FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why should I use a college admissions planner?
Your child's education is an important investment for their future. Doing the detailed research for a successful college match and acceptance requires an enormous amount of time, something which everyone has very little of these days. Advising your child through such an important stage is wrought with many challenges, challenges which would best be served by an objective individual. (We all know how difficult it is to advise your own child.)
BrenMar Associates individualizes and personalizes their approach to the college admissions process to meet the needs of your child. We find that that usually no two clients have the same plan or the same list of colleges.
The ability to use BrenMar's expertise in order to find the perfect matches for your son or daughter will be a sound investment.
Why use BrenMar Associates as your college connection?
BrenMar assumes responsibility for the entire college admissions process so that the parent(s) has the freedom to enjoy their child on a positive, nurturing, loving level and leave the management of the timeline to BrenMar. The high school experience can be a positive one that empowers your child and builds a foundation for future successes. Or the high school experience can be one that feels endless and pointless. BrenMar Associates will help you and your son or daughter develop a routine for success today as well as tomorrow.
BrenMar helps you research, plan, and select a college, and assists with the campus visits, the application process, interviewing, etc. The result is a calm, stress-free, successful college search that will be enjoyable. BrenMar Associates has the time and expertise to help you and your child is successful.
Just as good financial planning begins early, the same is true with college planning. BrenMar is adept at working with students from all grade levels, but ideally, starting during the freshman year would provide the best results. Students need to enroll in the right combination of courses to ensure the best preparation for the SAT's and other standardized tests as well as build a strong education foundation. Not only is it important to get into the best colleges, it is vitally important that the young adult is successful academically while enrolled in the college of his/her dreams. Good academic preparation is BrenMar's goal. One of two meetings during the freshman year will start the young adult on positive journey. Another couple of meetings during the sophomore year will then prepare the high school student for a smooth college search and application process. Starting early will make for an organized, focused junior and senior years. All four years are important academically and by starting early confidence is built and the student is strong, focused and successfully learning and enjoying it.
What can I expect to pay for services and what do the fees cover?
Please refer to the services page to see the various services and the pricing structure.
My son/daughter has a great guidance counselor, why should I use BrenMar?
BrenMar has a great deal of respect for the wonderful services being provided by guidance counselors in public and private high schools. As you know, many counselors may be serving up to 250 students during a school year. This is a daunting task. Making a college list is an interactive process that may take a significant amount of time to develop. Discussing your options with an individual who has the time dedicated to do continual college admissions process research, will only enhance the good work already being done with the guidance counselors. In many cases, BrenMar will discuss the process with a student's guidance counselor to be sure that all parties involved in advising the young adult are on the same page.
What is the range of services provided by BrenMar?
As stated above, BrenMar is able to offer a significant array of options that will enhance a student's educational experiences. Time management, study skills, learning styles inventories, goal setting sessions, career and college major selections are all programs that can be selected to enhance the college admissions process. And of course, the entire college admission process, including the resume, the college essay, college application, recommendations, interviews, and college visits are all part of the basic BrenMar plan. Helping families select summer and other special programs is also available.
How frequently does BrenMar meet with my child?
BrenMar will meet with your child as prescribed by the initial goal setting meeting. The frequency of the meetings will depend on the identified needs of your child. However, every student is different and it is the BrenMar's philosophy to personalize its approach to meet and accommodate the needs of your child, and to share this plan with parents and guardians.
What role does financial aid play in BrenMar's process?
The financial goals of the family are always taken into consideration throughout the college planning process. If a family is particularly interested in keeping tuition expenses low, BrenMar will recommend those schools that have a reputation for being generous with their financial aid and/or schools that are "good bargains." Assisting with scholarship applications is also one of BrenMar services. However, financial planning and tips for saving for college, investments, etc. are best left to individuals who are experts in that financial area. BrenMar is comfortable making those recommendations.
What is expected from the parents/guardians during the college planning process?
Parents/guardians are expected to attend the first goal setting meeting in order to assist BrenMar with learning about the student. During the initial meeting the family's goals are established, the blue print for the work that needs to be done is outlined and the best methods for communicating are established. Of course, at any time, adjustments can be made to the plan, but it is crucial to the success of the program for the plan to be made clear in the beginning. BrenMar prides itself in trying to meet the expectations of the family. During each session, BrenMar checks in with the client to be sure his/her needs are being met and if any adjustments to the process would be necessary to enhance the process. Listening to the expectations of the family and describing how those expectations are best delivered are of great importance to BrenMar. Individualizing our approach specific to the needs of each family is a priority for BrenMar.
How will I know that BrenMar will employ the family's goals, aspirations and values throughout the planning process?
After the initial meeting with the family, BrenMar will work with your child alone. At each meeting a goal sheet with action plans will accompany the student home in order to guide BrenMar and the child on the tasks, activities, and research that needs to be completed and who will be responsible for each task. It is advised that the action plan be posted so that the student can refer to it daily. Without diminishing the student's independence, BrenMar will check in with the parent(s) periodically to see if there are any questions, concerns or comments. BrenMar assumes responsibility for the entire college admissions process so that the parent(s) has the freedom to enjoy their child on a positive, nurturing, loving level and leave the management of the timeline to BrenMar.
What is BrenMar's method for staying current and learning about colleges?
BrenMar prides itself on the amount of research it does to stay current in the field. Visiting colleges throughout the year is a priority for BrenMar. On an average approximately 25 colleges are visited each year. BrenMar has established its own research method for collecting data on each school during the visit and the data is collected, compiled and compared against the leading services such as US News and World Report as well as the Princeton Review. Reading related articles, books, college literature, visiting websites as well as using the information provided by clients' college visits and clients' experiences while enrolled in their colleges. Research is a major piece of the BrenMar formula. Life long learning and personal growth and development is a BrenMar hallmark.
