Why be anybody else?
In your college applications, you will be asked to explain who you are, what you bring to the world, and what you plan to do in college. You will answer dozens of essay questions and you may upload a portfolio or video of your creative work. Hopefully, you will interact and communicate with college students, professors, creative program directors and admissions officers. At each of these steps, you will be expected to be self-aware and authentic. Sound like a tall order? It is. But it could change your life.
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BE YOU Advising
Felicia believes that applying to college is difficult when you look outside yourself to get direction through the process. She guides you to change your wiring by looking within. She hopes to do this work with you at a young age so that she can guide you to thrive on your path through middle and high school. When pursued with such self-awareness, going through school and applying to college becomes a seriously fun and transformative game changer. Felicia begins advising as early as 7th grade through her Be You Program and as late as the junior year. Wherever you are in your schooling, Felicia teaches you skills to understand who you are, where you are coming from, what drives you, what gifts you bring. As students prepare their college applications she teaches major and career research, networking, and interviewing. All of the skills you learn with Felicia carry you through high school, into college and beyond. You learn how to identify and present your core strengths, to put your best self to service in the world. Why be anybody else, when you’ll succeed by being you.
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BE YOU Program for Middle Schoolers
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This program spans the middle school and high school years. Felicia guides students to experience the joy and benefits of self knowledge and self reflective writing early on. With Felicia's guidance students bring their most authentic self to all of their academic and extracurricular activities and ultimately to their college applications. Her program teaches five skills:
- reflective writing - positive self-awareness - creative exploration - self-orientation - vision building
Each year students take the next step in their self-growth to navigate school, extracurricular activities, outreach, research and internship opportunities in a personally transformative manner. All this learning with Felicia leads naturally to the college application process. Once students begin the process of college applications, Felicia then introduces students to new skills of major/career/college research, networking, and interviewing. With these additional skills students learn to prepare their best college applications, take advantage of their college years, and pursue a meaningful career that aligns with who they are. Contact Felicia to enroll: (650) 793-0721. Very limited availability.
- reflective writing - positive self-awareness - creative exploration - self-orientation - vision building
Each year students take the next step in their self-growth to navigate school, extracurricular activities, outreach, research and internship opportunities in a personally transformative manner. All this learning with Felicia leads naturally to the college application process. Once students begin the process of college applications, Felicia then introduces students to new skills of major/career/college research, networking, and interviewing. With these additional skills students learn to prepare their best college applications, take advantage of their college years, and pursue a meaningful career that aligns with who they are. Contact Felicia to enroll: (650) 793-0721. Very limited availability.
BE YOU Services For High School Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors
Felicia offers self-reflective “be you” advising as early as eighth grade to help students develop a sense of self. Students ponder who they are and learn how to carefully choose their high school commitments, extracurricular and summer activities. As early as possible, Felicia helps students develop skills in self-reflection, major/career research, and networking. Preparation takes a big step forward in the junior year when students learn to build a college list, prepare exams, and advance their extracurricular focus on outreach, research and internship endeavors. In the senior year, Felicia leads students through the application process.
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Felicia's Update September 2016
- Felicia is nearly full for juniors graduating in 2018. Please contact her for more information. - available for one-time initial consultations with seniors who are seeking advice regarding their application strategy - availability for sophomores, freshmen and middle school students The Initial Consultation |
Want to work together? Great! We'll take our first step together in an Initial Consultation.
The initial consultation consists of three parts.
1. First, I spend two hours evaluating your academic and creative profile materials, including your transcript, extracurricular list, summer activities, exam scores, resume, a questionnaire, a writing sample and a parent brag sheet.
2. Then you join me in person in a two hour meeting to discuss my evaluation and thoughts, your questions and concerns, and to discuss a strategy for moving forward.
3. Within 72 hours following our meeting, I spend two hours putting together these items: a letter in overview of my recommendations to your daughter or son, a summary of important points and a set of individualized recommendations tailored to the your specific needs. Items in this follow up document include a list of next steps, a suggested college list, tips for visiting colleges, travel suggestions, possible essay topics, an application strategy, a task list, and a timeline.
Following the Initial Consultation, you then have the option to enroll in my courses or camps, and/or to continue working with me on an individual basis. I recommend that we meet twice a year before the application process begins. One time Initial Consultations are also available.
