FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLEGE APP ASAP

What is College App ASAP?

College App Advisory Services and Planning (College App ASAP) is a consulting and editing service designed to provide you with the individual guidance and feedback you need to complete a compelling college application and personal statement.

College App ASAP was founded by Dr. Allison Deegan, who has more than 15 years of experience successfully guiding students of all ages and disciplines to undergraduate and graduate admissions, scholarships, fellowships, internships and employment.

Whether you need editorial advice on your undergraduate admissions personal statement, or you are contemplating submitting an application for a highly competitive graduate or fellowship program, let Dr. Deegan provide the personal guidance you need to put your best foot forward.

How is an essay different from a personal statement?

Whether your school’s application calls it an essay, personal statement, application statement, narrative, letter of introduction or by another name, the statement that you write about yourself is the foundation of your application.

How is Dr. Deegan’s approach different from other consultants?

With Dr. Deegan’s guidance, your essay or statement will be transformed into a highly personal, bold document that introduces you to admissions staff as an individual. Your statement will make a compelling case for your qualifications and characteristics, and help to highlight the reasons why you should be included in the program you are applying to. Dr. Deegan does not use a “one size fits all” or cookie cutter approach. She provides individualized, personal guidance drawn from more than a decade of success guiding 100% of the students she has worked with into the colleges and programs of their choice.

Application Bootcamp participants receive the benefit of a small group setting to access Dr. Deegan’s expertise at a significant discount over her typical hourly consulting fee. They also receive individualized guidance and access to all of Dr. Deegan’s highly effective guiding materials. The concentrated format of the Application Bootcamps delivers all of the depth of Dr. Deegan’s experience in a way designed to meet pressing deadlines.

Will Dr. Deegan write my personal statement for me?

No, Dr. Deegan will not write your application statement. She will offer preliminary tips and guidance and will then review your drafts, final versions and provide other advice depending on the service package options you have selected. Her assistance will be more than enough to help you complete a personal, bold and engaging application statement.

It may be tempting to hire services or companies, or even individuals, that offer the option of writing your statement for you. There are many available on the internet. Dr. Deegan advises that you avoid this route. A personal statement written by someone else (especially someone who does not know you) is very easy for admissions officers to spot. It could hurt your application more than it could possibly help it if your statement is viewed as content written by someone other than you, or if it is generic and says little that is personal about you. Your best chance at a compelling statement is to seek guidance to write one yourself, one that is true to who you are. That means you must write it. Getting guidance by an experienced advisor like Dr. Deegan can help improve your work considerably, but you need to write it yourself.

Will Dr. Deegan review my work personally or does she hire other editors?

Dr. Deegan is the sole reviewer and consultant for all clients of College App ASAP. She does not subcontract work to others. Her advice and guidance are drawn from her many years of professional experience and the thousands of applications and personal statements she has reviewed, as well as what she has learned from the admissions success of the students she has worked with directly. Dr. Deegan conducts all Application Bootcamps personally, in person.

English is not my first language. Will Dr. Deegan correct my English?

Dr. Deegan has extensive experience working with applicants who are not native English speakers. You need to draft your personal statement and application materials in English, however – Dr. Deegan will not act as a translator. She will work with you to correct and/or perfect any errors or confusion related to your language challenges. Application Bootcamp students who do not speak English must arrange for a translator to accompany them.

How quickly can I get my application statement reviewed?

Dr. Deegan offers a variety of review/consulting service options. Some are as quick as 24 hour turnaround. Please review all of the options available and contact Dr. Deegan directly if you have questions.

If you are requesting review/consulting services very near or at your school’s application deadline, please let Dr. Deegan know – special arrangements may be available.

You may sign up for Application Bootcamps up to the night before each session, but please be aware that spaces may fill up and you may miss your opportunity to attend before your applications are due. Please contact Dr. Deegan as soon as possible if you are interested in attending an Application Bootcamp to make sure space is available.

