Our mission is simple, to prepare students for college. We do that in a number of ways. Primarily through our test preparation programs, but test scores are not enough to get ready for college. We also offer a number of community initiaves to help families prepare to pay for college as well as to get students ready for the tests needed to get in to college.
James Maroney, the owner and Director of Educational Consulting at First Choice College Placement is a 1992 graduate of Jonathan Law High School in Milford, and a 1996 graduate of Yale University.
Leigh Smith first joined the First Choice College Placement team in the beginning of 2015, working part time as an SAT tutor. She grew up in the suburbs of Boston, and originally planned to be a veterinarian or a doctor. Though she entered as a biology major, Leigh ultimately graduated from Oberlin College in 2013 with majors in Philosophy and Religious Studies. She took a year away from academia to work at a riding school while she applied to graduate programs. In 2016, she received a Master of Arts in Religion degree from Yale Divinity School, concentrating in Philosophy of Religion and Philosophical Theology. Though her degrees focus in the humanities, she’s never lost her original love of science and math. After graduating from Yale Divinity School, she accepted a full time position with First Choice College Placement, helping to craft curriculum, manage tutoring staff, and tutoring students.
- Free FAFSA Program: In 2015 we partnered with the MIiford Public Library to run a two-night seminar on how to file the college financial aid forms. At the end of the program, over 10 families had submitted their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Click here to read more about this program and emailjmaroney@firstchoicecollege.com for information about how to bring this free program to your school or library.
- Connecticut State Planning Commission for Higher Education: First Choice’s Director James Maroney was appointed to the Connecticut State Planning Commission for Higher Education in order to help the state of Connecticut develop a strategic plan for higher education. Read about his appointment here.
- SAT Boot Camp Fundraisers: First Choice has partnered with One Voice PTA in Milford to run a two-day SAT prep Boot Camp for Milford High School students. The cost of the program is $79, and $25 per student is donated to the one voice. Over the last two years, we have helped raise over $1,000 for one voice. Email jmaroney@firstchoicecollege.com for more information on this program.
- College Scholarships: Another way we help prepare students for college is by donating money for scholarships. We have donated thousands of dollars in scholarships between the AdmissionHook.com Scholarship Essay contest that we run and our donations to the Devon Rotary Scholarships. Our Founder, James Maroney, is the Scholarship Committee Chair for the Devon Rotary as well as running their biannual Service Above Self Awards, which honor local students.
