College counselor and admissions strategist for 9th-12th graders aiming for the most selective schools
GETTING STUDENTS INTO THEIR DREAM COLLEGES
Expert guidance that helps your student build standout applications – and better acceptance odds – at every stage of high school
Advising students on getting into their top-choice school for 15 years
Acceptance rate 10x the national average at top schools
As the parent of a student looking to get into a highly selective school, your student seems to be doing everything right.
Top grades, strong SATs or ACTs, impressive and “well-rounded” extracurriculars.
Yet what used to be enough simply isn’t anymore.
The rules of selective college admissions have changed dramatically over the years, but most of the advice families are getting – from schools, other parents, or the internet – hasn’t.
The hardest part? Your student is no doubt putting in the work. They are not the problem. The problem is that without the right strategy (and an up-to-date understanding of what admissions officers look for today), all of that hard work might be pointed in the wrong direction.
Some families feel fairly confident they’re on the right track, though they can’t help but wonder if there’s something they’re missing. Others aren’t sure where to start at all.
But in both cases, they’re asking the same question: is my student actually doing the right things?
Of course, there’s no magic formula that guarantees admission to a highly selective school. But when students have a clear roadmap – one built around their genuine interests and talents rather than checking boxes – their odds go way, way up.
That’s where I come in.
I’m Susan Goodkin,
a Rhodes Scholar, former litigator, and college admissions strategist with degrees from Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and Oxford University.
I’ve spent 15 years helping students from around the world get accepted into their dream schools.
After 30 years as a litigator in environmental law, I know that building a winning case doesn’t come from a single, strong argument. It comes from making sure every piece of evidence works together to tell a clear, compelling story.
I bring that same approach to college admissions.
Rather than looking at pieces of the application in isolation – or encouraging students to take on activities just to check a box – I help students figure out what they should be doing today to build their strongest possible application tomorrow.
The result is a cohesive application strategy rooted in your student’s genuine interests and talents, purposefully built to make the strongest possible case for their admission.
Not to mention, students often find they enjoy high school more without the pressure to pursue activities they’ve been told – wrongly! – are important to colleges.
And this strategy works; I’m proud to say my students are admitted to the Ivies, Stanford, and MIT at 10 times the national average.
Many others have gone on to Duke, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Amherst, U. Chicago, U. Michigan, Rice, Tufts, Pomona, Berkeley, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, and other highly selective schools.
“I am SO excited to be going to Harvard.
You changed my life by helping me get in! "
– Harvard Admit
“I was ACCEPTED to Stanford!
I certainly could not have put my application together and written those essays without you. I also could not have asked for a more kindhearted, intelligent, and wonderful person to work with on this process.”
-Stanford early admit
“I got into both Caltech and MIT!!
Thanks for all the knowledge, advice and edits!”
-Caltech and MIT admit
Building your student’s best case for admission starts with a clear roadmap tailored to where your student is today
For many families, that roadmap comes in the form of one of my live or recorded workshops – each broken out by grade level so your student gets exactly the guidance they need for their exact stage, whether they’re just beginning to think about their options or putting the final touches on their applications.
Workshops and programs include:
The Path to Selective Colleges for 9th and 10th graders
Getting Into Your Top-Choice Colleges for juniors
Ace the Application for rising seniors
Find your student’s next step – explore all workshops & programs
I also work with a limited number of families 1:1 for more personalized, hands-on support.
Join my email list for resources to help improve your student's admissions odds, including resume builders, application tips, free webinars and more!
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