The initial consultation consists of three parts.
1. First, I spend two hours evaluating your academic and creative profile materials, including your transcript, extracurricular list, summer activities, exam scores, resume, a questionnaire, a writing sample and a parent brag sheet.
2. Then you join me in person in a two hour meeting to discuss my evaluation and thoughts, your questions and concerns, and to discuss a strategy for moving forward.
3. Within 72 hours following our meeting, I spend two hours putting together these items: a letter in overview of my recommendations to your daughter or son, a summary of important points and a set of individualized recommendations tailored to the your specific needs. Items in this follow up document include a list of next steps, a suggested college list, tips for visiting colleges, travel suggestions, possible essay topics, an application strategy, a task list, and a timeline.
Following the Initial Consultation, you then have the option to enroll in my courses or camps, and/or to continue working with me on an individual basis. I recommend that we meet twice a year before the application process begins. One time Initial Consultations are also available.
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In this relaxed, online three month course, students learn to use writing as a way to understand and express themselves. Through fun writing exercises they will reflect, ideate, brainstorm, and compose, experiencing writing as a playful practice of truthful, meaningful self-exploration and expression. The work undertaken in the course will help students to know themselves, embrace writing, tackle writing projects in high school and college, and provide fruitful material for the college admissions essays.
BE YOU Summer Workshops and Courses For Rising Seniors
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The College Application Camp is an intensive camp of organization, writing and preparation of the UC and Common App applications. The camps involve several hours of preparation of application materials on the part of the student prior to the two day immersion. Felicia reviews these materials and returns them to students for their revision prior to camp. Then on the first day of camp, students participate in the "nuts and bolts" seminar section of the camp where we review the most important admissions topics and questions. Students learn what is expected of them in the college application process and what important strategic steps they must take. For the second day, students complete a brainstorming packet in preparation for the 5 hour writing workshop focused on the Common Application personal statement OR the UC personal insight questions. During the workshop, students also meet individually with Felicia and her writing advisors to review their application materials and progress. By the end of the camp, students are expected to have produced these key components of their application:
- an application strategy
- a completed copy of the Common Application
- timeline with application and interview deadlines
- preliminary college list
- a an excel sheet of requirements (including interviews) for each college
- an interview strategy
- activity list
- additional Statement
- high school packet and parent brag sheet
- list of recommenders, outside reference
- resume for work, arts or athletics (if applicable)
- draft of the personal statement (650 words)
Getting Started Personal Statement One Day Workshop
This is Felicia's most popular workshop and attracts both juniors and seniors. Here you plunge into the essay writing process. You first engage in brainstorming activities to generate topics and outlines for main and supplemental essays and then spend time developing one or two essays. Throughout the workshop Felicia oversees your writing process, providing feedback and guidance along the way.
Why Here? Supplement Essay One Day Workshop
In this workshop, you learn how to write personal responses to the supplement prompt: "Why do you want to attend our college?" Felicia guides you through a series of brainstorming exercises to help you identify and develop your ideas. You also conduct research and learn to pair your own academic and extracurricular interests with the mission of the college. Throughout the workshop Felicia provides feedback and guidance. These workshops are planned for late August and through September once the college essay prompts are published.
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Felicia’s StoryFelicia’s advises students privately and through her boutique workshops (in person and online). She takes pride in choosing to advise all students – those with a 1.6 and those with a 4.8. Most of her students are admitted to 8 out of 10 of their colleges, including prestigious, small liberal arts and non-traditional campuses throughout the country.
