Harvard M.Ed;23yrCollegeCounselor;onlyGr9&10open

$250/hour

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About

For over 23 years, Susan Taub has been advising students to attain their goals of finding the best fit colleges and guiding them through the admissions process to achieve a positive outcome. Susan’s advisees come from a wide range of academic profiles; a variety of academic interests; a diverse mix of family backgrounds; public, private, boarding, parochial, and home schooled; freshmen and transfer applicants. Susan has particular expertise in highly selective college admissions and in specialized performing arts degree programs. Susan assists students and parents throughout the United States and internationally. Susan has 45 years of experience in the field of education and earned a BA in Child Study from Tufts University and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. WHAT CAN I OFFER YOU? ~Comprehensive, personalized support throughout the college planning and application process, and the time period leading up to that ~Evaluation of academic, personal, and extracurricular background. ~Development of an individualized timeline for all years of our work together ~For ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students, assistance with course planning for each year of high school ~Suggest strategies to highlight the student’s strengths while addressing any weaknesses. Identify extracurricular initiatives aligned with a student’s interests, and provide advice on how to stand out in their activities. ~Creation of a test preparation plan and testing schedule plan ~Planning meaningful summer activities, including research of summer program options (if desired) in the student’s area of interest, and support with summer applications ~Advice on choosing a possible academic focus or degree program ~Identification of college search criteria, academic and career interests, and compilation of a personalized list of suggested colleges ~Assessment of the student's admissions chances at each school under consideration ~Guidance in developing an appropriate and well-balanced college list and finalizing it ~Discussion of strategies for Early Decision and Early Action ~Suggestions of ways to make the most of college visits and appropriate contact with professors, admissions officers, coaches, alumni, and students ~Work with the student on how to consistently demonstrate interest in particular colleges, which is often a factor in the admissions process ~Guide students through self-assessment to identify 'hooks' and strengths to highlight in their applications ~Help with specialized arts program selection and admissions, as well as planning and organizing the specific requirements of the artistic review process. Developing an artistic resume and advising on headshots (if required). ~Advice on optional Arts Supplements. ~Guidance in choosing academic and supplemental recommendation writers. ~Support in drafting letters or required survey forms to assist teachers, other recommenders, and school counselors in writing effective recommendations ~Preparation of an annotated Activities and Achievements Resume ~Organization of a plan of attack for the student’s own list of colleges and an organized master plan of the student’s entire list of required essays. ~Provide in-depth essay support, including brainstorming and multiple rounds of drafts and revisions for each essay ~Review of multiple drafts of the Common Application, and other required applications for quality and consistency ~Preparation for alumni and on-campus interviews through mock interviews, helpful tips, and sample questions ~Guidance with deferral and waitlist strategies and related tasks ~Assistance in making final decisions of where to attend once acceptances are offered. ~Provide unlimited time and support, along with open and honest feedback, through every step of the process and the many questions that may arise.

Overview

Hired 27 times

Serves Jersey City, NJ

Background checked

1 employee

22 years in business

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This pro hasn't listed their business hours.

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This pro accepts payments via Check, Venmo, and Zelle.

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2022

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Services needed

Student's grade level

High school Freshman

High school Sophomore

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My customers travel to me

I work remotely (phone or internet)

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Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, responsiveness, and work quality.

Exceptional 5.0

22 reviews

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Srinivas A.

Jun 16, 2025

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Hired on Thumbtack

We hired Susan Taub for our son for all four years of high school from 9th grade to 12th grade. Firstly, she did a thorough job of explaining to us all aspects of college counseling, so we were well-prepared for all the 4 years to come. She gave our son very detailed guidance on course selection, ECs, college admission requirements and essays. Our son was interested in pre-med so she helped my son work out proper ECs, courses that would make his application for good colleges strong. She did a fantastic hob of guiding him in essay writing. We dearly value what she did for our son during his high school years. With her guidance he got accepted into multiple great schools in the major of his choice(Biology)/Pre-med track; Boston College, WashU, Case Western , Lehigh , UT Austin, Baylor, UW Wisconsin and TAMU.

