Learning Differences

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.

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 to the point, we tailor everything to how they learn.

We’ve worked with dozens of students with learning differences, and we know how to turn that into a strength that 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 the time to understand your child’s learning profile and create an admissions 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 thoughtful college list. 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 to achieve stronger grades, develop better habits, and gain more confidence.

• Leadership that doesn’t feel fake. We help students develop their voice and stand out authenticallybecause 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 the Additional Info sections, we help your student present themselves 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 thrive.

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