Parent Testimonials

“You MUST do this. You MUST do this with Jamie. You are amazing in so many ways.
Like tears-in-our-eyes incredible.”

— Joshua

“You had such a great rapport with our daughter and helped calm her anxiety and break down the whole process into manageable chunks. Our daughter's exact words about you were ‘always all-around lovely to talk to.’ You kept her accountable, but made the process as enjoyable as possible.

Using a consultant took most of the parent-teen dynamic out of the application process, and really improved our family life. As parents, we could have high-level conversations about what she wanted to study and where she wanted to go, and leave the details to Jamie and our daughter. Many times we would ask our daughter questions about details, and she would say, ‘I already talked about that with Jamie. Don't worry, we've got it covered.’

Because she has worked at the high school and college level, Jamie is a wealth of knowledge about both. She knows people at so many colleges, she knows students who have gone there, and she can answer just about any question. If she doesn't know the answer, she can find it. She even helped our daughter navigate issues at her high school when she didn't know how to get things done with the administration there. Jamie really cared about her and made her feel important, smart and capable. In the end, she got into almost all of the schools she applied to, and Jamie helped her make her final decision, which we are thrilled about!”

— Melanie

“Having you in our corner really helped ease our (my!) anxiety about the application process. It was so helpful to know that I could contact you whenever I had a question, and you would guide us in the right direction. Your help with Lilia's application and essay process was great, and your gentle urgings and reminders were very helpful.”

— Jennifer

“I think our daughter definitely needed the positive guidance that you provided. Our student is obviously a high achiever but as a result can feel overwhelmed at times. Jamie is gifted in her ability to be both an encouraging cheerleader as well as a teacher providing constructive feedback and by wearing both hats at the same time she provided the perfect balance that our daughter needed through the college application process.”

— JoAnne

“My favorite part of working together was that we basically didn't work together. It was always you and Erika, not you and us. I am sure that was really helping Erika take charge of her own future instead of just trying to do what she thinks we want her to do. The college application process is so daunting, it's stressful even if you have someone who can guide you through it. I don't even want to think about what it would have been like without.”

— Andreas

“College admissions are very different than when I went through it.  The competitive landscape has changed a lot for the top schools. I think we learned a lot about Dillon through Shannon.  We didn't always agree with his desires but Shannon did a great job serving his interest as well as hearing our concerns. Having a third party who knows the schools to discuss with the student can avoid the "parent effect" where they can be more honest without our expectations/biases is very valuable, and being able to assess the student application with the current competition more objectively is very valuable.”

— Robert

“We couldn’t be more grateful for Shannon’s patient and knowledgeable guidance through the uncharted territory (and perils) of the college admissions process. We started out with our son not having any solid resolution about where he wanted to go, and not only did she help us shape a list that was suited to his strengths and interests, she helped us tailor his CV and his applications to those choices.

Shannon is also an astute and perceptive editor for the essay portion of the process, which was invaluable. She was responsive to our son’s drafts in real time, which allowed me and my husband to step back as she gave our son the feedback he needed to complete his essays in his own voice, while still guiding him to adhere to the prompts and to emphasize what was most relevant to each institution or topic. When he was hesitant about applying to specific honors programs, she encouraged him to aim high, and he ended up with an acceptance to Plan II Honors at UT and admitted to the major he wanted most. We have no doubt that without Shannon’s help, our son would not have found the perfect fit college, and we know her guidance is what helped him achieve that goal.”

— Hillery

“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.