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, essay coaching, SAT/ACT test prep, and math tutoring 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 and find colleges where they will thrive. With choices grounded in fit, our approach gives families the clarity and confidence to pursue successful outcomes.

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Did You Know…

  • College counselor meeting with a student 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 student 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 1/3 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 classroom.

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

  • Many 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 college 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 test answer sheets, with a white pencil resting on them.

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

See What People Are Saying

  • While the student absolutely has to put in the work, Lauren is right there to guide, support, challenge, and encourage them throughout the process. What can be an extremely stressful experience became manageable for my daughter.

    — Andrea J., Raleigh, NC

  • [Lauren] 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.

    — Bryce J., Raleigh, N.C.

  • 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