Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Norma Greenberg, Founder of Comprehensive College Consulting, LLC., located in Thousand Oaks, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Comprehensive College Consulting is a group of seasoned professionals offering college admission counseling and financial aid consultation to students and their parents with the goal of finding the college or university that is the best academic, social, and financial fit for their personal and career goals. We provide expert guidance, counseling, and support for students and their families throughout the entire college admission process, including college selection, application completion, and detailed essay assistance.
For over 40 years, we have worked with thousands of students and their families and have learned as much from them as they have learned from us! First and foremost, no two students are exactly alike, as no two schools are exactly alike.
Our mission is to coordinate and organize the college search and application process in which both students and parents commit to an active role in finding the college that is the best one for them. From the time students start their search until the day they send the deposit to the college of their choice, we are there every step of the way and make it fun and rewarding!
Tell us about yourself
I have a 40-year career in education as a teacher, counselor, administrator, and college admissions expert. I have worked in both public schools and in the private sector. Among other professional accomplishments, my leadership in the Guidance Department for two decades set a new standard for college counseling at Wayland High School in Wayland, Massachusetts.
I founded Comprehensive College Consulting in 2016. Our mission is to coordinate and organize the college search and application process in which both students and parents commit to an active role in finding the college that is the best one for them. From the time students start their search until the day they send the deposit to the college of their choice, we are there every step of the way and actually make it fun and rewarding! My clinical background brings added value, enabling me to work with complicated family dynamics, as well as with students who have learning disabilities and other academic and/or social/emotional challenges. Over the years, for example, I have supported students on the Autism spectrum, ones with OCD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
I am the past President of the New England Association for College Admission Counseling, a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling, a Co-Director of the Summer Program for counselors new to the profession, and a past member of the New England Regional Council of The College Board.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Comprehensive College Consulting has grown substantially since its inception from a one-person operation with only a few students to a nationally recognized private college consulting firm with a number of seasoned educational professionals from a variety of fields.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Running a small business is a no-walk in the park. Working for oneself from a home office requires a healthy work-life balance, and it takes discipline to tear yourself away, which is not always easy in a virtual setting.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be passionate about your ideas and believe in yourself.
- Define your purpose and position within the industry: what makes you different?
- Find a mentor and network with industry professionals.
Where can people find you and your business?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComprehensiveCollegeConsulting/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comprehensivecollegeconsulting/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.
