipate the same great results from the partnership. For parents and students, having Susan in your corner is invaluable.

Details: Selecting colleges • High school Junior • Cadence recommended by professional • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling

Larry L.

Apr 16, 2023

Hired on Thumbtack

Susan was very responsive and diligent in helping with our kid's college application process. Her plan was meticulously designed and well executed. Her work was of high professional quality consistently. We got the feeling that she truly cared about the students and this was actually pretty rare these days. We highly recommend her service.

Details: Writing essays • Selecting colleges • Completing applications • High school Junior • Cadence recommended by professional • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling

Jun Z.

Apr 13, 2022

Hired on Thumbtack

My son started working with Susan after the start of the senior year. It was a little late, however, Susan has been a tremendous help from all the aspects of college application planning. We were very happy for all the tasks she assigned to our son, all the ideas that she provided and all the suggestions on writing personal essays and supplemental essays. She has an unique ability to work with teenagers. She has always been supportive, positive, encouraging and yet also keep tasks on timing. Hindsight, we should’ve started working with her earlier. I strongly recommend Susan be your college admission counselor if you have a child in high school.

Details: Selecting colleges • Completing applications • Writing essays • High school Junior • Cadence recommended by professional • Remotely (phone or internet) • My home, venue, etc. • At the pro’s location

College Admissions Counseling

Kinley Z.

Mar 26, 2021

Hired on Thumbtack

Beginning my senior high school, I was immensely affected by sickness. This made me get delayed to school, and even upon reaching school, I had to fly to another state for my medical treatment. I went through a lot, from being admitted to the hospital to making up to numerous doctor appointments. I missed tons of classes, and since college admission season approached, I had to give a second thought to whether to proceed or not apply to colleges at all. But God has sent me Susan! I met her a little less than 2weeks before my application deadline. She worked with me, giving all her best and effort to discover my strengths within such a short period of time to help me make my application strong. She is very organized and replied promptly to every question I had. Her help was what made me get into colleges with full-ride into three schools already. Now that I have healed and looking back, I am truly grateful to Susan for reaching me to the position I hold today; otherwise, I would have neither gotten into college nor have been able to make it with a 100% scholarship. My only advice is to work early and start early with Susan. She is fantastic and will never let you down. And to any international students and parents reading this, I am an international student too, and Susan can make it work, giving you the fact picture of how she helped me in such a hard time and turned it RIGHT! Thank you so much, Susan!

Details: Writing essays • Completing applications • High school Senior • Cadence recommended by professional • At the pro’s location

College Admissions Counseling

Kim C.

Jul 16, 2020

I recommend Susan Taub, College-Wise, very highly! She counseled both of my children in the college admissions process for at least one and a half years each. Both of my children are very different. My oldest was seeking a classical music in voice program and, with Susan's guidance, was admitted and had a wonderful experience at Oberlin Conservatory. She went on to get a Master in Music in Vocal Performance at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She works and performs in musical theatre and opera successfully and is very happy. My son, with Susan's guidance also, attended and loved the University of Chicago where he majored in math and cinema studies. He worked for two years after graduating and went back to UChicago for a Masters in the Humanities with a focus and thesis in film. He will begin law school at UCLA soon to focus on sports and entertainment law. Susan was very instrumental and served a critical role is assisting both children with applications, auditions, and most importantly finding a good fit for them for their college experiences.

