Parent Testimonials

“My favorite part of working together was knowing that ANYTHING the process threw our way, I could say to my daughter "check with Coach B to see what she says about it!"  The best part of the experience was gratitude and a still strong relationship with our kiddo! :-)”

— Becca

“I've never had to go through this before, and there is very little guidance out there.  I didn't want to have to fight with my daughter about deadlines and schools, and I'm too busy to keep track of anything myself, so I was thrilled to find Shannon. I loved the fact that I didn't have to worry about deadlines, and that Ashley was learning where she wanted to go to school in a methodical and well-planned manner. Every parent should use a college coach if they can financially manage it.”

— Terri

“I wanted to hire a consultant to make sure that my student's wishes and priorities and interests were reflected and supported during the process and that she made decisions and choices that were best for her. I wanted to be sure that she wasn't steamrolled by parental interests that may not have been in line with what she wanted for herself. The only daunting part was weeding through so many acceptances in so little time!

You were always available for my student for whatever she needed whenever she needed it. I loved that you kept her on track every step of the way, and that we weren't the ones having to manage this process. I loved that you were a calm, reassuring, easy-going presence during this process. Getting accepted to 7 out of 10 schools in any year, but especially in this challenging year, feels like a huge accomplishment. I don't think we could have asked for better results.”

— Courtney

“We went to school in Germany and had no idea about ANY of it. We were completely hands off and if we had any questions we were able to ask them. We never had to nag the boys. Also, the schools Shannon picked out with the boys were perfect for them. Shannon has so much experience. She knows the best colleges for each individual child. She keeps the kids on track. We were not involved in the process at all. When I listen to my other friends who did it themselves, sheesh... not worth it. Never do this process yourself! You will regret it and your children will hate you :)”

— Ute

“Your advice on widening Peyton's pool of schools was priceless.  She was entirely focused on the top tier with only one backup.  Your suggestions not only gave her more of a cushion but also the acceptances took out the sting of some of the rejections!  Peyton was hesitant to use a consultant and the fact that you so quickly earned her trust and respect is a testament to how good you are at what you do.  Your calm and patient advice and counsel was exactly what she needed and really lessened Peyton's anxiety about the process.  Shannon, we cannot thank you enough for your assistance. 

We could step back and encourage and support Peyton through the process without being in the middle of it and without overstepping our bounds.  She wanted to do it all herself but having you to guide her and as a backstop gave us the assurance we needed. Even with a self-starter who was steeped in the process, your guidance was invaluable.  Peyton was willing to take direction and guidance from you that she would have (probably) resented taking from us.”

— Amy

“I am hypervigilant and knew I'd drive Max (and myself) insane without outside assistance on timing and deadlines above all. Having you there to keep the process on track was a healthy choice for all of us. Honestly, our favorite part was how little we (Mark and I) actually did work together with you, not because we didn't enjoy you and your insights, but because working together let us exit a lot of the process and leave that to you and Max, and that was good for him and for us.

Working with Shannon allows parents to step back and give their kids an opportunity to develop self-awareness and agency in a process that can be overwhelming without guidance. Shannon helped my son navigate the process while also empowering him to feel in control of his choices and better aware of the experience he hoped to get from college.”

— Lisa

“I highly recommend Shannon Bergeron to prospective college students and their families for a variety of reasons. Shannon was very helpful in our daughter’s college application process in many areas, and acted as an experienced guide to shepherd us through the endeavor. She provided tools and testing to help our daughter evaluate her interests, strengths, and weaknesses. She recommended colleges and universities that aligned our daughter’s passions, academic goals, and career objectives, and provided insider information only available to a seasoned veteran, which was immensely helpful to us in evaluating the caliber and tenor of the institutions under consideration. And she provided the project management perspective necessary to keep the entire exercise on track, with reminders and suggestions, helpful hints and tips, in addition to reading every word of the application materials themselves.

But perhaps more importantly, Shannon held my hand as the parent, looking over my shoulder, providing reassurance, and allowing me to relax and enjoy the process, knowing I was in the calm and capable hands of a true college planning professional. Ultimately our daughter was successful in obtaining admission to her first-choice school, due in no small part to the advice and guidance we received from Shannon Bergeron. Thank you so much!”

— Brian L.

“ ‘I’ve got it under control,’ is one of the scariest sentences in the English language. But coming from a student working under Shannon’s guidance, the sentiment is easier to trust. Shannon’s years of experience as a high school counselor provide a wonderful foundation for any college search, but what makes her special is her insights into the particular dynamics of the individual student. She and my son interacted so easily and fluidly, he never resisted meeting with her. He might have resisted writing the essays but not working on them with Shannon. She understood that he was the kind of student who needed every last minute to perfect his writing, and her confidence in his process gave him the space and time he needed to do his best work. Her up-to-the moment expertise, organizational skills, and tools kept a complicated experience on track, and on time.

Shannon is bi-generational, speaking easily the language of both parent and student, and she is a good listener. When I needed advice or reassurance, Shannon was completely agreeable to conversation and had good suggestions. In addition to providing terrific guidance, Shannon was open to exploring unusual paths and possibilities. In the end, my son had several very different and excellent offers to choose among. True to his nature, took his time to make a decision, weighing every option and refusing to act prematurely. The outcome was exactly right, and I credit Shannon and her faith in my son.”

— Gena T.

“We truly relied on Shannon to be our steadfast guide through the murky and otherwise-overwhelming process of selecting and applying to colleges. In terms of developing a “final list”, Shannon was instrumental in helping our daughter choose colleges that were excellent matches FOR HER – all six of the schools would have been a good fit, even if they offered different experiences.

Shannon is such a warm and genuine soul; she quickly became as much “family friend” as she was “college counselor.” There’s so much to learn about today’s college application landscape – and Shannon patiently answered countless questions from us. She is quick to respond to emails and phone calls, and my daughter felt very comfortable texting her when she had an “urgent” question.

Really, we can’t say enough good things about Shannon, and are thrilled to be working with her again as we enter Round 2 with our second child!”

— Cara L.

“I could not overstate the relief I felt after meeting with Shannon the first time. Her warm, friendly demeanor and easy accessibility made it easy for my daughter and me to trust her right away. My daughter was able to work through her resistance and quickly start making progress. As a parent, I was confident that Shannon was working toward my daughter’s best interest. I would have never imagined not reviewing the applications before submittal, but by the end of it I knew that Shannon helped her put her best foot forward and write in her own voice. That allowed me to stay emotionally present and connected with my senior during a particularly stressful time — priceless.”

— Eileen L.

“My daughter worked with Shannon Bergeron this year. Shannon is the founder of Core College Consulting and a previous LASA counselor and parent. I cannot say enough positive things about the experience. She truly understands the school and the experience the students have at LASA. Her process focuses on who the student is and then supports them moving through the process authentically, so that they stay anchored and aligned throughout — invaluable during the intensity that is the reality of the experience these days. She's not a babysitter and won't task master your child through the process. But she will be there as a sane voice and a solid support throughout the process. I cannot recommend her highly enough — but I also know she fills up very fast. When I recommended her to a few folks this year, she was already booked.”

— Lex S.