With a high school student trying to choose the right college, Pam Pik decided, like so many mothers of juniors, that she needed to educate herself on the process. That pursuit of knowledge led her to a venture. She has now started her own consulting business for parents and kids who want that extra input and guidance in choosing and getting into a college.
Pam quickly realized how confusing and stressful the drill can be. Most high school counselors are very competent but many work with too many children to give each the extensive, individualized attention students need. Pam also discovered, like most moms of teenagers, that many kids have a hard time listening to a parent’s advice on when to write the dreaded essay or hearing constructive comments about the deadlines. Having a counselor to ease that relationship and move the child forward can provide a huge advantage and relieve some of the stress families face.
Training involved a 6 course on-line certification program in college counseling through UCLA and a 4 day seminar given by the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) of which Pam is a member. This group holds regular seminars for members and sponsors visits to 20 -30 colleges a year.
With this education, Pam was able to secure an internship with a local private college consulting firm which consisted of 65 hours over a 9 week period. She says, “This really opened my eyes and gave me the valuable hands on experience I needed to have my own consulting service.” And this training was all manageable while Pam’s three kids were in school during the day.
Whether you have an athlete, an academic or just an average kid trying to find the right fit, a college counselor can ease the stress and take the guesswork out of the process. Pam will work on an hourly basis or provide the entire search process to a student, which includes coursework suggestions, testing recommendations, college lists, common application completion, essay ideas and editing, a timeline and interview prep. Her strengths lie in recruited athletes and helping with essays where her editing background serves her well.
Pam was able to take her own experience and form a venture around that. She had wanted to go back to work or form a venture now that her children are close to leaving the house for college. Now with her two oldest in college and a 10th grader who’s starting to look, she finds fulfillment assisting others. Pam says, “This is a great independent venture that provides a new crop of clients each year.”
Contact: [email protected], 203-984-6837, www.pamelakpik.com
Now in the VentureMom Shop, be sure to mention VentureMom when you contact Pam.
VentureMom Tip
Choose a venture with a built in client base that continues to replenish each year.
