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Build Your College List With an expert

Take the College List Assessment

Creating a college list can be daunting, it’s hard to know where to start. The College List Assessment will provide HelloCollege experts key information to help you craft your preliminary list during a free college counseling session.

Begin the College List Assessment.





High School
Year of Graduation
Your Role
What would you like to discuss?


How it Works.

Designed to help your family identify the key factors that you
should consider as you begin creating your college list.

  • Parent and student will complete the College List Assessment together, which takes approximately 10-15 minutes.
  • After completing the assessment, our College Admissions Expert will research and build your Preliminary College List. We don’t use algorithms, it's entirely personalized.
  • Reveal your custom list of colleges during a free college list counseling session. During the session you will review each college and the factors that went into creating your list. Your expert advisor will answer your questions and help you discuss your plan for college admissions success.
  • Walk away from the counseling session with your preliminary list of 3-5 college choices that are a good match for you and more information on how to plan your college journey.

About HelloCollege.

HelloCollege is a national college counseling company that helps families navigate the school selection, application and admissions process. We are dedicated to helping students and parents successfully navigate their college planning journey by providing a personalized experience based on their unique needs and goals. Our team has assisted over 1500 students and has more than 200 years of collective college planning experience.

HelloCollege, Goodbye stress!

Choose the Right College.

Navigating the college selection process is not easy. That's why we created the S.A.F.E college list system, which helps teens and parents understand how to evaluate colleges in each key area. The intent is to help students find the right fit the first time, avoiding costly mistakes and ensuring that you successfully accomplish your college admissions goals.

Social

Factors such as location, campus size, community, demographics, and sports. Ensuring the school matches up with the student’s unique personality will ensure they stay for the long run.

Academic

Factors such as academic rigor, major, and support services. You want to match your academic interests with a college, but ultimately you must be able to get in and succeed.

Financial

Factors such as tuition & fees, student loans, savings and potential for merit or financial aid. College costs can be confusing and intimidating, but if you know how to navigate them, you’ll be able to take control.

Employment

What are your career goals, desired income, alumni networks and job placement out of college. We encourage students to consider long-term goals, such as lifestyle and career goals when choosing a college.

HelloCollege - What We Do?

HelloCollege helps you avoid college planning uncertainty and stress by creating a strategic plan matched to your teens goals and aspirations. Get your child the best guidance to improve their acceptance odds and achieve their college admissions potential.

  • Guidance and support to ensure your child doesn’t miss a step
  • Discover a major & career path that matches your teen talents and interests
  • Improve standardized test scores with ACT & SAT prep
  • Build a strong college list
  • Earn scholarships to help reduce college debt
  • Prepare a winning college admissions essay
  • Apply to your top colleges with confidence

Testimonials.

They provided services to me that were essential to my success in searching for a college. They provided organization and guidance, which made the stressful and chaotic college process less daunting. I’m extremely happy with my choice and the path that I am on, and especially thankful for HelloCollege getting me here.
Tess S.Hinsdale South High School, IL
I would not have known what to do or when to complete all of the different aspects of applying to college. The program helped me find seven scholarships, kept me accountable and is a push in the right direction.
Matthew NicholsonNorthwestern University, William Fremd High School Graduate
Utilizing their services alleviated a lot of stressful conversations with our daughter about deadlines and keeping on task. The skill set she acquired during the process from interviewing skills to professional prep will be key in the years to come...Their program was worth every penny spent!
Nora S.Daughter at University of Illinois
One of the key benefits for both the parents and the student is the structured approach to the entire process from selecting schools to preparing for the standardized tests to writing essays and everything in between. It took the pressure off to just know that there was a plan of attack. The process helped build her confidence as well as she was ultimately making the decisions that will impact her life in the future.
Mary Anton CarterMother of Graduate
This program successfully guided our family through the competitive college application process and provided superb resources at every step to help our son get into Duke University.
Jimmy and Heide ReillyParents of Hinsdale Central High School Graduate
On your own applying to college can be tough. It was beneficial for someone like me who is a procrastinator to get direction on my essays and applications and help me stay organized.
Michael StelletelloWheaton-Warrenville South High School Graduate - Marquette University
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Our Results.

96%.

Receive scholarships

97%.

Get into one of their top choice colleges

Only 14%.

Change their major in college

82%.

Graduate in four years With a job in their major

Our Team.

Dan Farnesi

President & Coo - College Counselor

Dan enjoys helping students make the most out of their lives, and he is able to follow this passion daily at HelloCollege. Dan began working as a consultant for HelloCollege’s parent company, Partners For Achievement, in 2013 and soon took on the role of Executive Vice President. He has helped lead the company in developing structure, efficiency, useful tools, and an ever-refined approach to college planning that has deeply impacted its families. In June 2019, Dan was named President and COO of PFA/HelloCollege.

Terri C. Houston

Student Success Director, College Counselor

Terri Houston is a trainer, partner and mentor of students, college administrators, and business professionals around the country. “Ms. H”, as affectionately known by students she has guided and mentored, most recently served as an independent consultant designing customized inclusive leadership training for colleges and universities.

Allyson Neumann

College Counselor

Allyson has unique experiences working with students of all ages with varying abilities and talents. She has worked in all avenues of the school counseling field and has been on all sides of the desk. Allyson’s favorite parts of her job are connecting with families and being able to help students realize and achieve their full potential. She has worked with students pursuing a wide variety of colleges and universities and feels that finding the perfect fit is the most important aspect of all. Having been raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Allyson is very in tune with what parents and families are looking for in their student’s continuing education.

Starr Hayes

College Counselor

College Admissions Counselor, Starr Hayes has over 15 years in various capacities of education and counseling.  Her work with Gifted and Talented students inspired her to pursue her Master of Science in Counseling degree at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Since then she has worked as a Certified Career Coach and a High School Counselor including a Virtual High School.  She thrives on motivating students in their quest to choose the best majors, career and college fit.  

Jonathan Dela Cruz

Senior Program Advisor, Counselor

Jonathan has 20 years of higher education experience, serving in numerous capacities, from admission counselor to assistant vice president. He’s held positions in enrollment management (recruitment, admissions, student loan officer, marketing) at the University of Chicago, Seton Hall University, Elmhurst College, Dominican University and Olivet Nazarene University. Additionally, Jonathan has extensive experience in the education finance industry during his days at Sallie Mae/Chase Education Finance and Access Group, Inc. and has in-depth knowledge of the rapidly changing landscape of higher education. Over the course of his career, he’s visited over 250 campuses throughout the country.

Allison Dahleen

College Counselor

Allison is a self-proclaimed “people-person” and has a variety of experiences working with students within the higher education field. She has worked as a student advocate for graduate students while also founding new digital learning programs for renowned institutions such as the University of Kentucky. Allison has her BSBA in Comprehensive Marketing from the University of West Florida where she also completed her MSA in Administration Leadership. Allison brings a wealth of knowledge about college programming, expectations required of a student, and the ins and outs of university procedures and policies.