The college admissions process can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Each client receives one-on-one individualized guidance beginning with an initial consult
with both the student and parents.
Services
College Search and Selection. College Applications. Essays. Financial Aid. High School Resume
College Search and Selection
With over 4,500 institutions of higher education in the United States, the college search process can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Students are fortunate to have so many exceptional colleges from which to choose. Let me aid you in developing your college list and finding your "fit." Let's put an action plan in place and I will keep you on track throughout the process. I will advise you on college trip planning and when the acceptances roll in, review your options while you make your decision.
College Application and Essay
Brainstorm and develop your Common Application personal statement and supplemental essays.
Review your Common Application and suggest edits to the extracurricular, leadership, and community activities sections.
Conduct mock interview sessions to prepare you for a college interview.
Testing and prep recommendations.
Create a timeline and keep you organized.
Financial Aid
The financial aid process can be overwhelming to most. Let me guide you with the FAFSA and CCS processes. We can look at your financial packages together to see what works for you and your family. I will also supply you with many resources for scholarship information and provide advice and editing on further essay requirements.
Building your High School Resume
Some of the most important qualities a college looks for in a student regarding his/her high school resume are class rigor, curriculum choices, and extracurricular activities. We will review your accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom. Let's reflect on leadership, community service, and summer experiences. You will learn about yourself, both academically and socially throughout the process via surveys and self-reflection.
Stephanie Ackerman
Founder and President
I am so blessed to be able to guide students on their college admissions journey. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampshire College and a Master of Arts from Brandeis University. For two years, I served as the Admissions Chair of the Parents Council for Elon University, overseeing admissions initiatives with yield events, recruiting, summer welcome events, and working with admissions counselors, students, and families around the country. In addition to owning my own computer training business working with children, teens, adults, and companies, I was the technology director/instructor in a private K-8 school. I volunteered with JBJ's Soul Kitchen Employment and Empowerment Team as a career coach.
My professional memberships include; the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Professional Member, New Jersey IECA Professional Member, and the New Jersey Association of College Admissions Counselors. (NJACAC) I received my certificate as an Independent College Admissions Consultant from the University of California-San Diego, June 2019.
Why Hire an Independent Consultant?
The fundamental role of independent educational consultants is to help students explore college opportunities and find the right place for them to succeed academically and socially. IECs don’t get students admitted—they help students demonstrate why they deserve to be admitted at appropriately chosen schools. They help students find colleges they might not have heard of—often out of their region—and they help students put their best foot forward.
Here are 5 things families should consider when looking to hire an IEC:
Does the IEC belong to a professional association such as IECA with established and rigorous standards for membership?
Do not trust any offers of guaranteed admission to a school or a certain minimum dollar value in scholarships.
Ensure that the IEC adheres to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by IECA.
Find an IEC that visits college, school, and program campuses and meets with admissions representatives regularly in order to keep up with new trends, academic changes and evolving campus cultures.
Do they attend professional conferences or training workshops on a regular basis to keep up with regional and national trends and changes in the law?
12 Questions To Ask Before Hiring an IEC
12 Warning Signs an IEC May Not Be Worth It
IECA’s Principles of Good Practice
Why Choose a Member of IECA
Reprinted with permission from IECA
Testimonials
"My son was a junior in the Spring of 2020 and after two college visits the pandemic made it very difficult to continue college tours.
We retained Tomorrow Today College consulting in March of 2020. Stephanie is professional, knowledgeable and consistent executing goals she sets with our son. He was able to virtually tour school selections and narrowed down preference schools with Stephanies expertise using our sons academic profile to apply to Universities and Colleges that will be best choices for his future education.
Her services took the pressure off us as parents navigating during a pandemic when campuses were closed for tours.
We would highly recommend Tomorrow Today College Consulting to any parent who needs a college coach to assist in the selection process.
Pandemic or not.... this consulting service is the most valuable tool we invested into our son's future."
Chris and Kathleen Ramstrom
New Hampshire
"Our decision to work with Stephanie at “Tomorrow Today College Consulting” during 2020 for our high school senior daughter, was one of the best investment decisions we made into her future!
The Covid pandemic provided significant challenges forcing us to rely on virtual college tours and student testimonials. Stephanie played an instrumental role in helping us navigate these issues with extreme care, expertise and a real understanding of our daughter's college needs.
Stephanie was very proactive in learning about our daughter's goals, interests and personality along with her academic achievements to help determine the best fit in her college selections. During this process, Stephanie ensured that our daughter's essays, teacher recommendation letters and volunteer/activity sheets highlighted her most unique and best qualities for the admission committees.
What separated Stephanie from other college advisors was that she wanted to know our daughter's strengths and weaknesses as a student, but most importantly, to understand her passions which would ultimately shape the creative direction of her essays. Her input really helped make our daughter's essays unique and truly illustrate who she really is to the college admission committees!
We highly recommend to engage “Tomorrow Today College Consulting” to parents, especially to those who are new to the college application process. It is worth every penny!"
Ashwin and Rima M.
Throughout my entire process of applying to colleges, Stephanie was there to guide me. Considering the circumstances of this past year, trying to find a college that would suit me was different and challenging. Stephanie helped me narrow my searches and helped me put my best work forward for the colleges I did apply to. My end results were so much better than I expected, considering I got into every college I applied to, even my reach schools. I truly do not think I would have been this successful without her help.
Lily --RFH class of 2021
"Stephanie set the bar for parent support and leadership during her time on the Elon Parents Council Admissions committee. Her keen interest in the admissions process and love for students was evident during our work together. She understands 'fit'
'and has a growing knowledge of places where students can be successful."
Greg Zaiser-Elon University, Vice President for Enrollment
"Stephanie Ackerman is an invaluable resource for high school kids and their parents, navigating the entire college process which is confusing and complicated. She communicates excellently with teens and makes the process fun, and cuts through all the confusion for busy parents. I highly recommend her."
Jana G
