About OneUp
Deidra Fisher, founder of OneUp College Consulting, is a former high school English teacher, professional writer and business consultant, and mother to two girls: one who graduated from Northwestern in 2018 and another who graduated SMU in 2020. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Baylor University and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Deidra previously worked in graduate school recruiting and admissions for the SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development, and also served as an instructor of college prep courses through SMU’s Lifelong Learning department. She is a frequent speaker at high school PTA and TAG parent meetings, as well as YMSL and NCL chapter meetings.
As a former teacher in an International Baccalaureate school, Deidra worked with students of all academic abilities and backgrounds in their college search and application journey. She believes firmly that finding the best college FIT is most important, and is not limited to a short list of highly selective universities. Her goal is to help students explore the colleges that interest them, and ultimately find the right school for their unique academic and social goals, and career interests. Deidra is committed to helping clients leverage their unique talents and experiences, and showcasing their accomplishments while easing the stress for families of an intricate, time-consuming process.
Counsel you can trust
Deidra is a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association. The hallmark of an IECA member consultant is an extensive knowledge of schools, colleges, and special programs. Hiring an independent educational consultant who is a member of IECA ensures that you will work with a professional who has proven expertise, is fully vetted, and demonstrates the highest standards in education, training, ethics, and experience.
Deidra participates in IECA annual conferences, webinars, and training sessions for ongoing professional development. Her travel with IECA counselor tours across the country enable her to get insider access to schools she is recommending for her clients.
What clients are saying
If you’re about to start the application journey, I can’t recommend OneUp College enough. Deidra kept my son on track every step of the way, fine-tuned his essays and kept him going when the going got tough. I got to be the proud spectator, and our relationship remained peaceful! Cassie F.
If the idea of college overwhelms you, I highly recommend OneUp College. Deidra helps with every step of the process, from college lists to essays, and we’re sure she has saved us thousands of dollars! My senior got a 5/5 acceptance rate to her top schools, with THREE Presidential Merit Scholarships. Polly S.
Deidra went above and beyond to help my daughter find colleges outside of Texas that fit our budget and offered the type of community she wanted in a school. Deidra’s knowledge, essay expertise, and task-oriented mindset made the process a positive experience for my daughter and me. Erin P.
My daughter Ali got into NYU, her first choice school, with help from Deidra. We got started late in the game, but Deidra made space for us and helped Ali shape her application to earn a spot at her dream school. Alex L.
Deidra was super helpful to me in applying for film programs in California and New York. I had a lot of questions going into the process, and with her help, I felt a lot more confident about what I was submitting. And I got into my top choice college! Camden C.
Early in high school, I was super unfocused and unorganized when it came to college prep. Deidra helped me navigate my interests and center my extracurriculars towards my genuine passions. Her advice with standardized testing, classes, internships, essays, etc helped me get where I am today. I can’t imagine having gone through the process without her, or trying to understand college essay writing without her assistance. She was truly an amazing mentor and friend for my college application experience; and now, thanks to her, I’m living in one of my dream cities, studying at one of the best institutions (UCLA) in the country. Jackson W.
How I Can Help
I offer several package options depending on the needs of students.
My Comprehensive College Application package helps you and your child with college match assessment, college research and comprehensive student list report, test strategy, essays and resume, college application guidance and review and scholarship information. With a full-service consulting package, you and your student benefit from my curriculum which takes a deep dive into everything you need to know to find and apply to the right colleges for your needs. Full service clients also gain access to my technology platform, College Planner Pro, which helps students research schools, manage deadlines, view admission and application requirements and stay informed about tasks they need to complete. Students RAVE about the power of this tech platform in keeping them informed and on schedule throughout the process. Most students in the comprehensive plan begin working with me later in the sophomore year or early in the junior year.
My Early High School sessions help freshmen and sophomores prepare for the application work that lies ahead in the junior and senior years.
Clients who may need less ongoing support through the process may choose the Senior Crunch Package or, if space is available, an Hourly Package.
Early High School advising ($250/hour)
For families wanting a jump start on the college admission process, I can offer one-on-one hourly sessions during 9th-10th grades. During these sessions, I provide council and resources to help students become familiar with the college admission landscape, learn the basics of applying to college, choose courses for 9th/10th grades, and better understand how colleges evaluate applicants.
Comprehensive College Application Package ($7500 for Class of 2025)
Many parents and students find that using a college advisor for multiple services helps streamline a complicated and time-consuming process, ensuring that deadlines are met, test scores and resumes are improved, essays are carefully crafted, and tensions are lowered. But using a different expert for essay writing, college choice advising and application tracking can often mean just more headaches for you and your child. I can help with all of these services! If you are looking for a college concierge to help take the guesswork and stress out of your final year at home with your child, I offer the following services as part of my comprehensive package.
