College tuition has increased over 440% over the last 20 years, pricing many students out of a higher education. Scholarship Gold's Elizabeth Hartley educates and assists her clients on how to position themselves for the best admission opportunities and for maximum financial aid and scholarships.

Use this site to:

- browse the many resources and articles she's posted to help you navigate the process successfully

- sign up to receive breaking news each month via a free monthly e-newsletter

- review her various services such as private consulting, concierge level coaching, workshops and college tours

Check the site often for new information that may demystify the process for you and help you create your own remarkable future!

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With roughly 3000 colleges and universities in the country, choosing the right one can be a daunting choice for many students. How to find the right fit for a student depends on many factors such as:

- number of students

- student/faculty ratio (lower is better)

- four year graduation rate

- majors offered

These are only a few of the factors I encourage students to consider when narrowing their search to the top 5-8 schools they choose to pursue. Even if a student has a top choice favorite, it's critical to have alternate schools in mind in case the top choice doesn't work out.

Students and parents are often surprised to find that sometimes their most affordable options are the most expensive schools, even the Ivy Leagues. I have students on full rides to Harvard, Stanford, Duke and many other top tier schools. These students would have paid much more out of pocket if they attended their local state university.

In summary, smart students consider a broader range of schools than simply the closest state university. If you live in California, then you could go to a San Diego college but I encourage each student to have at least one state school option but then to cast the net wide, applying to the other private or public schools that fit them best, even if slightly outside their immediate region. While a state school may look like a financial safety, it's wise to cast the net wider and consider a variety of options. Once all of the admission and scholarship offers are on the table, only then can a student make the fully informed decision that is right for them. Helpful Links

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College Prep Coaching–Something for Everyone

When I meet with students and their parents, my goals are to help the students make well-reasoned decisions on the colleges to pursue and then to help them optimize their chances of admission and help them get the most scholarship money and financial aid they can.

Each family varies in the amount of guidance and support they seek. To accomodate the different needs and also to be sensitive to families' budget concerns, I offer the following three categories of service.

One-time "College Bound Essentials" session- This 3-hour meeting includes the student and parents, covering what students should do thoughout high school, how to wisely choose the colleges to pursue, how to pursue scholarships and navigate financial aid. For only $195, this session is created to be an affordable option for even the most modest budgets. Many families find this session is just what they need to navigate the college process with confidence.

Ongoing "Concierge Consulting"- For those who wish to engage in ongoing guidance and support, a variety of concierge packages are available. You can review all of these packages under the "Services" tab of this website.

Group Workshops- Throughout the year, especially in the fall, a variety of affordable 3- hour workshops are offered. Student prices are only $75 each and parents can come along at no extra charge. Workshops are offered for:

College Bound Essentials

Interview and Effective Communication Skills

Essay Writing for Admissions and Scholarships

Middle School Essentials

Your College Applications- Step by Step

Check the "Services" tab of this site for more details. Ultimately, Scholarship Gold Consulting seeks to meet the needs of clients in a variety of ways so that each student can have a remarkable and rewarding future.