Details: Writing essays • Selecting colleges • Completing applications • High school Freshman • Cadence recommended by professional • At the pro’s location • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling

Marianne S.

Apr 17, 2023

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Hired on Thumbtack

The college admissions process is as confusing as it is competitive. I hired Susan to assist my niece through this process (college identification, application, and selection) as she was floundering on her own. The results were tremendous. Susan worked with her during her junior and senior years. Over that time, Susan helped her clarify what was important to her in a college, establish a schedule to work through the admissions process, understand how to present herself as a candidate and have more confidence during admission interviews. With Susan's guidance, my niece received multiple offers of admission. In addition to the help Susan provided my niece, she was always available to me and her parents to answer questions and provide advice. My nephew will begin working with Susan this year and we anticipate the same great results from the partnership. For parents and students, having Susan in your corner is invaluable.

Details: Selecting colleges • High school Junior • Cadence recommended by professional • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling

Larry L.

Apr 16, 2023

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Hired on Thumbtack

Details: Writing essays • Selecting colleges • Completing applications • High school Junior • Cadence recommended by professional • Remotely (phone or internet)

College Admissions Counseling

Jun Z.

Apr 13, 2022

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Hired on Thumbtack

Details: Selecting colleges • Completing applications • Writing essays • High school Junior • Cadence recommended by professional • Remotely (phone or internet) • My home, venue, etc. • At the pro’s location

College Admissions Counseling

Kinley Z.

Mar 26, 2021

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Hired on Thumbtack

Beginning my senior high school, I was immensely affected by sickness. This made me get delayed to school, and even upon reaching school, I had to fly to another state for my medical treatment. I went through a lot, from being admitted to the hospital to making up to numerous doctor appointments. I missed tons of classes, and since college admission season approached, I had to give a second thought to whether to proceed or not apply to colleges at all. But God has sent me Susan! I met her a little less than 2weeks before my application deadline. She worked with me, giving all her best and effort to discover my strengths within such a short period of time to help me make my application strong. She is very organized and replied promptly to every question I had. Her help was what made me get into colleges with full-ride into three schools already. Now that I have healed and looking back, I am truly grateful to Susan for reaching me to the position I hold today; otherwise, I would have neither gotten into college nor have been able to make it with a 100% scholarship. My only advice is to work early and start early with Susan. She is fantastic and will never let you down. And to any international students and parents reading this, I am an international student too, and Susan can make it work, giving you the fact picture of how she helped me in such a hard time and turned it RIGHT! Thank you so much, Susan!

Details: Writing essays • Completing applications • High school Senior • Cadence recommended by professional • At the pro’s location

