Opening the doors to college for teenagers, transfer students and returning students of diverse backgrounds.
Navigating the college application process without family friction.
We help high school students identify perfect-fit schools where they will thrive ...then support and guide them through the entire application process.
Teens tell us every day
They are simultaneously terrified and excited about college.
Overwhelming
Process
There are so many college options, so many tasks, so many deadlines...and so little time.
Twelve years ago, Heather began her first college application cycle with her oldest daughter– and let me tell you – it was complicated!
There were so many questions to answer. How to pick one college over another? What makes each college unique? Do they all provide financial aid and scholarships? Will my child fit in and be successful? What are colleges looking for in a student?
When it came time to apply, things got even more overwhelming. Each school has its specific requirements, from SAT/ACT/AP tests to choosing the right letters of recommendation – it was all so much. They were both pretty stressed out, and it seemed like all they ever talked about was college.
Even Heather’s ambitious first-born was starting to roll her eyes at the mere mention of college applications!
Why does choosing
the right school matter?
Data consistently shows that 1 in 4 first-year students drop out during their first year of schooling.
Every fall, hundreds of thousands of kids head off to college for the first time – but not all of them go to the right school. Some end up coming home after the first semester – and dropping out entirely. Data consistently shows that 1 in 4 first-year students drop out during their first year of schooling. You’ve probably heard those stories of kids quitting college to live in their parent’s basements, playing video games all day.
It doesn’t have to be like that! There are colleges out there that are perfect for every student’s unique personality and needs. Your teen deserves a college list that’s tailored just for them – so they can find the perfect fit and thrive.
Applying to college
doesn't have to be so stressful.
As Independent Education Consultants, we partner with the students (and their families) to guide them through the entire process. This includes helping them stay on track with deadlines, developing their essays, and doing the research that leads to a great college list.
Whether your student is still starry eyed and excited, or starting to burn out on the college application process – We’re there to give them the support they need.
Heather Freitag
Options Abound founder & IEC
Independent Education Consultant, book lover, and mother of four young adults!
Now all 4 of my children have found their way to the perfect college for them! I believe that a college education can change the trajectory of a life. My passion for this work continues as I serve families near and far, helping teens create college options that are a great fit.
When you partner with us
We make the process easier
We partner with the students (and their families) guiding them through the entire process. This allows parents to focus on cherishing their last years at home and offering the necessary love and support to your teen.
The college application process is influenced by a pervasive achievement-oriented culture, where students may feel their worth comes solely from their accomplishments. Students need to know that their value and their worth is inherent and not dependent upon achievement. By relieving you of the micromanagement role, you can spend valuable time with your student, fostering a deeper connection and creating lasting memories.
When you hire us, we make the entire college search and application process less stressful and more enjoyable for the whole family.
And our Right-Fit approach ensures that each student will discover – and get accepted to– schools where they will truly thrive!
Heather has been so helpful, engaged, supportive, and encouraging throughout my college application process. I am really grateful that I had her to guide me through college selection, application, essays etc as she greatly reduced any stress I might’ve felt. She has truly been such a great resource!
Our-Perfect Fit
Process
Unique students. Uniquely successful outcomes.
Before we begin to think about which colleges to apply to, we get to know each student. Our practice relies on nurturing high-touch, relationship-based engagement. We meet with students in-person or over Zoom, and we also communicate with students over text.
We use short simple surveys to learn more about student aptitude, personality traits, preferences, strengths, and areas of growth. Where needed, we sometimes use more involved assessments. These evaluations give us rich information and help us build student profiles.
When helping students find their “perfect fit” college, we put together a list of key factors to guide our search. We’ll look at things like college majors, location, climate, culture, student financial budget for college, diversity, politics, religion, size, campus vibe, architecture, sports teams, Greek life, and party scene.
STUDENT PROFILE
A
4.0 GPA, mechanical engineering (focus on automotive engineering), wants to continue studying Japanese, in a medium-sized school near the mountains or ocean!
STUDENT PROFILE
B
3.9 GPA, pre-med, hoping to land at a strong private liberal arts college in the northeast on a budget of $35,000/year! College must offer strong celiac disease dietary options.
Visting
Colleges
Another important part of our work involves researching and visiting colleges. We spend considerable time learning about colleges and we participate in an annual “data collaborative” each year. In this way, we have access to fantastic real-time data on today’s college admission landscape. Finally, once we know a student we can readily match the student’s unique profile with right fit colleges.
And when it’s all said and done…
your teen will have a list of amazing, perfectly-suited colleges to choose from.
…and your parent-child relationship will be stronger.
Mentorship Matters
As parents, we have our own fears and dreams – and sometimes they get in the way.
When you collaborate with me, we work together to give your student the support they need, while also encouraging them to find their own sense of purpose and fulfillment in life.
