• College Advising

YOUR PATH TO COLLEGE SUCCESS

At OPEN EDvantage, we offer comprehensive, high-touch support tailored to each student’s goals. Our team-based approach ensures that no detail is overlooked and that every step of the college admissions process is completed thoughtfully and on time.

We combine academic advising, essay and application support, and athletic recruiting guidance to help students showcase their strengths and reduce stress. Families receive clear communication, steady structure, and consistent follow-through.

We believe every student deserves a personalized, manageable, and encouraging admissions experience. With our team supporting your student from start to finish, they are able to move forward with confidence.

9TH & 10TH GRADE ADVISING

Building a Strong Foundation Early

Our 9th and 10th Grade Advising program helps students develop their thread—the emerging set of interests, strengths, and experiences that will shape their high school years and ultimately their college applications. Starting early allows students to grow with intention while keeping stress low and confidence high.

What We Focus On:
• Academic planning: Guidance on course selection that supports rigor while maintaining balance.
• Extracurricular development: Identifying meaningful activities, clubs, sports, and early leadership opportunities.
• Summer planning: Support in choosing programs, camps, volunteer work, or enrichment that aligns with student interests.
• Career exploration: Discovering interests and potential majors through conversations, assessments, and hands-on experiences.
• Foundational skills: Teaching organization, time management, and self-advocacy to prepare students for upper-grade expectations.
• Early storytelling: Helping students reflect on their experiences and begin to understand the direction of their thread.

This early program gives students clarity, direction, and steady support throughout their first two years of high school.

ATHLETIC RECRUITING ADVISING

For student-athletes, the college process brings an added layer of complexity. At OPEN EDvantage, we guide families through every stage of athletic recruiting, helping students understand the landscape, communicate effectively with coaches, and stay aligned with both academic and athletic goals.

Key Services:
• Understanding college sports: Learn how recruiting works, what coaches look for, and how to identify programs that fit your student’s goals.
• Coach communication: Craft clear, professional outreach emails and manage ongoing communication with college coaches.
• Recruiting profile development: Build a polished athletic résumé and support completion of recruiting profiles on key platforms.
• Visits and eligibility: Prepare for unofficial and official visits while ensuring your student stays on track with NCAA eligibility requirements.
• Essay writing support: Help student-athletes tell their story in a way that reflects both their accomplishments and character.
• Application guidance: Provide targeted support for recruitment-related questions throughout the application process.

Our goal is to simplify the recruiting journey, set clear expectations, and help student-athletes present their best selves, both in the pool, on the field, or on the court, and in the classroom.

JUNIOR–SENIOR ADVISING

Full-Scope Guidance Through the Application Process

Our Junior–Senior Advising program provides comprehensive support through every stage of the college admissions process. Students receive structured, personalized guidance as they move from academic planning into application strategy and submission.

Key Services:
• Academic and extracurricular planning: Continued guidance on course selection, leadership roles, summer programs, and activities.
• Standardized test strategy: Advising on SAT, ACT, and test-optional pathways based on the student’s goals.
• College list development: Creating a balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools aligned with academic, social, and financial fit.
• Career and major exploration: Using assessments, discussions, and reflection to refine interests and potential fields of study.
• Essay writing and application support: Brainstorming, drafting, and editing the Common App, UC PIQs, and supplemental essays.
• Interview preparation: Coaching to help students communicate their strengths with confidence.
• Ongoing collaboration: A high-touch advising experience with a team that ensures nothing is missed from start to finish.

This package carries students from the first steps of junior year all the way through final submissions—with structure, clarity, and steady encouragement.

ESSAY EXPRESS (Hourly Support)

Our Essay Express service is designed for seniors who need focused, last-minute help with their college essays and application materials. We work one-on-one with students to ease the stress of the writing process and ensure their story is clear, authentic, and well-crafted.

How We Help (Hourly):
• Brainstorming, writing, and editing: Targeted support for the Common App essay, UC PIQs, and school-specific supplements.
• Activity list & résumé development: Shape strong, concise entries that highlight strengths and leadership.
• Supplementary essays: Guidance for honors programs, major-specific prompts, and short-answer responses.
• Collaborative coaching: From first ideas to final draft, we help students stay focused, organized, and confident.

This option gives seniors the flexibility they need during the final stages of the application process—support exactly when they need it, for as many hours as they need.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION!

ADMISSION RESULTS

The logos of colleges and universities shown are for informational purposes only and represent schools to which our students have been accepted. OPEN EDvantage is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these institutions.

“Working with the team at OPEN EDvantage was 100% worth it. I personally had a lot of anxiety going into the college app process, remembering how stressed it had made me when I was in high school. I didn’t want to portray that stress onto my daughter. Working with Michelle and her team completely alleviated that stress, as she gave us a manageable schedule and guided us through the ins and the outs of the application process. When it came to September of my daughter’s senior year, she felt calm and organized, while her friends were stressed. My second daughter is a high school freshman, and we absolutely will be working with OPEN EDvantage again.”

“Michelle and her team were incredibly helpful throughout the entire college advising process. They worked around my busy schedule and were always available to answer my questions. Anytime I sent a text, Michelle had a thoughtful response, which made me feel supported and confident. The whole experience really reduced the stress and anxiety I had about applying to college. Thanks to their guidance, I felt much more prepared and organized, and I couldn’t have done it without them! I really appreciated how Michelle checked in with me regularly, even when I didn’t have any questions — it showed how much she cared and kept me on track.”

“I worked with Amanda and Michelle Alessandria from middle school all the way until I graduated high school. I can confidently say that tutoring and college advising played a huge role in my success as a student. As a middle schooler, they helped me prepare for high school by teaching me new methods of studying. I was also constantly encouraged to stay organized and stay on top of my assignments. My learning differences have always made it difficult for me to thrive as a student in a rigorous, high-pressure environment. With the help of weekly tutoring sessions, I was able to prioritize my assignments and develop confidence surrounding my academics. When I got to high school, Amanda and Michelle began to help me navigate the college application process. I began the advising without a clear idea of what I wanted, but with discussions, I was able to figure out what the best path would be for me. When it came time to write my supplemental essays, they made the process so much easier by helping me brainstorm ideas, build a strong fundamental structure, and fix grammatical errors. They were also incredibly helpful in answering my questions while I completed the physical applications. The patience, knowledge, and positivity that was provided along the way really helped me manage the stressful process. I cannot thank them enough for helping me achieve my goals as a student.”

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