College planning workshops for your families
Twelve sessions on admissions, paying for college, and career direction, built for the students and parents your organization serves. I'm Tamara Baptiste, a Cornell-trained engineer who has guided families to over $25 million in merit aid, and I facilitate every session personally.
Find your organization
Every organization comes to this from a different place. Find yours.
PTA, PTSA, and PTSO
Complimentary
There is no fee for a PTA, PTSA, or PTSO session. You fill the room with your families, and they get an hour with me on a topic you choose from the catalog.
Any session from the catalog, virtual or in person. Book it as a standalone evening or alongside a general meeting.
Chapters, nonprofits, and community organizations
$500 per session
Sororities, fraternities, NAACP branches, faith-based groups, community nonprofits, and college access programs. Running three or more within the same fiscal year is quoted as one package. Cohort programs are usually better served by a series, because a tenth grader and a senior need different things in different months.
A bulk order of Say Yes to College: The Junior Year Game Plan can stand in place of the session fee, with a copy going home with every family. Grant-funded programs: tell me the budget line and I will work to it.
Public libraries and library systems
$350 per session
Library pricing, because a branch programming budget is not a district budget. Running three or more within the same fiscal year is quoted as one package.
The sessions
Months show when a session lands best against the admissions calendar. Every session is available year round.
| Session | Audience | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| College 101: Applying to College Without Losing Your Mind© | 9th–12th | August, January |
| College 102: Applying to College When You’re First-Gen© | 9th–12th | August, March |
| College 201: Applying to College as a Non-Traditional Student© | Adults 18+ | February, August |
| The Road to College Starts in Middle School© | 6th–8th | Any month |
| The Art of the Humble Brag: Writing a Winning College Essay© | 11th–12th | Summer, September |
| Unlocking the Common Application© | 12th | September |
| AI and College Admissions: Navigating the New Landscape© | 10th–12th | January, September |
| You Got In, Now What? Successfully Transition from High School to College© | 12th with acceptances | March–April |
| Session | Audience | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| Show Me the Money: Understanding Financial Aid and Scholarships© | 9th–12th | October, January |
| Merit Aid Strategy: Making STEM, Business, or Pre-Law Education Affordable© | 9th–12th | October, January |
| Session | Audience | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| STEM Career Reality Check: Is Engineering/Tech Right for Your Child?© | 8th–12th | Any month |
| College vs. Career: Building the Right Path for Each Student© | 10th–12th | Any month |
All session titles are the property of Baptiste-Wallace LLC.
Who books these sessions
- PTAs, PTSAs, and PTSOs
- Sororities, fraternities, and civic organizations
- Nonprofits, college access, and first-generation programs
- Homeschool pods and groups
- Public libraries and library systems
What comes with every session
- The session, facilitated by me personally
- A participant resource page
- Logos, images, and social content for your own channels
- A complimentary Discovery Session for every participant
Your organization promotes the session and fills the room. Virtual sessions run on your platform, with someone from your team moderating questions.
The record
$25M+merit aid secured for families since 2015
100%college acceptance rate
65+of the top 100 schools with students admitted
98%graduated on time
100%of graduates fully employed or in grad school
I deliver every session myself. I hold two Cornell Engineering degrees, a Certificate with Distinction in College Counseling from UCLA, and the PMP, with 10+ years guiding families through this process and 25+ years in technical industries deciding who got hired.
Organizations and communities served
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.
- Minority Money Matters
- Anne Arundel County NAACP
- North Carolina State NAACP
- Top Ladies of Distinction
- Charles County Public Library, MD
- Prince George’s County Library, MD
- True Ground Housing
- The American Dream School
- Kaizen Foundation of North Carolina
Questions program directors ask
How much does a workshop cost?
Sessions are $500, and $350 for public libraries. PTA, PTSA, and PTSO sessions are complimentary. Running three or more within the same fiscal year is quoted as one package. The session fee is the same whether you book virtually or in person.
Can you present virtually?
Yes. Virtual sessions run anywhere in the country on your platform, with your team providing a moderator for questions and chat.
What about travel for an in-person session?
In-person sessions within a two hour drive of Charlotte, NC carry no travel cost. Beyond two hours, travel costs are quoted with the session.
Who are these sessions written for?
Students in 6th through 12th grade, their parents, and adults returning to school. Most organizations book a session for students and parents together, because the decisions that cost families money are made by both.
How far ahead should we book?
Four to eight weeks ahead is comfortable for a single session. Sessions tied to the admissions calendar, such as essay and Common Application workshops, fill first for late summer and fall dates. If the session needs to come out of next year's budget, start the conversation before your budget closes.
Can we buy books instead of paying a fee?
Yes. A bulk order of 31 or more copies of Say Yes to College: The Junior Year Game Plan can stand in place of the session fee, with a copy going home with every family. Travel is quoted separately either way.
Start a conversation
Tell me about your organization and what your families need. You will hear back from me within one business day.