College Admissions Counseling

Offer Feedback on the High School Choice

Some families know which high school their child will attend, while others do not. Either way, we’ve got insights into the closely guarded relationships of various high schools across America and worldwide with elite colleges.

4-Year High School Course Roadmap

We map out the coursework a student should take throughout high school so that they’re in the most rigorous curriculum possible — and then some. Just because a high school recommends certain courses doesn’t mean those are the courses a student should be taking to earn admission to elite universities. AP Statistics is not math.

4-Year Testing Plan

We map out which tests a student should take throughout high school — from the SAT or ACT to AP exams. While most elite colleges are test-optional, all else being equal, students with top scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who don’t submit scores.

Extracurricular Hook and Activities

America’s highly selective universities do not seek to admit well-rounded students. Instead, they want singularly-talented students. Based on your child’s interests, we’ll brainstorm wonderfully weird ways for your child to stand out in their activities throughout high school because the National Honor Society and Key Club aren’t going to cut it.

College Admissions Guidance Through High School

Beyond ensuring that our students are in all the right courses, taking all the correct tests, pursuing the wonderfully weird extracurricular activities we explicitly recommend, and effectively demonstrating interest in the colleges to which they’ll ultimately apply, we’re here as needed for questions and hand-holding along the way. While all check-ins must be scheduled, we can always set up check-ins within a day or two of a request and write back to an email within a day or so.

Assistance with Extracurricular Pursuit Selection

We don’t leave it to students and parents to come up with activities that showcase a wonderfully weird hook that will inspire admissions officers to root for them. We send them the activities we want them to get involved in from the start of high school. But, no, we don’t reach out to contacts at these activities on our students’ behalf. We work exclusively behind the scenes — and if a college counselor suggests they do otherwise, run!

Brainstorming and Revising Material for Recommendations

We don’t leave it to teachers and school counselors to write powerful letters of recommendation for our students. In our experience, when left on their own, school counselors and teachers write generic letters of recommendation. As such, we help our students prepare anecdotes that they then share with their counselors and teachers. While our students will never be privy to what these recommenders write, in our experience, counselors and teachers overwhelmingly want to help their students. So they’ll so often use what they’re given.

Brainstorm And Revising College Essays

Do you think there’s one college essay, the Personal Statement? That’s cute. There are tons of college essays, and they’re all equally as important. Most highly selective universities have their own supplemental essays, many of which must be uniquely tailored to the respective institution to demonstrate a student’s commitment to attending. We brainstorm and revise every paragraph of every essay, with each essay serving as a critical puzzle piece in a student’s admissions file.

Assistance with Non-Essay Portions of Applications

There are landmines throughout each college application. Including a social security number implies the student will apply for financial aid. Not listing significant points of contact undercuts a student’s efforts to demonstrate interest in the college to which they’re applying. We make sure that our students don’t make such mistakes.

Interview Prep

While the alumni interview has become one of the least important components of the elite college admissions process, we prepare students to stand out, impress, and showcase their singular hook.

Extracurricular Hook and Activities

America’s highly selective universities do not seek to admit well-rounded students. Instead, they want singularly-talented students. Based on your child’s interests, we’ll brainstorm ways for your child to stand out in their activities throughout high school because the National Honor Society and Key Club aren’t going to cut it.

High School Course Roadmap

We map out the coursework a student should be taking throughout high school so that they’re in the most rigorous curriculum possible — and then some. Just because a high school recommends certain courses doesn’t mean those are the courses a student should take to earn admission to elite universities. And we’ll correct course mistakes committed to date before they hurt a student’s case for admission.

Testing Plan

We map out which tests a student should take throughout high school (or the remainder of high school) — from the SAT or ACT to AP exams. While most elite colleges are test-optional, all else being equal, students with top scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who don’t submit scores.

College List-Building

A college list for 9th graders isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. For 10th graders, some schools might be eliminated from contention, but a worthwhile finalized list can’t be in place until the conclusion of junior year. That said, we’ll suggest which colleges should be in a student’s sights, and we’ll comb through the data on a high school’s relationship with various elite colleges.

Demonstrating Interest

Elite colleges seek to admit students who they believe will enroll. As such, we teach our students how to effectively make each school believe it’s their first choice. Yes, it’s a game — a game our students can win.

