Local Moms Network and The College Corner’s 2026 College Prep Guide presented by Gorilla Grip
College prep has changed a lot since we were applying. “Between online applications, the huge increase in students applying, and the ripple effects of COVID, it’s a completely different experience,” says Ali Dorfman, founder and CEO of The College Corner.
The process may seem easier in some ways, but getting in is tougher than ever. The Common App (which has been around for a while) now lets students apply to multiple schools with just a few clicks—meaning more applications and more competition. Standardized testing policies are shifting too: many schools went test-optional after COVID, and now several are starting to require scores again. “It’s a whole new playing field,” Ali explains.
Below, we’re sharing our favorite resources to make the process more productive and less stressful, along with expert tips. The key? Start early—and buckle up.
“As a parent going through this myself, I’m surprised by how intense it is! What used to be pretty straightforward now feels like managing a second job,” shares Ali.
Give yourself a hand—and get some help—by starting with the short list below.
And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Gorilla Grip! From lap desks to over-the-door organizers, Gorilla Grip has tons of essentials for college-bound kids. Use code LMN20 for 20 percent off at gorillagrip.com and start putting together the perfect care package. You can also find Gorilla Grip on Amazon.
LOCAL COLLEGE COUNSELING
With over 15 years of dedicated experience in undergraduate admissions, I bring a deep understanding of what colleges really look for in the admissions process— and how students can best position themselves for success. I’ve had the privilege of serving as Assistant Director of Admissions at both Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, where I led recruiting efforts, evaluated applications, and supported students in achieving their academic goals. I’ve also served as Director of College Counseling at Whitefield Academy, helping students and their families navigate every phase of the college admissions journey with confidence, clarity, and personalized support. From building balanced college lists and managing timelines to crafting strong, authentic essays, I support students through every step of the process.
Choosing the right college is one of the most important decisions a student will make — and it doesn’t have to be done alone. My approach blends professional admissions insight with a compassionate, student-centered process. Whether you’re just beginning to explore options or already deep into standardizedtesting, I help students make informed choices, highlight theirunique strengths, and present their story in the most compelling way possible. With hands-on guidance and proven expertise, I’m here to make the admissions process more strategic, less stressful, and ultimately successful. Start your journey with a trusted partner — visit step1collegecounseling.com today to get started.
THE COLLEGE CORNER
The College Corner is the first curated marketplace for all things COLLEGE! While thousands of businesses cater to the college world, there’s never been one place to find them all…until now. The College Corner is your go-to destination for college-bound students and their families, making the journey a little LESS daunting and a LOT more interesting. Our platform brings together three key areas: a Service Vendor Directory featuring vetted college counselors, test prep tutors, essay coaches and more; The Corner Shop, where our team has tested and selected the best gifts, swag, and dorm essentials—plus exclusive deals for our community; and the Lifestyle Corner, where bloggers and experts share travel guides, campus style, health and wellness tips, and everything in between. As we like to say, we truly cover every CORNER of the college experience.
Favorite College Prep Tip: As a mom who’s in the thick of this journey (with daughters in 9th and 11th grade), my best advice is to take things one step at a time – trust that it will all work out!
For more info, go to www.thecollegecorner.com and www.thedormcorner.com, or email [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram @thecollegecorner_ and @thedormcorner. Sign up for our newsletter https://mailchi.mp/thecollegecorner/499z9qr3j5
COLLEGE COUNSELORS
College Blueprint
At The College Blueprint, we guide families and their students through one of the most important journeys of their lives—career and college planning. For over 25 years, our nationally recognized team has helped thousands of students design purposeful, successful paths to college. We’ve toured more than 700 campuses, written two books (with another underway), and are proud to serve as national leaders within professional associations, shaping best practices and training school counselors nationwide. Our consultants—all with advanced degrees and extensive experience in counseling and higher education—are located throughout the country, providing both regional insight and national expertise. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent students, high-achieving scholars, and student-athletes, helping each uncover strengths, build confidence, and find environments where they’ll thrive. From career and major exploration to college list development, test preparation, financial aid guidance, essay writing, and scholarship strategy, we bring clarity, structure, and compassion to the process. Our students have been admitted to Ivy League universities, selective liberal arts colleges, military academies, and flagship public universities—and continue to succeed in college and beyond.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Employers are hiring college graduates with hands-on experience, such as internships, co-ops, and research experience, at a significantly higher rate than those without. When researching colleges, ask how they help students gain real-world experience: Do they offer strong internship programs, faculty-led research, or career center support? The best college fit isn’t just where your student learns—it’s where they can apply what they learn.
