It’s never too early to commit to building a meaningful future. Start early college planning to gain clarity, make intentional choices, and build a confident path toward future college options.
Personalized guidance and expert strategic planning through each phase of the college admissions process.
Dedicated advising to help visual and performing arts students find programs where their creative goals will thrive. Experienced academic and athletic guidance for NCAA-bound student athletes.
Expert guidance for top admissions results at universities in the UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand, and the U.S.
Specialized college planning for students with therapeutic needs and a history of school disruption.
A thoughtful, structured process for students seeking a better college fit for their academic and personal goals.
Tailored educational planning and admissions guidance for students with diverse learning profiles.
With all the frenetic energy permeating our culture surrounding college, parents come to us understandably concerned that their child may already be behind, may miss an opportunity to later make their best case to a college admission committee, or may require some kind of “leg up” to get into a “good college.”
That’s why we believe college planning starts long before applications begin. Early college preparation shifts the process from worry to thoughtful, intentional development, supporting students’ holistic growth while building the foundation for later application success. This approach of early college planning leads to key advantages, including:
Our early college planning gives students a strong foundation before the college-focused work of 11th and 12th grade begins, and families choose us because this early preparation is guided by deeply experienced college planning consultants and a student-centered team. Their expertise is reflected in the results and trust we’ve built over decades.
McMillan Education’s early college planning services offer students a thoughtful, developmentally informed start to understanding who they are and how to make intentional academic and personal choices that both promote healthy, holistic adolescent development and build the path toward the most robust future college and career options.
Through monthly meetings with a dedicated college planning counselor and guided by our W.I.S.E. Method®, students begin building the foundation that will prepare them for the more intensive work of the college process in later high school years.
We begin with collaborative exploration, review, and assessment of the student’s academics, extracurriculars, interests, strengths, and values. Each step is tailored to promote the student’s unique developmental journey to build a robust and authentic foundation for early college preparation.
Students receive guidance on course selection, curriculum choices, and long-term academic planning to get the most out of their learning engagement today and create the foundation for future college and career goals. We guide students to intentionally develop their self-knowledge, passions, interests, and skills through meaningful early opportunities, building the authentic foundation that will later inform the candidate they present to colleges.
With guidance from a college planning consultant, students explore potential majors and academic concentrations that link to their unique academic journey and emerging goals.
Our proprietary Owl’s Nest® platform centralizes college research, task management, and deadline tracking to keep students grounded and organized through the early stages of college planning.
Expert advising on SAT/ACT and test-optional strategies, timeline management, and personalized referrals to top test prep resources throughout early college planning to build the student’s strongest candidacy.
A sampling of where our students who have benefited from early college planning have pursued their college and university studies.
With McMillan Education’s early college preparation, students enter the college process with clarity and confidence. Their experiences show what is possible when the journey begins early and with expert guidance.
Early college planning provides clarity and an intentional path for promoting their healthy identity development, while also building competitive academic habits, and creating a strategic foundation that leads to strong college outcomes. Connect with us to begin a steady, developmentally grounded planning process.
The W.I.S.E. Method® reflects McMillan Education’s developmental philosophy and student-centered approach to educational planning. Working with a dedicated college planning counselor, students and families explore educational values, program features, and school culture to identify environments where students will genuinely thrive. The method emphasizes comprehensive research, experiencing campus life and classroom environments firsthand, so families understand what it’s truly like to be a student at each institution. Once students have chosen their ideal educational setting, the W.I.S.E. Method® equips students to optimize their admissions results through leading-edge strategies, cutting-edge technological tools for clear planning, and unparalleled admissions knowledge.
Yes. In addition to our U.S. services, our team offers comprehensive International Education Consulting for families applying to English-speaking universities in the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and beyond.
Many families begin in 9th or 10th grade to give students time for steady, developmentally appropriate growth that informs a strong foundation for and allows the student to optimize the more intensive work of junior and senior year.
Early college planning focuses on building self-understanding and healthy academic and extracurricular choices and habits that both strengthen the student and the student’s future prospects long before applications begin. Traditional college counseling centers on the college search and application process, with all its constitutive demands and requirements, in the 11th and 12th grades.
Fees vary based on the scope and length of engagement. During your initial consultation, we provide a clear explanation of options and recommended planning pathways.
Yes. Families typically prefer virtual work as it is less disruptive to their already busy lives. With our consultants located in Boston and around the U.S. and in Europe, we work with students from all over the U.S. and worldwide, who enjoy full access to our robust search resources and organizational tools, as well as to our expert consultants. For some of our families, in-person meetings are also a part of their engagement with us.
That’s completely normal. Early college planning is designed to help students explore interests, values, and academic strengths long before they need to make any decisions.
Parents are welcomed as partners. We keep families informed while ensuring students take ownership of their growth, allowing for a balanced and developmentally appropriate experience.
