The Compass Difference—How We Help Students

95%

Of Our Students Gain Acceptance
To Their Top-Choice College

$35 Million

In Scholarship Earned for Our Students
(Even if They Didn’t Qualify for Financial Aid)

500+

Colleges and Universities Visited to Help Match Our Students with Best-Fit Colleges

College admissions is more competitive and expensive than ever…

But year after year, our proven approach has helped teens stand out amongst a sea of qualified applicants and earn scholarship dollars that they didn’t expect!

With Compass, you can unlock a brighter, more secure future for your child.

We understand the complexities and nuances of the college admissions process. That’s why we’ve meticulously designed our program to cater to each stage of your teen’s high school journey, ensuring they’re not just prepared, but ahead of the curve.

learn more about our program

A few of OUR SUCCESS STORIES…

Before working with Compass, I hadn’t even narrowed down my top choices or done much research into which schools would truly be best for me. They helped me develop a more structured, organized plan for applying to colleges. Ultimately, I was able to get into almost all the schools where I applied, including my top choice!

I didn’t really know where I wanted to go to college and I didn’t know how to even start my search. The Compass team really helped me find the college of my dreams.

Dr. Pamela and the Compass team helped my family with the whole process from assessing what schools would be the best fit to walking through all my essays whether they be supplemental or for scholarships. They help take the pressure off of a family’s shoulders and genuinely guides their student to collegiate success.

I was nervous about finding the right college but as a result of working with Compass, I felt more confident in thinking about the hard questions to ask to help me choose the right school for me. I feel so much better about going off to college in the fall.

Meet Dr. Pamela Ellis

Pamela Ellis, MBA, PhD—The Education DoctorⓇ:— is an award-winning educational consultant whose experience includes advising school districts, community organizations, and institutes of higher education.

She has visited more than 500 colleges and universities to gain insight into their varying cultures and to explore the range of academic and social opportunities available to students on campus. Her research areas include high school to college transition, parent engagement, African-American males in education, and college completion.

She is a highly sought-after speaker and author of the best-selling book What to Know Before They Go: College Edition, which helps school leaders, counselors, mentors, and parents/caregivers support teens toward higher education success.

Dr. Pamela graduated from Stanford University and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and she earned a doctorate from the Stanford University School of Education.

Save time. Save money.
Save Your Relationship with Your Teen.

Hear What Parents Have to Say About Working with Compass…

“Before working with Dr. Pamela and Compass, I had no idea what all would be involved with the college process, and my wife and I did not want to do a disservice to our daughter. With Compass, we were able to gain a much better understanding of the overall process; they do an excellent job of providing a defined roadmap for when key tasks need to be completed. The Compass team is just a pleasure to work with!”

“ I think we all would be totally lost without their help! The Compass team has a unique blend of knowledge and resources that are invaluable when your child is applying for college, and they use a systematic and realistic approach that helps the students and parents to remain grounded throughout the process.”

“As a working parent, I felt as if I was falling short in supporting my daughter because I did not have the time to dedicate to learning the details of the process. I would recommend Compass’ services because they really get to know your child, their desires, and interests so that they can help them find a college that is the best fit for them. They also have a deep and extensive knowledge of colleges and universities and what they are looking for in applicants.”

“Everyone on the Compass team are outstanding counselors, providing far more individualized focus than high school college prep counselors. They offer loving support, encourage self-discipline, and provide mentorship. On a more personal note, I had many friends who had regular fights with their children over meeting deadlines, creating college lists, and revising essays. We didn’t have any of that because Compass provided a structure for our daughter to do those things herself. In this way, the Compass team helped preserve our relationship with our daughter in an otherwise stressful time. I would unequivocally recommend the Compass team. Their services were worth the investment!”

If you are the parent of a freshman, sophomore, or junior in high school…

Fill out this quick form to schedule a preliminary Quick Call with us!

At Compass College Advisory, we understand that your time is valuable. That’s why we offer a preliminary quick call to provide you with essential information and determine if our services are the right fit for you.

During this 15-minute phone call, we aim to:

1. Identify Challenges: We want to hear about any challenges or concerns you’re facing in your academic journey so we can offer appropriate support and guidance.

2. Review Packages: We’ll provide an overview of our service packages, ensuring you have a clear understanding of what we offer and how we can assist you.

This preliminary call serves as a quick introduction before scheduling a more in-depth discovery call with Dr. Pamela, where we delve deeper into your goals and develop a personalized plan for your academic success.

To schedule your preliminary quick call, please select a convenient time below. We look forward to speaking with you and exploring how Compass College Advisory can support your educational journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our families value our services for many reasons and here are a few:

We offer personal attention to every student
We’re a “third-party” in this complex admissions process, which takes the pressure off the parent-teen relationship
We care about students thriving in college and graduating
We’ve visited 500+ colleges and can make knowledgeable recommendations for college lists
We have a great track record of helping students get scholarship money that they would not have received otherwise
We don’t have any “favored” colleges that every student must apply to

Here’s how we help students get in and get money for college:

1. Personalized College Application Portfolio Development

We craft a strategic plan tailored to your teen’s unique strengths and aspirations. Our program helps your teen develop a standout college application portfolio, guiding them in choosing the right colleges, preparing for standardized tests, and understanding each part of the college admissions process.

