A college list that fits.
Essays that are genuinely theirs.
A strategy that holds.
College admissions has become more competitive and more complex — but what students need isn't more pressure. They need a counselor who sees the whole student, a process that's genuinely theirs and a plan built around who they actually are.
Focused on the whole person, and the person behind it.
I’m Dale Koplik, M.Ed., with a Master of Education in School Counseling from the University of Southern California and expertise in adolescent development. I work one-on-one with students and families as both a counselor and strategist — always focused on the whole student, not just the application or the grade.
My job is to bring structure, perspective and a clear plan and to make sure the student is the one driving the process. The result is a student who doesn’t just get in, or get the grade — but who arrives prepared for what comes next.
Counselor-led. Student-owned.
Counselor-led and developmentally grounded
Rooted in adolescent development and real school counseling theory — built around the student, not a package.
Student ownership first
Students do the reflection and the writing. Structure, questioning and honest feedback come from Dale. The voice stays theirs.
Holistic by design
Best-fit schools, financial considerations, mental health balance and long-term readiness — alongside the application itself.
International perspective
Based in Madrid, Spain with firsthand understanding of how U.S. admissions differs from European systems. Spanish available for all parent communication.
What changes when you have the right support.
- College list built on name recognition and rankings rather than real fit
- Essays written and rewritten without a clear sense of what works or why
- Family carrying the stress of deadlines, decisions and what comes next
- Student reactive — responding to deadlines rather than driving the process
- Financial aid approached late, with schools already on the list
- A college list built around academic fit, financial reality and who the student actually is
- Essays that surface something real — developed through structured reflection, written entirely by the student
- A clear timeline with accountability — the family stays informed without carrying the load
- Student in the driver’s seat — building ownership and capability alongside the application
- Financial fit considered from the start, as part of the strategy
A clear process from the first call.
Strategic support from initial planning through submitted applications.
Essays maintain the student’s authentic voice throughout. No ghostwriting.
Foundations covers the essentials. Comprehensive adds full essay support, pacing and regular parent communication. Premier adds priority access and extended strategic support.
Not sure which package fits? That’s exactly what the free consultation is for.
Have a 9th or 10th grader? Early College Planning is available. See details below →
- 90-minute initial strategy session with 12–18 month roadmap
- College list development (8–12 schools) with fit rationale and deadlines
- Personal statement guidance (up to 3 rounds of feedback)
- Supplemental essay support (up to 4 essays reviewed)
- Activities section, resume and honors list review
- Final application review before submission
- 3 parent milestone check-ins
Best forSelf-directed students who need focused guidance on the core components.
- Everything in Foundations, plus:
- Expanded college list (up to 18 schools) with cost and merit aid analysis
- Full application narrative strategy built around the student’s actual profile
- Complete essay support — all essays with unlimited rounds of feedback
- Recommendation strategy and brag sheet development
- Mock interviews and school-specific preparation
- Ongoing pacing, deadline management and regular parent updates
Best forFamilies who want complete, structured support from first list to final submission.
- Everything in Comprehensive, plus:
- Priority scheduling and 24-hour response time
- Truly unlimited essay and application support
- Expanded mock interview preparation (4+ sessions)
- Summer planning and early positioning for rising seniors
- Waitlist, deferral and appeal strategy if needed
- Post-acceptance decision support and transition planning
Best forFamilies facing a high-stakes, complex process who want maximum flexibility, fast responsiveness and a deeper strategic partnership.
Early College Planning
One of my most requested services for families starting early. Strategic decisions made in 9th and 10th grade significantly shape the options available in junior year — and reduce stress when it matters most.
Early College Planning
Most families wait until junior year to think seriously about college. Families who start earlier arrive at that point with a clearer direction, stronger positioning and more room to be intentional.
- Course selection aligned with student interests, strengths and realistic college goals
- Extracurricular planning focused on depth and authentic engagement over padding
- Summer opportunity identification tailored to the student’s actual profile
- Early sense of what strong positioning looks like — before junior year narrows the options
Admissions counseling is a strong fit if…
- Your junior or senior has real ability — but the process feels scattered, the list is unformed and deadlines are closing in.
- You want your student to do the work themselves, with expert guidance that builds capability rather than replacing it.
- Your family is navigating U.S. admissions from outside the U.S., and wants a counselor who understands that context firsthand. Spanish available for all parent communication
- You want more than task management — a counselor who understands adolescent development and treats this as a whole-student process.
Questions parents ask before starting.
“Dale is a true professional with an in-depth understanding of the college admissions landscape. He has a highly personalized approach and took the time to understand my child’s aspirations and unique qualities. My child has become more organized and motivated and is starting to truly flourish.”— Parent of a high school student · Google Review
Find out where your student stands and what the right level of support looks like.
A free 30-minute consultation helps identify where your student is in the process, what they need most and which package is the right fit — no pressure, no commitment.
- Get an honest read on your student’s positioning and what it will take to get where they want to go
- Understand which package makes sense for your timeline and goals
- Ask anything — about the process, the approach or what working together actually looks like
Learn more about Dale’s background · View all packages and services