college essay consultant reviews

• SAT BootCamp
• SAT MasterClass
• SAT Private Tutoring
• SAT Proctored Practice Test
• ACT Private Tutoring
• Academic Subjects
• College Essay Workshop
• Academic Writing Workshop
• AP English FRQ BootCamp
• 1:1 College Essay Help
• Online Instruction
• Free Resources
• 14 Best College Essay Services for 2024 (40 Services Reviewed)

Research conducted by Emily Kierkegaard , PhD, and expert-reviewed by Kevin Wong, PrepMaven Co-founder

Not sure which college application essay coaching and editing service is the best? We compared the top 40 services, created in-depth reviews for 14 of them, and narrowed it down to the 4 best that will help guide you through the process of writing amazing college application essays.

What is the Best College Essay Service?

• PrepMaven  – best college application essay service overall
• College Essay Mentor  – best for individual consultants
• The College Essay Guy  – best for unlimited essay assistance
• College Vine  – best of the big platforms

The best of the rest:

Individual essay consultants:

• College Essay Editor  – small editing team
• Allison Karpf  – former English teacher helping students
• Your College Vision  – former journalist with more affordable rates
• The College Guru  – good on paper but unresponsive
• Sofia Zapiola – budget-friendly application assistance

Mid-size teams:

• Lotus Learning  – focus on health sciences

Large platforms:

• Study Point  – larger platform with mystery editors
• Ivy Select  – larger platform with mystery editors
• Empowerly  – larger platform with mystery editors
• BeMo  – expensive and aggressive with wrong expertise

Schedule a college essay consultation

Best College Application Essay Services in 2024

#1 – prepmaven.

Our Verdict — Best College Essay Assistance Overall Price: $79–349/hour (minimum $510 package) PrepMaven’s one-on-one college essay assistance is the best option overall. Founded by brothers and Princeton grads Greg and Kevin, almost all of PrepMaven’s essay coaches have Ivy-League experience, primarily from Princeton and Harvard. All essay coaches also undergo a thorough training program in PrepMaven’s methods, developed by professional writers with deep understanding of the college admissions process, for helping students to discover the most compelling stories for their essays. Unlike other services, PrepMaven offers college essay assistance at several different price points. At the most accessible rate, students can work with current Ivy-League undergraduates who specialize in writing and have recently aced the college application process. At higher rates, students can work with coaches who are both Ivy-League grads and professional writers (screenwriters, journalists, editors) with many years of experience helping students to craft compelling essays. Interested students can even work directly with founders Greg and Kevin, who have over 15 years of experience helping students through the entire essay-writing process. PrepMaven’s services combine many of the best features of other good options into one, and it’s hard to beat their experience.

Sign up for PrepMaven’s college essay help now

Any student wanting college essay help, at any point in the process, with a range of budgets.

At a glance:

• Cost: $79–349/hour (minimum $510 package)
• Writing coach qualifications: Princeton graduates and professional writers (or current Princeton students); all trained

What we like:

• Ivy League experience —most of their writing coaches are Princeton grads or current students, with some from Harvard and other Ivies
• Different pricing options to meet different families’ circumstances
• More flexible and greater capacity to take on new students compared to individual consultants

Sign up for PrepMaven’s college essay help

#2 – College Essay Mentor

Our Verdict — Best of the Individual Consultants Price: unknown but high Some college essay consulting services consist of just one expert. Of these individual essay consultants, Chris Hunt at College Essay Mentor is our favorite. He combines writing experience as a journalist for the Economist and the Wall Street Journal with personal experience as a graduate of Dartmouth. However, he only works with a small number of students each year, and students need to apply to work with him — he only accepts students with top grades and test scores who are already strong applicants for top schools. Chris offers the option for one-time written feedback, but this only gives big-picture generalizations. (And written-only feedback is always limited.) In order for help with the essay process, students need to purchase a complete essay package.

Students with top grades and test scores who want to work with a one-person business, who have a sizable budget, and who are ready to get started early.

• Cost: $210 for a one-time written essay feedback (big picture only), then $110 per draft feedback; pricing for essay process packages unknown
• Essay coach qualifications: professional journalist, Dartmouth grad
• Professional writing experience as a journalist
• Extensive experience working with college applicants
• Partners with Debra Felix, former Director of Admissions at Columbia, for full application review

What we don’t like:

• One-on-one work is limited to very high-achieving students, who need to apply with a resume : “I limit my one-on-one work to students who I believe will be strong applicants to elite universities. As a rule, this means having high grades in challenging classes, a test score of ACT 34+ or SAT 1500+, and substantial activities outside of the classroom.”
• Works with a limited number of students (60 per year), so often no availability
• All-or-nothing packages don’t allow students to work with Chris for just a few hours or for part of the essay-writing process
• Secretive about pricing (he’ll only give pricing details once he’s reviewed the student’s resume and agreed to work with them), but we expect the minimum cost of working one-on-one to be several thousand dollars

#3 – The College Essay Guy

Our Verdict — Best for Unlimited Essay Assistance Price: $4900 for application to 3 schools, $8050 for application for 10 schools We’re fans of Ethan Sawyer, the original “college essay guy”— his book, College Essay Essentials , is a great guide to the essay-writing process. Ethan doesn’t work directly with many students these days, but he now has a team of consultants who help students follow his principles. Their assistance is really all-or-nothing — they prefer to work with students from the very beginning of the process, and their minimum package is $4900, which includes assistance with essays for three schools. If students are applying to ten schools (a more realistic number for students aiming at competitive colleges), the fee is a hefty $7400.

Students who want unlimited help through the entire process, who have a sizable budget.

• Cost: $4900 (supplemental essays for 3 schools) – $7400 (supplemental essays for 10 schools)
• Essay coach qualifications: mix of Ivy grads and former teachers, some writers/screenwriters; all trained
• Great free resources about the essay-writing process
• Their Matchlighters Scholars Program gives back to the community by providing admissions consulting for select qualifying students
• All-or-nothing packages have a high minimum fee and don’t work for students who want just a few hours of feedback or help with just part of the process

#4 – College Vine

Our Verdict — Best of the Big Platforms Price: $140–180/hour There are plenty of large platforms with large stables of part-time tutors and coaches available to work with students. Of these big platforms, we think CollegeVine has the best offerings. Compared to other large companies, CollegeVine provides more information about their tutors, and students can pick individual tutors to work with from their roster. However, this model is really just a way of finding individual tutors to hire. Tutors don’t receive any training and don’t share a common approach, so it’s a mixed bag. Their rates are fairly high for part-time tutors who don’t have specific expertise and training in college essay consulting. Because CollegeVine is really just a marketplace where individual tutors can find students, the quality and price will vary widely.

Students who want to work with a big company, or those who want a quick session or two to go over their essays.

• Cost: Typically $140–180/hour
• Essay coach qualifications: no specific qualifications, but a few are Ivy League graduates
• Possible to select individual editors to work with from their roster.
• Easy to schedule ad-hoc sessions with a tutor through the website.
• No training or common approach for tutors
• Editors are part-time , with no option to work with full-time college admissions experts
• Relatively expensive for this level of expertise

College Essay Editing Alternatives (that Didn’t Make the Cut)

Individual essay consultants, #5 – college essay editor.

Our Verdict — Small Editing Team Price: Roughly $5,950 for applications to 10 schools College Essay Editor comprises two graduates of Stanford. This means that they have personal experience applying to highly competitive schools. One member of the team also has a college counseling certification, which is a good background for college essays. Based on their website, they appear to focus on the editing and proofreading phase of the essay-writing process. This can be helpful to students, but we recommend working with a service who can help students to uncover their values and brainstorm really great material that allows them to really shine—and if this doesn’t happen at the beginning of the process, it’s much harder to add in later on.

• Cost: $195/1000 words for proofreading, $495/1000 words for 3 rounds of editing and proofreading, or $595/1000 words for unlimited rounds of editing and proofreading; for the purposes of comparison, complete applications to 10 competitive colleges would be around 9,650 words, or $5950.
• Writing coach qualifications: Stanford graduates, one of whom has college counseling certification
• Editors are graduates of Stanford University , and one is a member of NACAC, the national association of college counselors
• They focus on editing and proofreading only , not on the crucial earlier steps of brainstorming and strategy
• Small team with very limited availability
• All asynchronous editing so you won’t be able to cultivate a real relationship with your essay coach.

#6 – Allison Karpf

Our Verdict — Former English Teacher Helping Students Price: $385/hour or $3850 package for application to one school Another option for students looking to hire an individual consultant is Allison Karpf. Allison is a former high school English teacher and a graduate of UC Berkeley who also holds a Masters of Education from Stanford. Her rates are definitely on the higher side, especially for someone who doesn’t have a professional writing background, but she does have extensive experience working with students to craft their essays.

• Cost:  $385/hour or $3850 unlimited counseling (includes supplemental essays for one college)
• Essay coach qualifications: former high school English teacher; Berkeley grad, Stanford MEd
• Lots of experience helping students improve their college essays
• Very quick to respond to client requests
• No professional writing experience or Ivy-Plus undergraduate experience
• High rates relative to other options
• Limited availability , since she works alone

#7 – Your College Vision

Our Verdict: Former Journalist with More Affordable Rates Price: $180/hour, or packages starting from $3500 Laurie Lande is another individual consultant who helps students through the essay-writing process. She comes recommended by other consultants like Chris from College Essay Mentor . Laurie did not herself attend a highly competitive school, so she doesn’t have that personal experience of going through the selective admissions process, but she does have a professional writing background as a journalist for the Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong.

• Cost: $180/hour or packages starting at $3500
• Essay coach qualifications: journalism background
• Affordable pricing , relative to other options
• Not a graduate of a highly selective school

#8 – The College Guru

Our Verdict — Good on Paper but Unresponsive Price: unknown Yet another individual essay consultant is Geanine Thompson from The College Guru. Geanine attended Dartmouth as an undergraduate and also holds an MBA from Duke. She also has a professional writing background as an assistant book editor at Berkley Publishing Group. Like Greg and Kevin at PrepMaven , she combines experience in the business world and at Wall Street firms with experience in education.

• Cost: unknown
• Essay coach qualifications: former assistant book editor; Dartmouth grad, Duke MBA
• Dartmouth graduate and former book editor
• Not responsive to emails and client requests

#9 – Sofia Zapiola

Our Verdict — A budget-friendly, personal essay editor. Price: $80/hour Yet another individual essay consultant is Sofia Zapiola, who offers a mix of essay editing and college application counseling services.

• Cost: $80/hour
• Essay coach qualifications: M.A. from Harvard; certificate in College Counseling from UC San Diego.
• Individual approach, budget-friendly rates, commitment to working within families’ budgets.
• Very few testimonials, so it’s difficult to evaluate how effective she is.

Mid-size Teams

#10 – lotus learning.

Our Verdict — Expensive for Tutor Background Price: $165/hour Founded by a Harvard grad who is a former teacher and veteran of the publishing industry, Lotus learning offers college essay help in the Boston area. They have a small team of tutors, mostly recent grads from good but not Ivy-Plus colleges, and mostly with focus in health sciences.

• Cost: $165/hour (minimum 8 hours)
• Essay coach qualifications: tutors are recent grads, but not Ivy-Plus schools
• Reasonable pricing with flexible packages
• Essay editors aren’t graduates of Ivy-Plus schools and don’t have professional writing experience

Large platforms

#11 – study point.

Our Verdict — Larger Platform with Mystery Editors Price: Rates Between $60 and $120/hr Study Point is a larger essay editing service. They claim to have several decades of experience helping students to craft their college essays, but they do not give information about who their essay coaches are and what qualifications they might have.

• Cost: $60-120/hr, depending on tutor experience
• Essay coach qualifications: unknown
• Larger company with several decades of experience
• Unclear who the essay coaches are
• Lack of statistics about their results

#12 – Ivy Select

Our Verdict — Larger Platform with Mystery Editors Price: unknown Ivy Select makes a lot of big promises on their website about having the best college essay consultants in the business, but they offer no information on who these consultants are, or on their backgrounds. They also brag that each consultant “only” works 20 students in one application cycle, but in our experience, that’s quite high.

• Long list of impressive (but anonymous) testimonials
• Only work with “top students”
• No information on their website about who the editors are
• Each essay coach works with up to 20 students at one time

#13 – Empowerly

Our Verdict — Larger Platform with Mystery Editors Price: High, from $6000/year Empowerly has over 60 college counselors who each work with an average of 5 students per year, in order to have more time to devote to each student. Their counselors come from “different educational backgrounds,” and while they do not provide specific biographical details we can assume that most of their essay coaches did not attend highly selective schools.

• Cost: typically from $6000/year
• Essay coach qualifications: college counselors
• Counselors work with just a few students per year
• You have to upgrade to “Empowerly Elite” to guarantee a counselor with a more selective educational background
• No professional writing experience

#14 – Prepory

Our Verdict — Expensive but with Good Expertise Price: $325/hr Prepory is a college application and career counseling service that offers a comprehensive program for college applications at any stage of the process (including as early as 9th grade). They make a lot of impressive claims about the expertise of their coaches, but it’s quite difficult to actual find much information about their essay coach qualifications.

• Cost: $325/hr
• They have a comprehensive college application program that begins as early as 9th grade.
• Limited information about essay coaches
• High prices

Top 40 College Essay Services Considered

• College Essay Editor
• The College Essay Guy
• College Vine
• College Essay Mentor
• Study Point
• Allison Karpf
• The College Guru
• Lotus Learning
• Summit Prep
• Sofia Zapiola
• Ivy Global / New Summits
• College Essay Solutions
• Your College Vision
• Essay Edge*
• ServicEscape*
• PapersForge*
• QuickWriter*
• JustEditMyEssay*
• JustDoMyEsssay*
• ExpertWriting*
• SpeedyPaper*
• GradeMiners*

* A number of services will edit essays directly for students, or even write portions of the essay for students. We do not condone this. Admissions officers can tell when essays have been written or edited by adults and this can have severe consequences. We have excluded these services from our reviews.

Why are college application essays important?

Can a great college essay alone get you into Harvard?

No. You’ll need your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities (as well as letters of recommendation and interview) to be outstanding.

But can a mediocre essay be the reason you didn’t get into Harvard?

Yes. There are thousands of amazingly-qualified students who graduate from high school each year. Great grades and test scores might be a prerequisite for admission to a competitive college, but they alone aren’t enough.

College essays are a key component of a student’s application . When done well, they transform a collection of numbers—GPA, class rank, SAT or ACT scores , number of AP classes taken, AP scores—into a glimpse of a real, individual person.

Essays do many things. Good college essays can highlight extracurricular achievements which otherwise would be overlooked in a sterile list. Strong essays often indicate the student’s future plans —how they plan to leave a mark on their college campus and on the world. They can shine a light on unique challenges that a student may have had to face on their journey.

College admissions officers only have a few minutes to spend on each application. College essays need to be original, interesting, and memorable . They need to grab the attention of the admissions officer and persuade them that this is the student out of hundreds or thousands of other similarly-qualified applicants who should be admitted.

College admissions essays are usually unlike any other kind of writing that students have done before. They’re a combination of memoir and marketing pitch, and they need to be creative but also highly strategic. That’s a tough assignment!

What’s more, students are left to figure this assignment out on their own. A thoughtful and generous high school English teacher may provide guidance or offer to read essays and give feedback, but these teachers are responsible for many students, and they’re (usually) not experts in admissions strategies.

There’s another reason college essays are especially important from 2024 on. After the recent Supreme Court decision, the application essay has become one of the main ways that you can communicate how your racial identity has affected your life.

In fact, the New York Times published an article about how important it can be for students to discuss race in their college application essays!

Why work with a college essay service?

You may want to consider a college essay service if:

• You have no idea where to start in order to write your college application essays
• You feel overwhelmed by all of the different ideas you have and don’t know what would be the most strategic for college admissions—and what topics to definitely avoid for college essays
• You don’t know how to craft a compelling stor y
• You’re not sure how to edit and refine what you’ve written
• You have a hard time keeping yourself on track and want an external structure to hold you accountable
• You’re tired of conflict between students and parents about college essays
• You’re aiming at a competitive college (not just the Ivy League!) and know that you need your essays to be outstanding
• Your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars aren’t exceptional, so you need your essay to make your essay stand out from the pack
• You’re unfamiliar with the US college admissions process (a common situation for international students and first-generation families in the US)

Any of these are strong reasons to consider working with a college essay service!

It’s also worth remembering that a lot of the free advice on college’s website isn’t always very clear. For example, NYU’s admissions Senior Assistant Director of Admissions says that “There is no right or wrong way to answer as long as your answer is genuine to you.”

While that’s true, that doesn’t offer much guidance on how to actually write the essay!

Though many college applicants might not mention it, more and more students are using professional college application consultants. Research at the University of Chicago has shown that over a quarter of high-achieving seniors employed private specialists to help with the college application process.

In fact, according to NPR , some companies are even offering college admissions counseling to their top employees as an incentive–that’s just how important professional help can be in the current landscape of college admissions.

It’s important to note that a good college essay service will not write your college application essays for you . This is unethical and illegal. That’s not just coming from us: take it from a school like Princeton, whose website insists on the importance of writing your own application essays.

A good college essay service will guide you through each step of the process , teaching you how to self-reflect and write well while sharing insider insight about admissions strategy .

What makes a good college essay service?

We strongly believe that students need to write their own college essays , and we do not condone plagiarism or “buying” a college essay.

However, writing college application essays requires a completely new set of skills that is rarely taught in high school!

Writing a personal essay is much more creative than simply writing a good paper for English class. It requires a compelling narrative and a great deal of writing craft . A good essay service will teach how to do this kind of writing.

There are many college essay services that will provide only written feedback to students, usually in the form of comments added to an essay draft. (Remember, it’s important that students write their own essays, so avoid any college essay service that will make edits directly to an essay document .)

Written comments can be an effective component of good essay coaching. However, writing college essays is a deeply personal process , and it’s incredibly difficult to guide a student through the process of self-reflection, brainstorming, and planning purely through written comments.

In addition, a great college essay coach will teach students how to do this entire process of brainstorming, planning, outlining, writing, and revising . It’s difficult to learn why an essay coach is advising certain changes through written comments alone.

For these reasons, look for a college essay service with live, one-on-one services , not just written feedback. These days, it’s easy to work with the best college essay consultants in the country over Zoom!

Students need to reflect on their goals, their passions, and what drives them to be the person they are. This requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-analysis . An experienced college essay coach can help draw these ideas out of students through tested introspection techniques and brainstorming exercises .

On top of all of that, students need to be cognizant of which traits and accomplishments will be most appealing to colleges , and which stories will be cliche and boring. Personal statements and supplementary essays need to fit together to tell a cohesive story, and they need to work together with the rest of the student’s application (extracurriculars, grades, and other accomplishments).

In other words, there’s a great deal of strategy here! An experienced college essay service can help students decide how to present themselves in the best possible light .

Furthermore, most students don’t know how to edit effectively . A really top-notch college essay service will also teach students how to edit their own writing —how to reorder sections for better flow, cut unnecessary words to meet a word count, eliminate passive verbs, and make their writing vivid and exciting. Our students are routinely amazed by how transformative this step can be, and how much they learn by doing it together with the essay coach.