For more info, go to collegeblueprint.com, or call (949) 856-1221.
HelloCollege
The Best Time to Begin Is Now. Recognized by Forbes and rated a top college admissions consultant on Google, HelloCollege is the trusted choice for families seeking expert, personalized college admissions guidance. Our student-centered approach combines proven strategy with concierge-level attention, helping families navigate every step of the college planning and admissions process with confidence. With over 4,000 students guided and 300+ five-star reviews, HelloCollege has built a reputation for results, helping students discover their best-fit schools, craft standout applications, and achieve a 3x advantage in admission to top universities.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Early planning opens doors to more scholarships, stronger essays, and smarter college choices.
For more info, go to sayhellocollege.com, or contact Jeannine Palhegyi by emailing [email protected] or calling 630-730-8825.
Launch IEC Community
Launch connects families with the nation’s most trusted Independent Educational Consultants, professionals who combine personalized guidance with the full support of an elite educational network. Every Launch Member upholds the highest professional standards and has direct access to top-tier specialists in tutoring, financial aid, signature projects, and career development. This powerful infrastructure enables your consultant to focus on what matters most: your student’s goals, growth, and long-term success. Launch ensures families have a trusted partner dedicated to delivering clarity, confidence, and excellence through every stage of the college application process.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Start with clarity, not comparison. The right college fit begins when you understand what success looks like for you, not everyone else.
For more info go to https://www.launchiec.com/.
Kate Stone
Your child is not yet prepared with the hard and soft skills they need to pursue the activities and experiences that make them truly attractive in the college admissions process. We will help your child lay that foundation and coach them to do things bigger than you thought possible. The outdated college prep model that every other college coach offers will make your kid look like everyone else. Our goal is not just to get your child into a great college, but to set them up for long-term success in life.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Don’t let “what everyone else is doing” pick your ECs. Lean into what makes you different.
For more info, go to https://universitygurus.com/, email [email protected] or 203-714-4435.
FINANCIAL PLANNING
THE COLLEGE DOLLAR
The College Dollar – Plan Smarter. Save Dollars.
At The College Dollar (TCD), we know your child’s education is important. Planning for college isn’t just about college visits and applications, it’s about dreams, dollars, and doing what’s best for the family. Our mission is to help parents feel confident and informed when it comes to college finances. With 15 years experience guiding families and saving them college dollars, we make the complex world of college finances easier to understand. We know how college affordability really works – beyond the blogs and buzzwords.
The earlier families begin learning about financial aid, scholarships and college pricing, the more strategies they’ll have for saving, paying, and borrowing. Waiting until high school can mean missed opportunities. We provide clarity on FAFSA and CSS Profile® forms, affordability searches, appeals and payment strategies. We focus on total college costs and setting your student up without overwhelming debt for them or you.
At The College Dollar, we believe that knowledge is the most valuable form of aid. Our goal is simple: to bring clarity, calm, and confidence, ensuring both parents and student make an informed choice for a successful future. Together let’s make college affordable!
College Connect – a one hour session to answer all of your paying for college questions specific to your family and everything financial aid: SAI, EFC, loans, scholarships, grants, work-study, financial forms, 529 info and more. This is a great introductory session for families to understand what’s coming and how to plan for everything related to paying for college.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
College Planning Isn’t About Saving More – It’s About Paying Smarter.
