Meet Allison Grandits | Independent Educational Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison Grandits and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
During my fourth year as a public high school counselor, I knew I needed to make a change. I had 400-450 students on my caseload and supported them through their academic, social/emotional, and college and career challenges. Even though college planning was my passion, I spent most of my days dealing with scheduling, Dual Enrollment coordinating, and mental health crises. I loved days when I got to talk about college, but it was often in short bursts. I would have a 15-minute conversation with a Junior and never see them again. Most of the support I gave to my Seniors was by writing their recommendation letters and sending their transcripts. I wanted to do more, so I began researching the Independent Educational Consulting field. The more I learned, the more becoming an entrepreneur made sense. I would be able to help students and their families in a deeper and more impactful manner as they navigated the college admissions process.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Grand Fit Educational Consulting was born in August 2018. Running a business hasn’t been easy. Despite my experience as a school counselor, I quickly realized I lacked some of the college knowledge needed for this ever-changing field. I’ve joined several professional organizations (HECA, IECA, RMACAC, etc.) to learn from colleagues continuously. I’ve attended several conferences, earned a post-graduate certificate in college consulting, and have visited over 100 college campuses. It’s also taken a while to grow my client base. I started out with four clients in my first year and had 12 in my second year. However, when COVID hit, I transitioned to virtual consulting. This permanent change allowed me to work with students from around the US, and I have since tripled my caseload.

Unlike many other independent educational consultants, I offer a variety of options for students in any phase of the college admissions process. Some want to get started in ninth grade to make sure their high school course selection will help them meet their goals, and others reach out after receiving a denial letter in December of senior year. This allows me to truly tailor my services to the needs of students and help them in a very tangible way.

As an independent educational consultant, I want to help students realize that they have SO many options. I spend a lot of time getting to know my students as people, not just numbers on a piece of paper. I ask them deep questions to help them develop the language they will need to describe their skills and traits in a meaningful way in their college essays and applications. I love helping young people realize who they are and then helping them find a place where they will thrive. I’ve developed the GRAND Fit method, which allows students to identify the factors that matter most to them in their college experience. Through this, they realize they don’t have to go to the school their parents went to or even one they’ve ever heard of. They will also feel empowered to pick the school for them. College is a significant investment, and it’s often not taken seriously. I want to give my families as much information as possible (while cutting through the noise) to make the right decision.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m still fairly new to Colorado Springs, so I’d take them to places I love and a few I’ve wanted to try out. Since I love the outdoors, we’d spend a day driving deep into the mountains, maybe to Breckenridge or Buena Vista. I’d also take them hiking in the Garden of the Gods and Ute Valley and up to the top of Pikes Peak. I wouldn’t want them to miss the Olympic Museum and Training Center or the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. We’d also walk around the grounds of the Broadmoor and go to the Golden Bee for dinner and drinks. Since breakfast is my favorite meal, we’d definitely go to Urban Steam, Snooze, Denver Biscuit Company, and Amy’s Donuts. We’d also check out Allusion for themed cocktails and find live music at a brewery, like Red Leg or Bristol.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband Jim has supported me so much through this journey. He encouraged me to leave the school and financially supported us as I got my business off the ground. Jim is there to celebrate every win and help me bounce back from every setback. He also has been instrumental during our transition from Georgia to Colorado this past year. I couldn’t have my business without him.

Website: http://grandfiteducation.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandfiteducation/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-grandits/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/grand_fit

Facebook: https://facebook.com/grandFitEducation

Image Credits
Headshot- https://urbantrendstudios.com/