COACHING AGREEMENT TERMS

Coaching may include some or all of the below services, based on your needs:

Laying Groundwork

• Meetings with you to develop overall strategy for the application process. 

• Evaluation of your student record, including transcripts, extracurricular activities, special talents, and/or test scores (if relevant).

• Discussion of any learning differences or accommodations utilized in the past or needed in the future.

• Explanation of the college admissions process, transfer of college credit (if relevant) and guidance through learning these processes as well.

• Development of an individualized timeline for the application process using a shared document.

College Search

• Guidance on college search resources and jointly creating of a list of “good match” colleges and universities to research.

• Helping you prepare for and conduct meaningful college visits.

• Assistance in compiling a final list of up to 7 colleges, with varying degrees of admission difficulty, to which you will apply. Exceeding these limits may incur additional charges. 

Application Process

• Assistance in application preparation, including understanding admission requirements and application submission requirements.

• Assistance in preparing any supplemental requirements such as activity lists, resume, special circumstance statements, or selection of recommendation letter references.

• Guidance with essay writing, including topic development, critique, and proofreading. 72-hour essay review turnaround guaranteed; faster turnaround may incur additional charges.

• Assistance with waitlist or appeals processes, if necessary.

• Assistance in making a final decision concerning which college to attend.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

• Overview of cost of attendance and financial aid basics.

• Assistance understanding financial aid forms, policies, and options.

• Guidance with searching for and applying for scholarships.

General Support

• Assistance researching colleges, course equivalencies, and scholarships.

• Assistance with organizing relevant information and documents.

• Guidance for time and stress management.

• Assistance with the final transition-to-college process, up to the first month of attendance.

NOT INCLUDED

• Writing or rewriting essays for you.

• Writing letter(s) of recommendation.

• Filling out applications or scholarship applications for you.

• Contacting references or instructors on your behalf.

• Contacting colleges on your behalf or about you as an applicant.

• Be honest and up front with me.

• Put 100% effort into the process and ask questions when things are unclear.

• Do the very best academic work possible.

• Take responsibility for your own admission process. While family members can be helpful support, you agree to retain your control over your written work, your choices, and ultimately, this important life decision.

• Provide an unofficial copy of all academic records for a complete picture of your academic history. A secure Google Drive folder will be shared with you for storing these and all shared working documents.

• Take the initiative to schedule appointments, ask questions, or send essays for review. I will not proactively follow up with you unless explicitly stated or requested. You drive this process - not me, not your family.

• Give at least 72 hours (3 days) lead time for feedback on essays or application help prior to a related deadline.

• Meet deadlines.

• Show up to meetings when scheduled and respond to emails, texts or phone calls within 72 hours (3 days). If you need to miss a meeting, you must cancel or reschedule at least 12 hours prior or you will be charged for the time scheduled.

• Provide payment by stated due dates. Contact me immediately if an unexpected financial situation prevents timely payment; we can discuss alternative plans. I reserve the right to add interest to payments later than 14 days.

• Believe in yourself.

• Enjoy the process!

• Be honest and up front with me.

• Ask questions when things are unclear.

• Allow your student to take responsibility for their own admission process. While it can be tempting to write/rewrite essays, fill out applications, and make decisions for your student, it will be detrimental to their ability to take responsibility for this important life decision. Do not write or rewrite essays or letters of recommendation for your student. Do not fill out applications for your student. Do not ask for letters of recommendation for your student. Do not make decisions for them. You are the passenger of this vehicle, and they are the driver. If I have knowledge of you taking any of these actions, I will remind you of our contractual agreement; I reserve the right to terminate our contract at any time.

• Give at least 72 hours (3 days) lead time for responding to you or your student prior to a deadline.

• Encourage your student to meet deadlines.

• Show up to meetings when scheduled and respond to emails, texts or phone calls within 72 hours (3 days). If you need to miss a meeting, you must cancel or reschedule at least 12 hours prior or you will be charged for the time scheduled.

• Provide payment by stated due dates. Contact me immediately if an unexpected financial situation prevents timely payment; we can discuss alternative plans. I reserve the right to add interest to payments later than 14 days.

• Believe in your student.

• Enjoy the process!

• Be honest and up front with you.

• Ask questions and listen actively.

• Protect all information provided to me as strictly confidential unless you give verbal or written consent to share it.

• Treat you as an adult, capable of and responsible for making an important life decision.

• Rely and act upon my professional experience and judgment, national ethical standards, and genuine care for you as a person and student.

• Take notes during meetings, which will be available in a running document shared with you and anyone else of your choosing. This document and any others related to our work will be stored in a Google Drive folder shared only with you and anyone else of your choosing.

• Respond to emails, texts, or phone calls within 72 hours (3 days). My working hours are generally 7am - 3pm Pacific Time, with evening and weekend availability by request.

• To the best of my ability, proactively inform you if my availability is limited due to travel, vacation, illness, etc.

• Send invoices on a timely basis, including line items for hours worked, as well as automated reminders leading up to date due.

• Believe in YOU!

Both parties agree that college coaching recommendations are provided on a best-effort basis, informed by professional experience; evaluation of your needs, interests, and abilities; and information and materials provided by you. My comments and recommendations are the expression of my professional judgement only. I will not reveal any of your information to anyone unless you direct me to do so.

I will not solicit or accept compensation from any institutions for your admission or prioritized consideration. I will not make any promises or guarantees about the outcome of any of your applications, admission decisions, or financial aid packages. 

Golden Ratio Northwest, LLC agrees that all work performed under the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be completed within the time limits as set forth in this Agreement, subject only to delays caused by force majeure (“Force majeure” shall be deemed to be any cause affecting the performance of this Agreement arising from or attributable to acts, events, omissions, or accidents beyond the reasonable control of either party). Should Golden Ratio Northwest, LLC become unable to fulfill the terms of this Agreement, every effort will be made to find an acceptable substitution for college coaching. 

If you are dissatisfied with my services and wish to cancel this Agreement at any time, you must provide written notice at least seven (7) days prior to next scheduled meeting; Golden Ratio Northwest, LLC reserves the right not to provide refunds and will have seven (7) days after notice to transfer ownership of coaching records and documents to you.

Timeframe of Service: By default, this agreement begins at the date of submission and ends one month after you are attending the college of your choice.

Rate of Service: (customized - I charge hourly, on a sliding scale, so you can choose a rate that is comfortable for you within that range) 

If you are Pell Grant eligible or otherwise in need of financial assistance, please ask me about alternative rates before submitting.

Payment

Invoices will be sent within the first week of each month if payment is due. Payments are due by the 15th of each month. Payments later than 14 days may incur a 5% fee each day unless you contact me prior to discuss alternatives.

Payments accepted via: 

• Payment link from invoice

• Venmo

• Cash App

• Paypal

• Apple Pay

• Check