Private College Counseling in the Triangle and Beyond

Find Your Admissions Groove

Today, the college admissions process is more complex, competitive, and unpredictable than ever. Selecting a college is one of the most important decisions your family will make, with implications that extend well beyond admission. With the right guidance, families can shape not only a student’s college choice, but their level of confidence and success once enrolled.

CollegeGroove provides private college advising and essay coaching both virtually and in-person in Chapel Hill, N.C.. Serving families in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area and beyond, we help students make informed, strategic decisions, applying to colleges where they can thrive. With choices grounded in fit, CollegeGroove families gain clarity, confidence in their decisions, and a thoughtful path forward that supports long-term success.

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Did You Know…

  • Two young men sitting across from each other at a table, engaged in conversation inside a bright room with large windows.

    …that the average public school guidance counselor-to-student ratio is more than 400:1?

  • A hand holding a glass piggy bank, filled with coins, decorated with googly eyes, and wearing a black graduation cap, against a green background.

    …that 97% of colleges do not meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated need?

  • Young man with black hair, wearing headphones and a black t-shirt, sitting at a table and looking intently at an open MacBook in a modern indoor space.

    …that over a third of college students transfer schools at least once, adding to the time and cost it takes to get their degree?

  • Empty wooden auditorium chairs in a large, well-lit room.

    …that some colleges may defer, waitlist or even deny a qualified student to protect their own institutional yield?

  • Hundreds of US dollar bills, including $10 and $20 bills, falling through the air against a white background.

    …that most merit aid goes to families who can afford to pay full tuition?

  • Close-up of a traditional stone building with gothic windows, ivy vine, green bushes, and ornate stonework around a wooden door.

    …that a college's supplementary essays often carry more weight than the personal statement?

  • Statue of Lady Justice holding scales with one arm, blindfolded, made of metal, with a neutral background.

    …that even "need blind" colleges consider family assets when selecting students from the waitlist?

  • Close-up of multiple-choice answer sheets, a white pencil with blue text resting on them, and a teal correction tape dispenser.

    …that even in today’s ‘test-optional’ landscape, submitting competitive test scores is always to a student’s benefit?

See What People Are Saying

  • Lauren was incredibly kind and knowledgeable—we learned more in our middle child's first few sessions with her than we did in our oldest child's entire process. Lauren’s calm demeanor and organizational systems kept the stress to a minimum. Her enthusiasm was contagious. We could not be happier with our daughter’s choices and are thrilled with the merit aid she received.

    — Ellen P., Chapel Hill, NC

  • Lauren was very helpful in every aspect of college advising and counseling. She laid out a clear plan for me to follow without limiting my own ambition, helped me to bring my life to words on paper, and was super supportive throughout my entire application process. I feel I owe my admission into college in part to her expert guidance during the essay process. She helped me decide what experiences to place the most emphasis on and my essays were very strong as a result.

    — Bryce J., Raleigh, N.C.

  • Now that we are happily on the other side of the process, I would strongly suggest that everyone trust this very important transition to Lauren. She has great insight and is also a keen listener. Knowing our son was in the right hands was honestly worth every dollar we paid. We were able to maintain peace in our house and enjoy his senior year. And he is so excited about his college choice!

    — Brian N., Raleigh, NC

Book a free consultation with Lauren