Every service starts
with measuring the gap.
We don't sell packages before we know what your teen actually needs. Every engagement begins with the College-Specific Gap Analysis™ — a diagnostic that scores your teen's profile against the rubrics of their target colleges and right-sizes the work from there.
The College-Specific Gap Analysis™
A real diagnostic before a real commitment.
Most consulting firms sell comprehensive packages — often $15,000 or more — before they've looked at your teen's actual profile. We do the opposite.
The Gap Analysis is a 2-part diagnostic session. First, a 45-minute video walkthrough explaining how admissions offices score applications and what rubrics actually measure. Then, a live 60–75 minute session where we grade your teen's profile against those rubrics and establish exactly what they need.
The result: a precise picture of where your teen stands, which gaps are most likely to get in their way, and what it will actually take to close them. Every recommendation that follows is built on that data.
What the Gap Analysis delivers
Your teen's rubric score
A real score against the actual evaluation criteria of their target colleges — not a general impression.
A gap-by-gap breakdown
Exactly which dimensions of their profile are strong, which are weak, and which are most important to close.
A right-sized recommendation
A clear picture of what level of support your teen actually needs — and what it will cost, based only on what they need.
College Planning Packages
Build the profile before the application window opens.
College planning is for students in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade who want to build a genuinely differentiated profile over time — not scramble to fix gaps in senior year.
We start with the Gap Analysis to understand where your teen stands, then build a long-term roadmap that advances their rubric scores step by step. The work is tracked on their own personalized rubric — so progress is visible, not assumed.
Who it's for: Students who feel their activities are scattered and don't add up to a clear narrative. Students who are high-achieving but feel like they'll look like everyone else on paper. Parents who want to stop guessing and start building with a strategy.
What makes it different: We use the HeroType™ Talent Diagnostic to identify your teen's authentic leadership archetype and connect their genuine interests, skills, and experiences into a narrative that's theirs — not a manufactured profile built for admissions.
Early Planning
For 9th and 10th graders starting to build their profile. Focused on narrative development, activity strategy, and rubric advancement over time.
- HeroType™ Talent Diagnostic
- College-Specific Gap Analysis™
- Activity and narrative roadmap
- Rubric advancement tracking
- Ongoing 1-on-1 mentorship
Junior Year Planning
For 11th graders preparing for application season. Focused on closing gaps, locking in the college list, and building a strong pre-application profile.
- College-Specific Gap Analysis™
- College list strategy
- Profile gap closure roadmap
- Application season preparation
- Direct access to David and the team
Multi-Year Planning
For families starting in 9th or 10th grade who want a full 2–4 year roadmap from profile building through application completion.
- Everything in Early Planning
- Annual rubric re-assessment
- Summer program and opportunity strategy
- College list development over time
- Continuity from planning into applications
College Application Packages
We align every part of the application to the rubric that will grade it — not just the essays. Most consultants focus on the personal statement. We work across every written component of the application, including activity descriptions, additional information sections, and supplemental essays.
Top 15 Focus
Designed for students applying primarily to top 15 ranked universities. Covers the full volume of supplemental essays these schools require, with double-checked application work throughout.
- Full Common App and UC App support
- 40+ supplemental essay prompts
- All application work double-checked
- Interview preparation
- Direct access to David
Comprehensive
Full support across both the UC and Common App platforms. Covers all main essays and guided support across supplemental essay types.
- UC App and Common App support
- All core essays completed
- 1-on-1 guidance on supplemental essays
- Application strategy and college list review
- Pragmatic double-checks throughout
Single Platform
Streamlined support for students applying through a single application platform. Full essay and application support within that platform.
- UC App only, or Common App only
- All main essays and PIQs
- Activity descriptions and supplements
- Focused, efficient process
The methodology behind every engagement.
Rubric-Based Strategy
Every recommendation is built around the specific scoring dimensions of your teen's target colleges — not generic advice.
Direct Access to David
No contractors, no junior consultants, no handoffs. Every student works with David and the in-house team.
No AI for Essays
Every piece of writing is your teen's. We shape the strategy and the storytelling. The voice is always theirs.
Right-Sized Investment
Scope and cost are determined by your teen's actual gaps — not a flat package applied to every student the same way.
"Instead of taking my surface level attributes and spinning them, College Zoom pulled out deep characteristics and parts of my life that I would have neglected. I would have never had the level of introspection to ask myself the kinds of questions that they did. When I was proofreading my final application, I thought, 'Wow, this is really about me,' as opposed to, 'this could be about anybody.'"Steve — Claremont McKenna College, Class of 2014 (9.4% acceptance rate)
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