Learning Differences

College Strategy That Actually Fits Your Kid

At Top Dog, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all advice—because your kid isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether they’re the kind of student who needs color-coded calendars and check-ins, or they thrive best when we cut the fluff and get real, we tailor everything to how they actually learn.

Many families come to us feeling like the college process wasn’t built with their kid in mind. 

Maybe your student has ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or just learns a little differently than their peers. That’s not a liability here—it’s a launchpad.

We’ve worked with dozens of students with learning differences, and we know how to turn that into a strength colleges respect.

We’ll help you figure out not only where your kid belongs, but how they’re going to get there—in a way that doesn’t burn them out or break their spirit.

 Whether that means structured weekly check-ins, support building a strong testing plan (yes, accommodations included), or finding schools with the kind of support systems that actually work, we’ve got you covered.

And when it comes time to talk about the learning difference itself? We know how to tell that story in a way that lands. We’ve written hundreds of Additional Information notes that frame challenges with clarity, dignity, and zero self-pity—so admissions officers see resilience, not excuses.

What We Do (And Do Really Well)

For students who learn differently, we offer:

• Custom, human-first strategy. We take time to understand your kid’s learning profile and shape an admissions game plan that works with their brain, not against it.

• High-touch, real-deal guidance. From organizing assignments to navigating the emotional rollercoaster of junior year, we’re here as coaches, strategists, and sometimes unofficial therapists.

• Testing strategies that make sense. We’ll help your student decide whether to go SAT or ACT, how and when to prep, and how to get accommodations without jumping through flaming hoops.

• A college list that’s actually thoughtful. We help you find schools that don’t just accept students with learning differences—they support them, challenge them, and help them thrive.

• Study skills & academic tools. If your student needs to turn things around before senior year, we’ll help create a plan for stronger grades, better habits, and more confidence.

• Leadership that doesn’t feel fake. We help students develop their voice and stand out authentically—because colleges don’t want perfect; they want real.

• No missed deadlines, no meltdowns. We map out the entire process so everyone knows what’s coming and when—and we’re on it, even when your kid’s calendar isn’t.

• Killer apps + disability narratives that work. From the personal statement to interviews to Additional Info sections, we help your student show who they are in the strongest, most honest way—including how to tell the story of their learning difference without making it a sob story.

  Your kid isn’t a spreadsheet. They’re not a stat. They’re a whole person—with a learning style, a personality, and a story that deserves to be told right. At Top Dog, we help them tell it—and get into the schools where they’ll actually thrive.

  Let’s build the kind of college plan that feels like it was made just for them. Because it was.