What Should I Study In College?
Our Finding Your Fit essay series explores popular and perennial fields of study, as well as emerging areas of research. Read on for our…
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Our Core Services
College Counseling & Essay Coaching
- Traditional Students
- Students with Learning Differences
- Students in Therapeutic Programs
From traditional college-bound students to students with learning differences or specific circumstances, we specialize in finding each student’s best-fit college, school, or program. We love getting to know each student as a unique individual, listening to their excitement, apprehension, needs, and desires. From a place of empathy and trust, we partner with them to submit the strongest application possible that showcases their character, strengths, and potential. Learn more about our services.
Applying to college is a multi-step process that involves many decisions, both emotional and logistical.
With backgrounds in journalism, publishing, teaching, and more, Plan the Path experts help your application to tell your story as strongly as possible.
College Admissions Insights
As educational consultants, we have a unique perspective on the college admissions landscape and how the field continues to evolve. Read on for important news, insights, and opinions on topics central to the application process.
Arts & Humanities
The arts are about creative expression – through visual art, music, theater, dance, and design – while the humanities focus more on ideas: history,…
Read moreSTEM Majors
These days, STEM is all around us. From new, high-profile projects within universities to cutting-edge breakthroughs in medicine and technology, we increasingly see the…
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At Plan the Path, our educational consultants provide strategic advice for your college admissions and postsecondary search. When considering schools, we are concerned with “best fit” rather than the notion of “the best.”
Through our work, we teach students self-advocacy, autonomy, and responsibility. In turn, they rely on our depth of knowledge and experience to guide them through this difficult but exciting process.
“Just wanted to let you know I finally received the last of my transfer decisions today. I’ve now been accepted by Fordham, Boulder, UMD, Northeastern, and USC (Marshall)!!! I plan on attending USC in the fall, but it is close between UMD and NEU. Thank you for all of your invaluable help in the process. I could not have done it without you.”
– W.R.
“Marcia Kramer did outstanding work with our son and our family helping us find a good residential transitional program. Our son graduated from a rigorous academic college in four years—and was cum laude to boot! He was quickly employed in his field of interest. Marcia has been with us every step of the way. She’s the best!”
– K.V.
“Marcia provided truly excellent counsel of our son and us through the college application process. From the start, Marcia’s understanding of the situation and clarity of thought were paramount. Her guidance through discovering potential colleges that would be a good fit and her writing team’s patient and constructive writing advice were stellar. Marcia and her team turned what could have been a challenging process into a journey of self discovery and definition for our son!”
– L.S.
“The first university I attended was far from my preferences, so I wanted to transfer. I am so happy that I found Marcia at that time. Thanks to Plan the Path, I transferred to a top finance school! Marcia was always honest and did everything to help me reach my goals. I came to the US with nothing (a crisis happened in my country, so I left), and the fact that I made it into a top school speaks very loudly of the miracles that Marcia can do!”
– D.C.
“Although our son is opinionated and strong-willed, Marcia found a way to guide him positively in revising his colleges list, application strategy, and timelines. She provided excellent review and guidance on the Common App, supplemental essays, and each college application. Our son got accepted to his first-choice college and even some reach schools. We can’t say enough great things about the tremendous personalized assistance Plan the Path provided to our son.”
– Y.E.
“As a fellow college counselor, I can confidently say that Marcia Kramer is one of the most thoughtful, knowledgeable, and student-centered professionals in the field. Her team’s ability to connect with students, understand their unique strengths, and guide them with clarity and care is truly exceptional. I’ve seen firsthand how their expertise opens doors and empowers students to approach the process with confidence. It’s a privilege to collaborate with a team so deeply committed to ethical, impactful counseling.”
– Shelley Levine, College Bound
“Plan the Path has been absolutely crucial to our kid’s success throughout the college application process. Marcia’s extensive knowledge about admissions and help in crafting a good mix of schools was invaluable, and Brook’s guidance on the essays was thoughtful and thorough. Having other adults help keep our kid on track throughout the process, with its confusing mix of deadlines, paperwork, and decisions, was a huge load off our minds and certainly helped avoid conflict during a stressful time.”
– M.S.
“Marcia is an expert in the educational consulting field. Her wealth of knowledge regarding hundreds of colleges across the country is invaluable and makes the entire college application process less daunting. Using a holistic approach in assessing each student individually, she is able to successfully recommend the best-fit college for each and every student. I can wholeheartedly say I trust her 100%. Her very first suggestion turned out to be the college our daughter will be attending in the fall… and she was right!”
– S.G.
“Our son is graduating from college this year. He turned a corner after a fraught, touch-and-go first year at his school, opened himself up to the experience, made good friends and built cherished relationships with teachers and staff. We wanted to thank you for guiding us and helping him get there.”
– G.B.
“Marcia’s calm and focused manner allowed our son to take ownership of his applications. He worked with Marcia and her team on them for many months. I was confident that he was on task and getting things accomplished, which made our house a calmer place. No nagging from Mom! In the end, he was accepted to his #1 school!”
– N.V.