Join the 2027 Scholars Cohort Program
ScholarTrek was founded with the goal of making quality college counseling accessible to as many students and parents as possible. Most families are not in a financial position to invest in one-on-one college consulting. The Scholars Cohort Program provides a detailed roadmap for families to follow as they navigate the college search and application process starting in their junior year of high school, while still gaining access to the expertise of a college consulting team.
In the Cohort Program, members will get to engage in live presentations and workshops hosted by ScholarTrek’s senior consulting team, including our Founder, Melissa Barger. The program is constructed in a way that families can follow step by step processes each month to ease the stress and uncertainty that often comes with the college application process, while also giving expert advise and examples on how to get your application to stand out amongst the crowd
Cohort Components
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Live Workshops
Live workshops and Q&A sessions will be offered 2 times per month. Access to a recorded version of the workshop will be available to members for the duration of the Cohort program. -
Downloadable Resources
Members will have access to downloadable resources and worksheets to help ease the application process. Resources will be added each month in relation to the live workshops. -
Expert Advice
Between live Q&A sessions, members will have the ability to submit questions that benefit the Cohort community. Answers to most questions will be provided in either an upcoming live session or in the monthly Q&A newsletter. -
Video Resource Library
In addition to the recorded workshops, members will have access to a video library with step-by-step guides to creating college application accounts, completing financial aid forms, and more.
Meet Your Lead Guide
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Every student has their own unique set of academic and career goals. My goal with every student, whether it be in a group setting or one-on-one, is to help them identify their strengths, growth opportunities, and the important role they play in their current community.
The college application journey, unfortunately, is not a streamlined process. I strive to empower families with understanding the “why” behind college admissions, so they can better understand how their choices will or will not impact their college admission decisions.
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I had the privilege of working over a decade in college admissions, including reviewing 30,000+ college applications and managing scholarship and financial aid awards. Every college I served had a different way of reviewing applications and had their own set of institutional priorities.
Institutions Served:
Agnes Scott College
Augusta University & The Medical College of Georgia
College of Wooster
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Georgia College & State University
Pitzer College
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Columbia University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Pitzer College
Frequently Asked Questions
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Any student who is applying to college starting in the summer or fall of 2027 will greatly benefit. The content will be beneficial for students applying to the most selective colleges in the nation, to students exploring speciality programs in the arts, to students applying to colleges in their local community. Content and advice will be supplied to match varying student needs.
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The earlier the better! Applying to college is a marathon not a sprint. The program is setup to not just help with application advice, but to help students with time management in completing required application materials.
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College admissions is quite different than it was 20 years ago, even 5 years ago. A private college consultant can help students and their parents navigate the new college landscape to ensure that the applicant is applying to the best colleges for them, while also strategically approaching their applications to increase their chances of admission. We would be remiss if we did not mention how much help with time management and staying on top of deadlines is part of the perks of working with a private consultant.
Many families choose to invest in test prep tutoring to increase their student’s SAT/ACT score. A college consultant helps applicants increase the quality of their application materials through personalized feedback and guidance.
For some, a college consultant is most valuable in guiding the student through the college essay brainstorming and editing process, for others its crafting a custom plan to help bring down the cost of college. A college consultant is there to ease the stress and support the applicant in every way possible.
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Workshops are offered 2x month via Teams Webinars. A private link for each workshop will be supplied to each Cohort member/family. Recorded versions of the workshops will be posted for all members to watch within 5 days of the live session.
Most live workshops will be offered on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.
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Individual feedback pertaining to a student’s application materials is not included in the Cohort program. Families may opt to supplement the program with the purchase of individual essay and applications edits, as well as private hourly consulting meetings.
For families wanting more individualized feedback, we encourage you to reach out to schedule a free consultation to discuss our comprehensive private consulting packages.
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Comprehensive private consulting packages start at $2000, with the average package costing $6000.