Selecting an Affordable College - Attend a free workshop on college admissions with Patti Pears, a nationally certified counselor specializing in college admissions consulting. She helps students apply to selective colleges across the country and has toured over 100 college campuses. "Knowing which colleges to apply to is the most important step in the application process" says Pears, a former Elmhurst resident. Learn what to look for in evaluating which colleges are a good "fit" in order to maximize your chances of financial aid awards. The financial aid process will be summarized to make sure you don't miss an opportunity to save money. For high school students and their parents.