Teri Thompson: Thompson College Consulting

Teri Thompson is the owner of Thompson College Consulting (formerly known as College Select Seattle). Thompson College Consulting is an independent college consulting firm located in Seattle, Washington.
Applying to college now, is very different from 20 or 30 years ago. Parents often say “I only applied to one school and that is where I went”. But, then they often go on to say, “In hindsight, I realize it wasn’t an ideal fit” or “I transferred colleges four times before I finally got my degree.” And that is when they have the “aha” moment.
They realize that the stakes are higher now, as college is more expensive and more competitive. It makes sense to do upfront research, in order to put together an effective list, complete with reach, match and safety schools, taking into consideration academic, social and financial fit.
Teri Thompson has been assisting families with the college search process since 2008. From the beginning, her focus has been on helping families to identify appropriate schools, with the goal of having a successful college experience (hopefully in four years or less!), culminating with good career options and minimal debt.
Students often do not know what they want to study, and it can be very helpful to begin the process by taking career and personality tests. While the student is embarking on the self-reflection necessary to find the right schools, the parents begin the process by figuring out the cost portion. The ultimate goal is to identify a mix of schools that will meet all of the family’s needs. Is the family going to be looking for needs-based financial aid or merit-based scholarships? Making that determination early on is key to putting together an appropriate list.
There are a lot of puzzle pieces that need to fit together in the process of applying to college. Teri Thompson is able to assist students with identifying reach, match and target schools, coordinating testing schedules and recommending test prep, visiting colleges, planning extra-curricular and summer activities, brainstorming essay ideas and helping the student find their essay voice, identifying merit scholarships and application deadlines and much, much more.
As a professional college consultant, Teri Thompson is affiliated with the Higher Education Consultants Association and the Independent Educational Consultants Association and is a member of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling. She regularly attends national conferences and visits numerous schools each year in order to stay abreast of the rapid changes in the college admissions world.

Teri Thompson
Thompson College Consulting
www.ThompsonCollegeConsulting.com
teri@ThompsonCollegeConsulting.com
206-459-8862