The earlier you understand how colleges give money, the smarter your choices later. Families who learn how aid works before high school can often cut costs dramatically.
For more info go to TheCollegeDollar.com, or email [email protected].
ESSAY WRITING
If you’re looking for an expert college essay coach to help your student get into their dream school, you’ve found him. To be sure, I cannot make any guarantee on behalf of any college. But I can guarantee that students I work with will produce elite essays, and gain a difference-making advantage.
I have a B.A. and J.D. from Stanford, and I’ve spent twenty-five years teaching college essays. Over that time, I’ve developed and refined blueprints and tactics that help students write essays that do two things: showcase their own voices and personalities, and get results. Thousands of students have changed their lives because of our work together. And yours can be next.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Brace yourself, because second semester senior year and the first semester at college is a dog year: it’s seven years packed into one.
For more info, visit https://englishwithmarkh.com/, call 650-575-9419 or email [email protected]. Be sure to follow @englishwithmarkh on IG and on TikTok.
Prompt
Prompt essay coaches help students write standout college essays with confidence and clarity. Through expert coaching and guided feedback, students learn how to express their authentic voice and craft compelling stories that capture admissions attention. Every step, from brainstorming to final draft, is supported by structured guidance and proven strategy. With Prompt, the college application essay becomes less overwhelming and more strategic, a chance to tell your story with purpose.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Start early and revise often. Strong college application essays come from reflection and refinement, not perfection on the first try.
For more info go to https://www.myprompt.com/, email [email protected] or call 1-844-577-6678.
Welcome to The Reluctant Writer – where authentic stories become unforgettable.
Writing a college application essay can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. At The Reluctant Writer, we guide your child through the process with warmth, encouragement, and the kind of support that feels like working with a trusted friend. With 30 years of teaching experience and 20 years helping high school seniors across the country get accepted to college, I can say with confidence that no one does it quite like we do. ✍️💻🌟💫✨
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Tell your teen to choose a story only they could tell. Bonus points if it’s honest enough to make a parent go, “Huh, I didn’t know that about you!”
For more info, email [email protected], call 508-308-9109 or follow on Instagram: @thereluctantwriter11or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolynwynn114.
SPORTS RECRUITING
Steve Coxon Soccer Network
At the Steve Coxon Soccer Network, our mission is simple: to champion the next generation of student-athletes. We understand that the journey to college soccer can be complicated, so we’ve created a platform to simplify it. We help you build a compelling profile that gets you noticed and offer guidance and resources for your recruiting journey, such as:
· Choosing and attending the right ID clinics
· Professional highlight reel production to showcase your skills
· Effective strategies for reaching out to college coaches
· Tips for navigating and leveraging social media platforms
Our network cuts through the noise of the recruiting world, providing a clear and effective path for you to showcase your abilities, saving you time and money. Let us support your ambition and guide you through the process, turning your collegiate soccer aspirations into a reality. Join us and find your perfect collegiate match.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
The question I’m most often asked by parents starting the journey is, ‘Where do I start?’ My answer is always the same: the highlight video. Start getting those cameras rolling early and often—beginning in their high school freshman year.
For more info, go to https://stevecoxonsoccernetwork.com/, email [email protected], or follow Steve on X and on Instagram.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
MWS: Next Step
Next Step is a 2-week life skills programme designed to guide students through the transition from teenage fame to young adulthood. The focus? Building solid skills in communication, confidence, and self-awareness, while sneaking in some leadership opportunities and revealing those secrets they forgot to teach in school.
Our Where Adulting Gets Real seminars, built around the Five Pillars of Next Step, are all about preparing you for personal and professional challenges. Think of it as your toolkit for stepping confidently into leadership roles during your senior high school years and beyond.
Plus, we’re not just talking—these seminars come with interactive projects, first-aid certification, and real-world, hands-on experiences to make sure you’re ready for whatever comes next. From Canada to the world, we’re all about levelling up skills, forging connections, and creating stories worth telling.
