From: JDavidCook@aol.com Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 13:07:01 -0400 (EDT) Subject: important press release attached CHRISTOPHER-DAVID independent college advising 755 Everett Street El Cerrito, California 94530 510-558-1817 info@christopher-david.com www.christopher-david.com PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: Jeffrey D. Cook 510-558-1817 COLLEGE COUNSELING FIRM FOR GAY STUDENTS RECEIVES NATIONAL ATTENTION EL CERRITO, CA--Christopher-David, a new college counseling firm speciali zing in helping gay high school students find the best college match, has recently received national attention for its first-of-a-kind service. Founded earlier this year by firm partners Jeffrey C. Moss and Jeffrey D. Cook, Christopher- David was represented during a panel discussion on college counseling issues for gay and lesbian students at the annual conference of the National Association for College Admission Counseling held in San Francisco last month. The Chronicle of Higher Education, the leading national weekly newspaper for higher education, along with Harvard University's daily newspaper, The Crimson, recently ran stories on the firm. "We feel that there is a real void in traditional college counseling" said Mr. Cook. "Many gay high school students have experienced tremendous intolerance and even violence. Others can't be honest with family and friends about an important aspect of who they are. There's no reason college can't be a positive experience, where they'll find success and happiness." Based in El Cerrito, a San Francisco suburb near Berkeley, Christopher-David hopes to serve students nationwide through a unique distance-counseling program using the Internet, phone, and mail. "We want to reach students not only in the Bay Area, but in middle America, too. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual students have new help in finding a college in which they'll be academically, politically, and socially comfortable" said Mr. Moss who heads-up communications and logistics. Based on specialized data and commentary from colleges and universities, along with research and interviews with those on-campus, Christopher-David constructs a recommended pool of college options by meshing this information with other criteria gained from the student client. Mr. Cook, an experienced college admissions professional originally from upstate New York, points out that the search for a good match can be complex. "There's no simple top 10 list since each student is looking for different things in a prospective college. We need to work to find the best match for the individual, confirming that target campuses accept and celebrate sexual orientation diversity. We'll then help students through the entire admissions process and transition to college--as much or as little as they want or need." Cook also said that Christopher-David will break the conventions of traditional educational consulting which carries a reputation of being used mainly by wealthier families hoping to get their children into selective schools. "We do what we do from the stand-point of service and high ethics. We offer very affordable counseling directly to high school students who want to find good colleges, and who want to be who they are in a world that sometimes wants them to be someone else. We present college advising from a younger, down-to-earth perspective to which they can relate, enjoy, and understand." Services range from advice on running a search, to compiling a short list of prospective institutions, to preparation and assistance in gaining admission. "A Newsweek article in a special college supplement said private consulting can cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Those days are over. Christopher-David puts service to students first" said Cook. Christopher-David can be reached through its Web site at www.christopher-david.com, by e-mail at info@christopher-david.com, or by calling 510-558-1817.