Finally, the best college essay services can also help students to make a writing plan and keep them on track , so that parents don’t have to be involved directly.

Ready to work on your college essays? Schedule a free 15- to 30-minute consultation with Jessica or one of our founders.

Best overall: PrepMaven’s tutors offer the highest quality at the best price. With three tiers of tutors, they make it easy to work with an Ivy League undergraduate for as little as $79/hr. Or, families can work with education professionals or Ivy League graduates from $150/hr. PrepMaven’s track record means that you can be sure every hour is being spent productively, so that you can expect real results from the work.

Best for individual consultants: College Essay Mentor. In theory, College Essay Mentor would offer an unparalleled level of individual attention and guidance: his website boasts of some very impressive results. You might find it hard to actually schedule with him, however, since he’s very selective about his clients.

Best for unlimited essay assistance: The College Essay Guy might not offer that personalized attention you get from live, face to face essay coaching, but they do offer unlimited essay editing for up to 10 schools (if you’re comfortable paying a hefty package price).

Best of the big platforms: College Vine will always be a bit of a gamble. Because it’s a tutor marketplace, your results (and costs) will really depend on how lucky you get with your consultant. From our research, however, many of their essay coaches look to have solid track records.

Ready to work on college essays with one of our experienced writing coaches? Schedule a free test prep consultation with Jessica (Director of Tutoring) or one of our founders to see what would be the best fit for your family.

It’s always best to start early and not wait until the last minute to write your college essays! Remember that essays can be used to earn scholarships as well as college admission, so a few months of writing now can pay off with up to $300,000 in tuition saved later. 

We work with students at all stages of the writing process, from I-have-no-idea-what-to-write to final edits. To start working with an Ivy-League writing coach today, set up a quick free consultation with our team.

Schedule a free college essay consultation

Top College Essay Posts

• Qualities of a Successful College Essay
• 11 College Essays That Worked
• How to Answer the UC Personal Insight Questions
• How Colleges Read your College Applications (A 4-Step Process)
• How to Write the Princeton Supplemental Essays
• The Diamond Strategy: How We Help Students Write College Essays that Get Them Into Princeton (And Other Ivy League Schools)
• What is the College Essay? Your Complete Guide for 202 4
• College Essay Brainstorming: Where to Start
• How to Write the Harvard Supplemental Essays
• How to Format Your College Essay

Emily graduated  summa cum laude  from Princeton University and holds an MA from the University of Notre Dame. She was a National Merit Scholar and has won numerous academic prizes and fellowships. A veteran of the publishing industry, she has helped professors at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton revise their books and articles. Over the last decade, Emily has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay. 

CHECK OUT THESE RELATED POSTS

How to write the Princeton supplemental essays (2024-2025)

August 28, 2024

What are the 6 Princeton supplemental essay prompts? And how should you respond to each? We answer both questions in this detailed post.

How to Write Boston College’s Supplemental Essays for 2024-2025

August 24, 2024

For this application cycle, we’ve got good news. Although Boston College has 4 supplemental essay prompts, you’ll only have to choose one. The word count for this essay…

How to Write the Dartmouth Supplemental Essays for 2024-2025

August 20, 2024

Add excerpt here. Can reuse meta description.

How to Write Yale’s Supplemental Essays (With Real Examples) 2024-2025

This application cycle, Yale’s supplemental essay set is quite intense. To help you, we’ve got detailed guides for each one, plus real Yale sample essays from previous years for…

How to Write the University of Chicago Supplemental Essays for 2024-2025

For this application cycle, University of Chicago once again has a set of unusual supplemental essay prompts. We take a look at each prompt, then analyze a real University of Chicago sample essay to…

Colleges that Require SAT/ACT Scores 2024/2025

August 7, 2024

While test-optional policies came into effect at many colleges during the pandemic, that’s now changing. Schools like Harvard, Brown, and Dartmouth …

101 Colleges with Late Deadlines

Every college has different deadlines, but most of them tend to be around the start or middle of January. But some colleges will allow you to submit applications far later, which can be an important…

How to Write the Common App Essay

July 28, 2024

15 College Essay Tips for A Strong Application

11 Great College Essay Topics (With Examples!)

July 20, 2024

We break down 11 winning college essay topics with real examples from Ivy League students. The first example comes from a student admitted to Princeton, who writes about learning…

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

Essay Editing Service

Get accepted at your dream school.

Expert essay editors polish your writing to reflect the work you put into it. Professional college essay editing will:

• Make sure that your essay will get read
• Make sure you'll leave a positive impression
• Make you stand out from your peers

• College Essay Editing & Coaching

Professional editors

Same day delivery, 100% happiness guarantee.

College Essay Editing Services

Our college essay editing package.

The first draft is always the hardest. Work with an admissions essay coach who will give you practical, step-by-step guidance on how to develop your essay and make your story come alive.

Your coach will…

• Read your profile
• Review your essay draft
• Share feedback to help you refine your topic, structure, and voice
• Leave in-text feedback and suggestions
• Proofread for grammar and punctuation
• Give you a roadmap to guide your revisions

We’ll help you show your best traits to college admissions officers and prove that you’re college-ready! With help from our essay coaches, you’ll improve your chances of getting accepted – so what are you waiting for?

Meet Scribbr's essay experts

At Scribbr, you can rest assured that only the best editors will work on your college essay.

All our 800+ editors have passed the challenging Scribbr Academy, which has a passing rate of only 2%.

We handpick your college essay editor on several criteria, including field of study.

Janice holds a PhD in German studies from Duke University. As a former professor, she has helped many students refine their application essays for competitive degree programs and study-abroad programs. Today, she helps students improve their writing skills at Scribbr. In her spare time, when she's not writing or editing, she enjoys working on the small family farm that she owns and operates.

Alexandra earned an Erasmus Mundus MA in cultural narratives and a BA in English from Emory University. As a teacher, editor, and writing coach, she has spent nearly a decade helping students find their voice and express their ideas.

Originally from Maryland, Amy headed west to attend Scripps College in California, where she earned a bachelor's degree in music and gender studies. In 2009, she began working for the admissions office of her alma mater, where she focused on reviewing applications and interviewing prospective students.

“Extremely professional and timely”

Extremely professional and timely! Regis did an amazing job bringing my admission essay to life. It went from overly wordy and unclear to very professional and concise. If I don’t get into my desired program, it won’t be because of my essay.

How it works

Get quality feedback in 4 easy steps, upload your college essay.

Upload your college essay , and tell us a little about yourself. We’ll match you with a certified college essay coach.

Sit back and relax

Your coach will edit your essay and share in-depth advice to help you strengthen your structure, content, and narrative.

Receive your feedback

We’ll send back your fully edited essay. Applying to college is nerve-racking, but at Scribbr you never have to wait for long.

Revise and submit your essay

Thanks to your coach’s feedback, you’ll feel clear about the next steps and confident when you hit “send” on your application.

Scribbr & academic integrity

Scribbr is committed to protecting academic integrity. Our proofreading service, our AI writing tools ( plagiarism checker , paraphrasing tool , grammar checker , summarizer,  Citation Generator ) as well as our free Knowledge Base content are designed to help students produce quality academic papers.

We make every effort to prevent our software from being used for fraudulent or manipulative purposes.

Your questions, answered.

We know that waiting for feedback can be nerve-racking. If you select our faster deadline option, you’ll hear from your personal statement editor in 12 hours or less – including on weekends and holidays. 

We never engage in rewriting or adding text at Scribbr. Our personal statement editors will make grammatical corrections and leave suggestions using Word’s track changes and commenting feature. However, we always make sure that your perspective and voice remain front and center in your essay.

We know that waiting for feedback can be nerve-racking. If you select our faster deadline option, you’ll hear from your college essay coach in 12 hours or less – including on weekends and holidays.

Yes. All our college essay coaches are subject-matter experts and can help you make decisions regarding the content of your essay. Your coach will help you make a strong case for your admission.

Our essay coaches will provide feedback on…

• Whether your topic is appropriate and how to strengthen it
• Whether your essay demonstrates positive traits and authenticity
• Whether the narrative flows smoothly and grabs the reader’s attention
• How to dig deeper and show self-reflection and insight
• What content is missing and should be added
• What content is weak and should be removed
• How to shorten your essay to meet a word count limit

However, we will never…

• Write or rewrite content for you
• Research or fact-check your essay’s content

If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected].

When you submit your essay to our College Essay Editing & Coaching service, you’ll be asked to indicate what type of content feedback you would like to receive. You can choose from three options:

Dig deep and challenge me

Give me the standard treatment

Tread lightly

Whichever option you choose, you’ll receive in-depth content feedback from your essay coach. However, the type of feedback your essay coach provides may differ, and the option you should choose depends on what outcome you want from the review. You can always elaborate on what type of feedback you want in your note to your essay coach.

Learn more about the three options below.

Choose from three options

If you choose this option, we’ll challenge you to write the best possible essay – no content suggestions are off-limits, including reorienting your topic or reframing your story. Students who choose this option aren’t afraid to go back to the drawing board if it’ll increase their chances of getting accepted. You may have to roll up your sleeves and do some more work on your essay, but your essay will be much stronger because of it.

Select this option if your priority is to have the best possible essay, even if it requires some extra work on your side.

We’ll strike a balance between “dig deep and challenge me” and “tread lightly.” We may suggest changes to your structure and narrative, including removing weak content, elaborating on certain sections, and adding content to strengthen your arguments. You may have to rework sentences and paragraphs, but we won’t suggest major content changes.

With this option, we’ll focus on improving your essay in a way that requires little additional work from you. We’ll provide you with targeted suggestions for how to refine your essay’s structure and narrative, but we will work within your current structure and topic. While you may have to make a few tweaks here and there, we’ll aim to return you a polished draft that’s ready to be submitted to your chosen colleges.

Select this option if you are fairly satisfied with your essay and don’t want to make major changes or if you have limited time to revise.

At Scribbr, we promise to make every customer 100% happy with the service we offer. Our philosophy: Your complaint is always justified – no denial, no doubts.

Our customer support team is here to find the solution that helps you the most, whether that’s a free new edit or a refund for the service.

Get in touch, with real people

We answer your questions quickly and personally from 9:00 to 23:00 CET

• Start live chat
• Email [email protected]
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Knowledge Base

Finish your college essay with scribbr’s top-rated guides.

College Essay

How to Write a College Essay

What colleges look for in an essay, choosing your college essay topic, college essay format & structure.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• The Big Story
• Newsletters
• Steven Levy's Plaintext Column
• WIRED Classics from the Archive
• WIRED Insider
• WIRED Consulting

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

The Write Stuff: 4 College Admissions Essay Editing Services Reviewed

Looking for good news about the college admissions process these days? You won't find much of it. Not only has the cost of attending college doubled on average since the 1980s, but also it's gotten considerably harder to get in. The majority of colleges in America have witnessed a plummeting acceptance rate as the number of student applications has exploded. Fifty years ago you had a 20 percent shot at getting into Harvard (all things equal, of course). Now the Crimson's acceptance rate is about 5 percent. In the last 10 years alone, the acceptance rate at many major universities has been cut in half . It's almost enough to make a kid consider trying out for the rowing team .

As if applicants didn't have enough to stress about, colleges have been making it more onerous to apply—requiring additional interviews, recommendations, and SAT Subject Tests. But the most burdensome of them all is an old standby: the application essay.

Essay requirements vary widely from school to school. The 150-plus members of the Coalition for College (which includes Harvard and Vanderbilt) requires a single 500-word essay selected from prompts such as "Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution." Those with eyes on the University of California system must write a whopping four essays, with prompts such as "Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced."

Students can reuse essays with other colleges if the prompts are similar enough—or if the schools happen to be members of the same application partnership—but you'd be surprised how seldom this occurs. My daughter found that out the hard way, when she learned that she'd have to write 12 separate essays to cover just five schools.

What's a kid to do who doesn't have parents who both work full-time as writers and editors? Just run their essay through Microsoft grammar check and hope for the best? Good luck. The acceptance rate at the University of Chicago has dropped 81 percent in the last 12 years. It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to know that if you don't put your best foot forward, you may as well not even bother.

All of this led me to the curious world of online editing services. While you can hire a consultant to help guide your child through this overwhelming maze, these consultants are expensive and much of their work involves managing the complex application process, figuring out which colleges are a good fit, and brainstorming essay topics. If you just need help whipping an already written essay into better shape, an online editor might be a better (and much cheaper) fit.

To be sure, some of these services are exorbitantly expensive. Services like EssayEdge and TopAdmit can run you close to $200 for editing a single essay of fewer than 400 words. I've seen prices as high as $379 after various upsells. Word for word, that's more than what my editor at WIRED makes. (Hi, Mike!)

The good news is there are plenty of more affordable options available. I tested four of them, all reasonably priced and seemingly legitimate. Most of these services charge based on a combination of the word count of the original essay and the turnaround time required. I used the same raw essay from my daughter as a test piece for each of the four services, and requested the slowest turnaround time each of them offered to minimize the cost. I submitted her 383-word raw essay at the same time to each of the services, on a Wednesday afternoon. I gave all the services minimal guidance with my submission, noting only (when prompted) that this was a college application essay. All four of the services allow you to upload a Microsoft Word document and receive a red-lined and comment-filled Word document in return.

When I received the revised essays, I reviewed them along with my wife (also a professional writer) and my daughter, the author. The reviews were done blind, without indicating the source of any of the edits, and we all rated each essay on a 1 to 10 scale. I also threw in a copy that I roughly edited. For the sake of comparison, the raw essay scored an average of 4.8, while my edit garnered a 6.9.

Here's what the various services cost, and how well they performed.

Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.

Total price: $13.91, 48-hour turnaround promised. Edit received within 24 hours.

Scribendi offers seven different turnaround time tiers, but its 72-hour and one-week turnarounds were the same price as the 48-hour turnaround. A four-hour turnaround was quoted at $28.53. Scribendi returned both a changes-tracked version of the document and a "clean" version with all edits accepted. Scribendi's edit was not just the fastest, it was incredibly thorough—almost nitpicky—with 16 comments or prompts to the writer suggesting avenues for additional content or revisions that were beyond the scope of a simple edit. Oddly, the final edit didn't resonate with readers, who largely felt it was somewhat awkward and clunky in its overall flow. That said, the editor's notes and the service's overall speed were a big plusses.

Readers' rating: 5.0

Total price: $13.90, three-day turnaround promised. Edit received after two days.

Elite Editing has an Advanced Editing service for $40, but the $13.90 plan I chose offers only "basic editing," which doesn't include "suggested rewrites to eliminate awkward phrasing, repetition, passive voice, etc." and "taking into account your original assignment." Three days is the standard turnaround; one-day turnaround for the Basic Editing plan would have cost $19.90. The site crashed when I checked out, but my payment and submission both went through successfully. As promised, Elite's edit was indeed basic. Its editor made the fewest changes of any of the services and left only three comments, one of which was about whether the use of indentations and double-spacing was appropriate. While Elite's edits were correct, they weren't terribly deep—although that was enough to propel it to a second-place finish from the readers.

Readers' rating: 5.7

Total price: $15.32, five-day turnaround promised. Edit received after four days.

Wordvice has eight different pricing tiers, with rates as low as 4 cents per word for a seven-day turnaround, though that tier was limited to materials longer than 3,000 words. The five-day turnaround tier was only marginally more expensive. When I received Wordvice's edited document, I was offered an upsell for a "second look" (basically another edit) for 30 percent off. Wordvice's embedded commentary was nearly as thorough as Scribendi's, though Wordvice was less obsessive over grammar and more focused on overall clarity. Turns out that was the right move: Wordvice's edit was the overall favorite of the quartet, and the finished draft reads cleanly and clearly.

Readers' rating: 6.3

Total price: $31.33, seven-day turnaround promised. Edit received after four days.

Scribbr initially quoted a price of $25.36, but I shelled out an extra $6 for both the "structure check" and "clarity check" options, despite not really understanding what those were. Prices include a 2 percent surcharge for using a credit card. For those in a hurry, 24-hour turnaround doubles the price. Scribbr seems more focused on editing academic coursework essays than admissions essays, with a relatively formal structure applied to its edits (removing contractions completely, for example). Editor's commentary was sparse, though on target. This draft was the most divisive of the services, earning high marks from my wife but very low marks from my daughter, who thought it stripped the writing of her voice.

Readers' rating: 5.3

Any good college essay has to end with a conclusion, so here are a few takeaways. First, all of the services sent back essays that were, on average, felt to be an improvement over the original draft, with all of them catching numerous spelling and grammatical errors—so students with no professional editing help may do well to consider them, especially given how affordable these services are. That said, also remember that when you engage with an editing service, you're really engaging with a single (anonymous) editor who you won't ever meet or be able to interact with. That editor won't have any level of understanding of the writer's personality beyond what's on the page, and quality will necessarily vary from one editor to another, even within a given editing service.

Further still, remember that editing quality is always going to be subjective, just like any piece of writing. Except for this story, of course. It's amazing.

• Inside Pioneer: May the best Silicon Valley hustler win
• Why lightning strikes twice as much over shipping lanes
• On TikTok, there is no time
• How cities reshape the evolutionary path of urban wildlife
• Forget Mensa! All hail the low IQ
• 👁 Prepare for the deepfake era of video ; plus, check out the latest news on AI
• 📱 Torn between the latest phones? Never fear—check out our iPhone buying guide and favorite Android phones

• 630 730 8825

COLLEGE ESSAY REVIEW SERVICES

With our guidance, you will craft essays that make an admissions impact

• Work one-on-one with an expert essay coach to brainstorm your topic and plan for your first draft.
• Students are offered professional college application essay reviews to finesse and improve their essays.
• Our essay coaches listen to and support students throughout the entire process.
• Talk to one of our experts to create an essay plan that meets your child’s needs.

Writing a great college Admissions essay is challenging

We’ll help you stand out from the crowd.

HelloCollege’s full quality review goes beyond basic college essay proofreading. Our team of expert essay coaches, with a combined 80+ years of professional writing experience, begin by assessing an essay’s topic, treatment (how it’s written), content, structure, mechanics, and fact-checking. Subsequent college essay coaching sessions continue to guide students in shaping and polishing the essay, elevating it to its potential.

Essay Review Service Includes:

Essay reviews from your essay coach (in-depth structural critique, proofing and polishing), brainstorming conference(s): video/phone, phone and email support from first to final draft, essay service options.

We offer a variety of hourly packages designed to usher you through essay season.

Work hand in hand with your essay coach to brainstorm, review and polish your essay.  At each step, you will receive in-depth feedback to complete your essay.

Need more time?  The 15 hour package is a great fit for a mid-risk list.  You will focus on your personal statement essay and key supplemental essays.

Are you seeking highly selective schools?  The 25 hour packages allows you a significant amount of coaching time to ensure every supplemental essay is on point.

