Process
Here’s how the process works for the Foundation Package:
1. Intake
Before discovery begins in earnest, the student or parents should provide relevant background materials, including a summary of the student’s transcript, activities, and awards; any existing résumés or bios; 2-3 recent writing samples; links to the student’s LinkedIn and Common App profiles; and any other public-facing digital links, such as blogs or portfolios.
2. Discovery, Synthesis, and Positioning
The discovery call explores the student’s goals, experiences, interests, strengths, and values. Parents are not required to join, but they are certainly welcome.
From there, Phil drafts the initial positioning statement, personal throughlines, and elevator pitch. These materials are reviewed with the student and parents to ensure the direction feels credible and authentic.
3. Bio, Résumé, and FAQ
Using the approved strategy, Phil drafts a master bio and reviews it with the student for factual and tonal accuracy. The approved master is then adapted into medium- and short-form versions and used to shape the student’s résumé.
Phil also drafts an FAQ to help the student answer common questions about their interests, goals, and strengths. The student and parents review the bio, résumé, and FAQ so Phil can make any necessary revisions before moving on to the digital materials.
4. Digital Presence
Phil drafts or edits the student’s LinkedIn profile to align with the approved strategy and copy elements. He also reviews the student’s Common App profile and makes recommendations for clarity, consistency, and strategic alignment. (Student-authored essays and application responses remain the student’s own work.)
Phil then evaluates the student’s public-facing digital footprint—including social media channels, blogs, and portfolios—and makes recommendations to improve alignment with the approved positioning strategy.
5. Final Review
Students and parents are encouraged to review the full package one last time before handoff to request any final clarifications or revisions. Revisions at this stage should be minimal since the process includes rolling reviews and collaborative approvals.
6. Handoff
At the end of the process, the final Foundation Package materials are provided as PDFs as well as editable Google Docs. The kit also includes a condensed PDF that can function as a media kit to share with recommenders, counselors, or other advisors.
Final deliverables include the positioning statement, personal throughlines, elevator pitch, bio suite, résumé, FAQ, guidance for digital presence optimization, and guidance and copy for LinkedIn and Common App.
Additional Steps for Signature and Premier Packages
The Signature and Premier Packages include further strategic and creative work.
Signature Package
The Signature Package adds expanded tactical development after the Digital Presence phase. This includes platform and content strategy, guidance for posting and showcasing projects, and production standards for student-created content.
These additions help the student understand how to independently express the approved positioning strategy across relevant platforms and public-facing materials. The Signature Package also includes feedback on student-created content for 30 calendar days after handoff.
Premier Package
The Premier Package includes everything in the Signature Package as well as expanded creative deliverables.
These include visual identity development; website architecture, copy direction, copyediting, and build; and orientation for ongoing content management. The copy for the website will be the student’s own work under Phil’s creative direction.
After handoff, the Premier Package also includes 30 calendar days of website updates and guidance to help the student or parents manage future content independently.