Provide access to College Planner Pro, a dynamic technology tool for research and application tracking/management
Assess student’s priorities and requirements for his/her college experience, communicate the selection criteria of specific colleges or universities, and recommend appropriate schools to generate a list of likely, target and reach colleges
Review earliest test scores, plan for subsequent testing and compare requirements for schools on the student’s list
Deliver university research through a detailed College Profile Report, including student demographic, academic offerings, tuition, testing requirements, deadlines, etc.
Assist in the selection of high school courses and extracurricular and summer activities
Deliver essay prompts in the spring and help brainstorm and edit college essays (up to 10 essays TOTAL)
Assist with resume development and review
Monitor/review timely application completion and submission for up to 10 colleges
Guidance regarding acceptance letters, deferrals and appeals and scholarship awards
Guidance for college visits and tours
College interview coaching
Senior “crunch” package—space available only ($5500)
If your student already has a working college list and is not applying to several highly-selective schools, I offer a package that starts beginning June 1 prior to senior year assuming I have space to take on additional clients. This package is ideal for seniors who need assistance with the application process, including application organization and completion, essay writing, resume development and guidance regarding acceptance and deferrals. The maximum number of colleges I support in this package is 6, with a maximum of 5 essays. Students who need help developing a comprehensive college list or who are applying to numerous colleges that require many supplemental essays and/or interviews should consider the comprehensive package option.
Hourly services
If your student does not need a full service solution, I offer 5-hour and 10-hour packages for SENIORS only on a space available basis. Most hourly students use this time for essay, application review and resume support. My fee for the hourly package is $250/hour. For “late comer” seniors requesting assistance after September 1 of senior year, that fee increases to $300/hour.
Initial Consultations
I will conduct a 30-minute Zoom session at no charge to allow us to meet and assess if my services and process and your student will be a good match. I cannot hold in-person initial consultations as I reserve all in-person appointments for clients.
Small Group Advising
(FULL for class of 2025)
I will offer a small group coaching program for a maximum of 10 students beginning in February 2024. I work with students all over the U.S., so you do not need to be in the Dallas/Fort Worth area! The cost of this program is $2800.
Register HERE before spaces fill!
Who’s a good fit?
Students who do not need the significant level of support provided in my comprehensive package, but want expert advice and guidance on their college list, applications and essays.
Students who learn well online and are independent in taking on tasks and assignments.
Students who have limited knowledge of the current admission landscape and application tools, and how their academic profile fits into the various colleges they are considering.
How it works
We will have 8 one-hour group sessions between Feb 2024 and Nov 2024 PLUS an Essay Workshop and a Common App Workshop. I will hold two 1:1 sessions with each student. The first will be to assess your preliminary college list and the second will be to discuss my review/suggestions for your Common App essay.
I will review the student’s Common App offline, in August or when completed, and make suggestions via email. Your student will SUBMIT their applications at home, on their own time. Your student must be responsible for following up and submitting required supporting documents as well. If a school does not receive all required documents BY DEADLINE, your student will not be reviewed for admission.
All sessions will be recorded so that you can watch the video if you are unable to attend one or more of the group meetings.
Workshop Schedule
Most meetings will be from 4pm to 5pm Sundays, CST.
Feb 18 Group launch. College admission overview, how colleges review applicants, how to research colleges via visits, website research and virtual information sessions.
March 3 Building a balanced list. Understanding how your academic profile fits into the context of various colleges and determining how you compare to other students who applied/were admitted in the prior cycle.
April 7 Review/discuss activity list and expanded resume and suggestions for summer activities to boost resume.
May 17 Essay brainstorming, writing instruction, and best practices for common app and supplemental essays
June 2 Common App workshop to open and complete your application. This workshop will run 11am-12:30pm Central.
June 30 Short answer and main essay work during workshop time. Q&A on essays and expanded resume.
July 21 Discussion of ALL the supporting documents schools will need. SRAR will be introduced which is required by numerous colleges. Brag sheet, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, official test scores.
Aug 4 Rollover of Common App and understanding additional school essay questions. Review of deadlines and where each student is re: writing. Applications are officially open for submission.
Sept 15 How to check the school portals after submission. Review of sending in supporting documents. Discussion of financial aid, housing deposits. Reminder to LINK SRAR if required to the school portals.
Nov 10 Final workshop. What to do if you are deferred, how to appeal a decision or write a letter of continued interest. How to consider alternate pathways. Student Q&A
Give your child the edge.
It's a competitive world out there. Choose a college advisor who works in the best interests of your family, and provides the support and confidence your student needs to choose colleges that will be the right fit, navigate the application process and stand out with university admission officers.
CONTACT
Deidra Fisher (972) 365-8610
5960 Berkshire Ln., Dallas, TX 75225
The Terraces Building/6th floor