Welcome

The process of applying to college has changed dramatically in recent years. Competition for admission to the "best" colleges is intense; students are bombarded by the marketing efforts of colleges; the cost of attending both public and private institutions is staggering. Everywhere one looks, it seems, whether it is on television, in the newspaper, on the web, or on magazine covers, college admissions is a hot topic.

How do you make sense of the information overload? What information do you need to make the right decisions? What do you need to know—and understand—about the process? The stakes seem higher than ever.

The goal of Frank W. Brightwell and Associates is this: to provide the student with a high level of personal service and a calm, reasoned, and methodical approach to this process. The process of selecting and applying to college can be confusing and stressful. The young person is asked to evaluate himself of herself—strengths and weaknesses, in ways he or she has perhaps never been asked before. For the family, important decisions with long-lasting implications must be made, and for the young person, these life decisions are made for the first time as a young adult.

We recognize these personal challenges and the impact on family dynamics, and so we approach our work with you from a counseling perspective. At the same time, you can expect that we will provide you with current, reliable and honest information and opinion. Our experience with hundreds of families, knowledge of colleges, understanding of the process, and involvement in the profession assure this.

This website is but one resource, prepared to provide you with some of the answers to the questions you might have as you face the coming months. The more you know, the greater the likelihood that you will make informed and reasonable decisions. To the students: engage yourself in this process! Take advantage of the opportunities for growth and reflection. Listen to the advice of people you trust: your parents, your teachers, your school counselor, your private counselor, and then proceed with confidence into the next stage of your life.

We thank you for visiting our site, and we welcome your feedback.