In all of her work with students she teaches them to look within and cultivate their own lives and stories, to become the directors of their own genuine and self-defined ambitions. Felicia has worked with 16-24 year olds throughout her entire adult life. Her success with students stems from her ongoing empathy for teens, who desire to make their own decisions and to be recognized for who they are. She advises them to hone in on the greatness within them and to put it to service in the world. To find her way as a young adult, Felicia developed a practice of self-reflection and creative expression early on. She traveled paths that few were on. As a professor and as a college advisor, she has dedicated her life to guiding students of all ages, combining her experience in the areas of college level teaching and advising, college readiness, college application preparation, creative storytelling, autobiographical narrative, and identity branding. |
Testimonials
"Felicia, You have saved our home life and improved Charles' chances for a great college match. Thank you!" Radha, Los Altos High School
"Thank you for all you have done for David. You drew out the best of him." Janet, Mountain View High School
"Felicia was very positive and supportive to our children, and clear to them about the strengths and weaknesses of their writing. She reminded them to stay focused on their overall goal, and to make every word count. We were impressed at her prompt, sensitive responses to their essays, and how she sharpened their work to reflect their individual spirits." - Doug and Kristina, parents of Charlotte and David at Palo Alto High School
"Felicia was an excellent guide through the entire college admissions process; having her help drastically reduced the stress and uncertainty of it all. She helped us with the ‘parent testimonials’ that our high school counsellors required, as well as our son with college selection, essays and general organisation. Above all she worked with our son to understand his ambitions, interests, strengths and weaknesses in order to support him whilst he came up with ideas for his essays, writing them and adapting for each school. All in all we couldn’t have been happier with Felicia’s support and would wholeheartedly recommend her." - Cosmos, father of Nicholas at Gunn High School
"What can I say about Felicia? If it weren't for Felicia, my son would not be attending Quinnipiac University. Our journey with Felicia began when my son was a Freshman in high school. From our first visit with her, I knew this woman was all about getting to know each kid, focusing 200% on each kid, and truly doing what's best for that kid. We had visited another college admissions counselor, prior to meeting with Felicia, and what a difference between the two. I think what stood out from the start was the fact she didn't have a cookie cut formula for all students, that's what most of the college admissions counselors do, instead Felicia tailored a special formula to get my son on the path to college. Throughout all of our indecisiveness selecting between colleges, which essay to send, and the numerous re-drafts, Felicia was always patient. I think what stands out about her is although she knows what's best for the student, she lets the student make that decision regarding which school, which essay to send, and all the follow-up communication. She guides and gives her honest & knowledgeable opinion, but ultimately it's the student who makes the final decision. That's a rare quality as most of the college prep counselors want kids to follow their formula, which of course is easy for them, but not necessarily best for the student. Besides the fact Felicia became part of our family the past few years, she tailored a campaign unique for my son to reach his destination. And that took hours of time and emotional investment, which Felicia so willingly gave." - Dena, mother of Demetri at Monte Vista High School
"My son and I met Felicia for a college application workshop at a public library, where she was giving a speech. We both liked the way she thoroughly explained the process and highlighted the essay writing. I kept a flyer with her contact information and when my son realized that he would need help with his application essays, I gave her a call. We were offered the option to consult via phone or in person and we chose the latter. We were pleased with the way she effectively handled the short one and a half hours we spent talking about the essays. Felicia asked a series of questions to quickly find my son's strengths and weaknesses, and built off of these questions. She also gave very insightful advice concerning majors and how to maximize my son's chances to get admitted. Afterwards, she helped him edit his rough draft and gave quality feedback. Thanks to all of her recommendations, my son was able to make it into his first choice UC! It was easy and pleasant to collaborate with Felicia. She is down to the point and is very knowledgeable about the colleges' expectations and the nuances of admission. I highly recommend her service." - Helga, mother of Sam at Saratoga High School
"Felicia is AMAZING! I wanted to find someone who would take my son by the hand and walk him through the whole process from start to finish, relieving me of all the stress. Felicia kept him on a timeline and made sure that he followed her schedule so he was able to apply early to some of his chosen colleges. During the whole process, she would keep me informed on the progress he is making, and made sure I was always aware of what was going on. Being on a tight budget, she spent hours and hours researching colleges that offered the best programs for his major, as well as the colleges that will offer the best financial aid. Felicia is very sensitive to your financial needs, and will work with you in every way possible. I could not have done this without her and I would HIGHLY recommend her services to everyone." - Tonya, mother of James at Gunn High School
