College Planning and Advising Services

Kraemer College Planning helps families throughout the entire college planning and admissions process.  We provide early high school consultation services to 9th and 10th graders to align coursework, activities and performance with general college goals.  This includes advice on course selection, extra-curricular and community service activities, and planning for standardized testing. 

College admissions counseling begins with a detailed evaluation during a student’s sophomore, junior or senior year to:

  • Review all aspects of a student’s preparation for college

    • Preferred college type, location, size, reputation, etc.

    • Intended/possible majors

    • High school courses, grades, GPA and class rank

    • Academic and non-academic honors

    • PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Test and AP scores

    • Extra-curricular activities inside and outside of school

    • Individual talent

    • Leadership roles

    • Community service, work and summer activities

    • Hobbies and interests

    • Personal attributes

    • Special circumstances

  • Conduct an admission committee-type review of academic and personal credentials using the BCP Evaluator™ to give the student an admission rating. Kraemer College Planning is an affiliate of Betterton College Planning (BCP), founded by Don Betterton, the former Financial Aid Director and Admissions Committee member at Princeton University. This affiliation gives her license to use the highly predictive BCP Evaluator™ to create a targeted college list that realistically projects a student’s chances of admission to competitive colleges.

  • Review selectivity level of colleges the student is interested in and assess admission chances

  • Suggest other colleges based on student preferences, intended major and admission chances

  • Review possibility of winning college academic merit scholarships

  • Provide advice on high school course selection, standardized testing recommendations, activities participation and focus, etc.

After the detailed evaluation, we provide ongoing comprehensive services through the time of final college decision.  This includes but is not limited to:

  • Advice on high school course selection

  • Advice on summer academic programs and other activities

  • Use of College Planner Pro software to access detailed information about colleges and universities and to manage the application process and deadlines

  • Administration of the Myers Briggs Personality Type Indicator® (MBTI) and Strong Interest Inventory® assessments to help understand personality preferences, strengths and interest areas

  • College planning tips regarding college essays, campus visits, testing and admissions deadlines

  • Help with brainstorming, writing and editing application essays

  • Assistance in developing a personal resume/activity list

  • Identification of scholarship opportunities based on a student’s academic qualifications and talents

  • Advice about college costs and need-based financial aid programs

  • Interview preparation for a personal college interview

  • Review and refinement of the student’s final college application list

  • Tracking and reminders of college application deadlines and requirements

  • Final review of materials before students submit applications

  • Guidance interpreting offers of admission and financial aid offers

  • Guidance in making the final college choice

We also administer the Myers Briggs Personality Type Indicator® (MBTI) and Strong Interest Inventory® assessments as a standalone service for students and adults who are exploring new or changing career paths.  Both provide insights into individual strengths and preferences, potential areas of study, career options, and preferred work environments.

Prices vary based on the scope of services provided and can be package-based or hourly.  Please contact Carole at kraemercollegeplanning@gmail.com or (856) 296-2882 to discuss your college planning needs.

Why Hire an Independent Educational Consultant?

The fundamental role of independent educational consultants is to help students explore college opportunities and find the right place for them to succeed academically and socially. IECs don’t get students admitted—they help students demonstrate why they deserve to be admitted at appropriately chosen schools. They help students find colleges they might not have heard of—often out of their region—and they help students put their best foot forward.

 Here are 5 things families should consider when looking to hire an IEC:

  1. Does the IEC belong to a professional association such as IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association, with established and rigorous standards for membership?

  2. Do not trust any offers of guaranteed admission to a school or a certain minimum dollar value in scholarships.

  3. Ensure that the IEC adheres to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by IECA.

  4. Find an IEC that visits college, school, and program campuses and meets with admissions representatives regularly in order to keep up with new trends, academic changes and evolving campus cultures. 

  5. Do they attend professional conferences or training workshops on a regular basis to keep up with regional and national trends and changes in the law?

As a proud member of IECA, Carole Kraemer is committed upholding the highest standards in education, training, ethics and experience.

Kraemer College Planning does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, in providing its services.