College Consulting & Application Support
Thoughtful, personalized guidance for students preparing for their next chapter
Choosing a college isn’t just about rankings or test scores, it’s about finding the right academic, social, and personal fit.
Joan Lockwood helps students clarify what matters most, build a balanced list of schools where they’ll thrive, and approach the application process with confidence and clarity. Her approach combines structured timelines, reflective assessments, and a deep understanding that success looks different for everyone.
Whether a student is just beginning their college search or finalizing applications, Joan meets them where they are, offering personalized support, practical tools, and steady encouragement to move forward with purpose.
A Better Way to Approach College Admissions
Forget the rankings race. The most rewarding college experiences come from fit, not pressure.
Joan works with students who are seeking:
A school that reflects their personality, goals, and values
A more grounded, personal approach than the Ivy-or-bust mindset
Support through a confusing, often overwhelming process
Confidence in their decisions, timelines, and next steps
She brings deep experience, calm clarity, and a belief that students thrive when they’re seen, heard, and supported as their whole selves.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents are an essential part of the process and Joan keeps them informed every step of the way. While the focus remains on the student’s growth and independence, Joan provides regular updates, fosters open communication, and helps reduce stress at home. Her approach supports the whole family, creating a more collaborative, confident college journey.
How the Process Works
Getting Started
Each engagement begins with an introductory call to clarify goals, answer questions, and ensure a strong fit.
Secure Online Portal
Students receive access to a private portal for tracking college lists, deadlines, essay drafts, and communication—all in one place.
Customized Timeline
Joan builds a personalized coaching timeline based on the student’s year, goals, and application cycle, outlining clear next steps from the first meeting to final decision.
Ongoing Guidance
From brainstorming essays to weighing final offers, Joan is a steady partner throughout the process, helping students and families navigate each step with clarity and confidence.
Student & Family Meetings
Sessions are offered in person or via Zoom. Joan meets one-on-one with students and schedules family check-ins at key milestones to ensure alignment and reduce stress.
Personalized Assessments That Build Self-Knowledge
Joan begins the college prep process with research-backed tools that help students understand their unique strengths, motivations, and learning styles. These insights create a foundation for more informed decisions and stronger applications.
The Birkman Signature Self-Assessment™
Uncovers strengths, interests, personality traits, and preferred work and learning environments. It also identifies potential stressors, offering important self-insight to help students choose colleges, majors, and careers where they can thrive.
The Birkman Method™ is a trademark of Birkman International, Inc.
The Strong Interest Inventory ®
Helps students connect their interests to academic and career possibilities, offering clarity around meaningful directions to explore.
Students often say these assessments are the first time they’ve had language to describe how they operate best. Joan pairs these tools with compassionate conversations and expert guidance—helping students move forward with a deeper understanding of themselves and their future.
The Strong Interest Inventory® is a registered trademark owned by The Myers-Briggs Company (formerly CPP, Inc.)
Myths & Truths About College Admissions
MYTH: You have to go to a “top-ranked” college to be successful.
TRUTH: Long-term success comes from choosing the right college not the most prestigious one. It’s about fit, not rankings. (Recommended read: Frank Bruni’s Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be)
MYTH: The application is all that matters.
TRUTH: The process matters, too. Clarifying your goals, values, and voice helps students grow and results in stronger applications.
MYTH: There’s only one path to success.
TRUTH: There are many ways to build a meaningful future. The goal is to find what works for you.
MYTH: You need perfect grades and test scores to get into a good college.
TRUTH: Colleges look at the whole student, your story, experiences, and how you show up beyond the numbers. Many schools are also test-optional and value fit, character, and potential.
What Students Gain Working With Joan
A clearer sense of what they want from their college experience
Insight into their strengths, motivations, and learning style
A balanced college list that reflects their goals and values and match each student’s strengths, and interests to find a community where they can thrive.
Application and essay support that highlights their unique story
Tools to manage stress, deadlines, and decision fatigue
Greater confidence in their path and in themselves
Ready to Step on Your Path?
Let’s find the path that fits who you are, and where you want to go.
