Services
Personalized Guidance,
Every Step of the Way
Whether you need targeted help with one piece of the process or full support from start to finish, Ivy & Ember has a service designed for your student.
How We Work
Every student who works with Ivy & Ember gets Paige's full, concierge-level attention — no junior staff, no templates, no one-size-fits-all checklists. We work with authenticity and integrity, which means you'll always get our honest read on what's right for your student — not just what sounds good. We offer focused standalone services for families who need targeted help, and comprehensive packages for students who want a genuine partner through the entire college and career journey.
Focused Services
Targeted help for families who need support with a specific part of the process.
College List Building
The right schools — for the right reasons.
A thoughtfully built college list is the foundation of a successful application season. Too many students default to name recognition or peer pressure and end up applying to schools that are not a genuine fit — academically, socially, or financially.
What's included
- In-depth student and family intake to understand goals, values, and priorities
- Academic profile review (GPA, course rigor, test scores)
- Research and curation of 12-15 schools across reach, match, and likely categories
- Program-level fit analysis — not just school rankings
- Financial aid landscape overview for each school on the list
- Final list presentation with rationale for every school included
Ideal for: Juniors beginning their college search, or families who want an expert second opinion on an existing list.
Essay Coaching & Editing
Your story, told with clarity and confidence.
The personal statement and supplemental essays are where a student's voice comes through most directly. At selective schools, a compelling essay can be the difference between an acceptance and a waitlist. Even at less selective schools, strong writing demonstrates self-awareness and communication skills that admissions officers notice.
What's included
- Brainstorming session to identify the right angle and story
- Outline and structural feedback before drafting begins
- Up to four rounds of detailed feedback on the personal statement
- Supplemental essay support for up to six schools
- Line-level editing for clarity, voice, and impact
- Final proofreading before submission
Ideal for: Rising seniors who have a college list in place and are ready to focus on their application narrative.
Gap Year Planning
A purposeful pause — not a step back.
A gap year can be one of the most transformative experiences a young person has — but only when it is intentional. Whether your student is considering a gap year before college or after an acceptance, Paige helps them design a year that builds real skills, strengthens their story, and sets them up for a stronger start.
What's included
- Gap year goal-setting and values clarification session
- Research and curation of structured programs, volunteer opportunities, and work experiences
- Budget and logistics planning overview
- Guidance on deferral requests and college communication
- Re-entry planning — how to leverage the gap year in future applications or interviews
- Check-in support during the gap year
Ideal for: Students who have been accepted to college and are considering deferring, or high school seniors exploring alternatives before committing to a four-year path.
Career Planning
Clarity before the crossroads.
Not every student arrives at college knowing what they want to do — and that is completely normal. But students who have done some career exploration before they arrive make better decisions about majors, internships, and opportunities. Paige helps students move from vague interests to a clearer sense of direction.
What's included
- Career interest and strengths assessment
- Exploration of career paths aligned with the student's values and skills
- Major and program research tied to career goals
- Informational interview and job shadow guidance
- Resume and LinkedIn profile foundation for early career positioning
- Action plan with next steps for continued exploration
Ideal for: High school juniors and seniors — or current college students — who want to explore career options with intention before declaring a major or choosing a path.
3-Month Career Coaching Package
Focused momentum over three months.
For students who want sustained, structured support as they explore and clarify their career direction. Over three months, Paige works closely with your student to move from uncertainty to a genuine sense of purpose — with real accountability and a clear plan at the end.
What's included
- Values assessment to clarify what matters most to your student
- Personality and abilities assessment to identify natural strengths
- Researched job options aligned with assessment results
- Up to 10 one-on-one coaching sessions with Paige
- Major and program research tied to identified career interests
- Informational interview strategy and job shadow guidance
- Resume development — crafted to reflect your student's unique strengths and goals
- Interview preparation — practice, feedback, and confidence-building
- Email and messaging support between sessions
- Final action plan with concrete next steps
Ideal for: Students who want more than a one-time session — and are ready to commit to real exploration and follow-through over a focused three-month period.
Complete Coaching Packages
Comprehensive, start-to-finish support for students who want a dedicated partner through the entire college journey.
Complete College Coaching — 1 Year
Full support through senior year.
Our one-year package is designed for students who are ready to dive in at the start of senior year. You get Paige's full expertise across every phase of the application process — from finalizing your college list to submitting your last application and navigating decision season.
What's included
- Everything in College List Building
- Everything in Essay Coaching & Editing
- Common App profile review and activities list strategy
- Recommendation letter guidance (who to ask and how)
- Application timeline and deadline management
- Financial aid and FAFSA guidance
- Interview preparation
- Application strategy — positioning, school-specific angle, and narrative consistency across applications
- Resume building — crafting a polished, college-ready resume that highlights achievements and activities
- Decision season support — comparing offers, financial aid appeals, waitlist strategy
- Unlimited email and messaging support throughout the engagement
Ideal for: Incoming seniors who want comprehensive, start-to-finish support through the application process.
Complete College Coaching — 2 Year
The most thorough preparation available.
Our two-year package begins in junior year, giving your student the maximum runway to build a strong application. Starting early means better test prep strategy, more thoughtful extracurricular positioning, earlier campus visits, and essays that go through more rounds of development — resulting in a significantly stronger final application.
What's included
- Everything in the 1-Year Package
- Junior year kickoff and multi-year planning session
- PSAT/SAT/ACT strategy and test prep guidance
- Extracurricular audit and positioning advice
- Summer opportunity planning (programs, internships, research)
- Junior year course selection guidance
- Early campus visit planning and evaluation framework
- Extended application strategy development — more time to refine positioning and narrative
- Resume building starting junior year — more time to develop and strengthen the full picture
- Priority scheduling and first-access availability
- Extended essay development timeline with additional revision rounds
Ideal for: Current juniors — or ambitious sophomores — who want the most thorough, unhurried preparation possible.
What to Expect
Free Consultation
We start with a genuine, no-pressure conversation to learn about your student, answer your questions honestly, and figure out together which service is the right fit.
Intake & Planning
Once we get started, we do a thorough intake to understand your student's academic profile, interests, values, and goals — the authentic foundation everything else is built on.
Ongoing Collaboration
We meet regularly throughout the engagement, with Paige available by email and messaging between sessions. The whole family stays in the loop — you are never left waiting and wondering.
Decision & Beyond
Our support does not end when applications are submitted. We are here through acceptances, financial aid packages, and the final decision — with integrity and a little humor to carry you across the finish line.
Ready to Find the Right Fit?
Schedule a free consultation and let's talk about where your student is and where they want to go.