What Families are Saying About Our Essay Review Services

How the Review Process Works

Choose a package based on the number or types of essays you need to complete

Meet one-on-one with your essay coach to fully vet your essay topic and develop a compelling story

Write and submit your first draft of your essay and submit it online

Within 72 hours, receive expert editorial guidance, review and edits

Continue revising your essay working hand in hand with your essay coach, submitting reviews and revisions

We review Many types of essays

HelloCollege helps you avoid uncertainty and stress by following a strategic college essay assistance process.

Personal Statement Essay (Common Application)

Supplemental essays, honors program essays, uc application personal insight essays, scholarship essays, summer program essays.

Meet Our Essay Team

Kevin Krebs

Founder and Managing Director

Despite the odds stacked against me, I find myself here today. My parents, survivors of World War II bombings and refugee camps, arrived in the United States with just $20, a single suitcase, and no knowledge of the English language. Their lack of formal education didn’t deter them from believing in the power of learning and its potential to create a better future for their five children.

I am Kevin Krebs, the founder of HelloCollege, the largest college planning company in the Midwest. My parents’ unwavering support, guidance, and strong work ethic empowered me to pursue my dreams. My father, a dedicated and no-nonsense bricklayer, served as a mentor through his actions. He woke up at 5:15 a.m. every day, never late, and never missed a day of work, even though he didn’t particularly enjoy his job. He approached his responsibilities with seriousness and determination, tackling every task with diligence. My mother, a kind-hearted lunchroom manager at a school for special needs children, passed away last summer at the age of 88. She encouraged me to set ambitious goals, reminded me to give my best effort each day, and provided unwavering support that boosted my self-confidence beyond measure.

My parents instilled in me the belief that I could achieve anything I dreamed of. I attended Hibbard Elementary, the most ethnically diverse grade school in Chicago, where students from over 50 countries, 90% of whom came from low-income households, gathered. Despite the overcrowded classrooms, I thrived as a strong student, fortunate to have exceptional teachers who cared deeply for their students and pushed me to reach my individual potential.

I successfully tested into Lane Tech High School, a renowned magnet school with over 4,600 students, known for its excellent academics and athletics. Surrounded by a group of motivated and aspirational friends, I set my sights on attending a Big Ten university and participating in sports. Before I knew it, we were seniors preparing for college. I earned a full scholarship to Northwestern University, where I played quarterback on the football team and pitched for the baseball team. Meanwhile, my friends pursued their education at prestigious institutions such as the University of Chicago, Northern Illinois University, University of Wisconsin, and CalArts.

Arriving in Evanston as a broke, first-generation college student could have been overwhelming, both socially and academically. However, it only fueled my focus and determination. The memory of my parents’ sacrifices and perseverance motivated me, especially during countless nights spent writing papers with tight deadlines or pulling all-nighters to study for finals.

Northwestern’s liberal arts curriculum and quarter system exposed me to a wide range of courses that expanded my worldview and honed my critical thinking skills. I had never worked so hard in my life, but I will forever be grateful to the incredible professors who shaped my future. As a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, I graduated with high hopes but without a job.

Despite my excellent grades, I found myself utterly clueless about how the real world, particularly the white-collar professional world, operated. My parents’ network consisted of plumbers, cleaning ladies, and carpenters, not investment bankers, Fortune 500 executives, or influential journalists. Like many unemployed college graduates, I turned to student loans and pursued a master’s degree, accumulating nearly $30,000 in debt.

A year later, I graduated from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, expecting my dream job of anchoring ESPN’s SportsCenter to materialize. However, I found myself unemployed once again, burdened with a Sallie Mae student loan payment each month.

At the age of 25, I felt lost, drowning in debt, and overwhelmed with frustration. How did I end up here? Why had no guidance counselor, academic advisor, coach, or anyone else prepared me for the realities and uncertainties that awaited me?

Driven by these experiences, I founded HelloCollege with the intention of helping students and parents navigate the college path while raising awareness about the escalating costs of higher education. Over the past 20 years, my team and I have had the privilege of sharing our college planning and career readiness workshops, curriculum, and guidance with over 10,000 families.

Looking ahead, we aim to leverage our expertise to assist more than 250,000 students in successfully navigating the college admissions process. Join our movement and discover how students, just like you have gained admission to their dream colleges using our S.A.F.E. method. Together, we are on a mission to shape the next generation of scholars, ensuring they graduate within four years, free from overwhelming debt and equipped with a well-defined career plan.

I am filled with immense gratitude toward my late mother, Mrs. Ursula Krebs, and my 89-year-old father, Mr. Karl Krebs. Their unwavering belief in my potential has been the driving force behind my journey.

Director of Tutoring and Essay Services

In high school, Ian had a diverse set of interests but was unsure of his future path. He loved music, raiding the library’s CD collection after school, playing trumpet in the school band and with friends. He loved English, finding solace in absurdist and surrealist literature, writing short stories and free-form poetry. He loved math, reveling in the real-world applications of each concept, enjoying the puzzle of each problem. He loved history, fascinated with other cultures, inspired by the wealth of knowledge in years past. Ultimately, he loved learning and craved a challenge, a dual passion that took him to the University of Illinois for engineering.

UIUC exposed Ian to the true beauty of math and science in action—the experience was both exhilarating and humbling. Ian graduated from UIUC with his BS in Electrical Engineering, specializing in semiconductor fabrication, analog/digital design, and audio engineering. After working in the field as a design engineer for many years, he took a chance and opened a private tutoring business, a decision that solidified his leading passion, sharing his love of learning with students and guiding them to achieve their true potential. 

Over six years, Ian’s business quickly expanded from just himself to a team of twenty-two trained tutors that helped students navigate the challenging terrain of academics, executive functioning, and college preparation. 

Today, Ian is, at heart, that same high school boy but with a much better head on his shoulders. He loves his wife and two cats. He loves mathematics and electrical circuit design. He loves the outdoors and backpacking in the wild. He still loves music and reading. But most importantly, he loves mentoring others and helping them find their passion so they can change the world. 

Kimberly Shipman

College Counselor

Kim was born and raised in rural Virginia, dreaming of big city life.  She earned dual BS degrees in Human Development and Psychology from Virginia Tech and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University before taking the leap to live and work in the 3 rd largest city in the country—Houston, TX.

After graduate school, Kim worked in Career Advising at Barton College and Rice University. While at Rice University, Kim designed and implemented career programming specifically to support first generation students.  College access and success for all is a passion of hers.

In the 7 years prior to joining HelloCollege, Kim worked as a high school College Counselor and fell in love with the field.  She combines her experiences to help students discover careers they are passionate about and then plan and execute the path to obtain those careers.  Kim builds relationships with her students to get to know them as individuals allowing her to give every student a personalized experience.  She brings kindness, warmth, and joy to every interaction.

When applying to college herself, Kim had to figure it all out on her own so she has made it her mission to give her students the support she wished she’d had.  Applying to college can be complicated, but Kim strives to make it as approachable and fun as possible for her students. When not working, Kim loves spending time with her husband, son, and fur babies.  They enjoy camping, attending community theater productions, and trying new restaurants together.

Brooke Kent

College Counselor & Essay Coach

Brooke is a dual US-Canadian citizen who was born in Los Angeles, California; raised in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and Houston, Texas; and studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She understands first-hand how education can equip you for a global future.

Brooke received her bachelor’s summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in history, policy studies, and Spanish translation from Rice University. She graduated with the J. Venn Leeds Award for Excellence in Scholarship, awarded to Rice University seniors with the 10 highest cumulative GPAs.

As a Boren Fellow for the Defense Language and National Security Education (DLNSEO), Brooke studied abroad at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA). She worked directly with the Buenos Aires City Legislature to pinpoint what led not-for-profit organizations to succeed or to fail as they interacted with the city government.

Brooke began her professional career by interviewing several White House chiefs-of-staff for the White House Transition Project, a non-partisan initiative that facilitated the transition between President William J. Clinton and President George W. Bush. Brooke later served as the executive writer for the director of Los Alamos National Laboratory. She was the director’s voice to a staff of 8,000 technical staff members, researchers, and professionals.

For the past two decades, Brooke has helped adults and students tell their stories in a personalized, persuasive, and achievement-focused way. A well-crafted application package can increase your chance of getting into the Ivies by up to 940%. Your application is more than just a chance to tell your story; it’s your opportunity to gain a winning edge.

Brooke’s oldest daughter attends the University of New Mexico on a full-ride Regents Scholarship; she’s continuing her national fencing career under 3-time Olympian and fencing coach Courtney Hurley. Brooke’s son and youngest daughter are also nationally ranked fencers, cross country runners, and discus throwers; she understands the demands and priorities of the NCAA and collegiate recruiting process.

Brooke is passionate about helping each student find the right academic, cultural, and financial fit. Her philosophy is simple: Your Story. Our Support. Your Solution.

Brooke lives with her husband and children in Colorado Springs. She enjoys baking, cooking, reading, cycling, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and visiting U.S. national parks (15 down, 47 to go!).

Chris Bench

Assistant Director of Tutoring & Essay Services

Chris Bench has known that words were his vocation since he first learned, bedtime-bound, that Horton’d heard a Who. Chris earned his BA in English from Kenyon College, writing poetry and combining his interests in systems theory and cognitive science with contemporary literature (wildly pretentious Honors Thesis title: Pynchon, Gaddis, and the Art of Artificial Life: Cybernetics, Nonlinearity, and the Recovery of Structure in the Discourse of the Novel ), before spending the better part of a decade in the University of Chicago’s English Literature Ph.D. program, teaching courses (both there and at Roosevelt University) on writing, literary analysis, and American literature (wildly pretentious undergrad course title: Wayward Shots from the Western Canon: Alternative Aesthetics of the US West). At UChicago, Chris realized his love of working with young people and, especially, his love of teaching writing. At the same time, he also worked a side gig as the UChicago Laboratory School’s in-house essay tutor, which allowed him to further deepen his love of writing instruction and to hone his editor’s craft. When Chris left academia, that side gig quickly turned – as side gigs are wont to do – into his central pursuit, and Chris has spent the last 15 years aiding students with essays (and tutoring them for SATs and ACTs). Since joining HelloCollege in 2018, Chris has primarily served as an Essay Coach, helping students to transmute experience lived in the world into pixels glowing on a screen – and into admission to institutions ranging from community colleges to Ivy League universities. He now serves as HelloCollege’s Director of Essay Services. When he isn’t ruthlessly pruning students’ superfluous modifiers, Chris enjoys cooking regional Mexican cuisine, binging kung fu films, and scrambling mountains. If you ask him about the time he was emergency choppered out of Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Park, he will briefly feign embarrassment before detailing every bumbling step of his ill-fated adventure.

Will Wagner

Essay Coach

Will fell in love with the written word his junior year in high school, thanks to an English teacher named Mrs. Kelley. She exposed him to the magic of writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and especially John Steinbeck. Just like that, his future came into focus.

And while Will never became the next Steinbeck (darn!), he did go on to have a gratifying career in publishing as a writer and editor for everything from national magazines to websites. He even wrote a book of his own, Wrigley Blues: The Year the Cubs Played Hardball with the Curse (but Lost Anyway), published in 2004 by Taylor Trade. For the past several years, he also has worked as an essay coach at HelloCollege. His goal in this role is simple: to bring a little “Mrs. Kelley” to the game and help students down the path of fulfilling their passions and achieving their dreams.

Alisha Braun

Alisha worked in higher education for 13 years, having taught at Michigan State University and the University of South Florida. She is the author of 30 book chapters and research articles on diversity and inclusion, comparative and international education, and qualitative research methods. She has consulted for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and has led numerous independent and collaborative community-based research projects and service-learning study abroad programs in Botswana, Cambodia, England, Ghana, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, and the United States. Working on multiple college campuses domestically and abroad has made Alisha appreciate the diversity of collegiate experiences available to students. As an essay coach, she enjoys mentoring students and families as they navigate the college application process and step towards their college and career goals.

Alisha received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy from Michigan State University with graduate specializations in International Development and African Studies. She also holds a M.A. in School Psychology from Michigan State University and a B.A. Honors degree from the University of Calgary. In her free time, Alisha enjoys yoga, golf, Broadway, and most of all spending time with her husband and young daughters.

Sara currently serves as an Essay Coach at HelloCollege. She has worked as a high school English teacher for the past 15 years, beginning her career at The Dwight School in New York City. Sara later taught at EF Education New York, an international boarding school, where she taught students from more than 49 different nations.

Sara is a graduate of The University of Notre Dame and holds an M.A. in English from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She has been published in The Washingtonian, The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, and Chronogram. As an essay coach at HelloCollege, she is honored to be a witness to the students’ stories. Sara currently lives in Oak Park with her husband, son and Frankie (their terrier).

Andi Taylor

Andi graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics. She specialized in sociolinguistics, studying the wide variety of accents and dialects used by American English speakers in different regions and communities. Over one summer, she held a research assistant position for a project focusing on African American Vernacular English accents among speakers in an upstate New York community. Her approach to editing is informed by her background in linguistics; she values maintaining the unique voice and style of each student while also keeping each essay concise, clear, and appropriate to a collegiate setting.

Throughout her college years, Andi was a Student Visit Coordinator in the UChicago admissions office, helping parents and prospective students gain a better understanding of the application process. Working alongside admissions counselors gave her insight into the fine details that make college essays stand out. This role also ignited her passion for working with soon-to-be college students. Choosing a college to attend is a big decision, and she loves being able to support young adults so that they feel prepared and can focus on the excitement of having so many new possibilities ahead of them!

Andi has been living in Chicago since 2017, but she is originally from Los Angeles, California. She enjoys traveling in her spare time, and she makes it a point to try a few local specialties. Whether it’s a late-night pizza slice in New York City, gelato in Florence, or ahi poke in Honolulu, she loves trying out the classic flavors each location is famous for.

Andi has always liked to read, and her favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy. Her current favorite book is Exhalation by Ted Chiang. She recommends it to anybody who will listen! It explores themes of time, technology, humanism, themes which Andi would like to consider in her own short-form creative writing projects.

Nicholas Pizzo

Nick grew up a New York City native in Midtown, Manhattan. He attended the Bronx High School of Science despite his affinity for reading and writing. Wanting a change of pace, he took his talents to the Green Mountain State to study English and European History at the University of Vermont. After receiving his BA, Nick worked a variety of odd jobs before the world shut down in 2020.

Having (too much) time to reflect on his past, present, and future, Nick ended up applying to the University of Aalborg for an MA in International Relations. He spent a year in Denmark before pivoting back to the U.S. to complete his graduate studies. There, he received an MA in the Humanities, with a focus on creative writing, from the University of Chicago.

Nick spent the next year with the national nonprofit SADD working to push high school and college students to action in community outreach, mental health awareness, LGBTQA+ inclusion and support, and safe driving practices, among other initiatives. The job saw him traveling throughout New York State, from New York City, to Syracuse, to Niagara Falls, and even Whitehall (best bigfoot festival in the country!).

Now a member of the HelloCollege team, Nick is excited to get started on the next round of college essays! Outside of work, he spends his time hiking, writing, and getting disappointed by the New York Knicks. He’s always down to talk about obscure moments in world history or his new favorite fiction.

Sana Rahman

Sana Rahman holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stony Brook University, both in English Literature.

Her main areas of study were African American literature, critical race theory, Marxist theory, and film studies. During her undergraduate studies, Sana worked as a Resident Assistant and would regularly edit and proofread essays for residents writing on a variety of topics. In her graduate studies, Sana found a passion for turning complex, and sometimes difficult to understand ideas into writing that was approachable and accessible for readers and scholars outside of tight academic circles.

After leaving the classroom setting, Sana has continued to keep in touch with literature by reading, annotating, and critiquing essays and novels of interest to her, typically in the science fiction and speculative fiction genres focusing on authors such as Octavia Butler, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Ursula K. LeGuin. Sana also regularly writes narrative essays and poetry, and is now attempting to write her first novel-length project.

Currently settled in New York, Sana works as an Essay Editor/Coach for HelloCollege. It is her goal to use the skills she has developed in her academic career, with reference to writing, editing, proofreading, and researching, to help college applicants through the difficult task of making the captivating stories unique to them fit for the admissions process. Sana believes it is vital to take a creative approach to this segment of the application, and is eager to assist applicants in turning what could be a boring personal statement into a work of art to be proud of.

Sarah Bellardini

Sarah is a comedy writer with nearly a decade of experience working in scripted television content. She is a native of Upstate New York and a graduate of Boston University where she studied screenwriting despite her mother’s pleas for her to “get into computers.” As a Film & Television major, Sarah enrolled in a program that brought her to Los Angeles for her final semester where she interned on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and in the writers’ office on the final season of AMC’s Mad Men.

After graduating, Sarah began her career as a writer’s assistant and script coordinator on several animated productions before landing her first staff writing job on the Adult Swim comedy Lazor Wulf. As a first time writer, Sarah wrote the pilot episode of the series, and three of the ten total episodes that season. Since then, Sarah has written on over 100 episodes of television produced by Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, TBS, HBO Max, Amazon and Paramount+. She currently works as a freelance scriptwriter while developing and pitching her original material.

Sarah has studied sketch comedy and improv at multiple comedy schools in LA, and spent many years writing, producing and performing weekly comedy shows for (sometimes!) sold out audiences at The Pack Theater. She later became a teaching assistant and co-teacher for the theater’s popular sketch writing program. Sarah is excited to bring her experience in storytelling and appreciation for comedy to her position on the essay team at HelloCollege!

Other things to note: Sarah enjoys volunteering with rescue dogs, is suspiciously good at ping-pong and has an unironic obsession with Guy Fieri. She currently resides in the beautiful San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles with her bull terrier, Nikki Peanuts.

Steven Flores

Steven Flores is a writer and educator based in Wisconsin, where he is currently an AOP Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Over the past decade, Steven has worked in higher education as a Teaching Assistant, English Advisor, Academic Writing Specialist, Director of Academics, and Director of the Milwaukee Office for a boutique college counseling company. In this latter role, he worked with approximately 100 students on 1,000+ essays for selective and highly selective colleges and universities. His deep love of learning motivates his passion for working with students as they plot out their futures in essay form.

Steven holds a BA in Philosophy and English (Iowa), an MA in Literature (UChicago), and an MFA in Fiction from the highly-selective University of Wisconsin-Madison Creative Writing. Steven’s fiction has been published in The Iowa Review and his book reviews have been published in the Harvard Review. He has received multiple fellowships in support of his novel-in-progress. Over the course of his writing career, Steven has been lucky enough to study with a number of internationally-renowned writers, including a Pulitzer-Prize winner. He brings his deep knowledge of narrative craft to each student, combining his writing experience with his deep knowledge of academia.

Outside of Hello College, Steven also works as a developmental editor for academic books and educational publications, and as a “book doctor” for aspiring novelists. In the summers, Steven teaches the Creative Writing Master Class at Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. Away from the page, he enjoys swimming, cycling, yoga, traveling, and spending time with his fiance and their greyhound, Gigi.

Gina Twardosz

Gina Twardosz has always felt safest in an academic space. As a first-generation student, she felt most at home in her school’s library, surrounded by endless knowledge. This hunger for learning and natural curiosity led her to pursue journalism in college. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN with a BFA in English Writing.

