Ramp’s college-process coaching uses teaching, advising, and
Life Design coaching at different points in the process to foster growth in the client.
Scroll down for family testimonials.
College Coaching
Ramp Coaching offers a full-service college process centered on helping the high school student identify their interests and aptitudes while gaining greater self-awareness. Ramp takes a unique and holistic approach to working with juniors and seniors on the college process by combining teaching critical thinking, advising toward matching the students’ values, interests, and abilities with great-fit colleges, and coaching in Life Design, that is, using a dialogical process to help students gain greater self-awareness and self-reflection in the support of interest-finding and personal growth in the late-teen years.
Students are taken individually through the steps of the college process, including standardized test strategies, developing a college list, the personal and supplemental essays, the Common Application, and much more. Ramp students are seen as more than their scores and GPAs. They are supported in telling their authentic story as part of their college applications.
Each student has a personal Google Classroom designed to organize their application materials. Most clients begin in the first half or middle of the junior year. A few spots for late-start seniors are available.
Ramp’s 2022-2023 seniors earned over $2,100,000 in 4-year merit aid. When high school seniors know themselves and tell their authentic story well, colleges take notice!
Send an inquiry to set up a 30-minute discovery session at no charge.
Transferring or Returning to College
RAMP Education also works with transfer students who are interested in transitioning to another college or returning to college after a lapse. Whether the client wants to experience a more challenging environment or overcome a difficult start to college, the transfer process helps students point themselves in a new direction, define and explore their goals, and organize their applications. Transfer counseling takes place year round, depending on the student’s needs. Ramp’s approach to the transfer process also considers learning and health/mental health issues that may have factored into the transfer student’s initial experience in college.
reflection process to determine the factors leading up to an interest in transferring to a new school, including coaching for self-awareness and self-reflection, identifying interests and values, goal setting, and accountability
focus on a more suitable social climate and/or program of study
returning to college after a difficult start or time off
a custom Google Classroom space to foster productivity and organization of application materials
Testimonials
“We received great peace of mind and value from working with John and RAMP. Not only did our son get into the college he wanted, but I also felt he was far more thoughtful and deliberate about his application process than if we went at it alone. I feel he is more vested in his decision, and will go into his freshman year far better prepared than I had hoped.”
“Could not be happier!! Throughout the whole college process, John did a phenomenal job in helping ease the stress of applications. The whole college process was made manageable and stress-free with the help of John and the recourses made available by him. I was able to complete my applications in a timely manner with ample time to make corrections or to make any changes necessary. The whole college process was very well explained and it made it easier for me to continue my academic studies while also not limiting my social life. I am very pleased by the drive RAMP provided me and I would recommend John to anyone looking for some help in the college process.”
“Working with John on college counseling was one of the most transformative experiences my daughter has had in her young adult life. I often think our kids just don’t realize what makes them unique. My daughter was no exception. By putting the time and effort into figuring out who she is, she learned what her individual strengths are. Over the months working with John, her personality changed. He helped her identify and verbalize her passions and interests. She is less shy and more confident. She understands who she is, and has found a path to continue growing those passions in college."
"Facing our triplet daughters going through the college application process was very overwhelming and stressful. A recommendation from a friend led us to John Giordano, and we are so grateful! John made the process smooth and so much less stressful. Our children were guided in a way that was scheduled and organized step by step.
Aside from the process, the connection was real and thoughtful. The kids felt heard and cared about, and John was truly invested in their path and future. He got to know each of the girls and learned about them and what they were looking for in the college search. He was able to sift out their strengths, weaknesses, and their personalities to find the right schools for them. His wealth of knowledge with the process, colleges, and youth makes him a true gem!"
“Your guidance with our son has been priceless to us. We feel he has really changed – we’ve seen him become more confident, mature, and self-reflective. All in his own time, in his own way. You have made a difference in his life and ours!”
“I started the year not really having an idea or direction of where to go, but within my first few meetings with John, things became much more clear and I became more confident within my application process. Not only did John help me find schools and a major, but he also helped me improve my writing in professional emails and essays. In our time spent together, John has been extremely personable and has gotten to know me and my unique strengths and abilities to find the best college fit for me.”
