Snyder College Consulting
Thoughtful, personalized guidance for the entire college application journey
Serving families in Greater Boston and nationwide with in-person and virtual counseling.
For nearly three decades, Snyder College Consulting has helped students and families navigate the college admissions process with clarity, confidence, and integrity. I combine deep admissions expertise with a calm, practical approach that keeps students at the center of every decision.
Andrew Snyder, Ed.D.
25+ years at Snyder College Consulting
9 years as a professor (tenured) and department chair, teaching educators who want to go into school counseling and administration at Rhode Island College (Providence, RI).
6 years as Director of College Counseling at The Cambridge School of Weston (Weston, MA). I also taught history and Latin, coached soccer and tennis, and served as a dorm parent.
4 years as Director of College Counseling at Moses Brown School (Providence, RI).
What I Do
-
Map out a four-year academic and extracurricular plan that keeps as many college options open as possible
Advise on course selection (honors, AP/IB, dual enrollment) aligned with each student’s strengths, interests, and mental health
Help families understand how grades, testing, and activities are viewed by admissions over time
Introduce college concepts gradually so students build confidence instead of anxiety
Check in regularly to recalibrate plans as interests, goals, and circumstances evolve
-
Build a balanced list of “likely,” “target,” and “reach” schools tailored to each student’s academic profile and ambitions
Prioritize environments where the student will genuinely thrive — class size, culture, support systems, campus feel, and location
Integrate financial realities from the start, including likely merit aid, in-state options, and affordability scenarios
Draw on decades of campus visits and relationships with admissions offices across the country
Provide structure for campus visits (questions to ask, people to meet, how to evaluate what you see)
-
Clarify the student’s core story: who they are, what they care about, and how that connects to their college goals
Align application components (activities, essays, recommendations, supplements) around a coherent, compelling narrative
Create a customized calendar that breaks the process into manageable weekly tasks
Track deadlines for Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, and special programs or scholarships
Reduce last-minute stress by setting internal due dates that are earlier than the colleges’ deadlines
-
Brainstorm essay topics that are authentic to the student — not clichés, not what they “think colleges want”
Help students find their own voice and point of view, especially those with “jagged edges” or unconventional paths
Provide detailed feedback on structure, clarity, and impact while ensuring the work remains 100% the student’s
Guide students through multiple drafts of the personal statement and key supplemental essays
Support specialized writing: Honors programs, “Why us?” responses, portfolios, and program-specific prompts
-
Help students identify, deepen, and organize their activities to reflect genuine interests and commitments
Translate everyday experiences (jobs, family responsibilities, personal projects) into admissions-ready language
Structure the Activities section of the Common App to highlight leadership, initiative, and impact
Develop a polished one-page résumé for internships, scholarships, special programs, or arts/athletic supplements
Strategize meaningful opportunities — summer programs, independent projects, community engagement — that fit the student, not a template
-
Prepare students for college interviews (alumni, on-campus, and virtual) with realistic questions and mock interviews
Coach students on how to talk confidently about their story, interests, and “why this college”
Offer feedback on body language, tone, pacing, and responses so they feel natural, not scripted
Help students formulate thoughtful questions that show genuine curiosity and fit
Review overall presentation across platforms — email etiquette, social media presence, and communication with admissions
-
Compare offers in a clear, side-by-side way: academics, culture, support services, cost, and long-term outcomes
Help families interpret financial aid letters, merit awards, and loan implications
Talk through “heart vs. head” decisions, including waitlist outcomes and gap-year considerations
Support the student in planning an intentional transition: choosing courses, understanding support resources, and setting realistic expectations
Remain available as a sounding board through the spring and summer as emotions, choices, and details evolve
Getting Started
The first step is scheduling a no-cost, no-obligation meeting. If you live in the Boston area, I come to your home (I find that students are more comfortable and willing to share on their own turf). We talk for 60 to 90 minutes about the process and my approach. I leave you to decide if we are a good fit for working together. While every process covers the same aspects, no two students are alike; everyone has different strengths and needs. I am here for all of it — and I’d love to work with you.
My all-inclusive rate is $29,000. This includes all services and meetings (in-person or virtual) as I manage the entire college application and decision making process for you. When we work together, I guide you through the process from start to finish—step by step, and with a clear plan. We begin by getting to know your student and your priorities, reviewing your high school context, and mapping the right academic and (if needed) testing plan. From there, we build a thoughtful college list and an application strategy, track each school’s requirements, and make sure your student is engaging in the right ways (visits, outreach, interviews) without it becoming overwhelming. As we move into application season, I help shape the activity list and résumé, identify the best recommenders, complete the Common App accurately, and coach essays and supplements so the student’s voice comes through clearly and confidently. I also manage the financial aid and scholarship process with deadlines and documentation, and I stay on top of submissions, portals, and any missing materials. Finally, when decisions arrive, I help you evaluate options—including financial aid offers—navigate deferrals or waitlists if needed, and support your family through the final decision and transition to college.
