A college list that fits.
Essays that are genuinely theirs.
A strategy that holds.
A process built around your student, from strategy to decision.
Your student has a story worth telling. The college admissions process is about figuring out what that story is and how to present it to colleges. That starts with a conversation. The student and I spend time understanding what he or she has cared about and what he or she is genuinely excited about. This is the foundation that the essay and the application are built on, and many students are surprised by the result.
As a Certified School Counselor, I am trained in adolescent development. High school is a specific moment. Students are forming a clearer sense of who they are. The application asks them to articulate this without necessarily having all of the answers.
The practical work: including the college list, essays, recommendations, and financials, follows from that foundation. A list built around who the student is prepares the student for their future. Essays drafted from genuine, considerate self-reflection are the ones that get read twice.
Focused on the whole person.
I’m Dale Koplik, M.Ed., a Certified School Counselor and Independent Educational Consultant. I work with students and families as both a counselor and a strategist, always focused on the whole student, not just the application or the grade. My approach is counselor-led and developmentally grounded, rooted in adolescent development and school counseling theory, built around the student. I bring structure, questioning, and honest feedback, so the voice that comes out stays his or hers. My process is holistic, looking at best fit schools, financial considerations, mental health balance, and long-term readiness alongside the application itself.
Focused support when you need it.
College Strategy Intensive $950
For families who need direction before they need ongoing counseling. In one focused session, we assess where the student stands, what matters most, and what should happen next across academics, testing, activities, fit, and affordability, so the family leaves with a plan instead of another list of things to research.
- Assess academics, testing, activities, fit, and affordability
- Identify what matters most and what to prioritize
- Leave the session with a clear, actionable plan
College List & Fit Audit $695
For students who already have a preliminary list and want an outside, professional read on it before applications begin. I review the list against academic fit, balance, and affordability, and the family walks away with a clearer, more confident sense of where things stand.
- Review the current list against academic fit and balance
- Evaluate affordability across the list
- Get an outside, professional read before applying
Early College Planning
For families who want to begin thinking about college before the junior year rush. Sessions focus on building academic direction, developing meaningful activities, and gaining a clear sense of what strong positioning looks like, so students arrive at 11th grade with a foundation rather than starting from scratch.
- Build academic direction across 9th and 10th grade
- Develop meaningful, well-positioned activities
- Arrive at 11th grade with a foundation, not a blank slate
Strategic support from initial planning through submitted applications.
- 90-minute initial strategy session with 12–18 month roadmap
- College list development (8–12 schools)
- Personal statement guidance (up to 3 rounds of feedback)
- Supplemental essay support (up to 4 essays reviewed)
- Activities section, resume, and honors list review
- Final application review before submission
- 3 parent milestone check-ins
- Everything in Foundations, plus:
- Expanded college list (up to 18 schools) with cost and merit aid analysis
- Full application narrative strategy
- Complete essay support with unlimited rounds of feedback
- Recommendation strategy and brag sheet development
- Mock interviews and school-specific preparation
- Ongoing pacing, deadline management, and regular parent updates
- Everything in Comprehensive, plus:
- Priority scheduling and 24-hour response time
- Truly unlimited essay and application support
- Expanded mock interview preparation (4+ sessions)
- Summer planning and early positioning for rising seniors
- Waitlist, deferral, and appeal strategy if needed
- Post-acceptance decision support and transition planning
Questions parents ask before starting.
“Dale is a true professional with an in-depth understanding of the college admissions landscape. He has a highly personalized approach and took the time to understand my child’s aspirations and unique qualities. My child has become more organized and motivated and is starting to truly flourish.”Parent of a high school student · Google Review
Find out where your student stands and what the right level of support looks like.
In a 30-minute call, I'll help you get an honest read on where your student stands, what he or she needs most, and which package fits.
- Get an honest read on your student’s positioning and what it will take to get where they want to go
- Understand which package makes sense for your timeline and goals
- Ask anything about the process, the approach, or what working together looks like