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Frequently Asked Questions

There are many questions that families have as they take on the exciting college search and application process. Here are some we hear often about searching for, applying to, and paying for college as well as about our college planning services.

College Planning FAQ
Why do students work with college counselors?
Consider the many different experts a family hires: you hire a real estate agent when selling your home; you hire an accountant to help you complete your taxes; you hire an attorney to prepare legal documents. So when faced with your child’s higher education, the question becomes “With a complicated process and a major investment, why NOT hire an expert in the college admissions and financial aid process?” Although there is a lot of information in guidebooks and on college websites, Campus Bound college coaches provide a highly personalized experience for your child and your family.
Who are Campus Bound's college counselors?
The college counselors at Campus Bound have a variety of backgrounds including college admissions, high school counseling, and college financial aid. We also have college essay specialists who are experienced as college admissions readers or English teachers. While many high school counselors maintain a caseload in excess of 350 students, Campus Bound counselors have a caseload of 5 – 20 students, allowing them to give each student the personal attention everyone deserves.
What if we only need certain services?

Campus Bound has a variety of flat-fee and flexible packages available and can customize college planning services to fit your family’s needs.

How should I start the college search process?
It feels overwhelming at first; don’t be alarmed! Perhaps the best way to begin is to consider what is important to you and your son or daughter in your college search process. Examples of what you should look at when considering a college or university are: academic majors/areas of interest, social atmosphere, location, cost, and size. At Campus Bound, our college advisors help you identify your and your child’s considerations and goals. After determining what’s important to you and your family, our independent educational consultants offer guidance on how to align your high school efforts and college search.
When is the best time to begin the college search?

The best type of plan is one that doesn’t feel rushed or overwhelming, and takes into consideration life’s other demands. Some families will look to Campus Bound for advice on college course and college activity selection starting freshman year in high school, but the college search should start in earnest toward the end of your high school student’s sophomore year and continue throughout their junior year in high school. At Campus Bound, our team of college planning experts believes in taking an individualized yet methodical approach to the college search and college application process.

How will Campus Bound help my son or daughter stand out in the college application process?
Campus Bound college counselors help students showcase their personalities and highlight their strengths through their resumes, college essays, recommendation letters, and supplementary college application materials. Campus Bound coaches work together behind the scenes to share knowledge about college application review procedures at different colleges and universities to better understand the changing landscape of college admissions.
What makes a good essay transform into an outstanding essay?
Students often believe that the college essay is the most difficult part of the college application process. Feeling as though you have to be incredibly personal or profound can make the college essay writing process itself feel daunting. At Campus Bound, our expert team of college coaches works with you and your child from the first brainstorming idea to the final period (as in punctuation!) in your college essay. Your essay should be personal to you and focus on you throughout. That’s what makes a college essay outstanding — the fact that it is unique to you and shares your voice with the reader. The relief and confidence you feel when you submit a great college essay is irreplaceable!
Am I eligible to receive higher education financial aid?
There is no specific income level that indicates whether a family is eligible for need-based college financial aid and many colleges and universities do not provide specific details about criteria for merit scholarships. Campus Bound college financial aid advisors can assess your eligibility (at no charge), and help you understand how you can maximize your need-based or merit opportunities.
If I am concerned about the cost of college, should I only apply to state schools?
Due to the complexity of the college financial aid system and the increasing use of merit aid to attract desirable students, private college may end up costing close to or less than public colleges. Campus Bound financial aid advisors will help you to explore the possibilities related to attending a state college or state university vs. a private college or university. In the end, you might be surprised!
Will applying for financial aid hurt my child's chances for college acceptance?
At colleges and universities that are “need-aware,” the students who need significant financial aid AND are borderline for admission may find their chances of admission negatively impacted by their financial need. There is also a chance that a school might accept a student but provide an unappealing financial aid package. Generally speaking, the mere act of applying does not usually affect a student’s chances for admission at a college or university.
In what U.S. locations do you offer your college planning services?

Due to the fact that we can offer ALL of our college admission assistance, college application help, and college financial services remotely, we can and do serve families and individuals throughout the entire U.S. That said, since we are headquartered in the Greater-Boston Metrowest area of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, we find that many of our clients have historically come from the New England states of MA and RI. Some local cities and towns we’ve had a deep history with include: Acton, Andover, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Beverly, Boston, Boxford, Brookline, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Cohasset, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Duxbury, Easton, Foxboro, Framingham, Franklin, Hanover, Hingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Lexington, Lincoln, Lynnfield, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marshfield, Medfield, Milton, Natick, Needham, Newburyport, Newton, North Andover, North Reading, Norwell, Scituate, Sharon, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sudbury, Swampscott, Wakefield, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Westford, Weston, Westwood, and Winchester.