Will Dr. Deegan help me get admitted to a specific school, or to any school?

No. Dr. Deegan does not provide any explicit or implied guarantee or warranty regarding admission to a specific school, or to any school or program. She will provide guidance and coaching for your application and personal statement(s) and, if you select a consulting services option, will provide additional application and admissions services. She does not make outreach to individual schools – that is the responsibility of the applicants.

Why does College App ASAP require that I submit my work before a deadline?

In Dr. Deegan’s many years of experience, applicants who work under a deadline produce more compelling and fresh work. An open-ended deadline to complete your application and personal statement sometime in the future can lead students to put this critical component on the back burner, and then require them to rush at the last minute to meet a school’s deadline. That is a recipe for disaster and not the way to approach composing and refining your best work. Steady, focused effort on your application and personal statement is the best way to complete it.

In addition, Dr. Deegan provides individualized, personal guidance to each client. She is unable to review everyone’s work on the last day before a major deadline (such as December 31). Working within the deadline she provides, well in advance of your target school’s application deadline, is the best way to access Dr. Deegan’s valuable guidance and complete your application and statement in time.

What if I miss my College App ASAP deadlines or my Application Bootcamp date? Will Dr. Deegan still review my work and/or give me a refund?

When you sign up for Dr. Deegan’s services, you agree to meet the deadlines outlined in the service option you have purchased. Applicants who do not submit their work within their agreed deadlines or who cannot attend the Application Bootcamp session they have signed up and paid for may forfeit their fee and miss the opportunity to benefit from Dr. Deegan’s feedback. If technical issues prevent applicants from meeting their deadlines, Dr. Deegan is able to work out alternative schedules on a case-by-case basis. If special circumstances arise, please contact Dr. Deegan as soon as possible and she may be able to work out alternative deadlines. Refunds are not available for missed deadlines or sessions and any changes to deadlines or session dates must be rescheduled in advance with the express consent of Dr. Deegan.

If I want individual consulting, how do I arrange that, and what will it cost?

Contact Dr. Deegan by email at drdeegan@collegeappasap.com to arrange a personal consulting program that meets your needs. Costs range from $600 to $6000, depending on the time, deadlines, individual needs of each student, and Dr. Deegan’s availability.  A package price will be agreed upon in advance, with the number of hours and type of consulting, and expectations of both parties, clearly spelled out.

Dr. Deegan offers the App Year 13 month program and the App Half Year 6 month program, both of which offer substantial discounts for commitment and payment in advance for longer service engagements. She also offers short term consulting on an hourly basis for $150 per hour, and personal statement editing for $200 for one review, $350 for two reviews and additional charges for fast/overnight. Please select the option that is right for you and contact Dr. Deegan if you have any questions.

Will Dr. Deegan talk with me and/or my family by phone, email or online?

Yes, if you request a consulting package, Dr. Deegan will make arrangements to speak directly with you and your family (if you choose) by phone, email or online. Dr. Deegan conducts all consultations in English. If you need translation, you will have to provide your own translator for all communications. Dr. Deegan’s phone and online consultation (as well as “real time” email communication and/or chat) will be scheduled and viewed as firm appointments that students and/or their families must keep or forfeit the charges. If there are special circumstances that require rescheduling, please contact Dr. Deegan before the appointment to make arrangements.

Will Dr. Deegan meet with me and/or my family?

If you live in Southern California, where Dr. Deegan is based, she can make special arrangements to meet with you and your family if you subscribe for a consulting service option. These arrangements will be made directly with Dr. Deegan. All in-person consultations will be conducted in English, and you must provide your own translator if one is needed.

I don’t live in the U.S. Can I still use Dr. Deegan’s services?

If you are able to connect by email, phone or online, you can utilize Dr. Deegan’s services. You will need to converse and correspond with her in English.

What do I do if I am having technical difficulties with the registration or submission process?

Please contact Dr. Deegan directly by email at drdeegan@collegeappasap.com.