Educational Spotlight: Open Door Educational Consultants LLC, Denise Baylis

A Passion Becomes a Career and a Calling

I discovered my passion for College Counseling years ago while guiding my sons on their very different paths to college. I understood only too well the stresses and pressures that teens—and parents—experience during the college search and admissions process. After talking to many students and parents, I recognized the need for knowledgeable and professional guidance. My experience with my own sons, and my thorough research and interactions with many families and students inspired me to pursue an education in College Counseling. While earning a Certificate in College Counseling with Distinction from UCLA, I began advising high school students, college transfer students and college grads.

My full service practice addresses every step of the journey, from initial consultation, academic and activity review, college search and essay guidance, applications, financial aid & scholarship counseling, comparing offers and help with transition to college, gap year or grad school.

It’s all about FIT. I believe that your student is much more than a collection of test scores, activities, a GPA and a few essays. I use a highly personalized approach to get to know your teen as an individual with unique strengths, talents, achievements and needs. I am especially skilled at working with students to identify their strengths and emphasize their positive traits with a focus on helping them find and apply to majors, schools, programs and potential careers that fit who they are.

As a former VP of a Fortune 500 media company, I bring significant expertise in marketing, advertising, branding and promotion to my college consulting practice. Understanding how colleges, universities and their programs brand themselves, recognizing how a student fits within those brands, and helping the student shape and structure both the written and unwritten expression of that fit are key aspects of the college application and admissions process that I know so well. This significant experience and expertise are what differentiate me from many other college counseling practices.

Keeping up to date in the fast changing world of college admissions is crucial. I do so by regularly touring colleges and universities, participating in college admissions conferences and workshops, reading extensively and regularly sharing experiences through my professional groups and networks, such as National Association for College Admission Counseling, New York State Association for College Admission Counseling, and Higher Education Consultants Association.

My goal as your private college and educational counselor is to empower you and your teen by giving you the latest knowledge, tools and insights to help your family make appropriate and well informed decisions.

Phone: (914) 576-6908

Web: www.opendooredu.com

Email: denise@opendooredu.com