About Us
Free ConsultationMission
Our mission is to assist high school students and young adults transition from high school to college and from college to career by guiding them through self-exploration and discovery.
Overview
What We Do
CT College Planning assists high school students and young adults achieve their goals for the future as they plan for college and enter the workforce. We will help you discover your voice through introspection, gain independence in determining your ideal college or career environment and build a compelling narrative that demonstrates your unique gifts to admissions officers and employers.
We offer personalized services built to achieve your goals, from developing a college list customized for your ambitions to drafting a resume for your dream job and everything in between.
To achieve this goal, we offer a personalized, concierge-like service to guide families or adult students through the entire application process, from developing a personalized college list to application completion and everything in between.
Who we serve
College Planning Services
Our College Planning Program offers a comprehensive college planning strategy to high school juniors and seniors. These programs are designed to guide you through the entire college planning process and are personalized to each student and family.
We also welcome high school sophomores to start ahead of the structured program through our hourly consultations. These sessions will help students and parents understand how to best prepare for the comprehensive College Planning Program and further develop their academic resume.
Career Services
Our Career Exploration Program offers individual career planning services to college seniors and new graduates on an hourly basis. We are also available to assist any individual who wishes to explore workforce re-entry and career shifts or those who simply need career advice.
Whether you are transitioning into the workforce for the first time or just need resume and interview preparation support, we can help you plan for the future.
Service offerings
College Planning Services
We offer a comprehensive College Planning Program package and hourly consultations for high school students, including:
- Student Academic Profile Assessment
- College List Development Services
- Exploration of Various Majors
- Application Completion Process
- Application Essay Guidance
- Institutional Merit Scholarships
- Academic Undergraduate & Graduate Advising
Students and families may supplement hourly consultations for additional support not traditionally included in the program package. Hourly consultations are also available to high school sophomores or students and families for whom our traditional College Planning Program is not an exact fit.
Career Services
We offer à la carte career planning services for college seniors and new graduates, as well as experienced professionals on an hourly basis. Services include:
- Transition from College to Workforce
- Career Exploration & Identification
- Resume Development Services
- Interview Preparation Services
About Clarissa Thomas
Founder and Owner
Clarissa Thomas is a Student Support Specialist with over 10 years of experience as a classroom teacher, academic advisor and admissions professional. Her passion for mentoring students and young adults stems from childhood influences, her academic and professional training, and as a mother of a high school senior transitioning to college.
Clarissa watched her father dedicate his life to teaching and coaching for nearly three decades. He changed the course of young lives by offering them high school science instruction, mentorship and guidance after high school. Through his influence, Clarissa gained an appreciation for just how many paths are available and how rewarding it is to help others find success after high school.
As a Porter Scholar, she graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in English. In her first role, she began working as an academic advisor for students who were undecided in their major and quickly realized the same passion her father had instilled in her to guide young people through difficult processes and decisions.
Clarissa also worked with students from grades 6th to 12th as an instructional specialist and teacher for nearly 6 years. She has acted as a graduate school admission professional, served on the admissions committee of a specialized and highly selective graduate program and completed her master’s degree from the University of Kentucky with a focus in Higher Education.
She has helped her own son navigate his college search and understands that the process can be overwhelming for both families and students alike, especially as this process continues to evolve. Clarissa truly enjoys witnessing the self-discovery and growth of her students during the college planning and career preparation processes. Her father taught her to instill the importance of a strong educational foundation in her own son (and students like him).
Clarissa is passionate about bringing all that she has learned to help families, students and young adults.