Gina has interned for both the Northwest Indiana Times and the South Bend Tribune; she won five collegiate press awards for investigative journalism while working at Notre Dame University’s student newspaper, the NDSMC Observer. As a student journalist, Gina investigated and reformed the tri-campus community’s mental health resources for students. She is passionate about making academic spaces safe and healthy for everyone.

Her love of storytelling led her to pursue her master’s in creative writing at Columbia College Chicago. While studying, she had the opportunity to teach two creative writing classes a year, and she fell in love with writing workshops and teaching students how to tell their own stories and share them with the world. Currently, she is working to transform the traditional style of writing workshops by making them more inclusive for students of color and LGBTQIA+ Students.

When not teaching, Gina is writing her memoir. She has had ten personal essays and poems published in magazines, literary journals, and zines. In 2022, Thimble Literary Magazine and Gotham’s The Razor nominated two of her pieces for the Pushcart Prize. She also hosts a monthly reading series called “Freshly Squeezed” that invites writers of color and LGBTQIA+ writers to perform their work for a crowd of Chicagoans.

She loves nothing more than to sit on the couch and watch a movie with her cat, Radar, who, despite being a black cat, is very scared of most horror movies. Radar’s favorite film is Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Elena Van Lare

Elena has enjoyed over 30 years of experience as a middle school and high school literature and writing teacher. She grew up in the Finger Lakes area of New York, where her very first high school job included tying grape vines for one of the iconic wineries in the area. She later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Old Dominion University in Virginia. However, her love of theater, acting, and writing led Elena to share her passion with others; she completed her teaching credential and Master’s degree in Education at Nazareth College of Rochester in New York.

As she embarked upon a career of inspiring teenagers to realize their own potential, she also met her husband, moved from New York to Los Angeles, and had two children. After returning to New York to be closer to family, Elena taught English at the high school and college level for Brockport High School and SUNY Brockport for eleven years. As their children entered middle school, Elena and her husband decided to show their children the world by accepting positions as international teachers, which led them through the next ten years of their lives. They enjoyed teaching at top-tier schools in Myanmar, Jordan, Thailand, and Singapore, while their children graduated high school with IB Diplomas in Southeast Asia.

Elena currently lives in New York City with her husband, her adult children nearby, and the newest addition to the family: Dachshund Sammy. When she’s not working, Elena loves watching the Food Network, Master Chef, and any other platform offering cooking competitions (she is a horrible cook, but loves to eat)!  Elena is an Academic Dean and teaches full-time at Dwight Global, and she is truly excited to work with students at HelloCollege!

Bertrand Cooper

Bertrand spent most of his childhood in New Jersey but moved around a lot once he became a foster youth at the onset of high school. It was not until college that he discovered how much he enjoyed academic life: reading, writing, discussing, and repeating each until you find a niche for your own creativity within a field that interests you. The first year ultimately went down in flames since Bertrand did not understand financial aid and could not afford textbooks or tuition without it. Still, it was enjoyable enough to try again. 

After two years of working all manner of odd and menial jobs, Bertrand returned to school. He went from community college to a four-year and then from a four year to a Master’s program. Being a first generation student, he had to learn to navigate the financial aid process on his own, which led to becoming an informal FAFSA mentor for partners, relatives, and friends. There were many experiences like this that made it clear that teaching was something he wanted to do. Adopting an education major felt like the clear way forward. At the same time, graduate school put a greater emphasis on writing, and though he chose Education Theory, his closest friends chose film and screenplays, which fostered a group dynamic wherein writing appeared like a tool for every form of expression. 

Today, Bertrand lives in a sleepy part of Los Angeles county. He splits his time between formal education work and writing creative non-fiction. For eight years, he worked at an online education company, eventually heading academic content and development there before returning to tutoring. He continues to work as a freelance writer for outlets ranging from the New York Times to Current Affairs, and he plans to complete a book proposal soon. In addition to obsessively reading nonfiction on every subject, Bertrand is an avid powerlifter, martial artist, and beach bum.

Stewart Lewis

Stewart Lewis has published eight critically acclaimed Young Adult and Adult fiction novels, and several non-fiction essays online and in anthologies. His books have been translated into five languages, and called “Charming” by Elin Hiderbrand and “Spirited” by Augusten Burroughs. He has published with Random House, Sourcebooks, and Turner. His latest Young Adult novel, ONE STUPID THING, is now becoming a major motion picture from director Linda Yellen, starring Sky Katz and Corey Fogelmanis, set to be released in 2025. He has been a professor of Creative Writing at the University of Maryland and at Belmont University in Nashville for over a decade combined. In addition to writing and teaching, Stewart has toured and licensed his music as a professional singer songwriter, sharing the stage with such acts as Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, Andy Grammer, and Better Than Ezra. His songs have been featured in the television shows Laguna Beach , Body of Proof , The Biggest Loser , as well as the feature films Firehouse Dog , Violet Tendencies , Shelter , and A Four Letter Word . He is married to Steve Swenson, an NPR executive, and has a daughter, Rowan, who is a commercial dancer. He enjoys traveling, investing in real estate, fine dining, and the cuteness overload from his French bulldog Oliver. 

Emily Phares

Emily is a writer and editor with a “creative and atypical storytelling” style, as a former colleague put it. Her forte is finding the interesting story, and telling it with a unique voice.

Originally from New Orleans, Emily’s background spans academia, journalism, and marketing— including roles at Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and America’s Test Kitchen, where she won the Leaders in Innovation award. She’s also worked as a freelance writer, with her work appearing in Eater , Boston Magazine , Metro , and more.

With a keen interest in both health and education, Emily earned a Master of Education degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education where two of her projects were awarded top honors—including a special commendation for her writing. Her curriculum also included coursework at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Prior to that she studied Mass Communication at Louisiana State University, minoring in French Studies, and also completed two study abroad programs with New York University: Italian Cuisine and the Mediterranean Diet (Florence) and Global Food Studies (Paris).

Emily loves teaching and tutoring, and has experience working with students of all ages–from elementary schoolers to college student-athletes.

Sam was born and raised in Houston and spent their high school years in North Carolina. Growing up, Sam played softball very competitively and was recruited by numerous colleges. They chose to play for the University of Chicago for its balance of athletic and academic rigor. 

At UChicago, Sam found their intellectual passion where they didn’t expect it to be. Sam started undergrad as a pre-med, fell in love with sociology their first year, switched majors, and never looked back. They now hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s in sociology and are earning a PhD in the same subject at the University of Michigan. 

During undergrad at UChicago, Sam studied abroad in Paris, became a Mellon Mays Fellow, and took several writing courses that changed their life. These experiences catalyzed Sam’s joy of travel, love for critical scholarship, and passion for writing and editing. As an undergrad and a PhD student, they have had the opportunity to share this passion with numerous students through teaching and mentorship. Sam works hard to guide their students to understand that the more clear, concise, and persuasive they make their writing, the better chances they have of achieving their academic desires. Sam always looks forward to making this learning process creative and inspiring. 

Sam finds great joy in live music, growing their own veggies, and spending as much time as possible in nature. They live in the northeast and can usually be found near the ocean, the mountains, or a river, no matter the season or weather. They take great delight in the small things in life that seem mundane and would eat ice cream everyday if they could. 

Growing up in Chicago, Emily Mack was a natural storyteller. Inspired by the city around her, she became “the writer girl,” editing her high school’s paper and lit mag and coaching their Louder Than a Bomb poetry slam team. By the time she left Chicago for Columbia University, the choice to study creative writing was instinctual.

At Columbia University, her official concentration was nonfiction which provided the chance to write criticism, essays, and journalistic features. She also learned to mine her own experiences for her work. One of those pieces — “On Belmont and Clark” — was published in The Chicago Neighborhood Guidebook in 2019. The same year, she became an editor at The Columbia Review and, upon graduation in 2020, earned the program’s inaugural Ellis Avery Prize for Creative Writing. The award was for showing “exceptional promise” in the field.

Now, she is putting that promise to use.

First, Emily became a staff writer for Wide Open Media, a subsidiary of Publishers Clearing House, creating content for their Americana sites, Rare.us and Wide Open Country. She turned out several articles per day on topics ranging from pop culture to politics before stepping up to an editorial role at Agent Publishing, a national network of real estate magazines.

As senior editor there, she still writes — a lot — in addition to interviewing subjects, editing stories, training reporters, and planning the monthly print edition of Chicago Agent magazine. Every day brings a new challenge, which she loves. Outside of her nine-to-five, Emily seeks additional opportunities to write and edit.

As an essay coach for HelloCollege, she’s excited to help the next generation kickstart their academic journey. Emily knows everyone has a story to tell. She wants to help students find their own and craft their voice.

Willow Green

Willow is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and teacher. They grew up in a small town in the foothills of North Carolina, a place which fostered their lifelong love for cicada songs, Southern Gothic literature, and moody folk music. They earned a B.A. in Dance and English from Kenyon College in Gambier, OH. They have also taught and mentored in various roles including dramaturg, English teacher, and LGBTQIA+ student programming manager.

Intertwining their love for writing and dance, Willow has curated several entries for Movement Research’s Critical Correspondence publication. They are in the process of publishing a co-authored biography of Maggie Patton, the founder of Kenyon College’s dance program, in collaboration with Professor Julie Brodie and University of Akron Press. Willow is passionate about oral histories, embodied memory, storytelling, and archives, and they are inspired by their experiences with intergenerational community building.

As a 2022-2023 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant based in Jaffa, Willow co-taught courses at Talpiot College and facilitated immersive English sessions for Israeli and Palestinian students. This included workshops in partnership with TEC4Schools and the U.S. Embassy. Willow also studied and danced alongside local choreographers as part of Machol Shalem’s Creative Incubator, culminating in a festival premiere of their solo choreographic research. Their work has also been performed at 7MPR! at Arts on Site and MOtiVE Brooklyn. 

In all aspects of their life and work, Willow is drawn to storytelling practices that invite us to witness each other more deeply. In their free time, they do their best to go on adventures with their friends. They love adventures big and small, whether it be trying a new sweet treat at the local cafe or hiking through the desert to visit a world wonder.

When Meg was a child, if you asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, you

might get a different answer on any given day—the future was a grand adventure and

the possibilities endless—but the follow-up never changed: “…or a writer or a teacher.”

In the end, writer and teacher both won the day, and as an adult, Meg has built a life

and career that combines these two passions.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and political science from Plymouth State

University, Meg took a job with an independent publisher near her hometown and began

a 20-plus-year career as a professional developmental and copy editor. Non-

professionally, she has worn many hats: homeschooling her children through middle

school, co-leading a Girl Scout troop, teaching writing classes at homeschool co-ops,

and facilitating coming-of-age and lifespan sexuality programs for teenagers at a local

UU church. These days, her work is focused primarily on tutoring and coaching as she

helps young writers learn how to tell their own stories, and after a long hiatus from

academia, she is looking forward to beginning an MFA in creative nonfiction.

A New England native, Meg now lives in Buffalo, New York, with her two teenagers, a

dog, a cat, and a semi-aquatic turtle. When she’s not reading, writing, or teaching

writing, she spends her time dabbling in artistic pursuits, training as a competitive adult

figure skater, teaching skating classes for children and adults, and binge-watching

Gilmore Girls with her daughter. She is excited to be working as an essay coach at

HelloCollege, helping students craft essays that highlight their unique perspectives and

experiences as they explore the endless possibilities of their own grand adventures.

Zee is a passionate educator, prolific writer, and community builder with an unwavering dedication to nurturing the talents of aspiring writers. With over a decade of experience in the field of education, Zee has found her true calling in inspiring and empowering individuals to discover their voices through the written word.

As an educator, Zee’s approach is marked by creativity, empathy, and a deep understanding of the learning process. Her enthusiasm for teaching extends beyond the confines of the classroom, as she constantly seeks innovative ways to engage with her students and ignite their love for literature and writing. Whether she’s leading dynamic workshops, facilitating stimulating discussions, or providing one-on-one mentorship, Zee strives to create an environment where every student feels valued and supported in their journey as a writer.

In addition to her passion for teaching, Zee is a dedicated writer with a diverse portfolio spanning fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Her writing reflects her keen observation of the human experience, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the intricacies of relationships.

Central to Zee’s work is her commitment to building vibrant communities of writers. Recognizing the importance of collaboration and shared experiences in the creative process, she actively fosters spaces where writers can come together to learn, grow, and inspire one another.

Why Choose Our Essay Services

Peace of mind, industry knowledge.

-Will Wagner, Essay Coach

We are dedicated to helping students and parents successfully navigate the college admissions process, providing a personalized experience based on your unique needs and goals.

Remote Locations

• 1415 W 22nd St Tower Floor, Oak Brook, IL
• 5570 FM 423 Suite 250-2119 Frisco, TX
• 2590 Welton St Ste. 200 #1031 Denver, CO
• 12800 Whitewater Drive Suite 100-2033 Minnetonka, MN

Quick Links

• Kevin Krebs, Founder
• 630-730-8825
• Employee Login
• Students & Parents Login
• News and Press

© HelloCollege 2024. All Rights Reserved.

35 Best College Admissions Con­sul­tants 2024 Best College Admissions Consulting Services

Created on August 1, 2023 Updated: August 27, 2024

A recent College Consensus poll found that the majority of Americans still believe college is the best path to a satisfying future. But getting into college can be a real challenge. The best admissions consultant programs offer practical tools that assist students in choosing the right career path . A college admissions consultant’s job is to help students evaluate their career goals and then match them to a degree program that will provide them with the skills and abilities they will need to reach their goals.

Many students enroll in generic degree programs because they aren’t quite sure what career they want. Some start school and then explore their options once they have taken a few courses. It isn’t until they have gotten a taste of what their degree program is really like that they make the final decision concerning their final career choice.

Who is Using College Admissions Consultants?

Many parents might think college admissions advisors are just for the wealthy, or for super-driven students who want to get in to an Ivy League school or one of the most prestigious research institutions. But, high-profile scandals at elite schools notwithstanding, that’s not at all the case.

College admissions are competitive, the process can be long and confusing, and many parents don’t know how to get their kids into college. This is especially true for parents who didn’t go to college themselves. That’s why the best college admissions consultants offer a range of pricing options and services, from essay help to a complete package. So, parents and students have a lot of possibilities.

NOTE: The college admissions counseling programs featured here are presented in alphabetical order. Interested in an MBA? See our list of the Best MBA Admissions Consulting Firms .

Accepted Professional Admissions Consulting Firm

Personalized attention from these top college admissions consultants every step of the way ensures you have everything you need to move forward with your education. Each consultant is highly skilled in identifying untapped potential and will help you get on the right path. The complete college application package includes school choice evaluation, essay strategy and editing, resume critique, application review, waitlist support, and decision counseling.

• Services: College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, MBA Admissions, Med School Admissions, Healthcare Admissions, Law School Admissions
• Price: $16,480 for Gold Package, $20,480 for Platinum Package
• Free Consultation:  yes, initial consultation is free
• Consulting Model: individual
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Harvard, Yale, NYU, Cornell, Brown, and Johns Hopkins
• Member: Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC)

Admissionado College Admissions Consulting Firm

The top college admissions consultants at Admissionado give students the best chance at being accepted by the university they feel will provide support for their education. Telling their stories in the best way possible is the key to gaining access to the highest quality education.

• Services: College Admissions, MBA Admissions
• Price: Silver $2050, Gold $3320, Platinum $5370
• Free Consultation: yes
• Consulting Model: Team-based approach
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Stanford, UT Austin, and Middlebury College

Admit Advantage College Admission Consulting

• Services: College Counseling
• Price: not published on website
• Consulting Model: team based approach
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to ivy league colleges Stanford , Harvard , and Yale .

American College Admissions Consultants College Admission Consulting

Francine E. Block , President of American College Admissions Consultants, has over 25 years of experience. A former admissions officer for the University of Vermont, she is an expert at helping students and families navigate the college admissions maze. And, American College Admissions Consultants has a proven track record of helping clients get into their dream schools.

• Services: College Placement Assistance, Personal Assessment
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to New York University, University of Michigan, Boston University
• Membership: American Institute of Certified Educational Planners (AICEP), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)

Anna Ivey Consulting College Admissions Consulting Firm

Additionally, Anna Ivey’s experienced admissions consultants assist students in enhancing their writing skills when it comes to producing an essay that portrays the vision they have for their future. With the guidance of an admissions consultant, students are able to dramatically increase their chances of getting into the college of their choice.

• Services: College Admissions, Law School Admissions, Speaking Engagements
• Price: not available on website

Barrier Breakers Admissions Advisings

Formerly S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting, Barrier Breakers is a nonprofit providing admissions advising services for students regardless of race, income, or other background. Students on the school lunch program may also qualify for pro bono or sliding scale advising programs.

Barrier Breakers has also helped students earn more than $95 million in scholarships. Military, first-generation, and other marginalized students may qualify for financial help.

• Services: college undergraduate admissions, Law School Consulting
• Price: sliding scale
• Free Consultation: not published
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to American University, Quinnipiac School of Law, Howard University School of Law

Bright Horizons College Coach College Admissions Consulting

Another game-changer for students is writing their admissions essays. With competition being fierce, students need to continually find ways to make themselves stand out above their peers. A good admissions consultant, from Bright Horizons College Coach, can make that happen. Bright Horizons admissions coaches give students what they need to succeed.

• Services: College Admissions, Medical School Admissions, Transfer Admissions
• Price: not available on the Bright Horizons College Coach website

C2 Education College Admissions Consulting

Admissions consultants at C2 help students choose the right courses to challenge and inspire them. They also help students identify extracurricular activities that highlight their talents, passion for their career, and commitment to improving their lives on every level. With the right essay and application answers, students can increase their chances of approval dramatically.

• Services: College Admissions, High School Tutoring, Exam Prep
• Price: not published
• Member: National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

College Wise A Different Kind of College Application Experience

At College Wise, students overcome the obstacles many students may face when they start the application process. Many students are at risk of being denied because they don’t have the skills or abilities to present themselves in a professional manner.

• Services: College Admissions Counseling, Tutoring, Test Prep
• Price: not listed
• Free Consultation: yes, initial consultation is free
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to UCLA, University of Edinburgh, Tufts University

College Zoom Helping Students Get Into Dream Colleges

Students receive the counseling they need that allows them to accentuate their potential and give themselves the boost they need to breeze through the college enrollment process. The chances of being accepted by the college of their choosing are much higher if the student works with an admissions consultant.

• Services: College Admissions, Transfer Counseling
• Price: comprehensive packages starting at $3,000
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Harvard, Yale, UCLA

Command Education College Consulting Services

Command Education’s admissions consultants learn everything they can about the student. The one-on-one counseling allows students to produce quality enrollment essays and complete the application so that all of their strengths and abilities are highlighted, showing their full potential.

• Services: College Admissions, SAT and ACT T est Prep Services
• Member: National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)

Crimson Education College Admissions Consulting

Admissions consultants at Crimson Education are able to improve a student’s chances of acceptance by helping them overcome common challenges many students face during the enrollment process. Programs offer academic support, full application strategy, and comprehensive application essay support. Additionally, students are taught how to use extracurricular activities to their fullest advantage as well as choose the right classes to keep them challenged and focused on the future.

