Frequently Asked Questions

Transferring credits from Pennsylvania community colleges to a college in Pennsylvania is often pretty easy.  In fact, under a program called PA TRAC, all of the PASSHE state schools (West Chester, Kutztown, Shippensburg, etc.), the state-related schools (Pitt, Penn State and Temple), plus a few other universities will allow the transfer of up to 30 credits of foundation courses, although some more advanced courses, especially in a student's declared major may not transfer.  PA TRAC participating universities will also transfer all of the courses from a completed Associates degree, so a student can take two years worth of courses at a community college and transfer all 60 credits, as long as the student earns an Associates Degree.  Transferring credits from NJ community colleges to NJ state and state-related institutions is set up in similar fashion through a system called NJ TRANSFER.

If you're transferring within one of these systems, then you probably don't need College Match Guru's help.  However, transferring credits between schools in different states or to private institutions is much less routine. Generally, 100 or even 200 level courses transfer, but some colleges, especially the more competitive ones, won't allow even basic courses in major to transfer.  This means students could loose credit for many of the courses they took, even if they only completed their first year of college.  

If you find that your college didn't fit the first time around, then I urge you to consider our services. We can help make sure that your new college has everything you need to make "College 2.0" a great experience.  Whether the problem was academic, social or cultural, College Match Guru can help guide you through the process of identifying good fit schools and completing your transfer applications.

Visiting a dozen schools in a hit-or-miss approach to finding an acceptable school is expensive. Applying to 20 schools before you’ve visited them is expensive too. Going through the hassle of transferring schools is really expensive, and the most recent data available show 35% of students entering 4-year colleges end up transferring. Finding a college where your child excels is beyond value. 

Compared to the cost of attending a 4-year college (up to $250,000), the cost of a consultant is a drop in the proverbial bucket. College Match Guru's Comprehensive Program guides students through every facet of the college process, but CMG offers more targeted programs as well.  Please see our list of services by clickinghere. CMG programs can fit every budget.  Hourly rates are comparable to what you’d pay a therapist, accountant or other professional consultant.  A small investment now can deliver a long lasting return from a successful college career.

An Independent Educational Consultant works one-on-one with each student, helping to identify colleges and universities that offer the best matches for the student's unique needs, and keeping the student on track through every phase of the college search and application process. We are not paid commissions or finders fees by any school and are thus “independent”.  

The average high school Guidance Counselor oversees several hundred students and has responsibilities that include course scheduling, testing, and academic advising.  College counseling is often allotted a limited role in their busy schedules.   Independent Educational Consultants work full-time on college consulting, campus visits and research, and other related college issues.  They work with a small number of students – usually less than 50 – to insure that each is given all the time and assistance they need in order to find colleges that are right for them.

Member consultants of the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) adhere to a strict set of ethical guidelines that govern the actions of consultants in their relationships with students and families, schools and colleges, and colleagues. To learn more about IECA’s Principles of Good Practice, click here.

Some families start thinking about colleges early.  College Match Guru can offer freshmen and sophomores guidance on course selection, extracurricular activities and summer employment.  The Guru can help them develop a “next steps” plan to make their high school years productive.

The fall of junior year is an ideal time to start the college search process.  It allows enough time to discuss career choices, grades and activities.  Starting the application process earlier with a clear understanding of the process can make it more thoughtful and less stressful. 

Students getting ready to transfer have much less lead time than first-year freshmen, especially if it's an unplanned transfer. Applications for Fall term are usually due in March or early April and applications for Spring term are usually due by the beginning of November.  A minimum of three or four months is required for the Guru to help with college matching, applications and documents.

If you are late coming into the process and discover you need some professional help, please don’t hesitate to call; College Match Guru is happy to assist your student anywhere in the process.  

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions we’ll make in our lives. College Match Guru believes that students and their families deserve access to the tools and information necessary to reliably develop a list of schools that fits the student academically, socially and financially.

There are many components to a good college match.  Academics, extracurricular activities, school location, size and cost are some of the more important ones.  Bringing all these diverse elements together is like bringing instruments together to create a symphony.  Without the proper orchestration, it’s just noise.

Yes, you can find the right college without guidance, many do.  You could also do your own taxes and cut your family’s hair.  But doing these things well requires expertise, time and money (a good pair of sheers cost more than $175, after all). That’s a hassle you really don’t need.  

Our students apply to a wider range of colleges and universities than most students do and they produce very competitive applications, raising their chances of admission.  They can do this because they are guided along a path with easy, achievable goals at each step.  College Match Guru helps students achieve better results with a lot less stress.

Why choose College Match Guru?  Less stress, less time, better choices.