College is a very large personal and financial investment for students and their families. The application process has become increasingly complex, and many students can benefit from a guide who can help them through the process to find a school that is the best for them.
We only take on a few students at a time so we can focus on their college journeys. We can help students with a variety of college application types – first year, transfer, graduate school. When a student works with us for undergraduate applications, we can help them again later when it’s time for graduate school.
While Cross Bay is open to working with any student 8th grade and older, at any time in the process, students applying for first-year undergraduate programs typically start at the end of sophomore year. Graduate and transfer students typically start about 9 months before applications are due.
Families and students can choose to purchase one or more 3-hour packages to be used however they prefer. Or they can purchase a package, which covers 2 years for undergraduate applications or 1 year for transfer and graduate applications. See pricing here.
The frequency of meetings varies depending on where the student is at in the process and what pricing model they choose. It can vary from once per quarter for younger students to once per week when the student is heavily involved in working on applications. More details can be provided in a free initial consultation.
Cross Bay does not provide test prep or financial aid specialty services, but they can refer students and families to helpful resources on these topics.
Meetings are primarily virtual. If a student lives in the Bay Area close to Mountain View, there could be occasional in-person meetings if agreed upon by the family and consultant.
We typically use College Planner Pro with students applying to undergraduate colleges, – unless they prefer to take a more unstructured approach to their applications and track items with spreadsheets.
Cross Bay will work with the student to figure out what aspects of college are a priority for them and their family. Using this information, the student and consultant will come up with a list of colleges to apply to. The list will include a mix of very likely schools, possible schools as well as reaches.
Students should consider their interests and the majors available at the schools they want to attend. If they are uncertain about a major, there are undeclared options at many schools.
It is not suggested that students use AI to write essays. However it can be used for doing research and brainstorming ideas for applications. Students should review the AI policies of all colleges they are applying to and follow them carefully.
This is up to the student. However, students and families should consider the time and cost involved of applying to a long list of schools versus the time that could be spent on school work and extracurricular activities. A typical list may start with 15-20 schools and then narrow that list down to 12-14 schools as it comes time to apply.
The consultant will help the student stay aware of deadlines, but ultimately it is up to the student to submit applications and other materials on time.
Cross Bay does not guarantee admission to any college. College admissions often are unpredictable – there likely will be surprises in every student’s college journey.
Cross Bay College Consulting 