Empowering Students to Reach Their Potential
Our Approach
Navigating the college admissions process can be anxiety ridden and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. At Aspire, we break the overwhelming process into manageable pieces and keep our students and their parents organized. We identify colleges at all competitive levels, and their available academic resources that match the student’s academic, social and personal goals.
At Aspire we understand that many students are not traditional learners, and students with different learning styles face extra hurdles when it comes to applying to college. We believe that in order for non-traditional learners to be successful in college they need to be fully aware of their learning strengths and challenges. We guide our students through a process of self discovery, empowering students to become strong self-advocates, ultimately setting them up for success in college.
The transition to college can be challenging and demanding. Student’s are experiencing a new found independence in a new environment with less structure, while taking a challenging course load. At Aspire, we work with college students in the months leading up to and throughout their freshman year, guiding them through their transition, so that they can maximize their potential.
A Student's Journey
High School Freshmen 
Freshman year is the time for students to master their organizational and time management skills as they begin to navigate high school. Students should plan to take a challenging course load and learn to self-advocate, including taking advantage of any extra support offered. Freshmen should also begin building a resume by exploring extracurricular activities and summer opportunities.
High School Sophomores 
Sophomore year is when students should understand their learning strengths and challenges, continuing to take challenging classes that match their interests and learning style, while self-advocating with teachers for extra input on homework, tests and writing assignments. Students should begin to focus on a few extracurricular activities at school or within their community. Sophomore year is also the time to begin test prep for the SATs and ACTs.
High School Juniors 
Juniors should take as many challenging courses as they can while independently taking advantage of extra support offered by teachers or the academic department. Students should take on leadership opportunities in activities they are passionate about. Students should start making a preliminary college list, begin college visits and sit for the SATs and ACTs during their junior year.
High School Seniors 
Senior year is not the time to take the foot off the gas. Students need to continue taking challenging courses in their areas of strength, while finishing up standardized testing, finalizing their college list and applying to schools. Colleges want to see seniors participating in activities that they are passionate about, while taking on leadership roles in their school or community.
College Freshman 
College is the first time students will have to independently navigate school and manage their time while adapting to college life. Students need to be self-determined and strong self-advocates by communicating with their professors and by taking advantage of the academic resource centers. It is also a time for students to get involved on campus by exploring their interests, allowing them to build a support system.
Our Services
No two students are alike, and we know that college and academic planning needs vary from student to student. At Aspire, we individualize and adapt our programs to meet each student’s needs. If a student requires a service different than what is offered in one of our standard packages, we will make it work.
- In-depth review of high school profile, transcript and extracurricular activities
- Administer personality inventory
- Explore student’s interests, potential majors and careers
- Discuss and plan extracurriculars and summer activities
- Develop and plan academic course load
- Advise on standardized testing strategies
- Everything in the Prep Package plus:
- In-depth review of academic and psych evaluations
- Administer learning and productivity inventory
- Develop student awareness of learning strengths and challenges
- Strategize on using learning strengths in curriculum
- Identify assistive technology for academics and time management
- Cultivate problem solving, organizational and time management skills
- Coach communication, self-advocacy and accountability skills
- Promote self determination and resiliency
- Encourage self confidence and independence
- Customize action plan, timeline and schedule
- Manage application process, reviews and deadlines
- Develop a standardized testing plan
- In-depth review of high school profile, transcript and extracurricular activities
- Administer personality inventory
- Explore student’s interests, potential majors and careers
- Build college resume: extracurriculars and summer activities
- Recommend senior course load
- Develop a broad individualized preliminary college list
- Provide guidance and tools for college research
- Prep for college interviews, tours and demonstrated interest activities
- Review of college visits and refine college list
- Organize standardized testing plan
- Brainstorm and generate essay content
- Review and edit essays by professional essay coaches
- Finalize college list
- Guide student through college offers and final decision
- Everything in the Colleges Admissions Package plus:
- In-depth review of academic and psych evaluations
- Research college academic resources on college list
- Administer learning and productivity inventory
- Develop student awareness of learning strengths and challenge
- Strategize on using learning strengths in curriculum
- Identify assistive technology for academics and time management
- Cultivate organizational and time management skills
- Coach communication, self-advocacy and accountability skills
- Promote self determination and resiliency
- Encourage self confidence and independence
- Support student through academic challenges
- Advise on course selection and registration
- Navigate campus-based supports and resources
- Identify assistive technology for academics and time management
- Cultivate organizational and time management skills
- Coach communication, self-advocacy and accountability skills
- Promote self determination and resiliency
- Encourage self confidence and independence
- Support student through academic challenges
What Parents and Students Are Saying
Our family is thankful for the tireless assistance that Linda afforded us in the college application process. She took the time to understand our needs and guided us through every step of the process; breaking it down into small manageable tasks. Linda seamlessly handled every detail for our family.
We cannot be more grateful to Linda for her passion for her work. For us, the greatest attribute that Linda has is the ability to understand and relate to the student while exceeding expectations for the parents. For our teenager, she became a trusted resource and confidant. For my husband and I, she was a practical and calming influence who took the stress and anxiety out of the months leading up to the admissions deadlines.
Thank you to Linda and Aspire!
Patti and Scott, parents of Carson
Linda was able to find a great range of colleges that were academically challenging and fit my interests and personality. She helped me stay organized throughout the college process so that it was never overwhelming. Linda was a great listener and helped guide me through the final decision making process. I am more than happy with my decision!
Lindsey, Student
Aspire College Consulting helped manage the stress of the college research and application process. Linda selected colleges based on my interests and personality and discussed how each school fit my wants and needs. Linda uploaded my list of schools to my own personal dashboard where I could research the schools and their application requirements and deadlines. We also used a software program to help brainstorm and organize my essays and supplements. This made the application process so much easier!
Spencer, StudentAbout Us
Linda Becker
Founder and Educational Consultant
Linda Becker guides students to become confident learners by helping them recognize their strengths and talents. By boosting self-determination to confront hurdles, students build resiliency to overcome academic setbacks. Because of the individualized attention her students receive, Linda is able to identify a range of colleges that match their academic and interest profile.
Linda became interested in higher education when she began researching colleges and universities in 2012. She has been mentoring adolescents in various non-profit organizations since 2007, which led to the decision to create Aspire College Consulting, combining her love for working with teens and higher education.
Linda began her career as a financial consultant at Arthur Anderson & Co. She went on to become an industry analyst, identifying investment opportunities for Travelers Property & Casualty and Conning & Company, where she developed her research and analytical skills. College is an investment, and strategically identifying the right fit for a student is not dissimilar from Linda’s experience identifying strategic investment opportunities in the business world.
Linda earned a BA in Economics from the University of Notre Dame, where she was a member of the varsity field hockey team. She received an MBA with high honors from the University of Connecticut. Linda is currently a candidate for the Independent Education Consultant Certificate from the University of California, Irvine and is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.