Helping Students Navigate College With Clarity, Strategy & Support
Personalized educational consulting for students and families nationwide—from college planning and academic advising to financial aid, appeals, transfer decisions, opportunity programs, and academic success.
OF HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP, COUNSELING & STUDENT ADVOCACY
A career devoted to expanding educational opportunity, strengthening student success, and helping students and families overcome barriers to higher education and employment.
Leadership Rooted in Educational Opportunity & Student Success
T. Mitch Duren, M.S. brings more than 43 years of higher-education leadership, counseling, program development, and student advocacy to his educational consulting practice. His career includes service as an EOP Counselor at SUNY Brockport and as Director of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) at New York Institute of Technology.
T. Mitch Duren went on to become Founder and Executive Director of the Queens Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) and Founder and Executive Director of the SUNY North Bronx Career Counseling & Outreach Center. Much of his career was devoted to expanding educational and economic opportunity for underserved communities through academic preparation, college access, career counseling, workforce and vocational training, supportive services, and pathways to employment.
His leadership extended beyond individual programs. He was one of three co-founders of the Tri-State Consortium of Opportunity Programs in Higher Education, a nonprofit association of educators, administrators, counselors, and staff serving state-supported educational opportunity programs across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He also served in elected professional leadership roles, including President of the HEOP Professional Organization and President of the EOC Directors Council.
In 1985, while leading HEOP at New York Institute of Technology, T. Mitch Duren was recognized by NYIT leadership and New York State’s Higher Education Opportunity Program for exceptional student outcomes, including a program graduation rate that exceeded that of NYIT’s general student population.
Throughout his career, T. Mitch Duren’s educational leadership and community service also received recognition from governmental and community leaders, including a New York State Senate proclamation recognizing his years of dedication and commitment to educational and vocational opportunity, as well as additional acknowledgments from New York State elected officials and legislative leaders.
Today, he brings that same depth of experience directly to students and families nationwide—helping them understand their circumstances, identify available options, and develop practical strategies for college planning, academic recovery, financial-aid and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) matters, transfer decisions, scholarship strategy, and educational success.
Serving students and families throughout all 50 states.
How I Can Help
Individualized educational guidance for students and families at different stages of the college journey.
College Planning & Admissions
- College selection
- Choosing/changing a major
- Application planning
- Admissions essay guidance
- College readiness
Academic Success & Recovery
- Academic probation
- Degree planning
- Retention support
- Reinstatement/readmission
- Academic recovery planning
Financial Aid & Appeals
- Financial-aid guidance
- Funding options
- Financial-aid appeals
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeals
- Scholarship guidance
Transfer & College Navigation
- Transfer guidance
- College transitions
- Academic planning
- Degree-completion support
Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs) & Student Support Programs
- Federal TRIO programs, including Talent Search
- College/university support programs
- First-generation resources
- SUNY Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs)
- NY programs including HEOP, EOP, SEEK & College Discovery
- Comparable educational-opportunity, college-access, retention & student-support programs nationwide
Services & Starting Prices
Transparent starting prices help students and families understand the likely investment before requesting assistance.
Mitch Duren Educational Consulting offers a broad and comprehensive range of educational services that extends well beyond traditional college-admissions consulting. From college planning and financial-aid guidance to SAP appeals, academic recovery, transfer support, degree planning, parent consultation, and student-success services, clients can access experienced, individualized support across multiple stages of the college journey.
Our pricing is intentionally transparent and structured to provide professional educational guidance at more accessible price points than many premium consulting models.
Trusted educational consulting resources. Multiple needs. Individualized solutions!
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) & Financial-Aid Appeal Support
Appeal development, documentation organization, an academic recovery plan, and final review.
Academic Probation Recovery
A personalized recovery plan, scheduling, advisor preparation, and 30 days of support.
Reinstatement & Readmission Support
Return-readiness assessment, statement guidance, a first-term plan, and submission review.
College Planning & Admissions
College-fit strategy, application planning, decision tools, and 90 days of support.
Financial-Aid Guidance
Aid-requirement and award review, financial-aid-office preparation, and an action checklist.
