Good Neighbor Podcast: Frisco

EP #249: Dr. JW Stewart with Rally Advising Demystifies College Admissions Through Personal Experience

• Sophia Yvette

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What makes Dr. JW Stewart with Rally Advising a good neighbor?

Dr. JW Stewart knows firsthand how challenging the college admissions process can be without proper guidance. His personal journey—struggling through college, dropping out, and taking six years to complete his bachelor's degree—fueled his passion to become the mentor he never had. Now, as the founder of Rally Advising, he helps high school students navigate the increasingly complex world of college admissions with personalized attention and transparent pricing.

The landscape of college admissions continues to evolve, with some institutions now employing AI to filter applications—a development many families aren't even aware of. Dr. Stewart cuts through the noise of social media "quick fixes" and unrealistic promises, offering students and parents a grounded perspective on what truly matters. "The college admission process is not easy," he acknowledges, "but there's lots of opportunity out there. It just requires a good deal of hard work and, unfortunately, a lot of good old-fashioned luck sometimes too."

What makes Rally Advising unique is its accessibility. While some college consultants charge up to $10,000 for a year's services—often without publishing their rates—Dr. Stewart maintains full transparency about his fees while delivering individualized guidance. He also honors his roots by providing pro bono services to economically disadvantaged students, ensuring that quality college consulting isn't just for those who can afford it. Having taught at both high school and college levels in the Frisco and Prosper areas, his connections and experience provide valuable insights for families navigating this critical life transition.

Visit rallyadvising.com today to learn more about how Dr. Stewart and his team can help your student find the right college fit while reducing the stress that often accompanies this significant life decision. Don't let your child miss opportunities because they lack the right guidance—the support they need might be closer than you think!

To learn more about Rally Advising  go to: 

https://www.rallyadvising.com/

Rally Advising 

940-278-9807

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a college advisor? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Dr JW Stewart, with Rally Advising. Dr JW, how are you doing today?

Speaker 3:

I am doing wonderful.

Speaker 2:

Fantastic to hear, and we're so excited to learn all about you and your business. Can you tell us a bit about your company?

Speaker 3:

Sure, we're a college consulting business and we are focused on helping high school students map out their college and professional goals and then guide them through the whole college admissions process. You know we have a lot of great schools in the area that are producing wonderful students, which produces a level of competition that results in a great deal of stress for students and families, and so my business helps with that. It's my kind of purpose is to ease minds and help students and families figure out the right school that's for their, for their student.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and what an interesting industry you're in. How did you get into college advising?

Speaker 3:

Well, my own high school to college transition was rather rocky. I didn't really have any assistance, not even from a high school counselor. You know I was a relatively smart kid but I was from an economically disadvantaged family and, you know, without that person helping me, I missed out on a lot of opportunities, both academic and financial, because I didn't have anybody to kind of show me the way. And so this is a story as I got into education that I heard a lot from adults and that I saw with students, and so you know, as I became an educator and got on in years, I decided to be as much as I could, a guide for as many students as you know I had in class or who needed my services to kind of help them find the way that I didn't have.

Speaker 2:

Wow, that's very amazing. It sounds like you truly found your calling. So, dr JW, what is the most common myth or misconception you come across in your industry?

Speaker 3:

misconception you come across in your industry. There are probably more myths than facts in my industry. In fact, a big part of my job is dispelling myths and misconceptions out-of-date knowledge that students and families have about college. I guess the most recent development that I'm not even sure families and students are even aware of is that admissions offices are now some of them are feeding their applications through AI and using that as a filter. It's something that you would not have even considered a couple of years ago, you know, and people are inundated constantly on social media with college consultants telling them there's one easy trick or five easy steps to get into the college of your dreams. You know and, and I really wish that was true, but it just isn't, and so I spend a lot of time talking with students and families to kind of get them to see that. You know, the college admission process is not easy, but there's lots of opportunity out there. It just requires a good deal of hard work and, unfortunately, a lot of good old-fashioned luck sometimes too.

Speaker 2:

So, dr JW, who are your target customers and, in terms of marketing, how do you attract them?

Speaker 3:

Most of my clients come by word of mouth referrals thankfully Parents who know other parents who kids will go through, and so that's generally where most of my clients come from in the Frisco, Prosper and surrounding areas where I've had the great privilege to teach both at the high school and college level.

Speaker 3:

And so the clients I'm typically looking for are those that have that limited experience with college admissions and are just looking for a little bit of help getting them through that process and giving their students a little bit of a leg up, you know, with other students in their schools and in the area and in the country. You know, and also in honor of kind of what got me into this college advising, I also do a great deal of pro bono college consulting for students who are economically disadvantaged or who may be struggling with other issues students who are economically disadvantaged or who may be struggling with other issues. So I get a lot of referrals from sometimes church or something that a kid that really needs it, who doesn't have the resources to kind of pay for a private consultant.

Speaker 2:

That's amazing. Do you go to church yourself?

Speaker 3:

I do. I go to a church in Frisco and you know pretty much any kid in that church will that needs my services, has it if they need it. But yeah, I don't generally advertise my business at the church though.

Speaker 2:

So switching gears. Can you describe a hardship or life challenge you overcame and how it made you a better and stronger person today? What comes to mind for you?

Speaker 3:

Probably the biggest struggle in my life was once I did get into college.

Speaker 3:

I actually struggled a great deal with college and part of that was just not being in the right mindset when I got there or even understanding really why I was there. I dropped out of college after about a year and a half, went out into the workforce, went back to college, kind of puttered along, you know, really not understanding what I was doing or why I was doing it, and then eventually, thankfully with some help from some mentors, figured out kind of what I wanted to do and, most importantly, why. Out kind of what I wanted to do and, most importantly, why. But that experience of kind of struggling for six years to finish a bachelor's degree left an indelible mark on me as far as understanding education and giving me a unique perspective on higher learning or higher education excuse me that understanding the benefits and value but also being a little wary of its promise sometimes. But yeah, but two degrees later. Now I sometimes miss being a student now. I never would have thought I would have felt that way back in my early 20s.

Speaker 3:

And Dr JW, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about rally advising I think the most important thing I kind of begin talking with families about is that you know, if you're going with me, that you're getting personalized service at reasonable rates. You know, very few college consultants publish their rates, so no one really knows what reasonable even is. I've heard people charging as much as $10,000 for a year's worth of services, which shocks most people, but unfortunately it didn't shock me that much, and so they're going to get someone who is going to spend time with their student, get to understand what they want out of their college experience and then give them the advice and the guidance to get them where they need to be.

Speaker 2:

And how can our listeners learn more about Rally Advising?

Speaker 3:

You can find more about me and information on our services at my website, rallyadvisingcom, and everything that I do is published on there, as well as the rates.

Speaker 2:

Well, Dr JW, I really appreciate you being on the show. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Thank you so much, Sophia.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpfriscocom. That's gnpfriscocom, or call 469-221-9345. 9, 3, 4, 5.