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Navigating The college admission Process with Confidence

Expert guidance for stress-free college applications and admissions.

Navigating The college admission Process with Confidence

Expert guidance for stress-free college applications and admissions.

About True North College Advisors

What we do

our services

We work closely with high school students from 9th grade to senior year to develop strong, authentic applications and identify colleges where they will thrive, academically, socially, and personally. We offer highly personalized, one-on-one advising:

No templates, formulas, or mass-market approaches
Honest, thoughtful guidance tailored to e

No templates, formulas, or mass-market approaches
Honest, thoughtful guidance tailored to each student
Clear communication with families throughout the process

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our services

We offer a comprehensive range of services, including:

U.S. college admissions strategy
U.K. university & UCAS applications
Personal statement and supplemental essay guidance
School selection and application planning
ACT and SAT testing advice
High school curriculum guidance
Support with letters of recommendation

Our approach

our services

Our approach

Every student is different. We take the time to understand each student’s academic profile, interests, and goals, helping them articulate their unique strengths while identifying the colleges that are truly the right fit.

We typically begin with an initial consultation to understand goals, timelines, and fit before recommending a support

We typically begin with an initial consultation to understand goals, timelines, and fit before recommending a support plan.

Our process is designed to minimize stress for families while maximizing outcomes for students — with thoughtful guidance at every stage.

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Explore True North College Advisors's Travel Adventures

services

At True North College Advisors, we support high school students applying to undergraduate programs in the U.S. and the U.K. with some additional limited support for postgraduate applications. We offer highly personalized college admissions guidance tailored to each student’s goals, strengths, and timeline. Our services are designed to provide clarity, reduce stress, and support strong outcomes in an increasingly competitive admissions landscape.

UNDERGRaduate admissions

We guide students through every stage of the U.S. college admissions process, from early planning through final submission. Support includes:

College list development and strategy
Academic and extracurricular positioning
Personal statement and supplemental essay guidance
Application timeline management
Interview preparation
Decision support and enrollment guidance

Our approach emphasizes authenticity, clarity, and fit, helping students present themselves in a way that is compelling, genuine, and aligned with their goals..

u.k. university and ucas applications

We provide guidance on the U.K. admissions process, including UCAS applications, drawing on firsthand experience with the U.K. university system. Support includes:

Course and university selection
UCAS application overview
Personal statement development
Academic reference coordination guidance
Offer evaluation and decision support

We help students understand key differences between U.S. and U.K. admissions and position themselves effectively for competitive programs.

personal statements and supplemental essays

Strong writing is central to successful applications. We work closely with students to help them develop essays that are reflective, coherent, and authentic. Support includes:

Brainstorming and topic development
Structural guidance and narrative clarity
Line-by-line feedback and revision strategy
Ensuring the student’s voice remains central

Our role is to guide and challenge — not to write for students — helping them produce work they are proud of and that admissions officers can clearly understand.

strategic planning and school selection

For families seeking early or high-level guidance, we offer strategic advising focused on long-term planning and decision-making. Support may include:

Academic planning and course selection guidance
Extracurricular strategy and prioritization
Standardized testing strategy (as applicable)
Comparative analysis of colleges and programs

This service is especially helpful for students beginning the process early or navigating complex choices.

About True North College Advisors

Background

Lise Shonfield founded True North College Advisors to provide students and families with thoughtful, individualized guidance through the college admissions process, grounded in experience, integrity, and a deep understanding of what makes each student unique. Born and educated in the UK, and later living in New York before settling in New Canaan, Lise brings a global perspective to her work and values the many paths students can take toward success. She is also deeply connected to the Fairfield County community and brings a thoughtful understanding of the local schools, families, and values she serves.

FOCUS

True North's advising philosophy centers on building strong, trusting relationships with students. Lise says, "We help students uncover and articulate their individual strengths, develop compelling applications, and identify colleges where they will be both challenged and supported. Our goal is not simply admissions success, but to help students find environments where they can thrive, and to ensure admissions officers can clearly envision them as engaged members of their campus communities."

Education

Lise holds a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. She has also worked in the College Counseling Office at St. Luke’s School, Connecticut, where she supported students navigating competitive admissions processes. Before working in education, she worked on Wall Street as a leading equity research analyst. This background informs her strategic, analytical approach to admissions — balancing big-picture planning with careful attention to detail. She began her own higher education journey in the United Kingdom at the University of Cambridge, where she earned a B.A. and M.A. in Economics and History.

Welcome to True North College Advisors's Website

why true north college advisors?

College admissions is not about chasing rankings or following formulas. It’s about direction, fit, and authenticity. True North College Advisors works to help students move forward with clarity, confident in their applications, their choices, and their next steps.

what our clients are saying

"Thanks again for all your help in making this process a remarkably smooth and fun one!"

"I can’t thank you enough for everything. My daughter really benefited so much from working with you!"

"I want to thank you for all your help and support with P. We couldn't have survived the process without you!"

"I got in!!! Thanks so much for ALLLLLL of your help!"

"Everyone around me has been so stressed but I haven’t felt stressed at all, just excited. You have made all the difference!"

"Just wanted to let you know I got into my dream school!! I wanted to thank you so much for all your help. I honestly don't think I could have done it without you."

"Thank you!! It wouldn’t have been possible without your guidance."

"Thank you so much for taking the time to read D’s essay and give him such helpful and critical feedback."

"We wanted to reach out and convey our sincere thanks for all the help and support you provided our son during the application process. We consider ourselves very fortunate for that."

Fitness and Nutrition

where ouR students go

Our students go on to study at a wide range of prestigious universities around the world. Here’s a sample of schools where recent students have been accepted, representing Ivy League, elite private, selective liberal arts colleges, leading public universities, and top UK institutions.

Ivy League: Princeton University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania
Ivy-Plus / Elite Private: University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, University of Southern California
Selective Private Colleges: Boston College, Northeastern University, Colby College, Tulane University, University of Richmond, University of Miami, Vassar College, Lehigh University
Public Flagships: UNC Chapel Hill, Penn State, University of Wisconsin, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, University of Connecticut
UK Universities: St Andrews University, University of Edinburgh, Durham University, King’s College London, Exeter University

Navigating The college admission Process with Confidence

Navigating The college admission Process with Confidence

Welcome to True North College Advisors

Personalized College Guidance