• Services: College Admissions, College Sport Recruitment, Graduate School Applications

DC College Counseling College Admissions Consulting

• Services: college admissions counselors
• Price: basic plan $10,000
• Free Consultation: website does not say

Elite Advantage Prep College Admissions Consultants

An admissions consultant often works with high school students to allow them the opportunity to add extracurricular activities and courses that will make them more appealing to the college of their choice. Including these things and improving their ability to tell their story through their admissions essay and application for admission to the university or college.

• Services: General Consulting , College List Development, Academic and Activity Resume Planning, Essay Review
• Price: starting at $350 for a la carte services, application packages start at $3,000
• Member: member of NJACAC and an associate member of IECA

Empowerly College Admissions Consulting

Consultants at Empowerly get to know each student. They provide them with the help they need to create the most proficient and accurate application and essay possible. Students can begin using the counseling services while they are still in high school. Which gives them the advantage of building a more powerful resume and including more activities that may improve the odds of being accepted to their favorite school.

• Services: College Admissions Counseling, Financial Planning Assistance, Essay Editing

Flex College Prep College Admissions Consulting Firm

Additionally, Flex College Prep uses the latest technology to allow admissions consultants the tools they need to guide the student through the application process. Each student is unique and requires that their own ambitions and passions be taken into consideration. The top college admission consultants at Flex regularly take the real SAT and ACT, so they are always up-to-date on test changes.

• Services: College Admissions Services, Test Prep

HS2 Academy College Admissions Consulting Firm

Admissions consultants of HS2 Academy give students the confidence they need to apply to the university of their choice with confidence. Counseling sessions can include tutoring, test prep, essay prep, and the creation of a complete and thorough resume. With the odds being more for denial than acceptance, students can rely on the academy to provide them with every possible advantage.

• Services: College Counseling, Standardized Test Preparation ( SAT/ACT/PSAT/AP ), and one-on-one tutoring in class subjects
• Member: some counselors are members of the National Association for College Admission Counseling

Ilumin Education College Admission Consulting

By starting early, students gain the best advantage possible of being able to attend the college of their choice. This means taking the right courses that will direct them towards their specific career choice. It also includes taking part in extracurricular activities that will show positive social skills and a commitment to the community. It allows students to build a much stronger resume.

• Services: College Admissions Counseling, Life Coaching
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, Dartmouth University

InGenius Prep College Admissions Consulting Firm

The best admissions consultants offer guidance on how to create a stellar resume and powerful admissions essay. Each student works hand in hand with a consultant to create everything they need to show how committed they are at succeeding in school and achieving their goals. InGenius Prep works hard to ensure that each student it works with is able to get accepted by the college of their choice.

• Services: College Admissions, Grad School Admissions, Business School Admissions, Medical School Admissions, Private High School Admissions, Career Counseling
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University
• Member: National Association for College Admission Counseling

Ivy Coach Admissions Counselors for Elite College Admissions

Better test scores, a detailed resume, and a well-written admissions essay are all key factors for being accepted by the schools you apply to. You must be able to portray both your commitment and passion for learning in such a way that you are able to convince the school that you will be an asset to their programs and advance your career after graduation.

• Services: College Admissions Counseling, Graduate School Admissions Counseling
• Consulting Model: individual and team
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Columbia University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania

Ivy Wise Educational Consulting Company

The best admissions consultants go to great lengths to ensure that each student has what they need to be considered by the school or schools they are most interested in attending. Students are given valuable resources they can use to improve their overall chances of being accepted by the college they want to go to. The benefits each student receives will not only improve their chances of being accepted, they will also boost their ability to get any scholarships they may apply for.

• Services: College Admissions Consulting Services for universities in the US, UK, and Canada
• Consulting Model: team based
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Amherst College, Brown University, Washington University in St. Louis

Marks Education Academic Counseling and Test Prep Tutoring Services

The best admissions consultants are able to provide much-needed counseling to high school students who want to improve their chances of attending the school of their choice. Consultants can help students choose classes that will help them improve their chances of being accepted. By encouraging the student to explore extracurricular activities that will broaden their horizons, the consultants are able to move ahead when it comes to preparing for college.

• Services: College Educational Planning Services, Graduate School Educational Planning
• Price: $4,500 for Fundamentals Package
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Pepperdine University, Drexel University, Rice University

Menlo Coaching College Admissions Consulting

Students receive the tutoring they need to improve their grades and score higher on placement tests. In order to beat out the competition, students must be able to prove that they have the passion and commitment to put their studies first. They must be able to tell their story convincingly enough to show the school what they are made of and what they want to do with their lives.

• Services: College Admissions, Professional MBA admissions consulting for business schools
• Price: not available
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Bowdoin College, UCLA

Midwest College Consulting College Admissions Coaches

The best admissions consultants at Midwest are able to help students find the right classes to help them strengthen their chances of being accepted by the college they most want to attend. Consultants offer advice on how to write a powerful admissions essay that will effectively tell their story and detail their goals for the future.

• Services: College Admissions
• Free Consultation: no
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Arizona State University,  Virginia Tech, University of Miami, University of Miami

Prep Expert Expert College Admissions Consulting for Students and Families

Prep Expert gives students the academic support they need to get higher scores on their placement tests. Earning higher grades on placement tests not only improves a student’s chances of being accepted by their favorite school, it also helps them when it comes to applying for scholarships and grants they will need to help pay for their tuition.

• Services: College Admissions, SAT and ACT Tutoring Services
• Price: comprehensive packages starting at $6,999

Prepory College Admissions Consultants

Additionally, Prepory offers tutoring services and test prep courses that students can rely on to help them boost their grades and improve their chances of receiving scholarships and grants they apply for. Counselors help students tell their stories so they can highlight their achievements and showcase the career goals they have set for themselves.

• Price: standard hourly rate is $300 and counseling programs start at $4,500
• Member: NACAC

PrepScholar Best College Admissions Consultants

PrepScholar understands what students need to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. This often involves helping them write essays that not only tell their stories but also highlight their achievements. Essays are meant to explore why a student is choosing a certain degree program and what makes them a valuable asset to the school.

• Price: starting at $4,895 for Annual Mentorship Package

Princeton Review Best College Admissions Consultants

In order for students to improve their chances of being accepted to the college of their choice, they need to start planning early. This means choosing the right classes and participating in extracurricular activities that help to showcase the student’s natural talents. And college admission consultants at the Princeton Review know students also need to be able to write an essay that tells their story in a compelling and concise manner.

• Services: College Admissions, Medical School Admissions
• Price: $3,499 for Ultimate Admissions Package
• Admissions Experience: Princeton Review clients are accepted to Columbia University, Georgetown University

Quad Education College Admission Consulting

• Services: Tutoring for Standardized Tests, Personalized Admissions Consulting
• Consulting Model: team
• Admissions Experience: Ivy League admissions include Dartmouth College, Cornell University, Yale University. Clients accepted to Art & Design Colleges including the Pratt Institute, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Berklee College of Music
• Membership: NACAC

Shemmassian Academic Consulting College Admissions Advising

Shemmassian Academic Counseling gives students an opportunity to apply to their school of choice and have the confidence they need to succeed at every level. The work they do to improve their chances of being accepted by the school of their choice can also help them earn the scholarships they apply for.

• Services:  College Admissions, Medical School Admissions
• Free Consultation:  yes
• Consulting Model:  individual
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Yale, MIT, and UCLA

Solomon Admissions Consulting Best College Admissions Consultants

Additionally, Solomon Admissions Consulting gives students an opportunity to start planning for their future while they are still in high school. Students are provided with both tutoring and test prep options that will enable them to keep their grades high and their odds for acceptance higher. With the right admissions consultant, students can feel confident that they will have everything they need.

• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Princeton University, MIT, UC Berkeley

Spark Admissions Top College Admissions Consultants

Spark Admissions offer students the resources they need to learn how to communicate their stories and present a fully developed package. Students are able to share their hopes for the future as well as their achievements and how committed they are to building a solid and strong career path.

• Services: College Admissions, College Athletic Recruiting, Art, Film & Music School Consulting Services, Students with Learning Differences
• Price: base price $9795
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Harvard, University of Virginia, Emory University

Testive by A-List Education Experienced College Admissions Consultants

College admissions coaches at Testive offer help with financial aid, enrollment essays, and creating the perfect resume. Essay writing courses allow students to explore their creative side while the best admissions consultants work with them to make sure they have access to each and every advantage. They also offer advising packages to assist students with the graduate school admissions process.

• Services: College Admissions, Graduate School Admissions, SAT/ACT Tutoring Services, Grad Entrance Exam Tutoring, Academic Tutoring
• Price: hourly services are $300 per hour with 10, 20 and 30 hours packages

Top Tier Admissions Best College Admissions Consultants

Top Tier Admissions consultants offer tutoring sessions and test prep that will allow them to improve their grades as well as their chances of earning scholarships that will help them pay for their education. Another benefit associated with admissions consulting is helping students write an admissions essay that will tell their story and show their compassion and commitment to the career they have chosen.

• Services: College Application Essay Guidance
• Price: Not published
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Carnegie Mellon University, George Washington University, US Naval Academy

Varsity Tutors Admissions Consulting

College admissions counselors at Varsity Tutors provide students with resources they can use to improve the odds of being accepted by the college of their choice. With Varsity Tutors, students receive the guidance they need to write effective admissions essays and also improve their test scores. When students start planning for their future early, they are able to start building their resume and building a career path that they can build on throughout their time in college.

And Varsity Tutors has the best admissions consultants available to help students plan for their future. Students have access to the tools and resources they need to improve their grades and give themselves the opportunities and challenges they need to succeed on every level when it comes to their careers and personal lives.

• Services: college undergraduate admissions
• Price: $4,700 for the Comprehensive Package
• Admissions Experience: clients accepted to Northwestern, Duke, Stanford

What is a College Admissions Consultant?

When students need help applying to universities or colleges and require assistance during the interview or financial aid application process, an admissions consultant may be hired. While high school guidance counselors provide some college application support and advice, most schools need counselors for the express purpose of advising university-bound students through the challenging process as an admissions consultant does. 

The best college admissions consultants take students from the exploratory phase through the multiple application and interview steps and follow up with students as they navigate college acceptances and secure financial aid and scholarships. This degreed professional may work independently or with a firm or an agency. Still, all will be well-versed in the “inside track” information needed to get into a wide variety of colleges and universities successfully.

What Makes a College Admissions Consultant Worth It?

A college admissions consultant is a great resource for students looking to get accepted into their dream school. These professionals can provide valuable guidance and assistance throughout the entire admissions process, from choosing a school, applying to schools, preparing for standardized tests, securing financing for college, and more.

Each student’s situation is unique and as such, a college admissions consultant can provide tailored advice that’s beneficial to the student’s specific circumstances. Additionally, college admissions consultants can also provide behind-the-scenes insights into the colleges’ admissions processes, popular majors, course requirements and much more. Ultimately, a college admissions consultant can help your application stand out among admissions committees and makes an impressive impact.

How Can a College Admissions Consultant Help Me?

If you are a high school student trying to plan for your future, an admissions consultant can help you in many ways. They can help you submit an application that will give you an edge when you apply for college. Improving your grades and scoring high on placement tests is a must when it comes to being accepted at the school of your choice. So, many companies offer academic tutoring and test prep services.

An admissions consultant is also valuable when writing an essay that speaks volumes about your character, commitment, and willingness to succeed at reaching your career goals. Your consultant can help you through the entire college admissions process. Working through any challenges you may face, they will help you build a resume that will get you into your favorite college and propel you forward after you graduate with your degree.

What are the Advantages of Hiring College Admissions Counseling Services?

When you hire a college admissions counselor it makes it easier for you to navigate the college admissions process. Many college counseling services hire former admissions officers with a wealth of expertise and knowledge. So, hiring a college admissions counselor or a college admissions consulting firm basically gives you access to a network of resources that allows them to efficiently provide personalized guidance. These professionals use their wealth of experience to streamline the process for prospective students. As a result, using college admissions services typically increases the chances of acceptance and also helps reduce stress and anxiety.

What are the Types of College Admissions Consultants? 

The top college admissions advisors may work for themselves for for a consulting firm. Below are the general types of consultants and college admissions consulting firms.

Independent College Admissions Consultants

These Individual Consultants are self-employed professionals who specialize in assisting prospective students with college admissions.

Small Firms 

Small college admissions consulting firms may be better able to Zero In on the unique needs of their clients and provide more specialized and tailored advice. Additionally, a boutique firm have consultants who specialize in specific areas such as SAT/ACT prep, college application essays, or college visits.

Large Education Consulting Firms

Most college admissions consulting firms offer different packages and a la carte services. These organizations typically assist with college admissions, including school selection, application guidance, and financial aid counseling. Generally, speaking, the larger the firm, the more options aspiring college students  may have.

What are the Services Offered by the Best College Admissions Consultants?

Students that use a college admissions consultant can expect to receive multiple services when one is employed to help in this process. They offer a range of services for helping students gain admission. Below are some benefits that are potentially included when an admission consultant. 

College Selection

Developing a college list and selecting the right schools for a student’s academic and personal goals is essential. Most college admissions consultants can also help to assemble and fine-tune a customized college list. 

Application Strategy 

A college admissions consultant can also help you outline academic and extracurricular accomplishments to create a successful application strategy. Additionally, your consultant can help you create a timeline for what needs to be done and when and an application budget so you can stay on track financially through the application process and college admissions process. 

College Essay Coaching

Drafting an authentic college essay takes work. A practical and persuasive essay can be the difference between acceptance and denial. However, college admissions consultants can ensure that an article reaches its desired effect. 

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Calculating the actual cost of a college education and discovering ways to reduce the financial burden is essential. Additionally a college admissions advisor can assist families with financial aid advice and finding the best options for financing higher education. Some also help with scholarship and financial aid applications.

Exam Preparation

Preparing for the college admissions entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT can be the difference between acceptance and denial. College admissions consultants can guide to help students get ready for these tests. 

Interview Preparation

Most schools will require applicants to participate in an interview process, either on campus or via Skype. Many consultants use   mock interviews to improve these skills.

Career Planning and Major Selection

College advisers, faculty, and family members are all great resources when choosing a major. So when you navigate the competitive college admissions landscape, collect opinions, weigh options, and don’t be afraid to ask questions and get advice.

Who Can Benefit from a College Admissions Consultant?

Anyone who needs help navigating the complex college admissions process can benefit from working with a college admissions consultant. This includes students with unique backgrounds or circumstances like student-athletes, first-generation, international, and individuals with learning differences. First-time college applicants and students targeting competitive schools can also benefit.

Students find help deciding their educational goals, finding the right college to apply to, researching program options, writing college applications and essays, developing an application strategy, preparing for college admissions interviews, and negotiating financial aid packages. College admissions consultants provide personalized guidance to students of all backgrounds to help ensure that the admissions process goes smoothly. 

First-Generation College Students

Most first generation students who are the first in the family to attend college need extra assistance and guidance. College Admissions Consultants can help first-generation college students with each step of the college admissions process, providing support through every stage, from researching and applying to schools, writing essays, optimizing financial aid packages, and more. College Admissions Consultants may also be familiar with specific scholarships, grants, or supports for which first-generation college students may qualify. Ultimately, a College Admissions Consultant can be an invaluable resource to support and enable a successful college journey.

Student-Athletes

College Admissions Consultants can help student-athletes in a variety of ways. They provide personalized advice about the application process, including choosing the right college, selecting appropriate classes and majors, writing compelling personal statements, and ensuring all application parts are completed thoroughly and on time. College Admissions Consultants also uniquely understand the NCAA and D1 admission process. They can help student-athletes craft their athletic profiles to make the most of their college applications. This expertise can prove invaluable as student-athletes navigate the college admissions process.

International Students

With the high-stakes nature of the college admissions process, it can take time for an international student to figure out the best way to stand out and make a strong impression on admissions officers. International students often face unique challenges when getting into college in the United States. This is where College Admissions Consultants can provide timely advice and help to maximize their chances of admission success. By working with someone familiar with the American college admissions process and experienced in working with international applicants, international students can quickly identify potential obstacles to their success and create strategies to overcome them.

Students with Learning Differences

A College Admissions Consultant could give students with learning differences the guidance and expertise they need to ensure that their applications are competitive with other applicants. They can provide applications that accurately reflect students’ abilities, strengths, and interests. Specialized consultants can help students identify appropriate accommodations and explain the differences to admissions boards to ensure their needs are adequately understood and addressed. Overall, a consultant can give students with learning differences the confidence and representation they need to get into the college of their dreams.

What Should You Look for When Hiring a College Admissions Coach? 

You decided to use a consultant, so how do you choose a college admissions consultant? When selecting a college admissions consultant, it is essential to research and compare different options. Before choosing a consultant, you should determine your expectations, budget, and needs. 

Look for consultants specializing in a specific college admissions field, such as SAT or ACT preparation, essay writing, or interview prep. Additionally, it would help if you asked for references from past clients to ensure that the consultant is qualified to assist with your college admission process. Ultimately, the most crucial aspect of hiring a college admissions consultant is finding someone you trust and feel is a good fit for your situation.

How Much Do College Admissions Consulting Services Cost?

The cost of college admissions consulting services will vary depending on the type of service, the level of service provided, and the provider. For example, some companies offer comprehensive coaching packages that may cost up to a few thousand dollars. Others may offer more limited services for a few hundred dollars. You should research different services and decide which fits your needs and budget best.

What are the Typical Pricing Structures for College Admissions Consultants?

Pay structures vary. For example, some college admissions consultants might charge a flat fee for easy-to-tackle admissions essays and quick applications. In contrast, other consultants might charge an hourly fee for more comprehensive services such as essay editing, test prep, mock interviews, and extracurricular help. Many firms offer a free initial evaluation of a student’s credentials to discuss the options in the future. 

Expect hourly service rates to range from $50 to $300 per hour, with some higher-priced applicants providing more personalized and strategic guidance. Generally speaking, if a consultant offers more comprehensive services such as essay editing, test preparation, and mock interviews, the total cost of services might go up to $4,000 or even higher. 

Some college admissions consultants may also have a package with a fixed fee, which includes a set amount of hours or services. Different packages may be available for other student needs or budgets. An expensive comprehensive admissions consulting package may cost over $50,000. However, the average cost for a complete admissions package from a national firm is around $3,000 to $7,000.

When Should You Start to Work with a College Admissions Consultant?

Many parents and students want to know when is the right time to begin a college coaching service. College admissions is a daunting task, so students and parents should start early. The earlier you start working with an expert college application consultant, the better. Ideally, it would help to start working with them a year before your intended college enrollment date. This will give you enough time to complete a comprehensive application, assemble a robust package, and save yourself some stress. 

Remember that an experienced college application consultant can help you with guidance related to your college and primary selection, financial aid options, and other pertinent areas.

Is a College Admissions Consultant Worth It?

A consultant can be helpful if you want personalized advice and support in the college admissions process and a knowledgeable resource to guide you. They can also help you identify schools that may be a good fit for you and assist you in preparing your applications.  However, it is essential to weigh the cost and the availability of support when deciding to hire a college admissions counselor. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not you think a college admissions consultant is worth the cost.

