College Bound Academy is founded and run by Rowen Thomas and Caela Funaro Ijichi, college counselors with decades of combined experience who co-own I Am Me Mentors College-Readiness and Counseling. Over the past 12 years, we have supported hundreds of students in getting into and landing large financial aid packages to their best-fit colleges with a uniquely authentic and passionate approach. Check out our testimonials above to hear the results of our one-of-a-kind approach directly from our students and parents!

• The accelerated once a week track covers the same amount of content in less time by putting more onus on the student to complete assignments independently

  • The live Q & A and in class activities are designed to be more advanced and fast-paced

• The additional support twice a week track breaks down the curriculum into smaller parts, with additional examples, graphics and discussion

  • The live Q & A and in class activities are designed to be more scaffolded and provide time for partial assignment completion with counselor and peer support

• A live seat provides the student with the Zoom link to join classes live and a login to Google Classroom to access class recordings, assignments and peer connection forums

• A recorded seat provides the student with a login to Google Classroom to access class recordings, assignments and peer connection forums, as well as a special asynchronous student only assignments clarification forum that our counselors respond to once weekly

• All tracks include:

  • 48 weeks of direct instruction from experienced college counselors

  • 1 x I Am Me College Bound Academy 2025 Cohort Swag item

  • 1 x Writing sample review pre-course assessment for placement

  • 50 weeks of progressive curriculum access

  • Peer Network Access

  • 10 free semi-private coaching sessions for paying for the Academy in full

• Accelerated (Once a Week): please do not choose twice a week for extra class time, as you and the other students will be negatively impacted by the misplacement. Instead, you can register for extra semi-privates to accelerate your progress as desired!
  

  • Can write a cohesive, well structured, meaningful and clean 1-page draft (of any type/topic) in less than one hour without support

  • Are taking advanced English courses with success (i.e. B+ and above)

  • Are comfortable writing and talking about important topics about yourself

• Intermediate: you choose your track!
  

  • Can write a cohesive, well structured, meaningful and clean 1-page draft (of any type/topic) in a week with moderate support

  • Perform at grade level in writing

  • Will become comfortable writing and talking about important topics about yourself after a month of practice

• Additional Support (Twice a Week): please do not choose once a week to accommodate your busy schedule or budget. Instead, watch the recordings asynchronously when you can’t make it to class or sign up for the recorded twice a week track! Consider a payment plan if needed.
  

  • Have a writing/speed related learning diagnosis that in YOUR case causes you to write slowly or at a quality lower than grade level, including but not limited to: processing speed, dysgraphia, working memory, dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, written expression disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy etc.

  • Cannot write a cohesive, well structured, meaningful and clean 1-page draft (of any type/topic) in a week with moderate support

  • May not become comfortable writing and talking about important topics about yourself after a month of practice

Click your track above and follow the steps to complete your payment in full via Paypal! Click here to schedule a free private Zoom consultation with Caela.

You will have access to all recordings to make-up class time!

• Yes! Email subject “Payment Plan Request: I Am Me College Bound Academy”

Include your track selection, 3-5 page writing sample and a signed and completed copy of this form

• Pay in full: credit card through Paypal with a 3% processing fee

  • Earn credit card points plus 10 free semi-private coaching sessions (1-4 students) for paying for the Academy in full

• Payment plan: ACH through direct transfer with a 1% processing fee

• Any junior in high school (as well as gap year students who haven’t yet applied and underclassmen looking to get ahead) applying to U.S. based colleges and universities (even if the U.S. is just one system you are applying to!)

• Students and families who believe in authentic and passion-focused approaches to college essay writing and major selection, uncovering the unique stories and aspirations of each student

  • This can still include a practical approach to salary prediction and career planning!

• Students and families who believe in the “best-fit” approach to college counseling:

  • We use the best – fit approach to college research, not only because it allows students to find their home after high school, but also because colleges are now, more than ever, seeking demonstrated interest in applicants. Those that can make a case that the school is a best – fit for them are more likely to receive acceptances and large merit-scholarships. For example, just this past application cycle, we had even our student with the lowest GPA (a 2.55 from Mountain View High School) get accepted to a dozen liberal arts schools with an average of a $30,000 annual merit scholarship through the best – fit approach. We also had a student who had loved math all his life, discover a passion for humanitarian engineering through our college application journey. We connected him with engineers of all types for informational interviews through our own volunteer network to solidify his major selection. He ended up with a $30,000 annual merit scholarship to RPI, even though it was a reach for him, because it was the only school that offered humanitarian engineering research, student groups and programming and he made a case for this in his application shortly after discovering such a niche passion.

Yes, but the curriculum is designed for juniors

• The one-of-a-kind “I Am Me” approach to college essay writing will give you a phenomenal advantage over not I Am Me Mentors applicants because it will illuminate the personal transformations that make you who you are and accelerate your personal growth so you can show colleges your full potential!

• The best-fit approach to college research facilitates realistic and aspirational college lists that ensure a phenomenal fit at a well-matched college! This may not be the same school you called your “dream school” on day 1, but it may be far more rewarding and provide the resources that become the passport to your dreams!

  • We use the best – fit approach to college research, not only because it allows students to find their home after high school, but also because colleges are now, more than ever, seeking demonstrated interest in applicants. Those that can make a case that the school is a best – fit for them are more likely to receive acceptances and large merit-scholarships. For example, just this past application cycle, we had even our student with the lowest GPA (a 2.55 from Mountain View High School) get accepted to a dozen liberal arts schools with an average of a $30,000 annual merit scholarship through the best – fit approach. We also had a student who had loved math all his life, discover a passion for humanitarian engineering through our college application journey. We connected him with engineers of all types for informational interviews through our own volunteer network to solidify his major selection. He ended up with a $30,000 annual merit scholarship to RPI, even though it was a reach for him, because it was the only school that offered humanitarian engineering research, student groups and programming and he made a case for this in his application shortly after discovering such a niche passion.