MacPhee College Consulting

MacPhee College Consulting The college search process can be overwhelming. I help students find the right college fit and present themselves at their best on admissions applications.

I offer college search services that are student-centered and individually tailored, depending on your needs and wishes. Whether you want help finding the right schools to apply to, guidance on essays, insights into taking advantage of extracurriclar and summer activities, and/or someone to manage your deadlines and keep your student on track, I am here to offer guidance and encouragement to help

your student find a rewarding college experience. I can help you strategically sift through the thousands of possible colleges to create a target list, and then help your student put his/her best foot forward in the application process. I will help them find their story, their voice for their applications, and help them tell it to colleges in a way that leverages their interests, experiences and accomplishments to present themselves at their best for college admissions. I am genuinely interested in college-bound kids, and having loved my own college years at Stanford, I thoroughly enjoy helping students find their way to their own joyful and rewarding college experience, wherever that may be. Let's find the best college fit for your student, and put together a plan to get there. I look forward to helping you!

01/21/2026

Applications are in!!

Congrats to SENIORS for surviving the college application journey:))
Some of you already have fantastic options, but I know it can be hard to wait a couple months more for the rest of your admissions results. For now, just take a deep breath and appreciate all your hard work🌟🤩🌟
And go and enjoy your last semester of high school🙃

While you seniors all get ready to make a decision about where you will step foot on campus in the fall, it is time for JUNIORS who have not started already, to begin to create a preliminary college list based on your interests, hopes, and expectations. Exciting!
Also be sure to choose senior year classes that will serve your academic exploration, challenge you in a positive way, and benefit your college applications. Make a plan for testing and sign up if you’re considering that, and brainstorm ideas for how you’re going to spend your summer (and spring) in a way that allows you to explore interests and gain skills that you find fulfilling.

FRESHMEN and SOPHOMORES, even if you’re not ready to think much about college yet, you will also benefit from thoughtfully considering class schedules, activities, and summer opportunities that allow you to explore your interests, challenge yourself, and find meaningful experiences.

I know all of this can sometimes feel overwhelming for students (and parents), but I encourage you to stay focused on the fun and excitement of the amazing opportunities and experiences ahead of you in college!

Feel free to reach out if you would like any guidance, and I wish all of you the very best in your college journeys:)
Great!
Pam

08/01/2025

College Applications Time!

Tomorrow the Common Application opens, a reminder that rising seniors are peering around the corner at the beginning of the school year, and it’s a key time to be working on college lists and application essays. Register for the Common App this week!

Finding the colleges that could be an excellent fit for seniors requires research, knowledge, and in person/online campus tours, to help determine which of the 2,000+ colleges will nurture and support your student in an environment where they will thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Buy a college book to help start the research!

After registering for the Common App, your senior can add colleges they are interested in and consider their supplemental essay prompts, in addition to filling out the application basics and beginning to write in information about extracurricular activities.

Seniors will also want to be thinking now about which teachers they would like to ask for recommendations from, generally two, so they can make those requests as soon as school starts. Those teachers don’t need to know everything about you, but you want to feel confident they will write positively about your contribution in the classroom, your class work/study efforts, and your character.

And, most importantly, it is very helpful for students to get started now on considering the main Common App essay prompts, choosing which one of the seven they want to write about, and brainstorming about topics, stories, messages, and ideas for the 650 word essay. It takes about five or six drafts to complete an effective, polished essay that’s ready to submit, so it’s best to give yourself plenty of time before application deadlines in October and beyond.

The essay is an exciting opportunity for students to reflect on who they are, who they want to be, and what they find meaningful. My students learn so much about themselves (and their writing skills) while working on the application essays. I always love the moment when they hit on the right prompt and the right topic that makes them excited to share their story. That’s when the writing flows. The deeper you dig the more revealing and impactful your essay will be both to admissions staff and yourself!

Applying for college is such an exciting prospect, and though at times it can maybe feel overwhelming, with research and planning and effort, and guidance, it can be incredibly self-affirming and rewarding. I wish all rising seniors the best as they navigate the college application journey, and invite anyone to reach out if you’d like to inquire about my assistance.

So exciting!
Pam

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Sonoma, CA
95476

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