What If I Can’t Afford a College Admissions Consultant?

In the hyper-competitive world of college admissions, students can their families can be pressured into thinking that the only thing that matters is getting into the highest-tier school and that a costly consultant is their only option. However, that’s not always the case. There are many consulting and counseling services with various pricing tiers, packages, and financial help. But for some low income students hiring a consultant is outside the budget. But, don’t despair.

First of all, at College Consensus, we’re big believers in the value of starting small and local. That’s why we strongly recommend that students who are conscious of their money or don’t feel confident about getting into their first choice take a year or two and  attend community college . One dirty little secret about the higher-tier schools is that it is often  easier to transfer in  than to get accepted as a first-year student. First-year students who didn’t cut it have dropped out, and colleges need enrollment to keep their doors open. 

There are also many other options, like  taking a gap year  to work or intern. Consider enrolling in a  pre-college summer program , which can help you make connections at the college you want to attend and build more robust recommendations. There are many ways of building up your application than just paying a consultant. 

Why Do Parents and Students Choose to Pay for a College Admissions Counseling Service?

Each high school in the US has at least one guidance counselor. Unfortunately, the ratio of guidance counselors to students is low. Usually, these counselors must be better trained and motivated to help students. In many cases, they need more understanding of the business and industry needs, which will NOT enable them to guide their students to appropriate college majors and degrees for the student’s future success.

The general perception is that much college admissions material is available online. However, the problem is that this material is scattered, not updated, organized for easy consumption, often inaccurate, and difficult to find when needed. The “insider college admissions track” is not known just by perusing this material.

Professional Organizations for College Admissions Consultants 

• National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) 
• Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) 
• Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) 
• Association for College Admission Counseling (AACAC) 
• National College Access Network (NCAN) 
• American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) 
• Enrollment Management Association (EMA) 
• American College Counseling Association (ACCA) 
• Collegiate Admission and Retention Professionals (C.A.R.P.) 
• National Independent Educational Consultants Association (NIECA)

A Guide To Taking A Gap Year

• Top 30 Pre-College Summer Programs
• Ultimate Guide to Transferring from Community College to a 4-Year College
• Paying for College
• Most Affordable Technical and Trade Schools

When students need help applying to universities or colleges and require assistance during the interview or financial aid application process, an admissions consultant may be hired. While high school guidance counselors provide some college application support and advice, most schools need counselors for the express purpose of advising university-bound students through the challenging process as an admissions consultant does. 

A college admissions consultant is a great resource for students looking to get accepted into their dream school. These professionals can provide valuable guidance and assistance throughout the entire admissions process:

• choosing a school
• applying to schools
• choosing extracurriculars
• writing application essays
• preparing for standardized tests
• securing financing for college

Each student’s situation is unique and as such, a college admissions consultant can provide tailored advice that’s beneficial to the student’s specific circumstances. Additionally, college admissions consultants can also provide behind-the-scenes insights into the colleges’ admissions processes, popular majors, course requirements and much more.

Ultimately, a college admissions consultant can help your application stand out among admissions committees and makes an impressive impact.

When you hire a college admissions counselor it makes it easier for you to navigate the college admissions process. Many college counseling services hire former admissions officers with a wealth of expertise and knowledge.

So, hiring a college admissions counselor or a college admissions consulting firm basically gives you access to a network of resources that allows them to efficiently provide personalized guidance. These professionals use their wealth of experience to streamline the process for prospective students.

As a result, using college admissions services typically increases the chances of acceptance and also helps reduce stress and anxiety.

What are the Types of College Admissions Consultants? 

Individual consultants are self-employed professionals who specialize in assisting prospective students with college admissions.

Small Firms 

Small college admissions consulting firms may be better able to zero in on the unique needs of their clients and provide more specialized and tailored advice. Additionally, a boutique firm has consultants who specialize in specific areas such as SAT/ACT prep, college application essays, or college visits.

Most college admissions consulting firms offer different packages and a la carte services. These organizations typically assist with college admissions, including school selection, application guidance, and financial aid counseling. Generally, speaking, the larger the firm, the more options aspiring college students may have.

Students that use a college admissions consultant can expect to receive multiple services when one is employed to help in this process. They offer a range of services for helping students gain admission. Below are some benefits that are potentially included when an admission consultant. 

Developing a college list and selecting the right schools for a student’s academic and personal goals is essential. Most college admissions consultants can also help to assemble and fine-tune a customized college list. 

Application Strategy 

A college admissions consultant can also help you outline academic and extracurricular accomplishments to create a successful application strategy. Additionally, your consultant can help you create a timeline for what needs to be done and when and an application budget so you can stay on track financially through the application process and college admissions process. 

Drafting an authentic college essay takes work. A practical and persuasive essay can be the difference between acceptance and denial. However, college admissions consultants can ensure that an article reaches its desired effect. 

Preparing for the college admissions entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT can be the difference between acceptance and denial. College admissions consultants can guide to help students get ready for these tests. 

Most schools will require applicants to participate in an interview process, either on campus or via Skype. Many consultants use   mock interviews to improve these skills.

Students find help deciding their educational goals, finding the right college to apply to, researching program options, writing college applications and essays, developing an application strategy, preparing for college admissions interviews, and negotiating financial aid packages. College admissions consultants provide personalized guidance to students of all backgrounds to help ensure that the admissions process goes smoothly. 

What Should You Look for When Hiring a College Admissions Coach? 

You decided to use a consultant, so how do you choose a college admissions consultant? When selecting a college admissions consultant, it is essential to research and compare different options. Before choosing a consultant, you should determine your expectations, budget, and needs. 

Look for consultants specializing in a specific college admissions field, such as SAT or ACT preparation, essay writing, or interview prep. Additionally, it would help if you asked for references from past clients to ensure that the consultant is qualified to assist with your college admission process.

Ultimately, the most crucial aspect of hiring a college admissions consultant is finding someone you trust and feel is a good fit for your situation.

Pay structures vary. For example, some college admissions consultants might charge a flat fee for easy-to-tackle admissions essays and quick applications. In contrast, other consultants might charge an hourly fee for more comprehensive services such as essay editing, test prep, mock interviews, and extracurricular help. Many firms offer a free initial evaluation of a student’s credentials to discuss the options in the future. 

Expect hourly service rates to range from $50 to $300 per hour, with some higher-priced applicants providing more personalized and strategic guidance. Generally speaking, if a consultant offers more comprehensive services such as essay editing, test preparation, and mock interviews, the total cost of services might go up to $4,000 or even higher. 

Many parents and students want to know when is the right time to begin a college coaching service. College admissions is a daunting task, so students and parents should start early. The earlier you start working with an expert college application consultant, the better. Ideally, it would help to start working with them a year before your intended college enrollment date. This will give you enough time to complete a comprehensive application, assemble a robust package, and save yourself some stress. 

A consultant can be helpful if you want personalized advice and support in the college admissions process and a knowledgeable resource to guide you. They can also help you identify schools that may be a good fit for you and assist you in preparing your applications. However, it is essential to weigh the cost and the availability of support when deciding to hire a college admissions counselor. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not you think a college admissions consultant is worth the cost.

First of all, at College Consensus, we’re big believers in the value of starting small and local. That’s why we strongly recommend that students who are conscious of their money or don’t feel confident about getting into their first choice take a year or two and  attend community college . One dirty little secret about the higher-tier schools is that it is often  easier to transfer in  than to get accepted as a first-year student. First-year students who didn’t cut it have dropped out, and colleges need enrollment to keep their doors open. 

There are also many other options, like  taking a gap year  to work or intern. Consider enrolling in a  pre-college summer program , which can help you make connections at the college you want to attend and build more robust recommendations. There are many ways of building up your application than just paying a consultant. 

Professional Organizations for College Admissions Consultants 

• American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) 
• American College Counseling Association (ACCA) 
• Enrollment Management Association (EMA) 
• Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) 
• Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) 
• National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) 
• National College Access Network (NCAN) 

Is taking some time off before college right for you?

Tools for trans­fer­ring.

Get into your top-choice schools.

We'll help you craft a standout college application..

94% of our clients have gotten into at least 1 of their top 6 schools, including:

Personalized consulting, get into college.

Next Admit helps high school students navigate the college application process and land acceptances to their best-fit schools.

Regardless of where you’re applying, our services will help you nail every part of your application and leave the best impression on the admissions committee. We offer fast and affordable services, which you can access through the Next Admit Portal—a centralized platform where you can communicate with your consultants, receive feedback on your application, and track your progress.

We've Got You Covered

Services for every need, college essay review, college app review, activities list review, consultation call, you're in good hands, consultants with experience.

Many of our consultants have graduated from the nation's top schools with degrees in fields such as English , Creative Writing , and Classics . They've worked as writers and editors for esteemed institutions such as the Harvard Political Review and W.W. Norton & Company .

Rest assured, our team knows how to craft an application that stands out. We also screen our consultants through a rigorous application process and actively monitor all essay revisions in our system.

Harvard 2023

Mahad is a senior at Harvard studying Psychology with a secondary in Economics. In high school, Mahad earned early admission to Yale and was accepted regular decision to Harvard. Mahad spent most of his college application season helping his friends edit their essays.

Gohar graduated from MIT with a double major in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science, as well as Business Analytics. In high school, Gohar graduated as valedictorian and received acceptances to six Ivy League schools, Stanford, and MIT.

The Next Admit Advantage

100% satisfaction guarantee.

We're here to help you put your best foot forward. If you're unhappy for any reason, contact us so we make it right.

Meet the Founder

Stacey Brook

Stacey Brook is an accomplished writer and admissions expert who has spent almost two decades helping students conceptualize, edit and refine their college essays. During her college years, Stacey discovered she had both a knack for consistently reinventing the creative personal statement and a perverse love of bridging the gap between stressed-out teenagers and their parents. She received her first exposure to the admissions process in the Dean’s Host program at Boston University’s College of Communication, serving for two years as the program’s coordinator. She was also the ’04 commencement speaker for the College, winning a coveted scholarship from Burson-Marsteller Public Relations.

Stacey has since spoken at schools around the world on the subject of the college essay and has advised thousands of students on their admissions essays. She is a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and is on the faculty at nytEducation: The School of The New York Times, teaching students to wrangle their school-specific supplemental essays. Her writing has been published in numerous publications including  The New Yorker, Teen Vogue and Condé Nast Traveler  and she pens a regular admissions column for The Huffington Post . Stacey also honed her branding skills, personal and otherwise, as copywriter for world-renowned ad agency, Cline Davis & Mann. She lives in New York, NY where she spends most of her spare time eating her way through the city like it’s her (second) job.

Stacey’s own college admissions essay involved a contrived The Wizard of Oz metaphor comparing her life journey at 17 to the yellow brick road. Though it successfully secured her admission, in retrospect she kind of wishes she had hired an essay consultant.

Our Approach

Time-tested methods:

Our Uncommon Essay Approach is a step-by-step process that teaches students to brainstorm, freewrite, sculpt and polish their final drafts to a high shine. We know it works because we have been using it for over a decade. Also, these people say it does !

Continuous Support:

We work to accommodate busy schedules, providing ongoing support for both students and parents to help them better navigate the essay writing process and maintain their sanity.

Strategic Personalization:

A stellar essay begins with a strong topic that speaks to who an applicant is at his or her core. We work with students to unearth their best stories and put fresh spins on classic subjects. We refuse to let you hand in a bland essay.

Deadline Setting and Mediation:

When you are juggling a full academic schedule along with a mountain of application essays, time management is key. We serve as the liaisons between student and parent and are the evil deadline setters and expert nags. You will still love us in the end.

Active Stress Management:

We help students proactively combat writer’s block and manage admissions-related stress. Sometimes this involves writing exercises. More often it involves ice cream.

Lifelong Skill Building:

Students who work with CEA exit the advising process with sharper writing, research and organizational skills, which will come in handy on campus and beyond. We will prepare you for college whether you like it or not.

High Ethical Standards:

We advise, students write. Though our process is thorough and intensive, students are responsible for getting the words on the page. When filling out their applications, all students know their work is their own.

This process can be time-consuming and challenging, so we have to make it fun – both for you and for us. We will make jokes. We might send you videos of cats jumping into boxes. We will probably Skype you while eating ice cream at some point.

Meet the Team

Rebecca Myers

Rebecca Myers is a poet and creative nonfiction writer who thinks it doesn’t get more exciting than the essay: immediate, personal, variable, challenging. Rebecca graduated with Honors from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in English and Creative Writing, then earned a Masters in English from The University of Georgia. She went on to study with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Sharon Olds and receive her MFA in poetry from New York University. She has taught composition, literature, and creative writing courses at both large universities and small liberal arts colleges, and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of English at Wells College in upstate NY.

Her published personal essays have covered subjects as diverse as that summer she spent working food service at Disney World (purple polyester is about as breathable as you’d imagine) to her toddler’s refusal to sleep (he’s fond of waking her up by banging two puzzle pieces against her face like a defibrillator). Most recently, her poetry and creative nonfiction have been published in  Creative Nonfiction ,  Best New Poets 2015 ,  The Rumpus ,  The American Literary Review ,  Gulf Coast , and featured as part of an NPR  Radiolab  segment on the periodic table.

Rebecca’s college essay was about that sole time she snuck out of the house…to go to the library.

Kat Stubing

Kat Stubing is a writer and operations specialist who has worked for grassroots and nonprofit organizations, theaters, newspapers, magazines, and digital publications reaching audiences all over the world. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a BA in Media and Communication Studies, where she received an Award for Academic Excellence from the College of Arts and Humanities. As an undergraduate, Kat studied Journalism for a semester in Leicester, England, where she discovered her passion for narrative writing and travelling. Kat has explored the streets of Cardiff and Chirk in Wales, Rome and Florence in Italy, and Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand. She believes travelling is the key to self-discovery and a broader mindset.

Her poetry has been published in Beyond Words Literary Magazine , Allegory Ridge , Hare’s Paw , The Closed Eye Open , and Wingless Dreamer, among others.

Kat’s college essay was an instruction manual on how to overcome adversity and make the best lemonade out of life’s sour lemons. She takes full credit for Beyoncé’s award-winning album.

Carolyn Balbo

Carolyn Balbo is a partnership and client relations specialist who has worked with clients for over 30 years. Carolyn has vast experience working with people as a group sales associate, retail sales assistant, parent liaison/association officer, executive function coach, occupational therapist, and college admissions specialist. Carolyn is passionate about helping families navigate the college essay and admissions process, and enjoys speaking with parents as they assist in their child’s journey.  As a graduate from Franklin & Marshall College, Carolyn majored in History. She continued her education at Columbia University with a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, earning an academic award for Excellence in Pediatrics.  As an occupational therapist, Carolyn worked in a school setting with children with Autism. Carolyn is a proud mom of two children in their twenties. 

Carolyn has guided many high school students through the undergraduate college process, including her own children. She understands firsthand the stress that high school students and their families face as they start the college application process. Carolyn is an avid spectator of competitive swimming and loves to travel. You will likely find her driving numerous hours on a weekend to watch a swim meet! Carolyn currently lives in Virginia, but is originally from the New York Metropolitan Area. Carolyn would describe herself as fun and energetic while maintaining a calm demeanor when working with others. She loves a funny story, a good laugh, taking long walks while listening to books on tape, and spending time at the beach.

Carolyn’s college essay was about her experiences providing “safe rides” to peers who were under the influence and unable to safely drive themselves home. 

Rachael Fendrich

Rachael Fendrich is a communications specialist and has worked as a copyeditor for over 10 years. She earned her BA in English with a minor in Philosophy from Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. While studying there, she realized her passion for literature and the power of the argumentative essay. She went on to earn her MA in English at Cal Poly, teaching Rhetoric and Composition during her studies and continuing as a lecturer after graduating.

As an editor, she loves the structural world of grammar and linguistics, but also has an eye for rhetoric and how word choice and tone affect the reader. Rachael spent two years writing and editing textbooks for children with learning disabilities at Lindamood Bell’s Gander Publishing. Her experience there taught her that language is not merely text on a page; language can create images in the reader’s mind that persuade them to believe a story’s purpose or argument—this is especially true in the college entrance essay.

Rachael’s own college entrance essay explored how Kate Chopin’s use of symbolism in “The Awakening” actually “awakened” her to how powerful language can be. She really hit the nail on the head with that one.

Josh Hawkins

Josh Hawkins has nearly 20 years of academic, professional, and freelance experience as an editor-from college essays to college textbooks and everything in between-with a special place in his heart for making complicated or convoluted material consistent and easier for everyone to read and understand. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a BA in Journalism and worked for a time as a freelance writer and magazine editor before embarking on a career in book publishing. During extended stints in the editorial departments at McGraw­Hill and Oxford University Press, Josh acquired new titles and developed projects in the areas of communication, journalism, film, and television. Since 2010, he has worked full time as a medical editor and group supervisor in the world of pharmaceutical advertising; he has been the Lead Editor at CEA since 2013.

Josh’s college essay was a long time ago, but it was most likely about wanting to get out of the small Georgia town where he grew up and make something of his life, which was a recurring theme for him. Mission accomplished.

Nina Bailey

Nina Bailey is an experienced high school English teacher who has taught at independent schools in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. She is passionate about working with high school students to develop their own written voice and gain the confidence to address any written task. Nina graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tufts University with a BA in English. After completing her undergraduate studies, she moved to New York City where she worked for several years in book publishing and at Christie’s Auction House. Nina then embarked on a Masters degree at New York University where she became a graduate writing instructor teaching freshmen composition courses with a focus on the personal essay. After completing her MA at NYU, Nina went on to teach English and writing at the Branson School in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Dwight School in New York City. Nina has worked one-on-one with numerous students over the past nine years helping them craft insightful, unique, polished college essays.

Nina’s own college essay was a meditation on writing as a process of discovery and transformation, a subject that still inspires her to this day.

Megan Grandmont-Melendy

Megan Grandmont-Melendy is a high school English teacher whose passion for writing was ignited as a teen by the world of Harry Potter fan fiction (she’s a Ravenclaw). She graduated summa cum laude from Boston College with a BA in English. After spending several years working in animal welfare, she went back to school to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher, earning her Master’s in both English and Teaching from Salem State University. While in grad school, she studied a variety of writing pedagogies, as well as researched the needs of graduate student writers and designed programs to meet those needs. Today she teaches English at a public high school in Massachusetts, where she delights in coaching students to grow in confidence and skill as readers and writers.

Megan’s college essay was about how encountering homophobic language in high school awakened her to the power of language in the real world.

Caryn Schwartz

Caryn Schwartz has been an editor—of school assignments, newspaper articles, college applications and more—for eight years. She earned her BA from Vassar College in English and Chinese, and then promptly took off to join the college consulting industry in Shanghai. She has worked with high school, undergraduate and MBA applicants. After five years in China, which included stints editing for the  People’s Daily  and Penguin’s North Asia office, she has made her way to NYC to work in book publishing. These days she reminisces fondly about Chinese breakfast foods and tries to read everything.