"My wife and I were struggling mightily in navigating the college application process with our son. Late (our fault) and well into senior fall semester, enter John. After one meeting with John, the three of us knew we had found the right college counselor and we have never looked back! John’s extensive experience and knowledge are invaluable, but what has really set him apart is his ability to build a personal, trusting relationship with our son. From the outset, John has encouraged our son to recognize and articulate his strengths, challenges, and growth experiences. While continually pressing forward, John has been able to create a calm, supportive environment which has enabled our son to become more self-reflective and confident in preparation for his next chapter. We are grateful!"
“I would highly recommend the service of Dr. Giordano to help with the entire college process. He was a huge help every step of the way. I was not sure where to begin and how to navigate these waters. The situation was much further complicated by the pandemic. It was such a relief to know that he was helping my son. He understood the nuances involved in each of the different colleges and the importance of timing throughout the process. I think most importantly appreciated is that he paid attention to who my son is and approached him at his level. He encouraged my son every step of the way. He helped my son prepare for the SATs and as a result my son did get a higher score. He had excellent recommendations for college choices because of his in depth knowledge of college characteristics and entrance requirements. I feel like we went through the whole process together. I have recommended his services to a number of my friends going through this process and friends whose children are a little bit younger but will be starting the college process soon. Without a doubt, he was great and I would highly recommend him to anyone.”
“Our experience with Ramp’s College counseling began in high school and will continue until the collegiate cap and gown. As parents of three children, with two in college and a rising senior, we continue to rely on and benefit from a personalized and relevant college counseling process developed and directly managed by Dr. Giordano. His broad experience and informed assessment tools lend perspective and credence to the process for managing the college selection and application process, succeeded by navigating for success while in college, and beyond that, with internships and career development. He holds himself and the kids to achievable high standards, is authentic, perceptive, and reliable. He understands the emerging adult, as well as the parent, and succeeds at bridging communication gaps between teens and parents; he builds competency in young adults per the demands of preparing and then navigating in college. Results driven, practical, a mindful listener, John is all about the kids and getting to the heart of the matter to address obstacles to achieving these academic goals. Most impressive is his ability to nurture an openness on everyone’s part, to the realities and requirements in this age of rapid change.”
"John has worked with both my kids on the college process. He does everything from narrowing down college selections to SAT prep. My son’s English scores improved tremendously after working with John and retaking the SAT test. I think what I loved most was his work with both kids on the College essay. He was able to brainstorm with them to find really find “their story” – that unique quality that is not expressed anywhere else in the application process. The key is he is a positive, accountable voice that is NOT the parent. Well, well worth it!”
College Transfer Process
“Soon after my first year of college started, I realized that I just wasn’t at the right place. I went to Dr. Giordano for help, and I am so grateful that I did. He really helped me analyze the “why” of transferring and guided me to pick schools that would fit me better. Throughout the entire transfer process, Dr. Giordano was incredibly supportive and offered help whenever I needed it. I definitely would’ve been lost if I didn’t have him as an advisor. I was also able to get into my top choice transfer school, Georgetown University, and I am eternally grateful! The college process (no matter where you start) is a daunting experience, and having an advisor such as Dr. Giordano will make it significantly easier; you’ll be able to have peace of mind knowing that you’re truly being guided to find the best place for you.”
“John was a beacon of confidence for me during a process that inevitably brings a lot of self-doubt. No matter how low my spirits fell, a talk with John would lift them back up and fill me with hope. John’s extensive knowledge and proactivity when it comes to finding answers makes the confusing world of college admissions seem simple. John’s knowledge goes far beyond colleges. He knows people and places so well. He’s insightful and intuitive. He would make a great therapist if he wasn’t so busy coaching people through the transfer process. ”
“During my sophomore year of college, I gradually began to realize that I needed a serious change. My current college situation was not what I was looking for and I was struggling to find the right path. I reached out to John for guidance. With his help, I was able to diagnose the biggest issues I was facing and create an effective plan to change my learning environment. I ended up transferring to Boston University, a school that fits me both academically and socially. I could not be happier with the result, and I certainly could not have done it without John’s support.”