Scholarship Guidance & Application Support
Scholarship search strategy, verified opportunities, application tracking, and essay guidance.
Transfer Student Guidance
Transfer comparison, credit questions, application planning, and time-to-degree review.
Major Selection & Change Support
Strengths, major, career, degree-progress, cost, and time-to-degree comparison.
College Success & Retention Support
Eight weeks of structured coaching, scheduling, accountability, and resource connections.
Opportunity & Student-Support Programs
Nationwide research and application support for opportunity, access, workforce, and student-support programs.
Parent & Family Consultation Support
Family consultation, student-consent boundaries, a communication plan, and follow-up.
College Admissions Essay Support
Coaching for one primary essay and two supplements, with revisions and final review.
General Educational Consultation
A 90-minute consultation, a written Action Plan, and follow-up clarification.
Academic Advising & Degree Planning
Degree-progress review, course sequencing, a multi-term roadmap, and advisor preparation.
Financial Aid & Scholarship Strategy
A coordinated financial-aid and scholarship strategy with application planning.
Recommended Service + Optional Additional Support
After your Client Inquiry Form and needs assessment are reviewed, T. Mitch Duren will recommend the primary service that best addresses your immediate concern.
You may then review the full service menu and choose one or more additional optional services if you would like support with other educational needs. Optional services are not required to proceed with the recommended service.
For individual clients, the Square invoice will list the recommended primary service first and any optional services you select as separate line items, so you can clearly see the approved services and total before making payment.
There is no obligation to purchase by submitting an inquiry. Educational outcomes and institutional decisions cannot be guaranteed.
Payment Options
Payment is arranged only after the needs assessment, recommended service, optional selections, approved scope, and total amount have been confirmed.
Individual Clients — Square Invoice Process
Your Square invoice will show the recommended primary service as the first line item. Any additional optional services you choose will appear as separate line items. This allows you to review the exact services, scope, and total before payment.
For service packages using the standard two-part payment schedule, a 50% deposit is due before work begins. The remaining 50% is due before final customized deliverables are released or emailed to the client. If a different payment arrangement applies, it will be confirmed with you in writing before payment.
Colleges, Universities & Organizations
Colleges, universities, campuses, educational programs, and other organizations may arrange payment by institutional check or purchase order (PO).
The approved services, total amount, payment terms, authorized site or program, and permitted scope of use will be confirmed in writing before services begin. Institutional clients are not required to use the individual Square payment process unless specifically arranged.
Who I Help
Every student's educational journey is different. Services are available nationwide to general-admission students, prospective and current students, transfer and returning students, adult learners, families, and participants in educational-opportunity and student-support programs—regardless of the program's local name.
🎓 Prospective College Students
College selection, majors, applications, admissions essays, financial-aid preparation, scholarships, and transition planning.
📚 General-Admission & Current College Students
Academic planning, degree progress, major decisions, financial-aid concerns, and strategies for continued success.
🔄 Transfer & Returning Students
Transfer planning, returning after an interruption, readmission, reinstatement, and degree-completion planning.
📈 Students Facing Academic Challenges
Academic probation, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) concerns, financial-aid suspension, reinstatement/readmission, and recovery planning.
🌎 Students Seeking Opportunity & Support Programs
Federal TRIO programs—including Talent Search—plus state, institutional, and community-based college-access and student-support initiatives nationwide. Examples include HEOP, EOP, SEEK, College Discovery, SUNY Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs), Connecticut Automatic Admission Program (CAAP), Southern Connecticut State University's Southern Educational Opportunity Program (SEOP), and comparable programs operating under other names.
👨👩👧 Parents, Guardians & Families
Clear guidance about what's happening, what questions to ask, what options may be available, and what steps to consider next.
How It Works
You don't need to know exactly which service you need before contacting Mitch Duren Educational Consulting.
Tell Me What's Going On
Complete the Client Inquiry Form and share the student's situation, needs, and important deadlines.