Her college essay was about a particularly traumatic haircut.

Tara Hollies

Tara Hollies earned her PhD in African History from Michigan State University, where her dissertation received distinction. She also earned her BA in both English and African Cultures & Colonialism from St. Olaf College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Tara is an experienced writing tutor, having worked at her school’s writing center during graduate school. After winning a Fulbright and other grants to support her historical research and writing, Tara led multiple grant-writing workshops for students seeking research funding. Tara has also taught several undergraduate and graduate courses in the social sciences and humanities. In each class, she has walked her students through each step of writing strong critical analyses and research papers. Originally from West Michigan, Tara now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She played ice hockey and ran track from elementary school through college. In fact, one of Tara’s publications is a short non-fiction piece about preparing for her first college hockey game (in which she scored her first goal!). The piece was featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hooked on Hockey edition.

Tara’s own college essay was about her love of and commitment to playing hockey – she travelled all over the Midwest and Canada for games and tournaments throughout middle school and high school. After all, hockey was the main reason she chose to attend college in the great State of Hockey (Minnesota).

Will Howard

Will Howard graduated Cum Laude from Pomona College, where he majored in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in Spanish. He also wrote for the student newspaper, taught creative and expository writing in an afterschool program for low-income youth, and was a mentor in the Queer Mentorship Program. During his junior year he lived in Buenos Aires and took art history classes in an old cigarette factory. Now he lives in Los Angeles and listens to podcasts while he sits in traffic. In the summer of 2018 he participated in the Disquiet International Literary Program. He hopes to earn his MFA in creative nonfiction one of these days.

Will’s college essay was about surfing.

Salwa Meghjee

Salwa Meghjee is a playwright living in New York City. She earned a BA in English from UC Berkeley, an MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage from Northwestern University, is pursuing an Artist Diploma in Playwriting at The Juilliard School, and hopefully will never stop earning degrees. Interested in creating within many disciplines, Salwa has written a number of plays, short films, pilots, articles, mental health resources, and odes to her cats. She’s taught writing to students of all ages, and loves to show everyone the power that they hold with just their own words.

Salwa’s college essay was about her quest to figure out which Hogwarts house she belongs to. She has not figured it out yet.

Bill Kelly has been a college English instructor, soccer coach, athletics and admissions liaison, athletics recruiter, and summer camp director over the past 25 years. A graduate of Macalester College, he majored in English and went on to earn his MA in English and Creative Writing at the University of Minnesota, where he won an Academy of American Poets prize. His poems have appeared in numerous poetry journals, and in 2015 his book of poems, Water Tiger , was published by David Robert Books. He has published children’s stories in Cricket magazine, Highlights for Children , Scouting magazine, and others. He is also a painter; his work has been shown and sold in Minneapolis, Albany, and Boston.

Bill’s college admissions assignment was for a “Character Sketch” which he produced in two parts: First, he drew a cartoon character he created, a little penguin named Maurice, shown sketching a giant self-portrait on a huge wall. The image filled the entire page. The second part of Bill’s Character Sketch, written on a separate page, described his love of storytelling. When he arrived for his college admission interview, he was stunned to see his cartoon pinned up on the Admissions office bulletin board. At the end of the interview, he learned he’d been accepted.

Avi Israel graduated from Colgate University with a B.A. in English, a B.A. in Philosophy, and an unofficial minor in Classics. After that, she received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Certificate in Management from The Wharton School. She continued studying justice, law, and criminology at American University, where she had the privilege of being a research assistant, a teaching assistant, and an adjunct instructor; the position also took her to Oxford, where she completed the International Human Rights Law Summer School for lawyers. Despite this clear career path, Avi has continued to work every other job under the sun, from bartender to baker to candlestick maker (really!). When she is not tutoring and crafting essays, she is the Director of Advocacy for The Seventh Wave, an arts and literary nonprofit focused on the intersection between art and social justice issues.

Avi’s personal essay expressed a desire to learn more about mental health law and its respective reforms.

Kayla Soyer-Stein

K ayla  Soyer-Stein is a freelance writer, editor, and teacher from New York City. A graduate of Oberlin College, where she majored in Creative Writing and minored in French, she went on to earn her M.F.A. in Fiction from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she was an Iowa Arts Fellow. She has over ten years of experience writing and teaching in various capacities, including to undergraduates at the University of Iowa, graduate students in Southern New Hampshire University’s College of Online and Continuing Education, and high school students through several nonprofit organizations in New York. In her free time, she volunteers at the ASPCA and walks around the block with her perfect dog.

Kayla’s college essay was about painting, writing, and dyeing her hair.

Melanie Ashkar

Melanie Ashkar is a freelance editor and opera singer from the Washington, DC area who received her BA in music and linguistics from the University of Virginia (Phi Beta Kappa). A lifelong lover of words, Melanie is a creative writer whose curiosity about language led her to earn a Master of Science degree in linguistics from Georgetown University, specializing in syntax. She went on to complete a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from Mannes College, The New School for Music, and continues to sing professionally.

A natural explorer, Melanie has lived across the U.S. from New York City, NY to Salt Lake City, UT, and has visited 38 states and four continents. Her keen editorial eye emerged as early as her elementary school years, when she began editing newspapers, essays, resumes, and more. She has worked for five years as an academic editor, and is passionate about helping writers find the best words to convey their ideas while maintaining their unique voice and style.

Melanie’s college essay was about a choir trip to Brazil and her profound experience of the power of music to connect people across cultures.

Steven Pfau

Steven Pfau is a writer and editor in Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of Idaho’s MFA program in Creative Writing, where he wrote a collection of essays on uncles and nephews. He taught a variety of composition, literature, and creative writing courses at UI, and he was the managing editor of the MFA program’s literary journal,  Fugue . He previously lived in New York City, where he received a BA in English from Columbia University and worked for several years in the publicity department of Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Steven’s college essay was about discovering his love of writing as a contributor to a music magazine based in Boston, where he grew up. The magazine has since folded, so you can no longer read what teenage Steven thought of Björk and Fiona Apple, which is probably for the best.

Jen Ericson

Jen Ericson earned her undergraduate degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University and her M.S. in Higher Education and Counseling from Northeastern University. Jen has been working in higher education for over 20 years in many different capacities including admissions, academic advising, and curriculum development. Jen has also served as an adjunct faculty member at various institutions and currently works in an advising capacity at Georgetown University. She loves boxing, rescuing dogs, and spending time with her family.

Jen’s college essay was about an embarrassing false start at her first district swim meet in 10th grade.

Hannah Garner

Hannah Garner is a Brooklyn-based writer who has taught the pleasures of great prose in high school English classes and university writing workshops. After graduating from Haverford College with a BA in Comparative Literature, she worked in the contemporary art world before plunging back into academia, first at the School of Visual Arts for an MA in Critical Theory, then at Rutgers University, where she completed an MA in English Literature. Her academic love of serpentine Victorian sentences was what brought her to Rutgers, but the rewards of teaching university writing there sent her back into the world as a teacher. She loves using writing to help her students connect to the stories of their lives. When not teaching, Hannah writes fiction and criticism and travels, as often as she can, back to France, which was her first home.

Hannah’s college essay waxed lyrical about her cello and wanderlust: in retrospect it was a bit too dreamy.

Noah Cohen-Greenberg

Noah Cohen-Greenberg studied creative writing at the University of Oxford and Williams College, where he won the Williams Literary Review’s Wharton Laurel Prize and twice won the Dunbar Prize for student writing. When he’s not writing short stories, he might be performing stand-up comedy, playing chess, or doing the crossword. He grew up on a hay farm outside of Albany, New York, and is not as interested in pesto as everybody else seems to be.

His college essay was a letter to his little sister about how to unload a hay wagon.

Michael Ventura

Michael Ventura is a freelance designer, animator, and illustrator with a love of all things creative. He graduated with Honors from Northampton Community College with a degree in New Media Design, and graduated Cum Laude from Lesley University with a degree in Animation and Motion Media. He has six years of freelance experience working on websites, promotional materials, short films, and mini-series. Michael likes to bring his creativity and love of design to the CEA team, and his work can be seen around this website; as well as in our college essay writing tip videos and our College Essay Academy YouTube series!

Michael wrote his college essay on the influences animation had on shaping his youth. How cartoons, video games, and other forms of art helped to drive his imagination and creativity to new heights; inspiring him to make things that would uplift and inspire other people’s imaginations as well!

Student Advisory Board

The CEA Student Advisory Board comprises an all-star group of alumni who now attend some of the most elite colleges and universities in the country. They review and test new products to ensure that we’re always providing the best advice-plus they recommend the best TV shows!

NAME: Caroline Wang

SCHOOL: Duke University

MAJOR: Public Policy Studies

ACTIVITIES: Volleyball/Leo Club/Guitar/Community Service

COMMON APP PROMPT: Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.

ONE LINE ESSAY SUMMARY:  I am perfectly content within the letters I write to the senior citizen I volunteer for, Norma.

BEST ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:  Your first (or even hundredth) idea will probably not end up becoming your essay. Be patient and stay creative.

NAME: Sam Gochman

SCHOOL:  Dartmouth College

MAJOR:  Biological Sciences

ACTIVITIES:  Fencing, jazz saxophone

COMMON APP PROMPT:  Transition from Childhood to Adulthood

ONE LINE ESSAY SUMMARY:  The tools you receive in life are only valuable if you use them and give them to others.

BEST ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:  Be authentic and show how you can contribute to your school of choice.

NAME:  Vikram Ashok

SCHOOL:  New York University

MAJOR:  Finance

ACTIVITIES:  Band, Model UN, Super Smash Bros

COMMON APP PROMPT:  Name One Time You Failed

ONE LINE ESSAY SUMMARY:  Test out different approaches to a problem and adapt accordingly.

BEST ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS:  You’re going to get into college, don’t worry.

NAME: Joshua Landsberg

SCHOOL: Duke University

MAJOR:  Economics

ACTIVITIES:  Soccer, Lacrosse, Sunrise Club

COMMON APP PROMPT: Background story

ONE LINE ESSAY SUMMARY: Life might knock you down, but that just means you have to get back up and fight harder.

BEST ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS: Work hard because the feeling of acceptance is all worth it.

• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guide
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• YouTube Tutorials
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Waitlist Guides
• Get Started

• College Application

College Essay Review Services: Why You Need Them

Many students consider using college essay review services every year, but they aren't sure if their services are worth it. The short answer is yes; they are more than worth the cost. Whether you're trying to get into one of the  Ivy League Schools , a small college in your community, or one of the  best undergraduate business schools , you will likely be required to write at least one college admissions essay, and it will be an essential part of your application. This blog will talk about the different types of college essays, how important they are, and how college essay review services are your best bet for beating the competition and doing well with this application component. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 7 min read

What exactly is a college essay.

There are several different types of college essays, but the most common college admissions essay is the personal statement or  common app essay . This is a short document that is supposed to tell the admissions board about who you are as a candidate and why you are a good fit for their college or university. 

Some schools provide a specific word count for the essays, but it should be between 400 and 650 words unless otherwise stated. It also doesn't follow the same structure as an academic essay. Even though it has an introduction, body, and conclusion, it is not about presenting and supporting an argument. Rather, it is supposed to tell a story that illustrates who you are as a person.

You can think of it as a cover letter for your college application. When you are applying for a job, your resume shows your work history and academic background in the same way that your school transcript and other application components show your GPA and grades for your college application. Your cover letter ( and personal statement) is a bit more personal. They communicate the soft skills and strengths that can't be easily quantified.

College essays also give you a chance to humanize your application and tell the admissions board about the person behind the grades and GPA. Many colleges, like  Columbia University  for example, have a holistic admissions process. This means that they care about your academic background and who are outside of your studies. Your personal statement allows them to learn more about your interests and what you could  contribute to your future campus community.  

College essays are an essential part of the college application process. According to the  National Association for college admission counseling , college essays are an important part of the decision-making process for most institutions in the united states. This information is not surprising considering the amount of information that the admission board can learn about a student from their personal statement and other supplemental essays.

Additionally, it is important to remember that college essays also give students an opportunity to talk to the admissions board. You get to share your story and tell the admissions board why you are a good fit for their school in your own words. You also get to address some of the weaker points of your overall application. For example, if you are trying to  get into college with a low GPA , you can use your college essay to explain the circumstances that led to your subpar grades and the steps you have taken to improve your grades.

College essay review services do a lot more than highlight grammatical inconsistencies in your writing (although this is one of the many things they can help with). They are actual human experts who can have a significant impact on the overall quality of applicants' college essays, thus increasing their chances of getting into college. College essay review services are typically offered by admission experts, such as  college essay advisors , who know the college application process inside and out. They review students' college essays and use their knowledge and training to provide personalized feedback and guidance to help students edit and polish their essays. The aim is to draft a final essay that will be more compelling, making the student a more attractive candidate to colleges.

Your college essays are a representation of you to the admission board. Except for college interviews, this is your only chance to talk to the admission board in your own words. This means that is also the first impression they will have of you. If you submit an essay with grammatical errors and typos, it tells the board that you either did not care enough to review your work or that you did not notice those errors when you did. Either way, it is not a good look for you.

This is where college essay review services come in. College essay advisors can thoroughly verify the grammatical syntax of your sentences, check that your essay is coherent and easy to follow and that it is free of grammatical or spelling errors. 

Highlighting relevant skills

Since college essay review services are run by admission experts, they have an in-depth understanding of the world of college admissions. These essay advisors have not only gone through the process themselves, but they have also helped other students go through it multiple times. Additionally, they are also trained to decipher all the "admissions talk" on college websites so they can actually help you figure out what values and traits specific colleges are looking for.

Furthermore, because they are an objective third party looking at the details of your academic background and experiences, they can easily see which activities and skills can make you a better candidate. For example, if you are applying for a philosophy major, you might think that your love for nature or hiking is irrelevant information to your application. College essay review services can help you understand how you can showcase your experience as a hiker in a way that will appeal to your chosen faculty.

Writing strategies

Writing college essays is not an easy task, and the truth is that most applicants aren't aware that their essay writing skills may be lacking. Unfortunately, high school classes rarely include lessons about writing academic admission essays or personal statements, so even gifted writers or A+ English students don't have the tools needed to write an essay that will impress the college admissions committee.

Without guidance, students often end up writing very generic essays that do not add to their overall application, or they simply go through the details of their high school resume without providing any new information. By working with college essay review services, students have someone at their disposal who can give them the tools and strategies necessary to brainstorm and write great, original college essays.

Developing skills

Most college students start improving their research and writing skills as they write essays in college. However, when you work with a college essay review service, you start with stronger skills than most in that department. Good college essay review services have advisors who will not write the students' essays for them. Instead, they will guide them through the entire process – from brainstorming to drafting and editing- and teach them how to research, write and edit. 

In other words, working with college essay review services allows students to not only improve the quality of their college essays, but also improve their research, writing, and critical thinking skills. All of which are skills that will serve them well during college and beyond.

Preparing college applications is a stressful process, and one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of it for students is writing college essays. Not only is it time-consuming, but it can get quickly get overwhelming for applicants and those around them. Furthermore, because students do not have access to as much information about the college admissions process, they simply have to trust that the topic they chose and the tips they found online are not leading them astray. 

Working with a professional college essay review service can remove that extra layer of anxiety. Because you are working with an expert, you can rely on the tips and advice they give you because you know it comes from a good source.

College essays are a crucial part of the college application process, so if you want to maximize your chances of getting into a top college in this increasingly competitive climate, you need to do everything you can to ensure that you are submitting top-notch essays. The key to doing that is working with college essay review services. The college advisors who run these services can help you highlight your strengths and address any potential red flags in a way that still makes you look good. Furthermore, working with them will help you improve your research and writing skills, which you will definitely need when you get into college.

There are several types of college admission essays, and usually, at least one of them is compulsory. If you are applying to college through common app, for example, you will definitely need to write common app essay.

That will depend on the school you're applying to. Most colleges require one personal statement and one or more secondary essays. You should verify the admission requirements of the schools that you're interested in to find out how many college essays you will be required to write.

Not every Canadian university requires an admissions essay, but quite a few request one.  The University of Toronto , for example, is one of them.

You should stay away from advisors who will write your essay for you. This practice is unethical, and it can have severe consequences for both you, the applicant, and the person who wrote the essay for you.

We recommend that you spend at least six weeks on your college essay. That is enough time to brainstorm, write, review, edit and polish the essay before it is ready for submission.

These services are offered by admission experts who will review your essays and guide you through the process of editing and polishing them. The aim is for the essays you submit with your application to be as compelling as possible, thus increasing your chances of success.

Yes, there are. Not all college essay review services work with international students, but we here at BeMo certainly do. Schedule your free initial consultation to find out how our consultants can help you.

Good college essay review services have qualified advisors who care about helping students, good independent reviews, and a high success rate. Make sure you take the time to peruse the websites of the companies that you are considering.

Yes, they do. College essays are the only application component that tells the admissions committee how you see yourself. They give you a chance to show the admissions board the person behind the extracurriculars and the GPA and remind them that your application is a lot more than just a number.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

I have draft my colleage essay for common app(650 words). I would like to get your review services.

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Chin! Please contact us directly for a free strategy call to discuss how we can help you. 

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar:

How to make your college applications stand out, (and avoid the top 5 mistakes that get most rejected).

CALL DIRECT: 1 (866) 811-5546

College Admissions Consulting

Show your spike. get colleges excited about admitting you..

We know the ins and outs of the admissions process. PrepScholar’s expert admissions consultants leverage proven strategies and extensive experience that have served thousands of our students to get into their top choice schools.

Let’s start the conversation. Tell us what you are looking to achieve and the areas in which you need support. We’ll help you understand our packages and recommend a plan.

Our students are 6.1x more likely to get admitted to Top 10 schools compared to the national average.

Every year, prepscholar students gain admission to.

Most Popular

Complete Admissions Package

12th Grade/Rising Seniors

Maximize your chances at admission into your top choice schools. PrepScholar’s expert advisors will guide you through the entire admissions process to get accepted at the most competitive colleges.

Early Start

Annual Mentorship Package

9th-11th Graders

The factors that make you stand out during the admissions process develop long before your senior year. We work with you to build your profile and ensure you’re maximizing every opportunity to strengthen your candidacy.

Essay Coaching and Review

Whether you know what you want to write about or you need expert help from the ground up, PrepScholar’s expert advisors will help you craft the perfect essay every step of the way.

Multiply Your Chances of Getting In

Our students are 6.1x times more likely to gain admissions to Top 10 US Universities. PrepScholar students’ average acceptance rate is 29.34% compared to the general acceptance rate of 4.81%

Our students are 5.9x times more likely to gain admissions to Ivy League schools. The average acceptance rate of our students is 30.15% compared to the general acceptance rate of 5.11%

On average, our students apply to about 15 colleges and 99% of students gain admissions to at least one of their top-choice colleges on their list.

The graph on the right displays the “PrepScholar Advantage Factor”, illustrating the difference in acceptance rates between our students (blue) and the general public (gray) when applying to Ivy League, Top 10, Top 20, and Top 30 US colleges. With our expert assistance, PrepScholar students are up to 6.1 times more likely to be admitted to these competitive schools compared to non-PrepScholar students.

