When my daughter applied to college, I spent weeks struggling through the process. Despite attending a presentation from school counselors, conducting dozens of web searches and watching countless YouTube videos, I was filled with uncertainty and anxiety. I was never sure what to do next and always felt behind in the process. I read about FAFSA and Common App and early decision and financial aid packages, but they seemed like pieces to a puzzle I didn't know how to solve.

  • I wasn't clear how the pieces I read about fit together
  • I didn't know what pieces I was missing or where to find them
  • I didn't have a picture showing me what the finished puzzle looked like

When it was over, I thought to myself no parent should have to go through this! So I used my decades of experience in marketing and technology automation and built the two tools I wanted when my daughter applied to college:

  • I wanted 1 document that explained the pieces, how they fit, and showed me the finished puzzle
  • I wanted 1 tool to track and manage all of the pieces

The Tools a Parent Needs

  • The Handbook to Solve the College Puzzle

    This 190-page handbook, filled with visuals, takes 3 to 4 hours to read. It covers all 15 steps of the process. Its modular design lets you tackle any step at any time. Direct links to 48 websites and online tools provide instant access to the resources you need.

    Preview the Handbook ->

  • The Web App to Build Your College Puzzle

    The web app is built on Google Sheets and lets you track information, activities and deadlines. With automation powered by Google Apps Script, it creates a Google College calendar for your family with integrated Gmail and text message reminders.

    Preview the Web App (PDF) ->

Some Details

  • About the Handbook

    • With so much uncertainty today, we will update the Handbook to reflect key changes to the college application process whether due to new Congressional policies, reorganization of the Dept of Education, annual updates to the FAFSA form, changes to federal loans, etc.

    • A link to access the Handbook will be sent to the email address you provide at checkout within about 15 minutes of placing your order.

    • You have 24 / 7 online access. To ensure you access the most current information, we turned off the ability to download or print the Handbook.

  • About the Web App

    • The app runs in a browser so there's no software to install. It supports 1 student and 2 parent / guardians. Users must grant our Google Apps Script permission to access their Google Sheets, Gmail and Calendar to enable the system automation.

    • A link to your web app will be sent to the email address provided at checkout within about 15 minutes of placing
      your order.

    • Note: The app will not run on a school-issued laptop due to IT security policies enacted by schools / districts

Start Smart and Maximize your College ROI

Would you pay a financial advisor $150 an hour to explain how the stock market works?

Why pay a college consultant $150 an hour to explain how the college application process works?

Start maximizing your return on the time and money you're investing in college now.

  1. Read the Handbook - In a few short hours, you'll understand how the entire process works.
    The smart, modular design lets you return as needed to re-address any parts of the process.
    Never again will you struggle to find, decipher, and make sense of the handwritten notes you
    furiously scribbled down weeks ago when you met with a consultant at a coffee shop.

  2. Start building your puzzle in the web app - Whether your student is a junior, sophomore or
    freshman just start. Enter potential colleges in the College List. Set college essay deadlines for your student or a deadline for you and your spouse to complete the Family Brag Sheet. Monitor upcoming ACT/SAT tests and record scores from previous tests. Capture your student's personality, skills and career information from Naviance and start to align careers with college majors and best-fit colleges.

  3. Begin to identify the expertise you need from a consultant - Starting to build your college puzzle will help clarify the consulting expertise you need.
  • Is your student laser-focused on 1 or 2 Reach schools? Has the consultant successfully helped students get admitted to those schools? Ask for examples where they demonstrated their ability
    to do a deep-dive analysis of a school's success factors and suggested precise changes to a student's course selection, extracurriculars, outside accomplishments, resume and essay to maximize their likelihood of acceptance.

  • Are you considering a broad range of schools and need a less experienced consultant to simply recommend the ideal Reach, Target, Safe school strategy to help you prioritize application and financial aid deadlines?

  • After seeing the cost of the colleges your student is considering, do you need a consultant who truly understands your challenges and specializes in helping families get the maximum amount of grants, scholarships and financial aid?

We believe the right college consultant can provide enormous value to your efforts through their unique combination of knowledge and experience. That's why we let families share their College Puzzle with their college consultant.

You Owe It to Yourself and Your Child

How much is your time and peace-of-mind worth?

How do you put a value on the life-long memories of your child's senior year?

For about 1% of the cost of one year of college you'll:

  • Save dozens of hours searching, sorting and digesting an endless stream of online college content
  • Replace the anxiety of uncertainty with the feeling of empowerment knowing exactly what to do
  • Reclaim the joy of your child's senior year that is often lost facing such a daunting process

And on that final college move-in day, when you fight back the tears and hug your child in their dorm room one last time, you'll have the peace of mind knowing you did the best job you could do, helping them with the most important decision of their young life.

The Universe Rewards Action

Start Smart in 2026

Don't wait until spring to start your college planning. The Start Smart 2026 event is on now.

The next 26 customers will save $100 and get the Web App Free!

Buy the Bundle and use discount code Smart26 at checkout

  • Buy Handbook Access

    Get 24 / 7 access to our
    190-page Handbook to
    Solve the College Puzzle

    $299
    One-time charge
    No monthly subscription

    Buy the Handbook

  • Buy the Web App

    Get the Web App to
    Build Your College Puzzle with
    Google security and automation

    $179
    One-time charge
    No monthly subscription


    Buy the Web App

  • Buy the Bundle

    Get 24 / 7 access to our Handbook, get the Build Your College Puzzle Web App and save $$$

    $399

    One-time charge
    No monthly subscription

    Buy the Bundle