Get ready for college application season by joining Mary Pat O’Neil of True Fit College Counseling at our free and interactive Find Your Fit workshops!

about mary pat o'neil

Picture
"I think it is important for students to take control of the college application process and know what they need in a college in order to have a better chance of success.  Students need to own the process; I am here to guide them."
  • Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA.
  • Owner/operator of True Fit College Counseling. 
  • Founder of Find Your Fit.
  • Member of NACAC and PNACAC.
  • Active volunteer and busy mother of two.
  • Passionate about helping teens discover their college path as she knows there is no "one size fits all" approach to college counseling.

upcoming live webinars

COLLEGE bootcamp:
​for class of 2022!
Please join independent college counselor Mary Pat O'Neil of Find Your Fit who will be hosting a College Bootcamp this July! Choose one, two, or all three sessions to attend - each covering a different topic of the college application process. 

Session 1 - Monday, July 19 from 7pm-8pm - Creating a Balanced College List
Session 2 - Tuesday, July 20 from 7pm-8pm - Completing Your College Applications
​Session 3 - Thursday, July 22 from 7pm-9pm - How to Write a College Essay
​

webinars on-demand

College 101: a beginner's guide to college applications
This webinar welcomes all high school students and parents/guardians beginning the college-application process.

TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:
  • Top 5 things colleges consider when looking at applications.
  • 3 types of colleges (how these distinctions impact a student's admissibility.)
  • Creating a college list, and why it needs to be balanced.
  • Paying for college.
  • Plus, hear updated information that reflects the impact of COVID-19 on college applications!

study abroad: How to apply to colleges in canada, the United Kingdom, & Europe
Interested in attending college in Canada, the UK, or Europe? In this workshop, Find Your Fit's independent college counselor Mary Pat O'Neil welcomes guest speaker Cynthia Seidel of On Course College Counseling to help explain how applying to international colleges differs from applying to college in the United States.

helping your teen navigate the college process
Make these final years with your teen fun, not stressful! In this session for parents and guardians, you'll learn tips, tools, and time-tested advice on how to support and guide your teen through the college-admission process. This workshop is specifically helpful for parents and guardians who did not attend college themselves, attended outside of the United States, or whose children may need extra help managing the process.

TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:
  • College application timeline.
  • How to create a college list.
  • Overview of paying for college.
  • What you need to know about highly selective (Ivy League) schools.
  • Test-optional and test-blind colleges.
  • What parents can do to help their teen take control of the process.

do you have to choose a college major when you apply to college?
Not every kid is ready to pick a college major at 17, but they're asked, nonetheless. How does this question impact college admissions? Does it matter if they change their mind? How can we help our kids figure this out for themselves? This workshop helps guide parents and students through this critical question.

TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:
  • Does a student have to pick a major on the college application?
  • Direct admit programs like engineering, nursing, and computer science.
  • What parents can do to help their teens discover what interests them.
  • ​The importance of a student's activities in learning about themselves.
  • How do you advise an "undecided" student.
  • Pre-professional advising (medical school, law school, physical therapy).​​

Standardized Testing: what Now?
Standardized college testing (SAT and ACT) has always been a source of stress and anxiety for students. With the arrival of COVID-19, many colleges changed their policies to account for social distancing requirements and school disruptions, going "test-optional" or "test-blind" this year. What does this mean, and how does it impact kids applying for college right now? This webinar welcomes parents and high school students who want the most updated information. 

TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:
  • Up-to-date information about standardized testing.
  • ​How test scores are used in the admission process.
  • The differences between the two tests.
  • Strategies behind submitting or not submitting test scores.

Understanding What college costs & how to pay less
This webinar helps parents and guardians understand what college costs, and how to pay less. 

TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:
  • The true cost of college.
  • Common myths about paying for college.
  • Understanding the timeline for applying to college.
  • What are the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
  • What families can do to pay less for college.

college application essays
All about writing your college application essay! Learn what colleges are looking for, how to uncover your unique story, and how to prepare your essay for submission. 
What do parents and students say after attending a Find Your Fit workshop?
​
"​Mary Pat did an excellent job of breaking down the information without making it seem overwhelming."
"​This was a great workshop! The presentation flowed well and was very well explained."
"The speaker, Mary Pat O'Neil, was very dynamic and knowledgeable.  She also stayed after the presentation and took individual questions."
"​Very informative workshop. It certainly brightened our journey of this college process."

follow our social media below to learn about other upcoming events and workshops