"Felicia has far surpassed my high expectations. She tunes into the student, and the family dynamics so that she can effectively work with both student and parents in a positive way. She is respectful, and can be firm when the student is not keeping up with promised deadlines. I feel that Felicia understands our needs and her suggestions are based on that understanding. She has expanded our horizons as to possible colleges, and motivated everyone involved. Everyone in our family thinks she is amazing! Hire her." - Susan, mother of Jason at Sebastopol High School
"Thank you for all you have done for David. You drew out the best of him." Janet, Mountain View High School
"Felicia was very positive and supportive to our children, and clear to them about the strengths and weaknesses of their writing. She reminded them to stay focused on their overall goal, and to make every word count. We were impressed at her prompt, sensitive responses to their essays, and how she sharpened their work to reflect their individual spirits." - Doug and Kristina, parents of Charlotte and David at Palo Alto High School
"Felicia was an excellent guide through the entire college admissions process; having her help drastically reduced the stress and uncertainty of it all. She helped us with the ‘parent testimonials’ that our high school counsellors required, as well as our son with college selection, essays and general organisation. Above all she worked with our son to understand his ambitions, interests, strengths and weaknesses in order to support him whilst he came up with ideas for his essays, writing them and adapting for each school. All in all we couldn’t have been happier with Felicia’s support and would wholeheartedly recommend her." - Cosmos, father of Nicholas at Gunn High School
"What can I say about Felicia? If it weren't for Felicia, my son would not be attending Quinnipiac University. Our journey with Felicia began when my son was a Freshman in high school. From our first visit with her, I knew this woman was all about getting to know each kid, focusing 200% on each kid, and truly doing what's best for that kid. We had visited another college admissions counselor, prior to meeting with Felicia, and what a difference between the two. I think what stood out from the start was the fact she didn't have a cookie cut formula for all students, that's what most of the college admissions counselors do, instead Felicia tailored a special formula to get my son on the path to college. Throughout all of our indecisiveness selecting between colleges, which essay to send, and the numerous re-drafts, Felicia was always patient. I think what stands out about her is although she knows what's best for the student, she lets the student make that decision regarding which school, which essay to send, and all the follow-up communication. She guides and gives her honest & knowledgeable opinion, but ultimately it's the student who makes the final decision. That's a rare quality as most of the college prep counselors want kids to follow their formula, which of course is easy for them, but not necessarily best for the student. Besides the fact Felicia became part of our family the past few years, she tailored a campaign unique for my son to reach his destination. And that took hours of time and emotional investment, which Felicia so willingly gave." - Dena, mother of Demetri at Monte Vista High School
"My son and I met Felicia for a college application workshop at a public library, where she was giving a speech. We both liked the way she thoroughly explained the process and highlighted the essay writing. I kept a flyer with her contact information and when my son realized that he would need help with his application essays, I gave her a call. We were offered the option to consult via phone or in person and we chose the latter. We were pleased with the way she effectively handled the short one and a half hours we spent talking about the essays. Felicia asked a series of questions to quickly find my son's strengths and weaknesses, and built off of these questions. She also gave very insightful advice concerning majors and how to maximize my son's chances to get admitted. Afterwards, she helped him edit his rough draft and gave quality feedback. Thanks to all of her recommendations, my son was able to make it into his first choice UC! It was easy and pleasant to collaborate with Felicia. She is down to the point and is very knowledgeable about the colleges' expectations and the nuances of admission. I highly recommend her service." - Helga, mother of Sam at Saratoga High School
"Felicia is AMAZING! I wanted to find someone who would take my son by the hand and walk him through the whole process from start to finish, relieving me of all the stress. Felicia kept him on a timeline and made sure that he followed her schedule so he was able to apply early to some of his chosen colleges. During the whole process, she would keep me informed on the progress he is making, and made sure I was always aware of what was going on. Being on a tight budget, she spent hours and hours researching colleges that offered the best programs for his major, as well as the colleges that will offer the best financial aid. Felicia is very sensitive to your financial needs, and will work with you in every way possible. I could not have done this without her and I would HIGHLY recommend her services to everyone." - Tonya, mother of James at Gunn High School
"Felicia has far surpassed my high expectations. She tunes into the student, and the family dynamics so that she can effectively work with both student and parents in a positive way. She is respectful, and can be firm when the student is not keeping up with promised deadlines. I feel that Felicia understands our needs and her suggestions are based on that understanding. She has expanded our horizons as to possible colleges, and motivated everyone involved. Everyone in our family thinks she is amazing! Hire her." - Susan, mother of Jason at Sebastopol High School
Contact Felicia at feliciafahey(at)gmail.com or at (650) 793-0721
