Inspiring Conversations with Donna Phillips of College Planners, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Phillips.

Hi Donna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Donna, and I have two wonderful sons, Dylan (33-a successful Christian Hip Hop Artist-“Nobigdyl”) and Dustyn (27-pre-med at ASU). I attended UC Berkeley with a double major in Spanish Literature and Humanities. I began my career as a vocational counselor within the workers’ compensation industry in California until Dylan was 4. My family moved frequently, living in 7 states in 6 years. Education has always been especially important in my family, so to maintain consistency for my boys, I became a stay-at-home mom and decided to homeschool them. I loved teaching, so we joined two homeschool co-ops and I taught classes ranging from Latin and Spanish to Art and Music until the boys transitioned into public school. Both of them were testing at a college level before they were in high school. Both of them graduated with high honors, with one scoring in the 92nd percentile and one in the 99th percentile on the ACT. They both went on to receive full academic scholarships totaling over a quarter million dollars.

Many friends and family began to ask me to help their children with the college application process. My very first client won a full scholarship to ASU from her church after I helped her work on her essay. Over the next year, working with friends and family, I helped students get accepted into the honors programs at ASU, GCU, and the University of Arizona, and secure tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships.

My passion was ignited; I spent the next year researching the college application process, investigating universities nationwide, and collecting scholarship information. I created my LLC, and over the past eight years, my clients have earned over $ 6 million in financial aid, with over 80% of that amount being merit-based scholarships. (as opposed to need-based) They have applied to and been accepted to ASU Barrett Honors’, University of Arizona Honors’, GCU Honors, NAU Honors, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, UC San Diego, Harvey Mudd, UT Austin, Baylor, Vanderbilt, UIUC, University of Chicago, UMass, UMich, MTSU, Lipscomp, Ole Miss, Auburn, FAMU, Howard, Hampton, NC A&T, NC Central, Morehouse, Duke, NC Chapel Hill, Morgan State, Georgia Tech, The Ohio State, Penn State, Case Western, Carnegie Melon, Lecom, Tufts, Emory, Embry Riddle, and so many other great universities. My amazing students are majoring in Nursing, Engineering (Aeronautical, Mechanical, Electrical, Biomedical), Computer Science, Pharmacy, Pre-Med (with concentrations in Anesthesiology, Neuroscience, Internal Medicine, and Pain Management), Music Business, Business, Psychology, Pre-Law, Political Science, Sports Broadcasting, and many other fascinating majors. Former students are employed as Non-Profit Managers, ER Nurses, Pharmacists, and Pilots.

I love what I do! I require my students to work hard (it’s not magic!), but the payoff is worth every minute. I would be delighted to help your student on their educational journey!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I actually LOVE what I do. I am always in awe of what my students accomplish and where their journeys take them. The only challenge I have faced was when my office space closed due to COVID-19. Like everyone else, I had to pivot to an online structure. I quickly opened my business to ZOOM meetings, and it has been the best change ever! I now serve clients across the United States and recently picked up a client living in Greece who is interested in attending Berklee College of Music.

As you know, we’re big fans of College Planners, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am an independent College Adviser. I work with high school students as they transition into their journey to college and beyond. I assist students in the following areas:
~ACT/SAT/PSAT test prep (including prep for National Merit Scholarship)
~Researching and choosing appropriate colleges and majors
~Completing the Common Application, the Texas Common Application, the UC Application, the Cal State Application, and other College Applications so that your application stands above others
~Brainstorming and crafting exceptional personal statement essays and supplemental essays
~Creating academic and athletic resumes that stand out from the crowd
~Securing professionally written letters of recommendation
~Creating sharable time management sheets so that the student, parents, and high school counselor are aware of deadlines and progress
~Researching appropriate scholarships and completing essays and applications
~FAFSA and CSS profile
~Creating and submitting successful financial aid appeals

There is so much that goes into the college application process that it is impossible to list everything that I do. What sets me apart from other college advisers is that I don’t limit myself to what I will do to help students achieve success. I charge one fee, and whatever it takes to get the student to their goals is what I will do. If I need to call athletic directors or admissions counselors, that is what I’ll do. If we need to create an artist’s portfolio or prepare for an interview, that is what we will do! I don’t believe in “nickel and diming” my clients. Once we agree on a fee, if extra work is involved, there will NEVER be an additional fee. My pricing is competitive, but my service is exceptional. I am personally invested in each of my students. All of my clients are referred, and most will contact me to work with mulitple children in their family and even refer me to their extended family.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Personally, I am not a risk taker. I am very fiscally conservative. However, with regard to college applications, I suggest a 3 tiered approach to choosing colleges. We apply to “reach” schools, “target” schools, and “backup” schools. In this manner, even if the student does not get into their “dream school”, they will have options about where to attend.

As I think about this question further, I realize that life itself is inherently risky. I love to scuba dive and roller skate, both of which have risks associated with them, and I travel extensively…so I suppose I enjoy some risks! 😊

I don’t belive in limiting one’s dreams; however my father taught me that you always need a plan B and C. (Thus target and back up schools) I would never say to a student or even my own children, “You CAN’T be a (fill in the blank–actor, NBA player, rapper, marine biologist, etc.)” but what I will say is “Great, let’s go for that. Here is what it will take to get there. Here is the percentage of people pursuing this who are successful. Here is the lifestyle you can expect with this career. And finally, what are your backup plans? (In case you get injured, don’t get chosen, ect.) The back up plan has to be just as well thought out as the original plan AND it has to be a viable means to support the intended lifestyle.

Pricing:

• Senior Yr $5000 (Inc. ACT)
• 2 yr (Jr and Sr) $6500 (Inc PSAT and ACT)
• Sr year Applications/Essays only $650/month
• BS/MD Early Assurance addtl $1500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://collegeplanners.net/
• Instagram: college.planners
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Collegeplanners.net