Support for every stage of the journey

Whether you’re just getting started or your child’s junior year is already underway, there’s a path for your family.

Carly Gieszl holds up cards as she smiles at the camera on her laptop

What most families tell me they need is pretty straightforward: someone who can tell them what's important, what's not, and what to do next.

Someone they can go to and say, "We got this email — does it matter?"

Every family I work with gets the same thing: a real plan, personal attention, and someone who knows this process from the inside.

What changes is where your child is starting from.

Comprehensive College Planning

Best for: High school juniors and their parents who want step-by-step support from list building all the way through enrollment.

This is my signature offering, built around the Rooted Method — taking your family from college list to final decision, with no limits on applications or essays.

Foundational Planning

Best for: Families with a freshman or sophomore who want to get ahead and stay ahead.

This package is an add-on to Comprehensive College Planning, designed for families who want to start early. We spend freshman and sophomore year working on summer planning, course selection, and major and career exploration — so that when junior year arrives, your child is already grounded and ready to go.

Foundational Planning flows directly into the Comprehensive package, so support continues all the way through June 15 of senior year.

Ask Me Anything Session

Best for: Any high schooler and at least one parent who has questions and wants answers.

Something in particular on your mind? Questions you can’t figure out? This 60-minute session is for you. Share a few topics ahead of time and come ready to ask me anything about the college admissions process. No agenda and no pressure!

Working with me means you have someone in your corner who knows this process deeply, keeps your child on track, and takes the guesswork off your plate.

64

successful Rooted students since 2019

71%

of students admitted to first college choice

 Frequently Asked

  • A private educational counselor allows greater opportunity for your student to succeed.

    I help you and your family get the most out of this process, providing you with a go-to advocate and guide through this journey. This means I help each of my students realize their potential during the college admissions process and beyond.

    See this article (written by a family) that details the help and support a college consultant provides.

  • You should expect a fun, comprehensive, and eye-opening experience. An experience where your child learns more about themselves in an innovative way, while also finding their true educational path.

    Expect to have the stress taken off your plate and watch the process of applying to schools become exciting for your student. This experience is unique and happens once in your child's lifetime, requiring you and your child to enter into it with an open mind and open heart.

  • Rooted College Planning expands upon the foundational blocks built from family, academics, and self-discovery.

    With a unique niche in family dynamics and the parent/child relationship, owner and consultant Carly Gieszl, is committed to finding college options for each student’s best fit.

    Take a look at this article, which details what you should look for when hiring an educational consultant.

  • I can't answer for your family, but what I can say is that this is a small investment into your child's future. Investing in this process now will save you money down the road.

    Finding the right college fit will help avoid begrudgingly going through the transfer process. Also, many students think they need to apply to too many colleges.

    This is where I come in - saving you not only money with application fees, but also your time!

Not sure what option is right for your family?

Let’s figure it out together.