JBPCollegeConsulting

I'm Julie Pickard, an independent college counselor in Massachusetts, and my journey into this field is quite personal. Like many parents, I navigated the often-complex world of college applications and scholarship searches with my own three children. It was during this time that I truly appreciated the power of strong organizational and research skills – qualities that have always been a definin

g part of who I am and how I work, and skills that were critical to their achievements. I was also genuinely surprised by the vast amount of external scholarship money available and, more importantly, the substantial awards my children received. Word of my approach seemed to spread, and for the next few years, I found myself naturally assisting family friends and relatives with their college endeavors. Last year was particularly rewarding when my scholarship research helped my nephew secure a four-year FULL RIDE scholarship to his top-choice college. Of course, he was a highly motivated and well-rounded student, but the reality is that my research uncovered numerous scholarship opportunities – so many, in fact, that he ultimately had to decline several awards after receiving this incredible scholarship. I also worked closely with him on mock interviews, which ultimately played a key role in him landing this "unicorn" of scholarships. Last year marked a more formal transition as I officially began taking on clients. As a solo practitioner, my priority is to give each student my complete and dedicated attention. For this reason, I intentionally limit the number of students I partner with each application cycle. I also understand the financial commitment involved in college counseling and am committed to keeping my rates realistic and competitive.