Other packages (already covered in the all-inclusive rate):
Reality Check — review of application list, college visits, and interview preparation (2-3 hours): $2,900
Submitting an authentic and precise Common Application — review of completed Common Application (not including essay and supplements) (2-3 hours): $2,900
Final essay review — review of completed primary college essay (personal statement) and up to 3 supplemental essays (2-3 hours): $2,900
Selecting materials for a studio art, music, or writing portfolio (2-3 hours): $2,900
Overview of the financial aid process — helping parents make sense of FAFSA, CSS Profile, scholarships, financial-aid letters, and the broader affordability questions that shape the college decision-making process (2–3 hours): $2,900
I work with:
High school students (grades 9–12) planning for U.S. and select international (Canadian and UCAS) universities
Students pursuing specialized programs (honors, STEM, business, studio and performing arts, and more)
Students who are seeking an identity-affirming university experience, with an emphasis on supporting neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD and AuDHD) and LGBTQ+ students
Transfer applicants seeking a better-fit institution
Families looking for expert guidance on strategy, essays, financial aid, and timelines
Whether your student is aiming for highly selective colleges, strong flagship publics, or a mix of options, I help build a balanced list and a compelling, authentic application.
Why Families Choose Snyder College Consulting
Deep Expertise,
Not Hype
With an Ed.D. in Educational Administration and more than 30 years in higher education, K–12 leadership, and college counseling, I bring a nuanced understanding of how admissions decisions are really made.
More Than 1,100 Families Guided
Since 1990, I have supported over 1,100 students and families, visiting 200+ colleges and universities and building trusted relationships across the higher education landscape.
Student Centered
& Values Driven
I care about more than “getting in.” My work focuses on fit, well-being, and long-term success and flourishing — helping students identify colleges where they will thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Calm in a Stressful Process
The college process can be overwhelming. I break it into clear, manageable steps so students stay organized, on track, and confident.
What Parents Say
“Working with Andy was one of the best decisions we made for our family. He guided all three of our kids—each with very different social, emotional, and academic needs—into the colleges that fit them perfectly. What impressed us most was how deeply he understood who they were as individuals. He was warm, kind, and genuinely invested in their success, and each of them ultimately thrived at the school they chose.
Andy didn’t just advise; he led the entire process. From timelines to applications to scheduling our out-of-town college visits, he handled everything with calm, steady expertise. We never felt like we had to push or manage the process ourselves, which kept our home peaceful during what is often an incredibly stressful time.
We loved working with Andy and felt completely confident every step of the way. His support made all the difference, and we’re endlessly grateful for the guidance he gave our family. We recommend him wholeheartedly.”
“We’ve worked with Andy for both of our kids. Our older child was a fairly straightforward case—strong grades, clear interests, predictable path. Our younger one… not so much. He had a patchy transcript, some disciplinary issues, and a personality that doesn’t fit into tidy boxes. We were honestly nervous that no one would see what we see in him.
What amazed us was how differently, and appropriately, Andy approached each child. For our older, he fine-tuned; for our younger, he excavated. He asked hard questions, helped him reflect without shaming, and found colleges that appreciate unconventional, complex kids. In the end, both kids landed in places that fit them—very different schools, equally right. That, to us, is the clearest proof that Andy isn’t just following a formula. He’s paying attention.”
“Our daughter’s transcript was fine, but her portfolio and personality are where she truly shines. Andy helped us find schools that saw the whole person, not just a GPA, and she’s now in a program that feels like it was invented for kids exactly like her.”
What Students Say
“Before I met Andy, I would’ve said ‘I hate writing’ every chance I got. Essays took me forever, and I’d just sit there staring at a Google Doc, typing and deleting the same sentence fifty times. So when I heard how many essays college applications required, I seriously thought about giving up and going straight to work.
Andy didn’t start by forcing me to write. He started by talking. He asked these weirdly good questions about my life—times I felt proud, times I failed, moments that changed how I see things. Instead of saying, ‘Okay, now write an essay,’ he had me record voice memos telling stories, almost like I was talking to a friend. Then we turned those into rough drafts together.
He broke each essay into tiny pieces: ‘Today, all you have to do is a brainstorm list. Tomorrow, just the intro. Next session, we’ll work on one body paragraph.’ That completely changed things for me. I wasn’t wrestling a monster essay; I was just doing one small piece at a time.
Andy also helped me understand what colleges actually want from essays: not some fancy vocabulary explosion, but proof that I can reflect on my experiences and show who I am. He’d highlight sentences that sounded like ‘me’ and ask, ‘How can we get more of this voice in here?’ Every time I made real progress, he pointed it out, which helped my confidence a ton.
By the deadline, I had a personal statement and several supplemental essays I was genuinely proud of. Even my English teacher said she could hear my voice in them. I still wouldn’t say writing is my favorite thing in the world, but now I know I can do it—and that shift is honestly one of the biggest things I got out of working with Andy.”
“Working with Andy honestly changed how I felt about the whole college process. It went from being this scary, mysterious thing everyone stressed about to a challenging but manageable project with a clear plan. He never treated me like ‘just another client’—he remembered tiny details about my interests and would send me random articles or programs he thought I’d like. When good news started coming in, he was genuinely excited for me, not just checking a box. Walking onto campus as a freshman, I didn’t feel like I had just gotten lucky—I felt like I had made smart, informed choices with someone in my corner the whole way.”
“I’m the first person in my family to apply to college in the U.S., so all of this was totally new. My parents wanted to support me but didn’t know how, and I felt guilty asking for help they couldn’t really give. Andy explained everything to me in normal language—FAFSA, CSS, early action vs. regular, all of it—and then helped me explain it to my parents in a way that made sense to them too. He always made sure they were included but also respected that the decisions were ultimately mine. In the end, it felt like we were all on the same team, with Andy as our guide.”