Educational Crisis Management
For students who confront an educational crisis or disciplinary action — either in high school or college — we offer counseling to help them pursue a path to college or return to their college studies.
We believe in taking direct action to mitigate the consequences of whatever has occurred. When a student can show self-understanding and personal growth following a significant incident — and demonstrate how they will behave differently in the future — we can guide them towards the future they desire.
High School Students
Plan the Path offers guidance to families of students who have been expelled or suspended in high school – or who have a disciplinary record that will be sent to colleges along with the students’ recommendations and transcripts. We advise on whether applying to college directly out of high school is the right choice, or if a pause in their studies (for a gap year experience or other postsecondary opportunity) would ultimately strengthen their college applications. Our strong belief is that there are always avenues for students to show understanding, contrition, and personal growth. We specialize in contextualizing the past and shining a light on bright futures ahead.
In cases where the suspension or expulsion is academic instead of disciplinary, we help students demonstrate two things to colleges: 1. That they understand why their grades went awry, and 2. How they are now setting themselves on a new academic course. We help families identify the right course of action to remediate a subpar academic record, and we connect them with other supportive services who can help the student stay on track.
College Students
When students are suspended or expelled from college due to behavioral infractions or educational problems, we help them get back on the path to academic success. We counsel families facing dismissals — arising from disciplinary issues, honor code violations, and/or inability to maintain academic standards — and expulsions — relating to sexual misconduct, theft, illicit substance use, and/or criminal charges.
Navigating these circumstances is rarely straightforward, but our decades of experience resolving these emotionally (and sometimes legally) complicated situations allow us to skillfully manage this challenging time. We seek to reassure students and families that the consequences arising from the student’s actions are not the end of their college experience, but rather a time to take stock of what they want for themselves. We advise on various possible return paths to academia — either at their current school, at a new institution, or via an alternate path. We work collaboratively with legal counsel, if necessary, to help procure the best results possible.
For both high school and college students, we offer:
We help families to comprehend the entirety, and complexity, of their student’s situation. Often in collaboration with their legal counsel, we advise families on appropriate next steps given the ramifications of a student’s actions.
Relying on our extensive knowledge of academic programs and the college admissions landscape, we provide families with a range of suitable choices (collegiate or otherwise) that will best serve their student going forward.
Both for high school students applying to college and for college students who may need to transfer to a new school, we provide expert insight on how to disclose and present information to potential colleges regarding disciplinary actions. Students have the opportunity to explain their record in a supplementary essay within the application, and we excel at skillfully coaching that essay writing process.
We advise the student in making pre-application plans to ameliorate previous actions. These plans may include community service, leadership programs, therapeutic programs, or other remediating steps.
To convey to admissions officers that the student has taken responsibility for their transgressions and has undergone meaningful personal growth, we counsel students and families in presenting their student’s renewed commitment to academic and personal responsibility.
Outcomes
We work in partnership with the student and family (and the family’s legal team as needed) on a unified approach to help the student plan a path to success. We provide the structure, mettle, and strategic guidance to help students learn from their mistakes and reengage with their academic goals. Our students who have faced dismissals have gone on to graduate from college, attend graduate and/or professional school, and otherwise move forward with lives of dignity and purpose.