This year we are offering two distinct options for college application advising:

• Option A: Students who completed a week at our summer camp can sign up for a set of weekly meetings in the fall to work on as many as 4 or 5 applications, with meetings on the same day and time each week.
• Option B: Any student can sign up for a series of individual working sessions conducted via Zoom with academic coach and expert advisor Paul Rivas. The timing and nature of the support is tailored to best suit each student’s needs and preferences.

Option A: open to students who completed the summer program

Some students, even after “Crafting Your College Application” summer camp, seek additional individual help on specific applications and supplements for their college applications. Fall counseling for these students is structured into sessions in which Nancy meets with each student individually once each week, the same day and time each week. Meetings can be in-person at her home office or online via Zoom.

• Session 1 includes five weekly meetings and is intended for students aiming for Early Action and Early Decision. Students can work on as many as 4 or 5 applications.
• Session 2 includes four weekly meetings and is targeted toward Regular Decision applications. Students can work on as many as 4 or 5 applications.

Weekly hour-long individual counseling sessions are supplemented by feedback and editing via email during the week between meetings. Expect to work hard during this time on your essays — we are aiming for beautiful and interesting applications! I often rely on Paul Rivas as editor during the fall, so you may also be meeting with him via Zoom during your fall session.

Some schools have November 30 application deadlines (University of California, University of Washington, University of Texas, and certain other state schools, as well as the special scholarship deadline at the University of Southern California). If you want to work on one of those applications with me, let me know, and we will come up with an appropriate schedule.

Students can register for either session, or for both. Parents are always welcome to attend meetings or ask questions.

Please note: I do not accept students for individual counseling the fall of senior year unless they have previously attended my summer camp. The fall program is for students who have successfully completed “Crafting Your College Application.”

Option B: open to all students

Some students benefit from a more flexible, tailored approach to support. Any student seeking support on college applications can sign up for a series of individual working sessions conducted via Zoom with academic coach and expert advisor Paul Rivas. Paul works with each student to assess their application-support needs, then creates a plan — typically involving a schedule for students to work on assigned writing between scheduled, online working sessions — so that the student completes a set of superb college applications. Pricing depends on the scope of the support needed, as agreed with the students parents prior to starting work.

Paul is an expert editor, and has long experience identifying essay topics and adjusting essay tone to appeal to admissions offices at various colleges and universities. You can read more about Paul and his background on his website.

Click the button immediately below to request additional information about this option for college application advising!

A note from Nancy Levonian, owner of Lives Under Construction: “Paul Rivas and I have worked together for many years, helping students with college applications, academic success, and more. We take the same approach to issues in education. I recommend Paul to students and parents without hesitation and with complete confidence.”