I Review Your Situation
T. Mitch Duren personally reviews the inquiry and completes a needs assessment before recommending a service.
Receive Your Primary Recommendation
You'll receive the service recommendation that best addresses the immediate need, including the scope, starting fee, and expected timeframe.
Review Optional Additional Services
After the primary recommendation, you may choose additional services for other identified needs. These services are optional.
Review Your Square Invoice & Deposit
For individual clients, the recommended service appears first and selected optional services appear as separate line items. For standard package payment schedules, a 50% deposit is due before work begins.
Customized Support & Final Payment
Work begins after the required payment and client materials are received. The remaining balance is due before final customized deliverables are released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions from students, parents, guardians, and families.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Whether you're planning for college, facing an academic or financial-aid challenge, considering a transfer, exploring student-support opportunities, or simply unsure what to do next, start by telling T. Mitch Duren a little about the situation.
You do not need to know which service you need before contacting us.
What Happens After You Submit?
1 — Inquiry Received
Your information is submitted for review.
2 — Personally Reviewed
T. Mitch Duren reviews your circumstances.
3 — Next Steps
You'll be contacted regarding appropriate assistance. If a paid service is recommended, you'll receive the scope, fee, and expected timeframe before deciding whether to proceed.
Serving students and families throughout all 50 states.
Privacy Notice
Effective Date: August 2026
Mitch Duren Educational Consulting respects the privacy of students, parents, guardians, families, and other individuals who contact the practice for educational consulting services.
When you complete the Client Inquiry Form, contact T. Mitch Duren by email, or provide information in connection with consulting services, you may share personal information such as your name, email address, telephone number, student information, college or university information, academic concerns, financial-aid concerns, deadlines, and other details relevant to the assistance you are requesting.
How Information Is Used
- reviewing and responding to inquiries;
- understanding the student's circumstances and educational needs;
- determining what consulting services may be appropriate;
- communicating with students, parents, guardians, or family members;
- providing agreed-upon educational consulting services;
- maintaining appropriate business and service records.
Confidentiality and Information Handling
Personal information is treated with care and discretion and is not publicly displayed. Mitch Duren Educational Consulting does not sell personal information to advertisers or other third parties.
Information may be shared with another person or organization only when reasonably necessary to provide requested services, when authorized by the client, or when required by law.
Student and Educational Records
Clients should avoid sending highly sensitive information unless it is necessary for the requested consulting service. When academic records, financial-aid documents, appeal materials, or similar documents are provided, they are reviewed only for purposes related to the requested consulting assistance.
Mitch Duren Educational Consulting is an independent educational consulting practice and is not acting as the student's college, university, financial-aid office, or other educational institution.
Google Forms and Other Technology Services
The Client Inquiry Form is currently provided through Google Forms. Information submitted through the form may therefore also be processed and stored through Google's systems in accordance with Google's applicable privacy and security practices.
Other commonly used technology services, such as email, cloud storage, or payment-processing services, may also be used in connection with the consulting practice.
Information Retention
Information may be retained for a reasonable period for purposes such as client communication, service delivery, recordkeeping, and business administration. Information that is no longer reasonably needed may be deleted or securely disposed of when appropriate.
Security
Reasonable efforts are made to protect personal information. However, no email system, online form, cloud service, or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Clients should use reasonable care when transmitting particularly sensitive information electronically.
Parents, Guardians, and Students
Parents, guardians, family members, and students may submit inquiries. When services involve an adult college student, T. Mitch Duren may need to communicate directly with the student or obtain the student's permission before discussing certain information with others, depending on the circumstances and nature of the service.
External Institutions and Outcomes
Information provided to Mitch Duren Educational Consulting does not create any relationship between the consulting practice and a student's college, university, government agency, scholarship organization, or other institution. Any information that a client chooses to submit to an institution is subject to that institution's own policies and privacy practices.
Changes to This Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice may be updated periodically as the practice, services, or technology used by Mitch Duren Educational Consulting changes.
Privacy Questions
T. Mitch Duren, M.S.
Mitch Duren Educational Consulting
Email: durenacademicsuccess@gmail.com