The Boundless Process Step by Step: The Five C's ©

Every Boundless student begins by working with our exceptional career coach, who leads them through an assessment that is grounded in decades of data from thousands of professionals who report deep fulfillment in their work. The tool identifies key patterns — the fields those individuals studied, the careers they chose, and what they value — and matches them to the student’s strengths, interests, and aspirations.

The coach then prepares a personalized report highlighting careers the student is likely to find rewarding, common majors in those fields, typical earning potential, and meaningful ways to explore those paths through courses and activities.

Once the report is shared, the counselor works closely with the student to reflect on the findings — not just reviewing the results, but helping the student analyze them through the lens of their values, questions, and emerging sense of purpose.

I then meet with the student to review the career report’s findings and discuss what their fields of interest actually involve. I also suggest courses and extracurriculars that might help them test the waters — to see if a path feels like a good fit and to demonstrate to colleges that their interest is informed and intentional. From there, we begin an ongoing conversation about what they’re looking for in a college experience — academically, socially, and personally.

Over the next few meetings, we develop the college list. Most students arrive with a few schools in mind, so we build from there — refining, expanding, and sometimes rethinking based on their evolving sense of direction. I also recommend schools that align with their goals, learning style, and personality, often introducing options they hadn’t considered but that turn out to be a strong match.

To support and enrich this process, I use a platform developed by a former Princeton admissions officer that offers detailed insights into each college, including estimated admission likelihood. I use this information to help the student refine their list and strengthen their profile — highlighting areas for academic growth, suggesting an AP course, or encouraging deeper engagement in an activity to enhance their applications.

When we finalize the list, my goal is to ensure that each college reflects a thoughtful and realistic balance of academic fit, admissions possibility, and personal connection, so the student feels confident about their options and inspired as they move forward.

Once the college list is in place, I help the student map out each school’s application requirements — deadlines, supplemental materials, scholarship opportunities, interviews, portfolios, and other easy-to-miss details. Together, we create individualized checklists that break the process into manageable steps with clear priorities. The goal is to reduce stress by staying ahead of the curve, so the student moves through each step with calm, clarity, and control.

I provide the student with clear, well-detailed, and honest feedback on all of their essays, personal statements, and short-answer responses. Together, we go through as many rounds of revision as needed to arrive at a final version that is both genuinely polished and deeply personal. I work closely with the student to ensure that every piece of writing reflects their voice, showcases their accomplishments, and expresses their ideas with confidence and intention. The goal is for every essay to be articulate, authentic, and compelling, so that the student not only tells their story, but tells it exceptionally well.

Once admissions decisions have arrived, I guide the student through the final decision-making process, helping them to sort through and thoughtfully compare their options. We look closely at the academic, personal, and professional implications of each choice — what each college offers, what day-to-day life there might feel like, and what kind of overall experience it’s likely to provide. My goal is to help the student make a confident, well-informed decision and choose the college where they are the most likely to thrive, where they can grow intellectually and socially, and begin building a life that truly aligns with their values and aspirations.