Helping Students Get into College — and Helping Parents Keep Their Sanity

Personalized College Planning Tailored to Your Goals

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Optimize, Strategize, Take Control

Navigating the path to college can be overwhelming for both students and parents. At Optima U College Consulting, we focus on maximizing your post-high school options and finding the best fit for your educational journey. Our approach ensures that families work together throughout high school, leading to a more engaging and educated experience with better end results.

Our Comprehensive Services

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Personality Testing & Career Interest Inventory

Utilizing tools like the "Do What You Are" assessment, we help students discover careers that match their personality and interests.

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One on One College Planning and Guidance

We help students identify their best-fit schools, navigate the admissions process, and achieve their post-high school goals.

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Group College Planning and Guidance

We offer collaborative group college planning and guidance sessions that help studends navigate the college admissions process together.

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Financial Aid and Scholarship Advising

Navigating the complexities of financial aid to make college affordable.

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Interview
Preparation

Coaching to build confidence and effectively communicate strengths during college interviews.

Unlocking Success,
One Student at a Time

EXPERTISE YOU CAN TRUST

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Founded by Tom Neighbour, who has been in the counseling field and advising college applicants since 2004, our team brings extensive experience and personalized attention to each student.

TAILORED STRATEGIES

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We understand that each student is unique. Our personalized approach ensures that your college planning is aligned with your individual goals and aspirations.

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT

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From academic planning to application submission, we provide end-to-end support to make the college admissions process seamless and stress-free.

PROVEN TRACK RECORD

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Our students have been successfully admitted to prestigious institutions, reflecting our commitment to excellence.

Testimonials

  • "I met Mr. Neighbour near the end of my freshman year, clueless as to how I wanted to maximize the remaining three years of my high school career. He not only guided me through scheduling conundrums and numerous applications like GHP but also offered crucial assistance during my college admissions process. I had always been a practical and down-to-earth writer, which was great for academic writing but hurt my college essays, so we worked extensively to inject my personality and a bit of playfulness into my writing, eventually culminating in my acceptance into some great schools. His years of experience were particularly valuable during the pandemic as I had little access to my overwhelmed school counselor, and I highly recommend working with Mr. Neighbour to break down and maximize an otherwise overwhelming process."

    — Jason

  • "Coming from a relatively rural town, our daughter did not have satisfying assistance from her high school to apply to extremely selective colleges and their reputable programs. Through a friend whose child had been through the college process with Mr. Neighbour, we decided to also utilize his guidance. Throughout her junior year and senior year, Mr. Neighbour worked to understand our daughter and her goals and then supported her through the admissions process. Because she was applying to rigorous BS/MD programs, the application process was lengthy and included interviews; however, Mr. Neighbour provided exceptional insight and direction with everything. With his help, our daughter was accepted into both Mercer University’s 8-year medical program and Augusta University’s 7-year medical program along with several other great colleges. I would highly recommend Mr. Neighbours’ services to other parents and students!"

    — Nirav

  • "First of all, Tom is wonderful, amazing and patient! He has helped my daughter with her college application process. He worked closely with my daughter to ensure she was on track. Tom was always available for my daughter to discuss ideas with and receive feedback. Having someone knowledgeable working with her was a big relief for me. Tom was always available to talk to me and was always responsive to text messages if I had any questions. My daughter was accepted to all the colleges she applied to. We loved having Tom as her counselor and I can’t wait for the wonderful guidance my second child will receive from him. My son will be in great hands! highly recommend Tom to anyone looking for help with the college application process for their children."

    — Amisa

  • “Tom was instrumental in guiding my daughter throughout the college application process. He helped to focus her attention where it needed to be and to keep her on track to meet the various deadlines along the way. As a result of his guidance, she was able to get accepted into her dream school, as well as several other “safety” schools. My daughter felt comfortable talking to Tom as he was very encouraging, supportive and honest regarding her college admissions expectations. As this was our first time going through the application process with our kids, my husband and I were not exactly sure what to expect. However, we will not hesitate to utilize Tom’s services again next year when our younger daughter starts the college search process herself.”

    — Amy

  • "Mr. Tom and Mrs. Karen have helped me tremendously with the college application process! Well after I had submitted my applications, it hit me how crucial their help, resources, and advice was to ensuring I was submitting the best application I could! I truly believe the help I had gotten on my essays was the determining factor for a handful of my college acceptances! Thank you Mrs. Karen and Mr. Tom again for all your help and time!"

    — Krisha

  • "The college counseling provided by Mr. Thomas Neighbour helped me get into my dream school! His individualized advisement helped me overcome my biggest challenge - writing college essays. I am so grateful for Mr. Neighbour because he made my college planning process less stressful and trouble-free."

    — Shriya

Discover the Right Fit Before You Apply

There’s no substitute for standing on campus and feeling it for yourself. Optima U empowers families to take strategic, in-person campus visits that go beyond the brochure—where students can sit in on classes, talk with current students, and experience the atmosphere firsthand.

Every visit is a chance to see the future in real time—and to rule out schools that don’t truly fit. With Optima U’s expert guidance, students learn how to prepare, evaluate, and reflect on each visit so every step brings them closer to a confident, informed college decision. Don’t just apply—apply with certainty.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • We have packages starting as early as 9th grade. Many of our clients begin as rising 10th or rising 11th grade students.

  • Most selective colleges take a holistic approach when reviewing applications. This means they consider a wide range of factors, including academic performance, course rigor, SAT/ACT scores, personal essays, extracurricular involvement, community contributions, work or internship experience, and overall fit with the institution.

  • Our students have been accepted to a wide variety of colleges & universities. Pease visit this page to learn more.

  • Students may initiate college visits as early as ninth grade; however, the majority begin during eleventh grade, when they typically have a more defined understanding of their academic and personal preferences. We strongly encourage visiting a college before making a final decision to attend. Feel free to request your complimentary “Making the Most of College Visits” guide delivered via email.

  • Build a balanced college list made up of schools you’d genuinely be excited to attend.

  • A college counselor will give more support to the student and application process. Our direct approach involves understanding your student and creating a custom college plan offering individualized attention to optimize their opportunities.

  • We have various packages and options depending on your aspirations and grade level. Through working consistently with your student and picking up where the High School Counselor leaves off, our goal is to successfully generate multiple college acceptances.

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Take the First Step Towards Your Future

Don't let the college planning process become a source of stress. Schedule a free consultation today and discover how Optima U College Consulting can help you navigate your post-high school goals with confidence and success.