Our Approach
We at College Search Guidance understand that going to college is a huge investment, financially and emotionally. We are also awed by how much introspection and growth can be gained from a deliberate and thoughtful college search.
With their incredibly busy schedules, most high schoolers have yet to pause and think about WHAT they want to get out of college and WHY they want to go. However, the most successful applicants are able to convey to their prospective universities their reasons for choosing that campus. College Search Guidance takes pride in helping our students both discover themselves and channel their interests into successful college searches. Instead of “box checking” to get into XYZ school, we help students focus on what they enjoy and clearly conveying that passion to prospective schools that will be a great fit.
Our consultancy grew out of Chicago School GPS, where we first helped Chicago families navigate the Prek-12 school systems. The perception in Chicago is that applying to college must be easier than applying to high school, but in reality, that answer is “yes” and “no”. In the Chicago high school entrance process, oftentimes an admissions rubric based solely on grades and test scores will determine acceptance to the most competitive schools. Many well known colleges, however, use a holistic process that can deny a high scoring or even perfect scoring student entrance. Instead, students need to show what they will bring to a campus community and what legacy they will build and leave behind during their time spent there.
We enjoy helping students (from Chicago and beyond) embrace holistic applications and tell their stories via their applications in strong and meaningful ways that lead to college outcomes they can be excited about.
Meet the Team
Grace Lee Sawin
As a self-described “Tiger Mom Lite”, Grace has always felt that the most important role of a parent is to provide the best possible education for her children by putting in the time and research required to successfully make that happen. Little did she know HOW MUCH time and research she would have to do in order to get her daughters into a sought-after private Montessori for preschool, then into a well-regarded public gifted elementary program followed by a top selective enrollment high school and an Ivy League university.
Throughout the years, Grace has seen the school choice landscape change in Chicago with more options for all types of students. She thrives on uncovering these nuggets of wisdom and “hidden” info that others simply don’t have time to uncover. She is excited to share that info with you as she firmly believes that there is a great school fit for every student, but it takes time to “know what you don’t know”.
Grace grew up attending public schools in suburban Washington, DC. She studied architecture at Cornell University and moved to Chicago in the mid-90’s. As she and her husband have raised their two daughters in the city, she still finds herself delving deeper and enjoying her quest to uncover hidden gems and enrichment opportunities for Chicago families. Grace is an associate member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) and a volunteer college coach for Chicago Scholars, ScholarMatch and Matchlighters Scholars.
Claire Delaney Shingler
Claire believes there are opportunities for all young adults who seek them. Knowing how to identify where to focus your energy and how to best position yourself to be successful is key. She is ready to share her wealth of knowledge, gained from supporting her own 3 kids and many other students along the way. Claire loves data, and brings strong project management skills, a broad knowledge of the college process, and a willingness to flex herself on your behalf; all to help you create your plans for this next stage of life.
Claire has a strong community mindset. She has immersed herself in whatever community she finds herself in, improving circumstances and creating opportunities for those around her at every turn. This has included time supporting Northside College Prep, Amundsen High School, Rogers Park Montessori School, and a host of sports teams and clubs along the way. She has worked with students navigating college athletic recruiting and is an ardent supporter of women in sports. She has consulted with international as well as domestic students and truly enjoys the role of guiding others as they refine and achieve their goals.
Prior to being immersed in the communities opened up through parenting and consulting, Claire lived abroad as an expatriate for seven years in Munich, Paris and Dublin and attended graduate school at Trinity College Dublin. She was awarded an MSc in Organizational Behavior. Her own undergraduate experience was at University of Florida, where she earned a B.S. In Mathematics. Her time at UF opened doors to a career in software design, tech marketing and product management that led to those seven years abroad. Her master’s degree launched a second stage of Claire’s career in community organizing, non-profit leadership and coaching. She has served as a mentor for Year Up United and a career coach for Upwardly Global locally.
College Search Guidance is a subsidiary of Chicago School GPS, a school search company originally started by 3 Chicago moms. Read more about Chicago School GPS here.