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Susan Taub

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
COLLEGE COUNSELING: EVALUATION AND COLLEGE SEARCH: $780 (May be credited toward a package) I evaluate the student's academic, personal, and extracurricular background by reviewing his/her high school transcript (courses and grades), test scores (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, AP), current class schedule, extracurricular and personal activities and accomplishments, awards, and a student questionnaire. I review the student's college search criteria, academic and career interests, and list of colleges and estimate his/her chances of admissions to these schools. I provide suggestions of ways to highlight the student's strengths and accomplishments and address any weaknesses. I assemble a suitable list of colleges for the student based on my findings from the evaluation and the student's college preferences and interests. This is a finite service without any back and forth counseling, but results in an individualized detailed report. SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $6,500 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) This package includes the Initial Evaluation and College Search, finalizing the college list, development of a time line for the student's admissions process, help with the application process including brainstorming topics and reviews of multiple drafts for 8 full essays (up to 650 words; shorter essays can be added up to equal one 650 word full essay), preparation of an annotated activities and achievements resume, preparation of supplemental materials, choosing whom to ask for recommendations and submitting statements to teachers and guidance counselors to assist them in writing these effectively, suggestions for highlighting 'hooks' and strengths, suggestions of ways to express specific interest in each college, overall application review, suggestions for college visits and contact with college personnel, interview preparation including mock interviews, handling deferred or waitlist status, choosing from college acceptances, and support throughout the process for both the student and parents through unlimited email support. JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $8,000 (18 - 24 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) In addition to everything in the Senior Year College Counseling Package, this package can start at any point in junior year and also includes help in choosing a possible college academic focus or direction, summer activities planning, assistance with any summer program admissions processes (if applicable), course planning for senior year, testing schedule plans, college visit plans, extracurricular choices and initiatives, assistance with two additional essays (for a total of 10 full page essays up to 650 words; shorter essays can be added up to equal one 650 word full essay) through unlimited email support. SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $9,500 (28 - 36 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) Includes everything in the Junior/Senior Package, aimed at those starting services during 10th grade. 9TH/10TH/11TH/12TH GRADES COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $10,800 (40 - 48 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) Includes everything in the Junior/Senior Package, aimed at those starting services during 9th grade. PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING: Students seeking arts college programs with specialized requirements - such as for musical theater, acting/drama, music, film, fine arts, dance or architecture - need to order a performing arts package and not a regular counseling package. SENIOR YEAR PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $7,100 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) For students going through the specialized, rigorous, and selective theater college admissions process, this package includes all the services of the regular Senior Package plus specific help with choosing an appropriate program (i.e. BA, BFA, or BM) and criteria for selection of a theater program, along with solicitation of artistic references and guidance through the audition process and preparation of special requirements, including audition materials, headshots, compilation of a theatrical resume, and artistic supplements to non-audition colleges. JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $8,600 (18 - 24 months of counseling, end June 30 of senior year) Starting at any point in junior year, this package includes all that is in the Junior and Senior College Counseling Package, as well as any arts training plans that are applicable to college theater applicants. Due to the complexity of the performing arts college process, students should begin as early as possible. SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $10,000 (28 - 36 months of counseling, end June 30 of senior year) Starting at any point in sophomore year, this package includes all that is in the Sophomore, Junior and Senior College Counseling Package, as well as any arts training plans that are applicable to college theater applicants. Due to the complexity of the performing arts college process, students should begin as early as possible. 9TH/10TH/11TH/12TH GRADES PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $11,300 (40 - 48 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) Includes everything in the SophomoreJunior/Senior Arts Package, aimed at those starting services during 9th grade. ADDITIONAL SERVICES: ESSAY SERVICE: $450/ESSAY A LA CARTE OR $420/ESSAY IF ADD-ON TO PACKAGE (1 full essay up to 650 words, or 2 essays of 300 words or less each) From brainstorming topics to developing drafts incorporating tone, format and editing. Can be added to a College Counseling Package for essay assistance beyond the number of included essays, or purchased separately. ESSAY BUNDLE: $1,200 IF A LA CARTE OR $1,110 IF ADD-ON TO PACKAGE (3 full essays up to 650 words each; 2 essays of 300 words or less each can count as 1 full essay) Can be added to a College Counseling Package for essay assistance beyond the number of included essays, or purchased separately. HOURLY COUNSELING: $225/HOUR For those students who want specialized help with just one or two specific aspects (i.e., resume, interviews, follow-up to an Evaluation and College Search report to refine the college list) of the college admissions process, or help with specific questions, hourly college counseling assistance is available via e-mail. Hourly counseling is not suitable for those seeking ongoing help with their college admissions process. PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Fees for Initial Evaluation and College Search, Essay Service, or Hourly Consulting are due when counseling services begin. For Senior Year Packages, 50% of the fee is due when the counseling period begins and 50% is due in 60 days. For Junior/Senior Packages, 50% of the fee is due at the start of the counseling period and 50% is due 6 months later. For Sophomore/Junior/Senior Packages or Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior Packages, 50% is due at sign up and the balance of 50% is due 12 months later. Senior packages commencing after August 1 for rising seniors are due in full when services begin. Senior Packages commencing after August 1 of senior year, will incur an additional $500 fee. Senior Packages commencing after September 1 of senior year will incur an additional $800 fee beyond the package fee. Essay Services that are purchased separately from College Counseling Packages, will incur an additional fee of $50 if starting less than 10 days before those essays/applications are due to be submitted to colleges. Essay Bundles that are purchased separately from College Counseling Packages, will incur an additional fee of $200 if starting less than 3 weeks before those essays/applications are due to be submitted to colleges.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I send some information via email to those inquiring about services and then a family can opt to line up a free, no-obligation consultation in order to learn more, ask questions, and determine I am a good fit for their needs. Once a family signs up, I gather a great deal of information about the student as a solid foundation for our work together.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
BA in Child Study, Tufts University; M.Ed., Harvard University; and Training program in College Counseling

Harvard M.Ed; 21yrCollegeCounselor; Gr9 OnlyAvail

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