2. Structured College Research and Visit Planning

We provide comprehensive guidance in college research, utilizing our exclusive database of colleges and invaluable expertise from visiting over 500 colleges. We also assist in planning campus visits, helping your teen feel confident and informed in their college choices.

3. Summer Program Applications and Extracurricular Strategy

We support your teen in applying to meaningful summer programs and advising on extracurricular activities. This not only enriches their college applications but also fosters personal growth and development.

4. Comprehensive Family Involvement and Support

Your journey is our journey. Our process includes family check-ins to keep you involved and informed every step of the way. This collaborative approach allows us to address all your questions and align our strategies with your family’s goals.

5. Mindfulness and Stress Management Training

Understanding the stress that accompanies college admissions, we incorporate mindfulness and stress management techniques into our program. This unique feature helps your teen navigate high school years with balance and resilience, preparing them not just for college, but for life.

We see our program not as a cost, but as a pivotal investment in your teen’s future. Our expertise has consistently helped families, many of whom would not qualify for financial aid, secure an impressive average of $75,000 in scholarship awards, far exceeding the investment in our program. We understand that every family’s financial situation is unique, and we’re more than happy to discuss the specifics of the investment during our initial meeting.

We recommend students start as soon as possible beginning in 9th grade. We’ve found that the earlier students begin working with us, the higher their chances of getting in and getting money for college.

If your teen is in their junior year, fill out the interest form now so we can get started!!

Don’t wait until it’s too late in senior year…

Meetings with students are generally held every 2-4 weeks, depending on goals for college and deadlines. Our center is open year-round with flexible hours, so we do meet in the summers, as well as during holiday breaks.

We work with students from all over the world online and have in-person centers in Chicago, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio!

How Your Teen Can Be Happy, Successful & Independent No Matter Where They Go to College…

Average tuition has increased by tens of thousands of dollars, while acceptance rates have plummeted. You can see the consequence of these changes with the Varsity Blues Scandal, the Affirmative Action Supreme Court Case, and the student loan debt crisis.

This new college admissions climate has caused so much unnecessary stress for parents and students alike and unraveled countless—once peaceful—parent-child relationships in the process.

In my over fifteen years as a college advisor, I’ve seen all of these changes take place as I’ve helped hundreds of families navigate through the maze of college admissions.

I’ve worked with…

✅ “A” students and “C” students.
✅ Theater kids and student-athletes.
✅ Students with learning differences
✅ Students who had no clue what they were interested in
✅ & Students who didn’t even know if they wanted to go to college

I’ve worked with…

✅ Parents who thought they made too much money to earn any scholarships
✅ Parents who couldn’t disagree more about where they wanted their child to go to college
✅ Divorcees who were both helicopter parents
✅ Single moms who just didn’t have the time to help their teen
✅ & Single dads who finally decided to ask for a helping hand

No matter the student, we’ve helped each one find a college that feels like home. A college where they feel they belong, are challenged in a positive way, and can thrive and graduate successfully.

No matter the parent, we’ve helped each one feel seen and heard. As a parent who has been through the college process with three of my own kids now, I know this time comes with a rollercoaster of emotions, from the time you begin looking for colleges in high school to months after you drop them off their freshman year.

And in our work with these families, we’ve helped them earn coveted spots to their top-choice colleges and over $35 million in scholarships.

My favorite feeling is seeing the look of surprise and awe when students who felt under-qualified get into their dream college or when parents realize that all of the money they saved up for college they can now use to treat themselves to a vacation (or two)!

The Real Secret Behind Successful College Admissions

Despite colleges being more competitive and expensive than ever, we’ve gotten these same consistently great results for our families year after year.

All because of the one, all-important three-letter word that we prioritize…

FIT.

The truth is, the reason why so many parents and students are so frustrated and confused about the college process is because they mistakenly believe that college admissions is only merit-based.

They believe that if their grades and test scores are high enough or if they do enough hours of community service that they should get into their top-choice college.

All of these things are still important, but in this current college admissions landscape, they are not enough.

Every extra decimal point increase in your teen’s GPA matters less and less.

What’s more important is that your teen knows exactly why their top choice college is the perfect match for furthering their personal and career goals and what opportunities on that campus that they will take advantage as soon as they enroll.

This is the level of passion and specificity that most qualified applicants still don’t have and what your teen needs to really stand out and get into their dream college.

The college admissions process is not merit-based.

It’s FIT-based.

I started seeing the seeds of this over 20 years ago when I was studying for my PhD in education at Stanford University. I wrote my dissertation on high school to college transition and studied the factors that make students successful and more likely to graduate when they go to college.

From all the variables I analyzed during my time at Stanford and now over fifteen years as a college advisor, I’ve whittled it down to five factors that make the most important difference in not only helping students get into college but thrive when they are there.

