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January 4, 2006
“Business Gives Students College Prep Help”
By Christa Woodall
Sun Post News
Applying to college can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it's become a career for Lisa McLaughlin. McLaughlin, 31, is an independent college admissions consultant. Through her business, EDvantage Consulting, McLaughlin helps middle and high school students wade through the sea of colleges to find the best fit for them. "In the college admissions landscape now, there are more students getting the best grades, the best test scores, doing incredible things," she said. "There's more competition … but there are still a lot of incredible schools that kids don't know about."
The job is a dream come true for McLaughlin, who spent the last 10 years in public education, first as an English teacher and later as an assistant principal.
Part of her work in the schools was coordinating a college readiness program for grades six through 12.
When she returned to her assistant principal job after having her daughter, Kayla, last year, McLaughlin said she found her job wasn't what she wanted anymore.
She chose to work from her Talega home, puttin! g her college admissions skills to use. She joined the Independent Educational Consultants Association and officially launched EDvantage Sept. 1, 2005.
"I really follow a clear strategy with college admissions," she said. "There's no guarantee that a student will get in, but there are ways to improve one's chances."
At EDvantage, McLaughlin offers several different levels of service, from reviewing a student's admissions essay to walking the family through every step in the application process. She also offers workshops on applying for student loans at San Clemente High School.
Her goals focus on each year's needs, from study skills and class registration for middle-schoolers to completing college applications for seniors.
Part of her job is dispelling commonly held college admissions myths, she said.
"People overestimate the importance of test scores," McLaughlin said. "Colleges want someone who will contribute to their schools … They w! ant students who are doing one or two things really well."
When students are gearing up for college applications, McLaughlin makes a personalized list of 25 colleges that would meet the student's needs, based on the student's personality, interests and priorities as well as profiles of the schools' student body.
Then she helps them narrow down the list to six to eight schools to which the students will apply.
McLaughlin said she steers her clients away from applying to so-called safety schools.
"I don't want them to apply to a school they can't imagine going to," she said.
Client Andrea Sabins, who turned to McLaughlin for help on her essays, got early acceptance to Georgetown. She said McLaughlin made the application process much easier.
"I was really kind of overwhelmed with all the essays I had to write for colleges," she said. "She (McLaughlin) helped me get all the thoughts out, helped me get out exactly what I needed to say."
For McLaughlin, EDvantage is a way for her to combine her passion for e! ducation with her desire to help others.
"I live in San Clemente, and I want to give back to the community," she said.
Copyright 2006 The Orange County Register
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