“Kerry Rock is a lifesaver. The stress of applying to college for my high school senior was overwhelming and I had no idea where to start. My son wanted to go to a University and have the full college experience but he didn’t have the best grades. We were worried he might not have a choice in the matter and be destined for a Jr. College. Thank goodness we found Kerry . She told us that there was a College for everyone. She gave us a clear plan of attack and between Kerry and my son, they figured out his strengths and weaknesses, where he would like to live, and which school would allow him to fit in and thrive. Kerry did the research and worked out a list of schools who were looking for a student just like my son. She also listened to our financial needs and guided us to schools that would give my son merit aid. Now, here he sits with choices, multiple choices. My son has acceptance letters from many top Universities. He would have been happy with two choices, but this result has been beyond our wildest dreams.”
“Kerry Rock of Rock Steady College Counseling did such a good job advising my son and me about possible colleges for him. She provided great information and guidance. Would recommend her highly for this challenging and trying period.”
“Kerry Rock is one of the main reasons I was able to transfer from Santa Monica Community College into UC Irvine. She is a wonderful person and truly cares about what your future aspirations are at the college level. Thank you Kerry!”
“Kerry Rock is a no nonsense, really intelligent, best friend throughout the college application process. I could not have asked for more for my son. Not only did he get into three of his top colleges, but he got wiser and more self-examining in the process. This college counseling does bring the desired results, but was also intrinsically beneficial to my son. You won’t find a classier, more generous, or more informed college counselor than Kerry Rock!”
“Kerry Rock assisted me and my daughter with college applications. Kerry’s interactions with my daughter impressed me because of her clarity of focus and the trust she quickly established with my daughter. Kerry was always well prepared and provided a range and depth of knowledge.
It is rare to find someone who works well with teens as well as parents—and Kerry accomplishes this with ease. Her calm nature and vast information helped me find a perfect “fit” for my daughter. In addition, we were happily faced with many choices. Kerry’s guidance was realistic, encouraging and very insightful.
Kerry is quick on her feet, has sensible reactions in all circumstances and is always advancing her knowledge of the current college application landscape. I feel confident in saying that she is capable of handling any situation with thoughtfulness and a particular talent for working with teens.”
“Kerry goes above and beyond in her work with high school students to ensure they have a full range of options when applying to college. Our organization works with low-income teens who have high potential to succeed in college. But first they need to get there! Kerry’s mentoring brings out the stories that will resonate with admissions directors and she steers students to the colleges where the environment will be most supportive to the students’ aspirations. Kerry also understands the ins and outs of financial assistance and can help students discover the school that’s the best match for their interest both academically as well as financially. Kerry builds the student’s confidence and takes the mystery and fear out of the whole college application process. She’s pretty much a genius!”
“Why Kerry “Rocks”
“When I find somebody with exceptional talent that is incredibly committed, I feel that it is my duty to share my findings, so that others can have the opportunity to work with such a wonderful person. My daughter is a high-achieving student and athlete that I thought wouldn’t need us to hire a college advisor, since of course, I did this all by myself (back in the stone age when people applied to the college they expected to go to and got into). What I soon realized was that she was so overwhelmed with the admissions process and was in such a constant state of panic that it was interfering with her senior year of high school. Applying for college has become an ultra-competitive event, heavily laden with a high rate of rejections and slim acceptance margins. I finally understood the frustration she expressed and took heed of her request for a college advisor. Recommendations led us to Kerry Rock, for whom we are eternally grateful for guiding us through the mayhem with realistic, and positive goals, and never filling us with false hopes. Kerry is extremely knowledgeable with colleges nationwide and the entire application process for the University systems, even those that use something else than Common APP. The journey was well prepared with a very strategic plan that Kerry executed matching my daughter to the appropriate schools specific to her goals. She is so familiar with all the nuisances of the system and how to fill in the nooks and crannies they were important to each particular school. This attention to detail, and keeping my daughter on task with deadlines, were additional pluses that showed us that Kerry really was invested in our outcomes. It felt like to us, that our victories were also Kerry’s victories. As a result, my daughter was accepted into a high percentage of the schools she applied to, and several offered substantial scholarships. Finally, after much anticipation, her top choice came through… UCLA! All this was a result of the work and guidance Kerry provided. I really don’t think we could have done it on our own. Thank you!”
“She's particularly good if you have a child who isn't easy to place. Of course I think mine is a rockstar, but his grades were not stellar. With Kerry's help, he was offered admission from about 12 colleges -- many that were good. And he's going to the most perfect college for him.
In other words, if you have a kid destined for Yale, that's great and use her; but if you have one who is taking a different path, she's phenomenal.”
Blythe B.