College Launchpad
College apps don't have to take over your life.
You can finish them in just five days.
College Launchpad
College apps don't have to take over your life.
You can finish them in just five days.
Why College Launchpad?
Get an application strategy tailored to you
Receive expert, personalized guidance about essay topics
Get in-depth, individual feedback on your essays
Rest easy knowing you're not missing anything
Get a realistic understanding of your chances at the schools on your list
Get help articulating the great things you bring to a college campus
Make friends who are going through the process with you
Put this whole thing behind you and focus on having fun senior year!
Don't take our word for it!
Sirey Zhang, Student:
"Working with Mark at Great College Advice was a phenomenal experience! I go great help from him getting into Ivy League schools. Working with him was a personalized experience that allowed me to put the best of myself into my applications that were reflective of my true self. I'd recommend his services to anyone."
Joanna Schlansky, Parent:
"Mark Montgomery and his company Great College Advice were instrumental in helping both of our daughters through the college admissions process. What could've been an overwhelming unbearable process for us, it ended up being a seamless and positive experience. With Mark's guidance and advice, our daugheter ended up going to a college that was perfect fo rher, and without the advice and recommendations we received from Mark, I am sure that the outcome would have been different. In fact, we hired great college advice for our younger daughter and we are now in the middle of the college search for her. We are confident that our younger daughter will have the same experience as our older one. We highly recommend Mark Montgomery and his company Great College Advice for anyone who is looking to help their son or daughter through the college process."
Lisa K, Parent:
"Mark Montgomery worked with both of our children during the college exploration/application process. He is uniquely skilled in asking throughful questions and thus identifying th eneeds and interests of each student. His good antured, easy going personality combind with his creative and targeted questions, made both our children want to talk openly with him and also helped them identify appropriate colleges. Mark is gifted in working with high school students who are contemplating their next step."
Don't take our word for it!
Who will be my college guides?
We get it.
We have the professional and academic credentials. You can look at those below.
But that's not really the point.
What matters is that we have an insightful, big-picture understanding of how colleges and universities work today and how they got to be that way.
In admissions, it seems like colleges have all the cards. They have the money, the reputation, and the long lines of kids dying to get in. But families have power, too. We can help you understand what power you hold so that you can go through this process the way you want to.
The nuts and bolts
1:1 meeting with an expert
Meet with your counselor. Discuss who you are, what you need, and where you want to be in the future.
Tailored admissions report
Your counselor will create a detailed guide, including essay topics, you can use to complete your applications
Structured writing time
During boot camp, we'll have specific writing workshops for you to tackle those applications
Personal essay feedback
Your counselor will give you feedback during the workshop so you can create finished essays before the end of the week
Detail Common App guidance
We'll go through every piece of the Common App. Get your questions answered and get your apps done!
Final overview
Your counselor will help you proofread everything. Walk out of our workshop ready to hit submit.
Pricing
Sign up before the end of May to get our Early Bird Discount!
College Launchpad Summer Intensive
Fee: Normally $4500, but only $3500 through May 31
The College Launchpad Summer Intensive Includes:
In-depth intake paperwork and surveys to understand the application and the family
Admissions report and one-on-one strategy session with your counselor
Participation in five day supervised summer session to complete essays and Common App
Access to drop-in, as-needed office hours after the workshop, through the end of September of senior year
Add on: College List
Fee: $1300 through May 31
College list add on includes:
Additional surveys, assessments, and in-take paperwork about the student and the family in order to assess your strengths, priorities, and values
A college criteria exercise to make sure every college on your list is well suited for you
A 60-minute meeting with your counselor to make sure everyone is on the same page about college criteria
A list of between 15 and 25 schools that meet your criteria and cover a range of admissibility probabilities
A 90-minute meeting with your counselor to go over the list
Access to our tools to support researching your list
Pricing
Sign up before the end of May to get our Early Bird Discount!
College Launchpad Summer Intensive
In-depth intake paperwork and surveys to understand the application and the family
Admissions report and one-on-one strategy session with your counselor
Participation in five day supervised summer session to complete essays and Common App
Access to drop-in, as-needed office hours after the workshop, through the end of September of senior year
Fee
Normally $4500, but only $3500 through May 31
College List Add On
Additional surveys, assessments, and in-take paperwork about the student and the family in order to assess your strengths, priorities, and values
A college criteria exercise to make sure every college on your list is well suited for you
A 60-minute meeting with your counselor to make sure everyone is on the same page about college criteria
A list of between 15 and 25 schools that meet your criteria and cover a range of admissibility probabilities
A 90-minute meeting with your counselor to go over the list
Access to our tools to support researching your list
Fee
$1300 through May 31
Can I really finish my college applications in five days?
Yes!
Over the past 15 years, Great College Advice has helped hundreds of families like yours.
With the College Launchpad, you get your applications done right.
In just five days.
Before the summer workshop even beings, we set you off on the right foot with a one-on-one meeting to learn all about your child.
Your counselor then creates a personalized admissions report detailing strengths and weaknesses and laying out a strategy for your child to follow. This includes advice on early decision, essay topics, and extracurricular activities.
During the workshop, we follow a carefully crafted schedule to give students time to write and revise (and revise and revise!) their essays according to detailed feedback. We also fill out the Common App line by line and discuss what students need to do at the beginning of the year to request letters of recommendation from their teachers and counselors.
At the end of the five day session, students have everything they need to hit submit!
See what past clients have to say.
More about Mark and Sarah
Dr. Mark Montgomery
Founder and CEO
Education
Education
Professional Experience
College professor and associate dean at the University of Denver, teaching award from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, instructor at Harvard University, high school teacher at Saint Mary’s Academy in Denver, Fulbright teacher in France, and a leadership award from the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers (CCFLT).
Sarah Farbman
Senior Admissions Consultant
Education
Education
Grinnell College: BA, Phi Betta Kappa
Northwestern University: MS Higher Education Administration and Policy
Professional Experience
A college counselor with Great College Advice, Sarah has also worked as an admissions reader for Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, an essay coach, an ACT/SAT tutor, a college coach for a non-profit, and an English teacher in Ecuador.
Sarah has worked with students from across the country and around the world.
More about Mark and Sarah
Dr. Mark Montgomery
Founder and CEO
Education
Professional Experience
College professor and associate dean at the University of Denver, teaching award from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, instructor at Harvard University, high school teacher at Saint Mary’s Academy in Denver, Fulbright teacher in France, and a leadership award from the Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers (CCFLT).
Sarah Farbman
Senior Admissions Consultant
Education
Grinnell College
BA, Phi Betta Kappa
Northwestern University
MS Higher Education Administration and Policy
Professional Experience
A college counselor with Great College Advice, Sarah has also worked as an admissions reader for Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, an essay coach, an ACT/SAT tutor, a college coach for a non-profit, and an English teacher in Ecuador.
Sarah has worked with students from across the country and around the world.
