Sean Hawes offers comprehensive and hourly services to help students prepare for, apply to, and graduate from college. Additional topics could include transferring, graduate school, studying abroad, gap year programs, internships, and employment opportunities.
8th through 12th Grade
- Academic and social preparation for high school coursework and activities
- Academic rigor balanced with stress level, activities, and objectives
- Experiences, interests, priorities, activities, and goals
- Academic planning and Running Start options
- Relationships with teachers and high school counselor
- Summer enrichment activities
11th, 12th, Transfer, and Re-entry
- Campbell Interest and Skill Inventory
- Criteria-based college list
- Campus-visit planning
- Mock-interview
- Art portfolio explanation
- Athletic recruitment process
- Application timeline and structure
- Academic resume and cover letter for recommendations
- Application essays and short answers
- Financial Aid
- Scholarships
College Selection to Graduation
- College selection
- Deposit, orientation, registration, welcome week
- Housing and roommate
- College Catalog
- First-year course planning
- AP/CHS/CC credit allocation
- College-level time management and study skills
- Four-year plan with coursework, study abroad, research, and internships
Comprehensive Service Package
& Hourly Options
Comprehensive Service Package starts anytime from 8th through 12th grade and includes optional support through college graduation. Hourly meetings are available as space permits.
- 8th through 10th Grade
The benefit of starting early is to help younger students and families understand academic and extracurricular options though high school and college to make informed choices. An intentional process taps into grit and determination to overcome obstacles along with way. - Junior Year
From helping identify possible career paths to developing criteria for college research, juniors are taught how to explore majors and universities to find clarity and prepare for campus visits. Once preferred colleges are identified, students are more motivated to complete resumes and cover letters for teacher recommendations and draft college essays. - Senior Year
Three rounds of feedback, editing, and revising take place, with final revisions during a thorough review of the applications. Submissions are typically completed before winter break, leaving time to apply for scholarships. Spring is a time to weigh value for dollar and return to a couple of campuses to make a final decision. - College
Transition steps include selecting housing and finding a roommate, preparing for orientation and welcome week, connecting with peers, preparing for advising appointments, and accessing resources and support services for seamless matriculation. After checking in during the first four to six weeks, subsequent meetings address available opportunities on and off campus to identify the next path after graduation.
Introductory Conversation
A complimentary 30-60-minute consultation is optional when available. Topics include:
- Listen and respond to initial questions
- Explain admission, financial aid, and scholarship patterns and trends
- Introduce a typical college preparation and application timeline
- Explain the application process and criteria including course selection, grades, class rank, test scores, essays, visits, interviews, and special talents and circumstances
- Explain College Planner Pro software for research, schedule management, and record keeping
We have worked with Sean over the past six years with both of our children. Our experience has been amazing. His guidance through the application process and even into college on what classes to take, what to have waived, what can be postponed or taken in the summer, and study abroad options have been invaluable. His fees, in our opinion, are not high enough for the level of service that he provides longitudinally. He has been worth every dollar without question in the actual service provided but also the peace of mind that he has brought for our family as we navigate this important step in life.
—K.H.
Frequently Asked Questions
The customized process includes academic success, course selection, extracurricular activities, volunteering, summer enrichment, college research and list development, making the most of campus visits, interview preparation, application and essay completion, scholarship search and prioritization, college and housing selection, college catalog comprehension, first-year course planning, a four-year plan discussion, and freshmen orientation and welcome week preparation.
Starting early fosters relationship building and trust, academic planning, study skills development, and an opportunity for more intentional decision making.
Eighth grade students begin academic planning for high school starting in January, with an initial 60-90-minute meeting.
Freshmen and sophomores have 60-90-minute meetings twice a year: once in the fall, and the second in late winter—before high school class registration. Sophomores may have a third meeting in spring when planning to pursue Running Start.
Juniors typically meet for 60-90 minutes in September, then at least an hour every month for the rest of the school year.
Seniors typically meet for 60-90 minutes in August, then at least an hour every month through graduation.
College meetings take place at least twice in the first year and then at least annually through graduation.
Parents/guardians determine their level of involvement in the process in and out of meetings.
Parents/guardians are invited to email/text questions or schedule additional meetings through college graduation. Please allow for a 24-48 hour response time.
I have visited 300+ colleges and universities.
Students have pursued 83 majors thus far.
Academic and financial parameters serve as guiding principles to filter physical and cultural college criteria. At least five schools are recommended for the first round of student research. Resources are provided for students to develop five pros and cons, write a reflective paragraph, and score each college out of 100, representing their level of interest. With each set of suggested colleges, criteria are clarified and more focused through shared family direction and campus visits.
The essay conversation starts with a broad overview of the personal narrative intent and focuses on the benefits of reflection and storytelling. Based on what I know about the student and the essay prompts, an intentional interview helps students identify topics to consider. An instructional handout helps improve self-editing. Three rounds of discussion and revision are usually enough to be ready for submission.
While there is inherent stress in applying to college, spreading the action items over months helps make the checklist more manageable. Meeting and homework reminders are provided to help students stay on track. Adjustments are made throughout the process to adapt to individual needs.
To date, students have attended 97 colleges in 25 states, Washington D.C. and Canada. See the list here >
90% continue meeting through college graduation.
Along with continued discussions about studying abroad, research, internships, graduate school, and employment prospects, students become part of a village who help current high school students learn more about the college they are attending. From answering questions during a high school meeting to connecting during campus visits, college students enjoy sharing what they have learned and what they appreciate about their university.
As an Independent Educational Consultant, my principal mission is to help students plan their high school curriculum, progress through the college application process, and navigate their college journey through graduation.