College Admissions Counseling

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Susan Taub

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
COLLEGE COUNSELING: SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $7,400 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) This package includes an evaluation and college search, developing and finalizing the college list, development of a time line for the student's admissions process, help with the application process including brainstorming topics and reviews of multiple drafts for 8 full essays (up to 650 words; shorter essays can be added up to equal one 650 word full essay), preparation of an annotated activities and achievements resume, preparation of supplemental materials, choosing whom to ask for recommendations and submitting statements to teachers and guidance counselors to assist them in writing these effectively, suggestions for highlighting 'hooks' and strengths, suggestions of ways to express specific interest in each college, overall application review, suggestions for college visits and contact with college personnel, interview preparation including mock interviews, handling deferred or waitlist status, choosing from college acceptances, and support throughout the process for both the student and parents through unlimited email support. JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $8,900 (18 - 24 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) In addition to everything in the Senior Year College Counseling Package, this package can start at any point in junior year and also includes help in choosing a possible college academic focus or direction, summer activities planning, assistance with any summer program admissions processes (if applicable), course planning for senior year, testing schedule plans, college visit plans, extracurricular choices and initiatives, assistance with two additional essays (for a total of 10 full page essays up to 650 words; shorter essays can be added up to equal one 650 word full essay) through unlimited email support. SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $10,400 (28 - 36 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) Includes everything in the Junior/Senior Package, aimed at those starting services during 10th grade. 9TH/10TH/11TH/12TH GRADES COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $11,500 (40 - 48 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) Includes everything in the Junior/Senior Package, aimed at those starting services during 9th grade. PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING: Students seeking arts college programs with specialized requirements - such as for musical theater, acting/drama, music, film, fine arts, dance or architecture - need to order a performing arts package and not a regular counseling package. SENIOR YEAR PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $7,900 (6 - 12 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) For students going through the specialized, rigorous, and selective theater college admissions process, this package includes all the services of the regular Senior Package plus specific help with choosing an appropriate program (i.e. BA, BFA, or BM) and criteria for selection of a theater program, along with solicitation of artistic references and guidance through the prescreen and audition process and organization of special requirements, including prescreen and audition materials, headshots, compilation of a theater resume, and artistic supplements to non-audition colleges. JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $9,400 (18 - 24 months of counseling, end June 30 of senior year) Starting at any point in junior year, this package includes all that is in the Junior and Senior College Counseling Package, as well as any arts training plans that are applicable to college theater applicants. Due to the complexity of the performing arts college process, students should begin as early as possible. SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR & SENIOR YEAR PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $10,900 (28 - 36 months of counseling, end June 30 of senior year) Starting at any point in sophomore year, this package includes all that is in the Sophomore, Junior and Senior College Counseling Package, as well as any arts training plans that are applicable to college theater applicants. Due to the complexity of the performing arts college process, students should begin as early as possible. 9TH/10TH/11TH/12TH GRADES PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE COUNSELING PACKAGE: $12,000 (40 - 48 months of counseling, ends June 30 of senior year) Includes everything in the SophomoreJunior/Senior Arts Package, aimed at those starting services during 9th grade. ADDITIONAL SERVICES: ESSAY SERVICE: $450/ESSAY A LA CARTE OR $420/ESSAY IF ADD-ON TO PACKAGE (1 full essay up to 650 words, or 2 essays of 300 words or less each) From brainstorming topics to developing drafts incorporating tone, format and editing. Can be added to a College Counseling Package for essay assistance beyond the number of included essays, or purchased separately. ESSAY BUNDLE: $1,215 IF A LA CARTE OR $1,135 IF ADD-ON TO PACKAGE (3 full essays up to 650 words each; 2 essays of 300 words or less each can count as 1 full essay) Can be added to a College Counseling Package for essay assistance beyond the number of included essays, or purchased separately. HOURLY COUNSELING: $250/HOUR For those students who want specialized help with just one or two specific aspects (i.e., resume, interviews, refining the college list, choosing from among acceptances, waitlist strategies) of the college admissions process, or help with specific questions, hourly college counseling assistance is available. Hourly counseling is not suitable for those seeking ongoing help with their college admissions process. PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Fees for Initial Evaluation and College Search, Essay Service, or Hourly Consulting are due when counseling services begin. For Senior Year Packages, 50% of the fee is due when the counseling period begins, and 50% is due in 60 days, or by August 1 prior to the senior year, whichever comes first. For Junior/Senior Packages, 50% of the fee is due at the start of the counseling period and 50% is due 6 months later. For Sophomore/Junior/Senior Packages or Freshman/Sophomore/Junior/Senior Packages, 50% is due at sign up and the balance of 50% is due 12 months later. Senior packages commencing after August 1 for rising seniors are due in full when services begin. Senior Packages commencing after August 1 of senior year, will incur an additional $500 fee. Senior Packages commencing after September 1 of senior year will incur an additional $800 fee beyond the package fee. Essay Services that are purchased separately from College Counseling Packages, will incur an additional fee of $50 if starting less than 10 days before those essays/applications are due to be submitted to colleges. Essay Bundles that are purchased separately from College Counseling Packages, will incur an additional fee of $200 if starting less than 3 weeks before those essays/applications are due to be submitted to colleges.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I send some information via email to those inquiring about services and then a family can opt to line up a free, no-obligation consultation in order to learn more, ask questions, and determine I am a good fit for their needs. Once a family signs up, I gather a great deal of information about the student as a solid foundation for our work together.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
BA in Child Study, Tufts University; M.Ed., Harvard University; and Training program in College Counseling

Harvard M.Ed;23yrCollegeCounselor;onlyGr9&10open

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