For many families, the college application process is filled with questions, uncertainty, and a quiet hope that they're “doing it right.” It’s a high-stakes journey -- but it doesn’t have to be a stressful one.
That’s exactly what Aletta Merz, Ph.D., provides through College Rangefinder. Based in Georgia and available to families across the country, Aletta offers deeply personalized, one-on-one college consulting that doesn’t just prepare students for college -- it empowers them to thrive.
The Heart Behind the Process
Aletta brings warmth, intelligence, and insight to a process that can often feel overwhelming. Her approach is rooted in the belief that better decisions come from better self-understanding. Through a thoughtful blend of data-driven tools, strategic planning, and compassionate coaching, she helps students build confidence and clarity -- two of the most powerful assets a teen can carry into the next chapter of their life.
With a background in psychology and years of hands-on experience guiding students, Aletta understands the pressures teens face, as well as the hopes and fears of the parents supporting them. She blends strategy with empathy, helping families feel seen and supported at every stage.
Whether she’s working with an enthusiastic 9th grader just beginning to explore interests or a rising senior under looming deadlines, Aletta meets each student where they are. Her goal isn’t just admission -- it’s alignment. She helps students discover schools that reflect who they are and where they’ll be equipped to grow.
A Journey That Begins Early
While many families wait until junior year to think about college, Aletta encourages starting sooner -- ideally in 9th or 10th grade. Early guidance allows students to build a strong academic and extracurricular foundation without the stress of playing catch-up later. In her “Smart Start Roadmap,” Aletta walks underclassmen through essential steps like developing strong study habits, choosing the right courses, and becoming involved in meaningful activities.
This isn’t about building a résumé for the sake of appearances. Instead, Aletta helps students engage in experiences that reflect their passions, personality, and purpose. She encourages leadership and depth, not just breadth, so that when application season arrives, students have a story to tell that is both personal and powerful.
It’s not unusual for a student to enter their first session unsure of what direction they’re headed in -- and that’s perfectly okay. Through career assessments, reflective exercises, and conversations about values, strengths, and long-term goals, Aletta helps young people begin to see themselves more clearly and confidently.
The Rangefinder Method
What sets College Rangefinder apart is Aletta’s signature method -- a multi-stage, highly individualized approach that brings structure, insight, and momentum to what can otherwise feel like an ambiguous process. It’s not a checklist; it’s a customized journey.
During sophomore and junior years, students work closely with Aletta to build both their academic and personal profiles. This includes reviewing transcripts and course selection, discussing rigor and pacing, and setting realistic academic goals. Aletta also helps students assess their extracurricular involvement, guiding them to identify what activities are most meaningful -- and how to deepen their impact through leadership, service, or initiative.
Standardized testing is another area where Aletta provides calm, strategic direction. She helps students determine whether the SAT or ACT is a better fit, builds a personalized timeline around their schedules and goals, and ensures they understand how to approach test-optional policies thoughtfully.
And then comes what many families describe as the most helpful part: building the Balanced College List. Aletta doesn’t just recommend the usual suspects. She digs deep into each student’s academic interests, financial needs, personality, and preferred campus culture to craft a list of schools where the student can truly thrive. She teaches students and parents how to conduct productive college visits, evaluate programs, and look beyond name recognition to find the best-fit environment.
Support Through Senior Year -- and Beyond
By the time senior year arrives, students working with College Rangefinder are equipped with a plan and a deep sense of who they are. But Aletta’s support doesn’t stop there.
Throughout the fall, she provides weekly or biweekly sessions to help students stay on track with essays, applications, interviews, and deadlines. She coaches students through every element of the Common App and supplemental essays, offers feedback and revisions until the writing is polished, and helps students organize and track application materials. She even supports students applying to competitive scholarships and honors programs.
Through this work, Aletta transforms a process that often causes family tension into an opportunity for connection and clarity. Parents are kept in the loop through milestone-based family meetings and written recaps, giving them peace of mind without having to micromanage.
Once acceptances start rolling in, Aletta helps families compare offers, weigh financial aid packages, and make confident decisions. And once a decision is made, she shifts gears again -- helping students prepare for a successful transition to college life with tips on independence, time management, and self-advocacy.
From Competitive to Compelling
One of the most rewarding aspects of Aletta’s work is helping students move from being “competitive” applicants to “compelling” ones. Colleges are no longer just looking for test scores -- they want students who know themselves, who have made an impact, and who can articulate why they belong on campus.
Aletta’s acclaimed Essay Program guides students through the often-intimidating process of writing the personal statement. Using a blend of coaching and reflection, she helps students tell their stories authentically, with heart and clarity. Many students say they leave the process not only with a standout essay but with a deeper understanding of their own journey.
More Than a Consultant
Aletta Merz isn’t just an expert -- she’s a guide, a mentor, and a steady presence in a season full of change. She’s a member of the National and Southern Associations for College Admission Counseling and the Independent Educational Consultants Association, upholding the highest standards of ethical practice. But even more importantly, she brings her whole heart to this work.
Parents describe her as calming, reassuring, and deeply knowledgeable. Students say she’s someone they can trust -- someone who sees their potential and helps them bring it forward.
Why College Rangefinder Matters
Today’s high school counselors do heroic work, but with an average caseload of over 400 students, it’s simply not possible for them to provide the level of personalized college guidance most families hope for. College Rangefinder fills that gap -- thoughtfully, ethically, and effectively.
Whether you’re at the very beginning of the journey or approaching deadlines with a stack of applications to complete, College Rangefinder offers not just answers, but a plan. Aletta’s approach replaces panic with purpose, uncertainty with structure, and pressure with progress.
Most importantly, she helps students approach this season not as a series of hoops to jump through, but as an opportunity to discover what matters most to them -- and where they can truly thrive next.
Because getting into college is just the beginning. With College Rangefinder, students launch not only to the right campus, but into the next phase of their lives with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
To learn more about how Aletta Merz and College Rangefinder can support your student’s college journey, visit www.collegerangefinder.com or email Aletta directly at Aletta@CollegeRangefinder.com. In addition to her work with families, Aletta volunteers with the Campbell High School College & Career Office and proudly sponsors CHS teams, including girls’ volleyball and soccer. Whether you're just getting started or navigating senior year deadlines, she offers personalized, one-on-one guidance designed to reduce stress and build confidence—every step of the way. Discovery sessions are available by appointment.
“Working with College Rangefinder turned stress into strategy—and helped me feel excited about the future.”
“Every meeting with Aletta brought relief, direction, and confidence—for both our student and our entire family.”