College Admissions Consulting
Nothing about college admissions is easy for today’s high school students and their parents. The process is becoming more competitive every year. Thus, it is no longer enough for applicants to have good grades in high school. Identifying, evaluating and selecting schools for which to apply; planning and taking standardized entrance examinations; meeting rigorous application requirements and deadlines; and writing essays designed to stand out from the crowd all take an enormous amount of effort and coordination.
HelloCollege’s College Admissions Program — our most comprehensive college admissions consulting package — features a dedicated college counselor. Our college admissions consultants are committed to coaching students through every step of the process.
Comprehensive College Admissions Counseling Services
Successful college admissions planning is deliberate. It is designed to include and address commonly recognized topics and tasks — as well as providing focused support in areas that are neglected by college applicants who choose to go it alone.
Our College Admissions Program includes all of the following college admissions counseling services:
- Dedicated College Counselor
- Online ACT/SAT Test Prep Course and Practice Exams
- ACT/SAT Strategy Workshops
- Major & Career Assessment and Analysis
- Build a College List
- Paying for College & Scholarships Workshops
- Private College Budget Meeting
- FAFSA/CSS Profile Guidance
- Common Application Guidance
- Common Application Essay Brainstorming, Edits & Reviews
- Private Application Strategy Session and Application Planner
- Up to 10 Additional One-On-One Meetings
- Custom Plan to Stand Out to Admissions
- High School Course Planning
- Custom ACT/SAT Testing Plan
- Proctored Practice ACT/SAT Tests & Diagnostic Reports
- Private Major & Career Diagnostic
- 3-Day Essay Bootcamp
- Supplemental Essay Editing with up to 17 Edits
- Private Common Application Review
- Private Mock Interview
- Senior Scholarship Bootcamp
- Private Award Assessment Meeting
- LinkedIn Profile & Resume Building
- College Transition Workshop
Benefits Beyond Basic College Admissions Planning
Working with your high school admissions counselor can be a good first step for basic college admissions planning. However, in most high schools, counselors simply do not have the bandwidth, expertise or resources to effectively help all of the school’s college-bound students. Leveraging the expertise of HelloCollege’s dedicated college admission advisors can give you peace of mind. Of course, college admissions coaching does not mean that the advisor does all the work for your student. Instead, you can be confident knowing your student is being guided by professionals who understand the process and the importance of timing. Our knowledgeable college admissions consultants are committed to helping students meet the often-nuanced requirements to have their applications seriously considered by their top-choice schools. Our college admission advisors:- Provide targeted guidance and support for entrance examinations
- Offer time-tested deadline strategies
- Prepare students to handle in-person interviews with confidence and aplomb
- And so much more
Take Charge of Your Future With Help From Our College Admissions Consultants
Starting the college admissions planning process early — ideally in the student’s sophomore or junior year of high school — can better ensure sufficient time is available to plan effectively — thereby helping increase the chances of college acceptances at first-choice schools. To learn more about HelloCollege’s College Admissions Program — and to discover the difference that working with experienced college admissions consultants can make in a student’s future — schedule a free consultation today!
We’re passionate about your college success
Kevin Krebs
Dan Farnesi
Terri C. Houston
Allison Dahleen
Founder and Managing Director
Kevin Krebs
Kevin Krebs is a first-generation college student and lifelong entrepreneur; he has founded four companies and helped launch a student-athlete mentoring program at his alma mater Northwestern University. A two-sport athlete at Northwestern in football and baseball, Kevin supports higher education by empowering schools and parents with expert college admissions and guidance on paying for college while inspiring students to achieve their potential through goal-oriented mentoring programs.
President & COO - College Counselor
Dan Farnesi
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.
After graduating from college and earning his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, Dan spent the early part of his career working for a large corporation. He realized that sometimes the best way to improve your work environment is to start your own company. He built his own companies in the mortgage, home building, and restaurant/live music industries and then began a consulting practice that led him to PFA. Dan draws on life lessons from many important people who motivate him to never stop learning, never stop improving, and to continually stretch for new and more effective ways to help others. He is very excited about HelloCollege and the opportunity to serve more and more families throughout the country.
Dan’s favorite thing to do is spend time with his wife and family. He also loves music, golf, the outdoors, and being involved in his community.
Working with students and parents has proven to be the most rewarding job of his career. Dan is grateful to be on this journey with teammates who share his passion for helping students and their families.
Student Success Director, College Counselor
Terri C. Houston
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.
Terri shares HelloCollege’s goals of helping students and parents navigate the complicated college planning process. Terri’s unique and extensive experience working with college students and universities provides HelloCollege families with unparalleled insight into higher education. For more than 13 years, Terri served as senior director for recruitment and multicultural affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she partnered with admissions, financial aid and orientation departments overseeing pre-enrollment and retention programs for high school juniors, seniors, college freshmen and their parents.
Additionally, she managed diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for Portland Oregon’s largest behavioral healthcare organization and directed recruitment, student leadership and career development programs at Iowa State University, Ferris State University and Chicago’s Robert Morris University where she began her higher education career. And although a proud Chicago native, she traveled around the world through the internationally renowned Semester at Sea Program.
Terri holds a Bachelors from Loras College and a Masters from Central Michigan University. She is a certified Life Coach, Safe-zone® trainer and professionally accredited through the Central Association of College and University Business Officers. Terri’s commitment around making college accessible and achievable for students and parents is her number one goal.
College Counselor
Allison Dahleen
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.
Allison was born and raised in Chicago’s southwest suburbs and attended Stagg High School in Palos Hills, IL. In her free time you can find Allison traveling or coaching basketball for the Southside Shooters basketball club.
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