For a limited time. Get lifetime access to our "Effortless UC Essays" on-demand course when you purchase your sprint
The first step of the college journey is finding your MAP
At College Torch, that’s your Master Admissions Plan. built for your student in one focused strategy session.
A strong start makes all the difference in the college admissions process. Not because families need to stress about college every day, but because there are real forks-in-the-road early on (coursework, testing, activities, major direction, college list) and most parents don’t want to guess their way through them. You’ve probably already seen general timeline resources online (or even our own). Those are awesome, but they don't dive into all the specific possibilities for your teen.
Once they get into those specifics on their own, families almost always run into tough moments like:
“Are we choosing the right classes?”
“SAT or ACT… or neither?”
“What activities actually matter?”
“How do we build a smart college list?”
“What should they focus on the most?”
"How do we approach the college major?"
"What can we do to improve admissions chances, and how can we line that up with their real interests?"
And more confusing choices that make a huge difference for students' paths.
What if one strategy session with an expert could give you a clear, customized plan you can rely on... and a place to keep it all organized?
Now, this exists.
Introducing:
College Torch’s “Chart Your MAP” ADMISSIONS Strategy Sprint
More than a session, less commitment than our full program. A clear path to college and your own Admissions HQ hub, built from 90 minutes of foundational strategizing with an expert.
Chart Your MAP Sprint is a focused, 1:1 planning session where we build your student’s Master Admissions Plan and set it up as Admissions HQ in Google Drive.
This is the “strong start” service for families who want clarity now.
You’ll walk away with:
A clear plan you can follow
The big admissions categories explained in a simple way
And an organized home base you can return to all year
For extra momentum, we'll also schedule one additional 30-minute follow-up session to debrief on the plan and discuss your plan for taking the next actions.
The Master Admissions Plan is primarily designed to give you direction and a vision for the path ahead, so we won't be able to make long-term, set-in-stone recommendations. We'll help you see ideas and possibilities, and the MAP will be in a format you can edit over time as you finalize your ultimate decisions on your own (unless you choose to sign up for additional College Torch support later).
The MAP is your foundation and your starting point, and the opportunities for your success are expansive from here!
How it works
STEP 1
Complete the Parent + Student SURVEY
This captures goals, academics, interests, activities, and your timeline so the session is efficient and personal.
STEP 2
attend the 90-minute Strategy Session (1:1)
We map the process, answer your questions, and build your plan together.
STEP 3
Receive your Admissions HQ setup and follow your clear admission path
Your Master Admissions Plan lives in Google Drive, organized and ready to follow.
Registration is subject to close when space no longer remains. Price is subject to increase.
Finally, a clear path to college admissions
We created this special program to give your teen a clear path to college and your family the peace of mind to know how to handle and plan for the years ahead. Too many families get overwhelmed with this process, and we want to set you up with the best information to get you started. College Torch's "Chart your MAP" Admission Sprint is an introductory planning service where we work together to address the core points of your individual college plan. It's a targeted version of the initial planning students do in the College Hero Program, our core comprehensive program that's resulted in over 300 students arriving at their best fit schools.
Your college roadmap exists! Our MAP Sprint is here, designed to make sure your teen gets a supportive, clear path to college, with all your questions about college admissions answered.
We created a special program just for families that are ready to start the college process strong now, without tons of research, back-and-forth, and stressful dinner conversations that end nowhere.
With the roadblocks removed, your teen can shoot for the stars.
These are the biggest areas of college admissions, all handled in one plan.
1
Four-Year Coursework Plan
Grade-by-grade course direction aligned to your student’s goals
Clear priorities for what to take next (and why)
Guidance on the choices that matter most as students approach junior/senior year
2
College Major Toolbox
Best-fit majors to explore (plus alternates) based on interests and strengths
Real-world exploration tools (skills, careers, sample college courses)
Major-aligned activity + project ideas that help the student story make sense over time
3
Mini Testing Plan
SAT vs ACT + test optional perspective based on your student and likely targets
A simple testing timeline (including retakes if needed)
Prep approach recommendation + trusted resources (class, tutor, or self-study)
4
Activities Expansion Pack
What to build, what to keep, what to drop (based on goals and timeline)
Leadership/service ideas that fit values and strengths
Summer direction (programs, courses, projects, etc.) that adds real weight
5
College Search Starter Kit
“Best fit” factors for your student (what to look for in a college)
Starter list of colleges to explore with selectivity notes
Simple research approach including visits + financial aid considerations
6
Admission Strategy Audit
Clear priorities across academics, testing, activities, and major fit
Stand-out factor ideas to shape positioning early
"Story Corner" prompts so reflection starts now and essays are easier later
Registration is subject to close when space no longer remains. Price is subject to increase.