Get Free Expert Advice

Sign up for free advice straight to your inbox.

Since our inception, we have prided ourselves on offering a plethora of high-quality free guides, blog articles, and webinars to navigate the college admissions process and SAT/ACT.

Join our Facebook Group where you can ask questions and get the latest tips and advice: Secrets for Getting Into Top Colleges

The PrepScholar Way

• Building a Spike
• A Single Cohesive Story
• Understanding You
• Family Expectations
• International Student Experience

Forget being well-rounded. A spike is what sets you apart from all other applicants. It goes against the spirit of simply being well-rounded. By nature of being unique, you don’t fit in with all of the other well-rounded applicants; you do something that truly stands out in a meaningful way.

A spike can come in a lot of forms depending on your field of interest, but it always requires consistent effort, focus, discipline, and passion to grow. Ideally, this spike is what makes you world class and shows colleges that you’re going to accomplish great things in your lifetime.

No matter what your passions and talents are, we’ll help you explore your interests and build your spike early on. If you’re already a senior, we will help you find your spike and show it.  We spend a lot of time getting to know you from all sides, and we are good at uncovering unique elements and intersections about who you are and what you’ve done to make you stand out.

Gaining admission is only partly about your achievements and numbers. For top colleges, it is also strongly about who you are as a person, what you’ve experienced, how you think about the world, and what your goals are. The application should tell a cohesive story about you that makes sense. It is meant to be a package. You need to be more than just a lot of activities thrown together. You don’t want to have a collection of short films – you want a single cohesive movie. For this reason, your essays shouldn’t be just about your accomplishments. They aren’t looking for you to brag about yourself. The most effective essays talk about you as a person and what drives you – often they show vulnerability or weakness. This is counterintuitive for highly achieving students to understand but it’s what admissions committees love to see.

Our approach hinges on fostering a profound connection with each student. We delve into the tapestry of your background, tapping into your unique experiences, passions, and challenges. We unearth the ‘why’ behind your academic pursuits, nurturing your intrinsic motivation.

Through this holistic understanding, we kindle excitement about your academic journey, fueling your motivation to achieve your dreams with determination.

This is why every PrepScholar admissions counseling service starts with our Student Profile Questionnaire, and an optional Parent Questionnaire for select packages. These help us recommend the best counselor from day one and provide our counselors with valuable insights to understand you better right from the beginning.

College admissions success begins with common goals and expectations, and that is why we make sure that students and parents are aligned in their needs and wants. This alignment, often a pivotal factor, ensures a smoother path towards achieving students’ goals. We bridge this gap by fostering open, empathetic communication, enabling students and parents to articulate their desires and concerns.

Our aim is to facilitate understanding, as we believe that when families share common visions, the journey through college admissions becomes less turbulent, fostering a supportive, united front that leads to success.

Are you an international student? Around 30% of our students every year are based outside the US. We have admissions consultants on our team who specialize in working with international students. They are well-versed in the differences and complexities that exist when applying to US colleges as an international student or US citizen living abroad. We’ll get to know you in detail so we can match you with the best consultant according to your profile and needs.

Here are some ways our counselors are prepared to help you as an international student:

• Familiarity with different academic and grading systems such as IB and A Levels.
• Thorough understanding of how colleges evaluate international students vs. domestic students.
• Patience and enthusiasm to help you and your family understand the different steps and elements of the process —regardless of how “obvious” it may be for US-based students.
• Provide extra support and attention to detail when helping you write your essays, especially if English isn’t your native language. 
• Well-versed in the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available for non-US citizens.

How do we do it? – Case Studies

Meet Ellie and Pravan, two previous PrepScholar students. Ellie began working with PrepScholar as a 10th grader while Pravan connected with us in 12th grade when he was applying to colleges. Read their files, how they started when we first met them, what steps we advised to reach their goals, and how they got into Princeton and Dartmouth.

Ellie Grade 10

As a high-achieving student from Michigan with an interest in Computer Science and Dance, Ellie needed guidance on building a CS “spike” while staying true to her other passions. Read how she got into Princeton Restrictive Early Action.

Pravan Grade 12

As a student from Connecticut with “typical” pre-med extracurriculars and high grades, Pravan needed to stand out in a crowded and homogenous field of aspiring doctors. Learn how he got admitted to Dartmouth Early Decision.

We Hire Only The Best

Leverage experienced admissions consultants.

At PrepScholar, you have access to the nation’s best storytellers, profile-builders, and application crafters. By working one-on-one with one of our expert Admissions Consultants, students build their profiles and develop their unique story resulting in a standout application.  

The Perfect Consultant, Hand-Picked For You

We personally and thoughtfully recommend the best consultant based on your profile.

We start our work by getting to know you in depth. With the help of our Student Profile Questionnaire, we ask relevant questions about your academic profile, challenges, and admissions goals. To gain a deeper understanding, we also ask thought-provoking questions to get your insights about your formative years, personal interests, hopes, and dreams.

Your questionnaire is personally reviewed by our Head of Admissions, a Harvard and Yale graduate with 10+ years of counseling experience. They have worked closely with all the consultants on our team and understand their areas of specialization and track record. Based on your answers, our Head of Admissions matches you with the best consultant to help you reach your goals.

Our matching process is carefully designed and consistently leads to successful consultant and student matches; as a result, reassignment is virtually never necessary. However, if the need for a reassignment arises, we are happy to accommodate such a request.

Chantine A.

Dominique R.

Shahrukh M.

Admissions Officer Advisory Panel

PrepScholar students benefit from webinars and Q&A sessions with an Admissions Officer Advisory Panel consisting of former admissions officers from top universities. The Advisory Panelists have worked extensively on “the other side of the desk” at selective institutions and can speak specifically to the way admissions readers interpret and evaluate applications.

This panel works behind the scenes as a second pair of eyes and provide feedback to consultants.

Brandon Mack

Jennifer Liepin

Nicole Luisi

Dr. Katelynn Carver

Take the first step towards college admissions success.

Get a Free Consultation

First Name*

I am a* Parent/Guardian Student

Email Address*

Phone Number*

Student High School Graduation Year* Select Year 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Already Graduated

What PrepScholar service are you interested in?* Select Service SAT Prep ACT Prep PSAT Prep Admissions Counseling AP Tutoring GMAT Prep

What else would you like us to know?

How did you hear about us?* Select Option Webinar Email Facebook Instagram Google Search Bing Search PrepScholar Blog Referral School Counselor PTA Other

Sign Up For Our Upcoming Free Informational Webinar

When: September 11th @6 pm EST

🏫 Does your child have their eyes set on Ivy League or Top 30 Colleges? Then this free webinar is for you both.

In this month’s free webinar, our distinguished panel of former admissions officers will shed light on the different action items your child can take right now as a 9th, 10th, or even 11th grader, to enhance their chances of admissions —before they even start writing a college essay or application.

What You’ll Learn: 📋 Actionable Steps for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders to boost their admissions chances 🏆 Optimizing Extracurricular Activities to stand out ☀️ Planning Productive Summers for personal and academic growth 📚 Strategic Coursework Selection to build a strong academic profile ✉️ Securing Compelling Recommendation Letters that make an impact Spots are limited, so make sure to register today and don’t miss this opportunity to gain insider knowledge and set your child up for success!

I feel like David and I have built a personal relationship. I feel as if we understand each other as if we’ve been friends for years. Because David understands me so well, he almost has the ability to ‘get inside of my head.’ Junior year was much easier with a personal consultant to help me manage all my activities, grades, tests, and upcoming college applications. Thanks so much – can’t wait to submit my applications!

We chose PrepScholar among 5 other companies offering college counseling, and we are more than satisfied with our decision! The company is very organized, responsible and clear.  Claire, besides being very knowledgeable, managed to get to know our daughter and manage her times much better than we have done in 18 years. She offered Lucia a wide repertoire of schools that were unknown to us and to the rest of her classmates, opening up opportunities for her acceptance. She took the time to understand Lucia’s interests and strenghts, as well as her weaker sides. We loved working with Prepscholar and Claire! Totally recommend. She got into many schools she loved.

I was really confused about how to apply for college. My school counselors didn’t help at all, and my parents cared a lot but weren’t experts. I felt overwhelmed, and scared that I wasn’t going to stand out. PrepScholar guided me through the entire process. My consultant Anna was amazing. First she interviewed me for 2 hours, understanding who I was, what I wanted, and what was unique about me. Then she helped me choose schools to balance my chances of getting in. She planned out my timelines and stayed on top of me to get things done. We went through 11 drafts of my Common App personal statement, until I was so proud of my essay and it felt so u0022me.u0022 I really felt like every application I submitted presented me in the best possible way. I’m now thrilled to say that I’m entering Cornell!

I’m glad I signed up with PrepScholar Admissions. My consultant was so on top of everything and made my life so much easier as a senior. He understood me perfectly and helped me produce essays that were way better than what I could have done myself. I would work with PrepScholar again 100 times over.

Prep Scholar kept my daughter on track during her junior year. Her consultant helped her find ways to boost her resume. They also have developed a relationship which has really helped her feel comfortable.

Definitely my favorite thing about the service is Chantine. She’s so amazing and she found all these summer camps for me to go to, that my mom is signing me up for. She also found a architecture art competition and took me around an architecture school. She’s been really helpful with finding test strategies and future colleges as well.

My consultant did an excellent job helping me tell my story. Over our first week, he provided very helpful feedback on my topic ideas and quickly identified a concept that ended up leading to a well-formed essay. He was also very helpful and encouraging throughout the process, and he provided accurate and specific feedback that helped me create an essay that felt very true to myself. Paradoxically, the essay we created together felt much more genuine than any of the attempts I had made at drafting an essay on my own beforehand!

Lily was always prompt, encouraging and frank. She was very meticulous in checking every aspect of my application and her feedback was always helpful. I also appreciate the way Prepscholar allows me to spend as much time as I need with her.

From Our Blog:

Free Expert-led College Admissions Advice Webinars

Watch replays & register for upcoming webinars.

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, by a Harvard Alum

What Do Colleges Look For in Admissions? Why Are the SAT/ACT Important?

Have more questions, call or email us to talk with one of our expert academic advisors today: 1 (866) 811-5546, to speak to an advisor, call us at +1 (866) 811 5546 or have us call you:.

I am a Parent/Guardian Student

Student High School Graduation Year* Select Year 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Already Graduated

How did you hear about us?* Select Option Facebook Instagram Google Search Bing Search PrepScholar Blog Referral School Counselor PTA Email Other

How many tutoring hours are you interested in? Select Option 4 hours 8 hours 16 hours 32 hours

Calculus AB Chemistry European History Macroeconomics World History Microeconomics Physics 2 French Lang. and Culture

Calculus BC Environmental Science Gov. and Politics - U.S. Psychology Eng. Language & Composition Computer Science A Physics C Japanese Lang. and Culture

Biology Physics 1 Human Geography United States History Eng. Literature & Composition Computer Science Principles Physics C: Mechanics

Give us a call at + 1 (866) 811-5546

Or have us call you…

Want free college admissions advice?

Add your email below to get insightful admissions information right to your inbox.

• Free Consultation
• The Spark Advantage
• Who We Serve
• About Admissions Consultants
• Testimonials
• College Admissions
• BS/MD Programs
• Art, Film & Music Schools
• Athletic Recruiting
• Learning Differences
• Private School Admissions
• Transfer Admissions
• Results by Year

Work with the Nation's Top College Admissions Consultants

Spark Admissions has the highest college admissions acceptance rates in the country. To achieve this success, our exceptional college consultants guide students and families through every step of the college preparation and college application process. Our consultants understand how to motivate high school students to accomplish ambitious goals, while maintaining empathy and building trust.

Spark Admissions 2020-2024 Acceptance Rates

Our college admissions results are 8 times the national average for Ivy League admissions and 6 times the national average for many top 50 colleges and universities.

Our college admissions consulting expertise has been featured in:

In the past decade, we’ve helped over a thousand students gain admission to their top-choice schools.

Spark Admissions continuously attains astounding success helping students gain admission to Ivy League and other top-ranked colleges and universities. Our admissions counselors assist students and their families with every aspect of the college planning, admissions, and application process to understand and realize their goals. Spark has the highest college admissions success rate in the country.

8x the national average

Spark’s admissions rates are 8x higher than the national average at Ivy League schools and 6x higher than the national average at many top 50 colleges and universities.

Unprecedented Referral Rate

The majority of our clients come from referrals from our current and past clients.

85+ 5-star Google Reviews

Spark has a perfect 5-star Google review rating, with over 85 reviews and growing due to consistent client satisfaction with our approach, our college consultants and our admissions results.

We help students build experiences they need to flourish in college and beyond

Spark guides students through every aspect of their academic and extracurricular development to attain their college admissions goals. This includes:

• Strategic guidance to create a college preparation plan
• Coaching on intellectual exploration to determine academic interests
• Academic planning
• Advising on summer programs and securing internships
• Building strong and unique resumes for college admissions
• Standardized test preparation advice
• Improving study skills
• Course selection advice
• Honing college and internship interview capabilities
• Developing leadership opportunities
• Coaching on creating unforgettable college essays
• Building an appropriate college list
• Providing brainstorming, guidance, and feedback during the entire college application and college essay process
• Determining an early application strategy

Explore our range of comprehensive consulting packages that can be tailored to fit your family’s needs.

“Thank you SO much for the expertise, guidance, and support you have provided all of us.”

Three years ago, I commented on finding your profession to be so interesting. Upon further experience, and with your indulgence, here are some of your talents we’ve appreciated, admired, and benefited from while working with you:

Booster/Cheerleader/Supporter, Confidant, Connector/Networker, Data Analyst, Database Administrator, Diplomat, Editor, Industry Analyst, Industry Intelligence, Gatherer, Listener, Marketer, Matchmaker, Mentor, Negotiator, Project Planner, Role Model, STRATEGIST, TEACHER, Therapist: Adolescent, Therapist: Family, Therapist: Parent

PARENT of ADMIT to BROWN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA

Our consultants are truly college admissions experts.

Spark Admissions is the nation’s best college admissions consulting firm because we live and breathe admissions. We have a true passion for helping students recognize and realize their goals. At Spark, admissions is not just a job—it’s our life’s work.

All of our college admissions consultants are full-time admissions experts who have admissions experience at selective colleges, have attended top-tier universities and graduate schools, and are passionate about helping students reach their goals.

Each student and family works with one Spark Admissions consultant throughout the entire process, forging a strong and long-lasting relationship

We did the research on how top colleges and universities make admissions decisions.

Spark Admissions was founded by Harvard University doctorate Rachel Rubin and University of Chicago MBA Rachel Blankstein . While at Harvard, Dr. Rubin published the largest study to date regarding how admissions officers at the top 75 American colleges and universities make admissions decisions.

Our firm continues this research-based approach. We examine admissions trends and data on an ongoing basis and always know what colleges seek in their applicants.

We help students develop unique, compelling college applications and essays.

We coach our students on writing and presentation skills to ensure their applications shine. We help them produce stellar resumes, write compelling application essays, and ready themselves to succeed in college interviews.

We are focused on student growth, which leads to results.

We guide our students to achieve their goals through a holistic approach, helping them with every aspect of their academic and extracurricular development. We work with students to identify their passions, determine what they want to study, and develop their extracurricular strengths. By simultaneously honing both academics and extracurricular activities, our students are better prepared for a successful experience in high school, college, and beyond.

We work with all types of students.

We have extensive experience working with a wide variety of students. While many families come to us to help their children gain admission to their best-fit colleges, Ivy League universities, or other highly selective colleges, we also work with high school students who have learning challenges, who would benefit from additional motivation, who are prospective college athletic recruits, or who are primarily interested in attending art schools or BS/MD programs.

We have a research-based approach and we are always learning.

We think of ourselves as an “admissions think tank.” We constantly analyze everything related to college admissions as a cohesive team. We understand exactly how to assess what is best for each student as well as what colleges seek in their applicants.

Our service is impeccable.

We are extremely responsive and pride ourselves on the level of consulting service we provide. We are empathetic, encouraging, and readily available for our students and families. Providing exceptional support and lowering stress are always on our mind.

Admissions tips, trends, and expertise

Read expert advice from Spark Admissions counselors on crafting compelling applications and essays, where to apply to college, admissions strategies and more.

What are the New Ivies?

Harvard Acceptance Rate & Admission Requirements Guide

Which Colleges and Universities Will Be Test-Optional for the Class of 2025?

Which Colleges and Universities Will Be Requiring the SAT or ACT for the Class of 2025?

What Does Test Blind Mean?

How to Get into the Best Colleges for Business

How to Get into the Best Colleges for Engineering

How to Choose Between the Digital SAT and the ACT

The Future of Standardized Testing in College Admissions

Spark admissions has the highest college admissions success rate in the country..

Contact us to learn more about our admissions consulting services.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Improve your college essays through feedback

CollegeVine’s fast and secure essay peer review system lets you:

Learn where your essay is strong and where it can improve

Improve your writing by reviewing other students’ essays

It’s free — learn how

What current seniors are saying

Differentiating yourself is more important than ever.

With more schools going test optional, college essays can help you stand out from the rest, and they can often make the difference between a rejection and acceptance.

Essays are 25% of your application

Grades alone won’t get you accepted to your dream school. The college essay is an extremely important piece of your college application. Essays help you stand out from the rest.

Show your personality

Admissions officers want to better understand who you are through your essays. Showcasing your unique view of the world and the experiences that have led you to where you are is pivotal.

Become memorable to admissions

Admissions officers only spend a few minutes on each application. Ensure your essay will be memorable by getting honest feedback from people who don’t already know your story well.

Write amazing college essays

Stop guessing what admissions officers will take away from your college essay. Our community of peer reviewers will let you know and provide feedback. You’ll build confidence and improve your own writing by reviewing peer essays, which help you learn to read essays just like an admissions officer.

Learn what admissions officers are looking for

Get exposed to how admissions officers read and evaluate your essays. Our essay guides provide students with clear, actionable ways to write an authentic essay. We analyze real essays from the past to see what works to get accepted.

Get your essay reviewed by experts

We've helped with 100,000+ college essays—we've seen it all and we know what works. Submit your own essay or watch our team of experts critique other student essays LIVE. All viewers can ask questions and get help from the expert team at no cost.

The free, all-in-one guidance platform to help you with every step of the college process

Your account unlocks all these free tools to help you apply to college with confidence

Advising livestreams

Join interactive livestreams about nearly every topic in the college process, hosted by college admissions experts.

Essays guidance and peer review

Submit your own essay for a review in less than 6 hours on the world’s first entirely free college essay review system.

Q&A with experts

Ask questions and get quick and helpful answers from CollegeVine experts and a community of supportive peers.

How is CollegeVine free?

We believe that every student deserves expert guidance. To make that possible, access to the CollegeVine platform is free for students. We partner with colleges that pay to join our ecosystem and interact with students via virtual events and 1-1 connections.

There are zero ads on our site and you can rest assured that you are always in control of your personal data. Connections with colleges are student-initiated, meaning your profile is only shared if and when you opt-in.