SPONSORED CONTENT
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SPONSORED CONTENT
College Bound Academy—
Opening
Doors
to Higher
Education
Since 2002
F
or nearly 20 years, Bridget Hotrum, CEO of College Bound Academy, has been helping students
and parents alike find their best-fit colleges. That longevity speaks volumes in a world where
numerous competitors have come and gone in field that changes and challenges on a nearly
daily basis.
“Many families don’t realize that there’s a business that exists like this, or they find me after
they’ve found how time consuming it is to sift through all of the information that’s out there,” she said.
“The college planning cycle has shifted and should start when students are freshmen versus the day they
become a senior. On top of that, college isn’t a time to go find yourself anymore. It’s so expensive, you
need to plan the process to make sure you’re in and out in four years and have a job or a grad school lined
up at the end.”
College Bound offers a two-step process to success, the first of which is planning, which starts the
freshman/sophomore year of high school and lasts up to the end of the junior year.
“The planning stage encompasses a lot of self-understanding, career exploration, college searching,
developing the selection criteria, understanding what kind of learner you are and finding ‘best fit’
colleges,” Hotrum explained. “The planning process is where you learn how to put your best foot forward
and find an environment that can help you thrive.”
The second part of the process is executing the plan once it’s developed.
“The main deliverable is a list of colleges that are a great fit by the end of the junior year,” she
continued, “so that the senior program execution is all application management, which is a weekly
commitment toward creating an admissions plan, deciding on what kind of application we’re going to
use, building a timeline, coordinating all parts of the application—transcripts, supplements, essays, test
scores—and getting that information out there in a way that represents the student’s best self.”
College Bound also helps parents with preparing their financial aid forms and applications, but stops
short of financial advising.
In all, Hotrum said there are four main reasons why families join forces with College Bound Academy.
Some parents already are savvy about colleges and want to make sure no stone is left unturned by using
College Bound’s vast network of resources. The second scenario includes students who would work better
with an outside party, which de-stresses the process and allows for more productive communication
between parents and student. Two-parent working families who don’t have the time, because it takes a
lot of time to invest in the due diligence, also are common clients. And the last category of College Bound
clients includes parents of a first-generation college applicant who don’t know where to start.
“No matter what the reason, coming in here can ease a lot of stress and anxiety for everyone involved,”
Hotrum said. “My program is very structured and my methodology breaks it down into small pieces so
that nobody gets overwhelmed.”
For more information on how College Bound Academy can help you and your child create a meaningful
and strategic college plan, go to the website at collegeboundacademy.com, where you can find a
complete explanation of the program, and information on how to start your pursuit of the best college
value for your future. You can also call 724.942.7680 to schedule a free consultation today.
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icmags.com
We have used College
“
Bound Academy for both our
children. Bridget is very patient
and very knowledgeable
about the college admissions
process, no matter your
child’s academic ability or
interests. She has helped our
kids with college choices,
the application process, and
review of all documentation
required by colleges. It is very
reassuring to know that we
have a resource like Bridget
to help with the very difficult,
and oftentimes intimidating,
process of college admissions.
She works with honesty and
integrity at all times.
— Kathy Lutes
”
We used College Bound
“
Academy for both of our sons.
Both were accepted at their
first choice of schools. Bridget
was extremely easy to work
with and very knowledgeable
in all areas of the college
process. Bridget became part
of the family and truly cared
for our kids’ well-being and
ours. I give her a 10 out of 10
and cannot recommend her
enough.
— Lance Farber
”