Registration for our Summer 2022 Essay Boot Camps is Open NOW!

"The truth is that while no essay will make an unqualified student acceptable, a good essay can help a qualified applicant stand out from the competition. A good essay just might be what turns a 'maybe' into a 'yes.'"
-- Martha C. Merrill, Dean of Admissions, Connecticut College, NYT 6/23/09

Click this LINK to sign up!

We're excited to announce that our Essay Camps for rising seniors will be in person this summer. Each class size will be limited to 20 students. Zoom sessions can be made available for those who can't meet in person.

Essay A (the first part of our camp) is being offered on five dates. The first camp will be held in McCall; all other camps will be in Boise. Students choose one date that works for them: Saturday, May 14 from 10 AM to 1:30 (McCall only!), Tuesday, June 7 from 10 AM to 1:30, Thursday, June 9 from noon to 3:30 PM, Monday, June 13 from 10 AM to 1:30 PM, OR Wednesday, June 15 from noon to 3:30 PM. ($150)

Essay B is the editing coaching part of our camps and you'll schedule that individually with one of our advisors, once you've complete Essay A and have written a personal statement rough draft (hopefully sometime in August; sooner if you're ready and eager to get going. (A plus B $275)

If you're a private client, this camp is included in your package, so no additional cost to you, and you and your advisor will schedule your Part B as soon as you've written your first rough draft. Just fill out the form to let us know when and if you can come in June! If you're a private client and can't come to one of these sessions, contact your advisor and set up a time to meet at your convenience, in June. The McCall Camp is grant-funded, so there will be no cost to students.

As always, we provide need-based scholarships for all qualified students. Indicate your interest in a scholarship when you sign up.

Ask an Advisor

Free Virtual Zoom Drop-in; Private 1/2 hour meetings

And here's how to connect if you can't come to a Zoom Drop-In, or want to schedule one outside of the above sessions:

Send us an email at info@stepaheadidaho.org
Include:
- Your full name, year in school, and where you attend
- What you need help with: a specific question, essay help, Common App, understanding SAT/ACT scores, financial aid information, etc
- If you need a free 1/2 hour session, tell us that and you'll get an invitation to sign up for a Zoom meeting. You can sign up for as many of these as you need, as long as you're flexible with scheduling.

Free Drop-In Center at Hillcrest Library on the Bench NOW OPEN

With Covid numbers falling, we are are ready to dip a toe into in-person drop-in advising at our Hillcrest office at 5248 W. Overland Road. Starting in April, we'll be open on Wednesdays from 3-6 pm.

To have our undivided attention, please make an appointment by emailing us at info@stepaheadidaho.org and request a half hour timeslot between 3 and 6 PM. We'll confirm by email.

Welcome To Step Ahead Idaho

Our Mission

step ahead idaho further education Determining the next step after high school is one of the most important decisions a student will make. There is a wealth of opportunities available—college, university, community college, trade school—but navigating the maze of applications, testing, and financial aid can seem overwhelming to both students and parents.

At Step Ahead Idaho, we recognize that no two students are the same, and we provide tailored counseling to meet the needs of each individual client. We provide honest, supportive and experienced perspective to each student's school search.

Our mission is to help each student:

discover his or her own interests and strengths to find the "best fit" schools.
sort through and organize each step of the planning and application process in a timely manner.
put his or her "best foot forward" to maximize acceptance to the school of choice.

Testimonials

“I will be forever grateful to the open, friendly, and knowledgeable ladies at Step Ahead. The college application process can feel totally overwhelming at times, so it was so nice to have experts who knew what they were doing giving me encouragement and keeping me on track. Step Ahead was the first to introduce me to the idea of “meet-need schools”, which allowed me to widen the net of colleges I was looking at and prevented me from having to take out loans for an undergraduate education. I attended their summer essay boot camp, which is a must for any rising senior. They helped me with almost every part of the application process, and kept me motivated even when spring semester rolled around. Thank you, Step Ahead!” --Laura, Boise High School

Gifts

We gratefully acknowledge generous grants from:

Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation
The Robert Waller Foundation
Bev and George Harad
The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation
US Bank Foundation
The Perkins Foundation