Why We Built SUM TOTAL
We spent decades inside university enrollment offices — reviewing applications, awarding financial aid, counseling families through one of the most significant transitions in a young person's life.
Year after year, we saw the same pattern. The families who arrived at junior year already understanding how admissions works, how financial aid is structured, and what their student genuinely wanted — those families made different decisions. Calmer decisions. More strategic decisions.
The families who arrived without that foundation — and most families did, because no one had offered them guidance earlier — found themselves reacting instead of choosing.
We built SUM TOTAL because we believe the counseling industry should serve families earlier, include parents in the process, and give every family the information and preparation to navigate what's ahead — together.
Our Philosophy
College planning is one of the first major transitions families navigate together. It involves aspirations, expectations, financial realities, and the future your child is beginning to imagine.
By starting early and including parents in the process, families gain the clarity and shared understanding needed to approach the college journey thoughtfully — rather than reactively.
We don't rush childhood. We give families time, perspective, and the opportunity to make decisions from a place of knowledge rather than uncertainty.