Favorite College Tip:
Get comfortable asking for help — professors don’t bite.
For more information, visit www.mws-nextstep.com, call +1 (416) 921-6998, email [email protected]. Be sure to @mws.next.step on Instagram.
MENTORED RESEARCH
Polygence Research Program
Polygence helps motivated high school students stand out by turning their interests into hands-on research and real-world projects guided by expert mentors. Through personalized, one-on-one mentorship, students explore their passions, build impressive portfolios, and gain skills that prepare them for college and beyond—all in a supportive environment that nurtures curiosity, confidence, and purpose. We match students with PhD-level mentors to conduct academic research projects in the subject of their choice, helping them demonstrate their curiosity and drive. Students also have the option to get matched with an industry mentor to work on a real-world project with a startup or non-profit.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
Own your learning, explore what you love, and build momentum for your future by diving into what truly interests you throughout high school.
Email Maureen Lavin [email protected]; call 516-456-0835 and follow @polygence on Instagram.
PLANNING SYSTEM
CollegeHound: Your Family’s College Planning Command Center
Between classes, sports, test prep, and college research, it’s easy for important details to get lost in the shuffle. CollegeHound keeps everything organized in one secure digital binder that everyone can access: students, parents, and counselors alike.
Built by educators and parents who have lived this journey, CollegeHound turns scattered notes, files, and reminders into a single, streamlined workspace. Track extracurriculars and contacts, store transcripts and essays, log campus visits, and manage recommendations, all from one clear, connected dashboard.
No more forgotten forms. No more “Where did we save that?” moments.
Whether your family is working with a counselor or handling the process independently, CollegeHound ensures nothing slips through the cracks. It is your shared home base for college planning, organized, transparent, and always up to date.
Keep everything in one place. Stay ahead. Breathe easier with CollegeHound.
Favorite College Prep Tip:
The best college outcomes happen when students, parents, and counselors stay organized and communicate clearly. Start building that teamwork in freshman year.
For more info, go to collegehound.com, email [email protected], call 919-249-8785, follow them Instagram: @college.hound and Facebook: collegehound
TUTORING
Higher Scores. Less Time. Real Results.
Testive is built for busy students who need serious score improvements without sacrificing what matters most. While traditional prep programs demand 30-40 hours of generic practice, our SmartScore method™ delivers meaningful results in just 10 hours through data-driven precision targeting.
We identify exactly where each student can gain the most points, then focus exclusively on those high-impact areas—eliminating wasted time on material they’ve already mastered. This hyper-efficient approach means students spend less time prepping and more time excelling in school, pursuing leadership roles, and living their lives.
Over 10,000 families have trusted Testivebecause we understand that ambitious students don’t have time to waste. Whether you’re juggling AP courses, varsity sports, or meaningful extracurriculars, our personalized programs adapt to your schedule and learning style—delivering the score increases you need in a fraction of the time.”
Offer for the guide: Special Discount of 15% off of 10 hours
For more info, go to testive.com, call 617-936-0694 or email [email protected]. Follow @testivetutoring on IG.
Aspire/IvyBound offers truly customized tutoring that sets your child up for success. We design individualized plans tailored to each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles—so tutors can focus where improvement matters most while reinforcing existing strengths.
Each Aspire/IvyBound family is paired with a dedicated advisor to give seamless communication and support throughout the learning journey. This collaborative approach creates a supportive environment where students thrive.
The result? Targeted, efficient learning that leads to faster progress and significantly higher scores.
Since 2001, Ivy Bound has helped thousands of students achieve their academic goals—from mastering challenging subjects to excelling in standardized tests. With our personalized SAT/ACT prep programs, students see an average 140-point SAT increase, significantly boosting college admissions prospects.
Favorite College Prep Tip: Start Early.
For more information, go to ivybound.net, email [email protected] or call 844-677-4484.