Everything Organized, customized, and usable.
Admissions HQ is a Google Drive folder we set up for your family that includes:
Parent and Student Preliminary Questionnaire (goals, grades, coursework, timeline, priorities)
Summary of your 1:1 90-minute Strategy Session with Robert (and the answers to your questions)
Master Admissions Plan Google Docs that cover the six critical areas of college planning.
Your plan saved in one place so you can refer back anytime and stay on track
Whatever pace you go through the process, you're no longer wandering. You'll have a trusted plan you can follow.
Hi, I'm Robert, Your expert consultant and friendly guide through the college maze.
I demystify myths and remove stumbling blocks so students can achieve success in the college process without a ton of overwhelm.
As a seasoned college counselor of 10+ years, I help families make sense of the process, avoid misconceptions, and stay focused on what matters most.
I love what I do, which is why I stay active in the field professionally — visiting colleges, connecting with admissions staff, tracking scholarship opportunities, and keeping up with changes in admissions.
I measure success by the trajectory of each student. Yes, acceptances and scholarships matter — but so does clarity, confidence, and a student who knows how to move forward.
And for parents, one of the biggest wins is simple:
You get to spend more time with your teen instead of trying to learn college admissions 101 from Google University.
Have any questions? I'm an open book. Send them to [email protected].
Luminaries know College Torch lights the way!
Our students say it all the time. Join us, and breathe a sigh of relief over the stress of college admission.
For more testimonials, see what happy families are saying about us on Google Reviews.
You can also find video testimonials and past student successes on our main testimonials page.
The MAP Sprint includes...
Parent and student preliminary questionnaire evaluation
90-minute, one-on-one strategy session with student and parent(s)
Admissions HQ Google Drive setup
Master Admissions Plan: 6 Google Docs personalized for you covering the 6 areas
Four-Year Coursework Plan
College Major Toolbox
Mini Testing Plan
Activities Expansion Pack
College Search Starter Kit
Admission Strategy Audit
30-minute follow-up meeting to debrief on the plan
Q&A throughout... bring your questions!
BONUSES:
Opportunity to apply the MAP Sprint fee toward the full, comprehensive College Hero program, which guides students through the entire college process from start to finish. (Must be claimed within two weeks of receiving access to your Admissions HQ folder.)
LIMITED TIME: Free access to our popular, six-module "Effortless UC Essays" on-demand course (a $149 value) to help your teen know what to expect from the UC Application.
After entering your details, just click "Complete Registration" and look out for an email to schedule your session.
FAQs
Questions? We've got answers!
Is this for 9th–12th grade?
Yes — we tailor it to your student’s grade and timeline.
Should my student attend the strategy session?
Yes, of course! Parents are welcome too.
Do we get a college list?
You’ll get a starter list for exploration of different places to compare and contrast as the student learns over time more about colleges' experiences and figures out more about what they're really looking for. You'll also get a resource for conducting thorough college research over time so that families can build out and refine the list later, regardless of whether or not you decide to work with College Torch for the long-term college search process.
Is this test prep or essay writing?
No — it’s the plan that guides those pieces. This is the same thing for complete activities resumes and other college application materials, where we can identify possibilities and direction now, but the full build-out of materials requires more intensive collaboration with the student and more guidance over time to reach those outcomes purposefully.
Is this the first step to sign up for the full, comprehensive program?
Not exactly. That's the College Hero Program, and it's completely comprehensive, covering the full college process from start (whenever you start with us) to finish. There's a parent-student application and an intro meeting to complete before you could sign up for that, and that's on our main website at www.collegetorch.com. BUT -- as a special bonus for the MAP Sprint right now, we're happy to apply the sprint program fee to the College Hero program if College Torch feels like a great long-term fit after we finish your MAP. You'd need to do this within 14 days of receiving access to your Admissions HQ folder. Please let us know if you're considering this so we can follow up with details and facilitate an easy transition into our signature program.
A strong start makes all the difference
If you want a clear plan, organized in one place, with expert guidance that keeps your family on track, I’d love to help you chart your MAP!
College Torch 2026 | [email protected]