Bray McDonnell

GW School of Business, Class of 2019.  Notre Dame Law School, Class of 2024

"I wouldn’t be where I am today without Jan Baldocchi. When I met Jan, I was lost and overwhelmed as I tried to navigate the college admissions process. Jan focused my efforts and expertly guided me through my admissions cycle with her characteristically generous and thoughtful personality. She helped me discover the kinds of schools where I could be happy and successful and worked with me to craft a standout application with strong essays and a compelling narrative to get me in at my top schools. I attended one of my top choices with a significant scholarship, a school I hadn’t seriously considered before I met Jan.

However, Jan’s support and advice goes well beyond that of a typical college counselor. She takes the time to get to know each of her students and is deeply invested in their happiness and success. More than helping me get into a good college, Jan helped me grow as a person and find the confidence to experience all that college had to offer. Long after I submitted my last application, Jan still cares about me and my success, and continues to be a friend and confidant without compare. In short, she is the absolute best!"

University of Texas at Austin

"The college application process always frightened me. Heading into my senior year, I didn't even know where to begin. I am the oldest child in my family, so I didn't have anyone to guide and direct me through the confusing jargon and countless deadlines. More importantly, I didn't have anyone to rely on when it came to personalized admissions questions, opinions on schools I'd never visited (Covid year), or just bouncing ideas around. After I contacted Janet in September, the roadblocks I encountered in August dissipated. Her expertise, although invaluable, was only a part of what she brought to the table. 

Janet made it a point to get to know me and provided a thoughtful analysis of how each school fit my personality and interests. She also reached out to multiple of her previous students to talk to me about their experiences at the schools I was interested in. 

Many college admissions counselors serve simply as essay-checkers and deadline reminder systems. This could not be further from the truth in Janet's case. When you sign on with her, you can rest assured knowing that someone of her pedigree is personally invested in you or your child's success."

Loyola University Chicago Alumni

"Janet has been a vital source of success in my life for a span of 7+ years now. Her knowledge in the college space is truly unmatched, from accurately knowing the right colleges for her students, to working closely with them to ensure they are gaining the most up-to-date insights possible to make a huge decision, Janet has proven to be successful not only for herself, but for the students she works with. She regularly goes above and beyond for her students, ensuring they are primed to succeed in whatever aspirations they want to achieve. I’ve had the privilege to work with Jan and not only call her a colleague, but an amazing friend. Her attention to detail and support for me has been on display for as long as I’ve known her. Jan’s spirit, love, and support for me has helped guide me to where I am today. I credit a lot of my professional and personal success towards Jan because she goes above and beyond, giving me guidance and advice, as well as always wanting what is best for me. It has been an honor to have Jan in my life, to help me through the college process, in college, and now professionally, I would not be where I am today without her."

USC - Marshall School of Business, Class of 2020 & Columbia University, Class of 2022

"Jan has made a huge impact on my life and decision making processes since I first started working with her my Junior year of high school. She is an invaluable tool in recommending the right schools and fits for students based on their individual goals and chances of admission. She went above and beyond to work with me to select the right college for me to attend my freshman year to meet my ultimate goal of transferring to a University I am extremely proud to have graduated from. I’ve had the tremendous privilege of being able to develop a friendship with Jan over the past 8 years and knowing she fully cares about her students beyond just college counseling.
She was instrumental in allowing me to see my potential and set me on a path that varied significantly from my previous college admissions counselor. After graduating at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jan encouraged me to go through the process of pursuing a masters degree. It is safe to say that Jan is extremely invested in her students' successes, not just in the application process but throughout their lives as well."

University of Pennsylvania

"Though it has been years since I graduated from UPenn with my undergraduate nursing degree, I continue to credit Jan for the bulk of my success today. Her unmatched expertise and charismatic personality are what truly distinguish her from other generic-branded services. As a high school student, I had no idea how to market myself as an attractive applicant, despite having had relatively competitive grades and standardized test scores. Moreover, I struggled to choose a college (let alone a major) to apply to. Thankfully, with Jan’s help, I was able to compile a list of safety versus reach schools; create a comprehensive yet succinct resume that highlighted my accomplishments; and complete my supplemental essays in a way that represented my personal – not just my professional – aspirations. I cannot recommend Jan highly enough; she was and is a godsend."

PARENT

"Here yee here yee, attention all rising junior and senior parents! Listen up, Janet is the quintessential definition of your child’s college counselor guru. In modern times, I will describe her as your game changer, your saving grace, your emotional soundboard, your super hero, your organizational warrior, your cheerleader, and your research ninja. But most important of all, she becomes a dear friend to you and your kid when it’s all said and done.

Not only does she know how to navigate “WITH” your son and daughter, she nourishes them with endless insight into any college that’s out there. She is an expert at welcoming various personalities and will put them at ease to help steer them in their own direction. She does her homework and continues to be hungry for updated criteria that is undeniably important in this upside down world. During COVID, we miraculously found her through a friend recommendation and we count our lucky stars, each and every day. She was the perfect secret ingredient my husband and I needed. To be perfectly honest, the biggest bonus of all, was the feeling of content, and trust, to kept our boy on task during this whole journey so we could continue to enjoy the delights of parenting. Sometimes your relationship with your loved one is better if you have someone else in the picture who is a professional in their field, who supports your kids future and what’s best for them. We’re talking weekly check ins with your child, date to date deadlines, essay proofing, monitoring organization skills, gathering info on sports recruiting, and providing exam prep knowledge...to name a few.

Trust me, I know this a daunting journey, but in the end, your young adult will find “their” perfect college, and your relationship with them will be stronger because of Janet's expertise... period! Two thumbs up!"

PARENT

"Jan was an invaluable resource for our entire family during the college application process. She made a unique connection with each of our three sons, focusing on their individual goals and ideas for college. She creates a safe place for students which is absolutely critical as they have so much stress on them trying to get into college. Jan boosts her student’s self-confidence and helps them reach for their dreams, while also keeping it real and being honest with them. She creates individual plans for each student and keeps them on track for getting things done. Her depth of knowledge about college admissions, majors and acceptance strategies is incredible. Jan is also a tremendous resource for test prep and essay writing. All of our boys ended up with many great options and scholarships thanks to Jan. I can't imagine how we would have gotten through it all without her!"