The five factors of fit are…

1.) Academic Fit
2.) Social Fit
3.) Financial Fit
4.) Vocational Fit
5.) & Cultural Fit

Your student needs to be clear on these five factors if they want to be successful in college. Even if they get into an Ivy League school, if they don’t clarify these five factors for themselves, they won’t be maximizing their potential at that college. To help you understand why each factor is important, I will expand on each of them now.

1. Academic Fit

This is the most important factor of fit because your student will be spending most of their time in college in class, studying, and doing their homework. Different colleges also have different strengths in their academic programs so your teen must find schools that have strong programs in their interested majors.

Things to consider: Majors, Faculty to Student ration, Avg. Class Size

2. Social Fit

“Social Fit” refers to whether the social environment matches with your teen’s interests, needs, and how easy it is for your teen to make friends. Perhaps a large university with athletics, lots of clubs, and extensive social activities matches with your teen’s maturity and responsibility. However, if your teen will struggle with making friends in this larger setting, then perhaps not.

Freshman year of college in particular, the social adjustment is the biggest factor in transitioning well to college life. To really get to know a campus socially, students must visit it in person. The internet is no substitute for sitting in the dining hall, talking with students about their clubs, or walking on campus at night to see if you feel safe.

Things to consider: Greek Life, Freshman Housing, Residential Life Experiences, Clubs

3. Financial Fit

“Financial Fit” refers to the types and availability of merit and financial aid opportunities for your family to make college affordable. Financial fit has nothing to do with sticker price but has everything to do with reading the fine print and meeting with appropriate university officials to negotiate the best offer.

Fine print details include researching these key statistics:
Cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, travel, miscellaneous expenses)
Percent of financial need met
Percent of students that receive financial support

4. Vocational Fit

This factor revolves around answering what your teen wants to do after college and how a college can support your teen in getting there. Your teen does not need to have an exact career choice but a handful of options is helpful.

For example, to explain “vocational fit,” imagine that your teen is interested in veterinary medicine. There are certain colleges that support that area of interest with pre-professional clubs, faculty involved in research, or a track record of admission to graduate programs.

Those colleges that match with that career interest should then be researched and visited to perhaps apply for admission.

If your teen, on the other hand, is “undecided”, that is perfectly fine. Many colleges thrive on students who are undecided and interested in discovering the possibilities for their future.

Things to Consider: Career Planning and Placement Office, Percentage of Alumni Network in Specific Industries

5. Cultural Fit

If your teen is different from the majority of students on a campus in any way, cultural fit is all about where they will be celebrated and not tolerated for that difference.

This difference can be racial, ethnic, socio-economic, ability-based, sexuality-based, location-based, political, religious or any other measure of diversity. For your teen’s college to truly feel like home, they need to feel like it is a safe and welcoming place for them to live and learn. Like the social factor, this one is more qualitative than quantitative and requires your teen to talk to students on campus about how they feel in the larger cultural climate of the campus.

This cultural fit became even more important during the Covid-19 pandemic. I noticed that more of my students were keenly focused on choosing colleges where they felt they truly belonged.

Things to consider: How your teen may be different than the majority of students on campus, how the location affects the culture (i.e. East coast colleges vs. West coast)

Don’t Wait Until Senior Year: The Power of Proactive College Planning

We help students develop their college application portfolio and their college list using these five factors of fit.

These factors, together with consistent meetings for accountability and our expertise from visiting over 500 colleges, shape not only what colleges they choose to apply to, but what activities they decide to focus on in high school, the teachers they ask for recommendations, what scholarships and summer programs they apply to, and what they write about in their application essays.

The entire college admissions process is centered around this priority of FIT.

The main problem we’ve found though is that most parents and students wait until the last minute to start thinking about college.

When fall of senior year rolls around, they’ll reach out to us hoping to get help building their college list and finishing their applications. But by that point, it’s too late to really develop a college application portfolio that you both can be proud of.

The sooner you start, and stop procrastinating on the college process, the more you can intentionally build your teen’s application portfolio and build their confidence. We’ve also found that the sooner you start the college admissions process, the higher the chances of getting in and getting money for your top-choice colleges.

If you are the parent of a freshman, sophomore, or especially a junior in high school, and are looking to maximize the potential of your teen’s college admissions and scholarship chances, without sabotaging your relationship with your teen or wasting hundreds of hours of your own time, then you should fill out the interest form below to apply to work with us at Compass.

Our Program: Tailored for Every Step of Your Teen’s Journey

There’s no other college prep program that delivers everything you need for your teen to prepare for college, accepts students “as is” and includes life skills development your teen will need to thrive in college and beyond.

At Compass, we understand the complexities and nuances of the college admissions process. That’s why we’ve meticulously designed our program to cater to each stage of your teen’s high school journey, ensuring they’re not just prepared, but ahead of the curve.

The Time to Act is Now

Our Compass College Advisory program is more than just college prep; it’s a comprehensive journey tailored to your teen’s unique needs and aspirations. Don’t miss this opportunity to maximize your teen’s college chances by procrastinating.

If you are the parent of a freshman, sophomore, or junior in high school, fill out the interest form to take the first step towards a brighter future for your teen!

reclaim your peace of mind