College Admissions Guidance Through High School

Beyond ensuring that our students are in all the right courses, taking all the correct tests, pursuing the wonderfully weird extracurricular activities we explicitly recommend, and effectively demonstrating interest in the colleges to which they’ll ultimately apply, we’re here as needed for questions and hand-holding along the way. While all check-ins must be scheduled, we can always set up check-ins within a day or two of a request and write back to an email within a day or so.

Guidance with Extracurricular Pursuits

We don’t leave it to students and parents to come up with activities that showcase a wonderfully weird hook that will inspire admissions officers to root for them. We send them the activities we want them to get involved in from the start of high school. But, no, we don’t reach out to contacts at these activities on our students’ behalf. We work exclusively behind the scenes — and if a college counselor suggests they do otherwise, run!

Brainstorming and Revising Material for Recommendations

We don’t leave it to teachers and school counselors to write powerful letters of recommendation for our students. In our experience, when left on their own, school counselors and teachers write generic letters of recommendation. As such, we help our students prepare anecdotes that they then share with their counselors and teachers. While our students will never be privy to what these recommenders write, in our experience, counselors and teachers overwhelmingly want to help their students. So they’ll so often use what they’re given.

Assistance with Non-Essay Portions of Applications

There are landmines throughout each college application. Including a social security number implies the student will apply for financial aid. Not listing significant points of contact undercuts a student’s efforts to demonstrate interest in the college to which they’re applying. We make sure that our students don’t make such mistakes.

Interview Prep

While the alumni interview has become one of the least important components of the elite college admissions process, we prepare students to stand out, impress, and showcase their singular hook.

Review and Offer Feedback on Full Common Application

We go through every section of The Common Application, including the seemingly insignificant parts, identifying what works, what doesn’t, what needs to change, and how students should reposition their cases for admission. If your child wrote about community service, sports, music, grandparents, or travel in their Personal Statement, it should be deleted. If your child included their social security number, it implies they’re applying for aid.

Review and Offer Feedback on Up to 3 College Supplements

We can typically get through three complete supplements, offering insights on how students can more effectively demonstrate interest in their supplemental essays, ideally serving as critical complementary puzzle pieces to their Personal Statements. Or maybe they list majors that aren’t substantiated by their narratives. Or perhaps they don’t check that they’re interested in a particular program, which would increase their odds of admission.

Offer Recommendations on Early Action/Early Decision Plan and Regular Decision List

If your child is applying to an impossible dream in the Early round, effectively wasting their valuable Early card, we’ll say so. If your child’s high school doesn’t have as strong of a relationship with a college as you may think, we’ll say so. And if your child’s Early choice needs to be corrected, we’ll tell you what their Early strategy should be.

Putting Bandaids on Course, Testing, and Extracurricular Mistakes

When families come to us during the final year of high school, there will be some mistakes we can’t correct. But there will be other mistakes we can correct — before they jeopardize their child’s case for admission. As such, we’ll brainstorm a few new activities for them to get involved in so they can better showcase a singular hook. And we’ll fix the course and testing mistakes we can. AP Statistics doesn’t count as senior-year math. Stopping or switching a foreign language isn’t good. Students can still enroll in courses outside their schools to address these errors.

Brainstorming and Revising Material for Recommendations

We don’t leave it to teachers and school counselors to write powerful letters of recommendation for our students. In our experience, when left on their own, school counselors and teachers write generic letters of recommendation. As such, we help our students prepare anecdotes that they then share with their counselors and teachers. While our students will never be privy to what these recommenders write, in our experience, counselors and teachers overwhelmingly want to help their students. So they’ll so often use what they’re given.

Brainstorming and Revising Material for College Essays

Do you think there’s one admissions essay, the Personal Statement? That’s cute. There are tons of college admissions essays, and they’re all equally as important. Most highly selective universities have their own supplemental essays, many of which must be uniquely tailored to the respective institution to demonstrate a student’s commitment to attending. We brainstorm and revise every paragraph of every essay, with each essay serving as a critical puzzle piece in a student’s admissions file.

Assistance with the Non-Essay Portions of Applications

There are landmines throughout each college application. Including a social security number implies the student will apply for financial aid. Not listing significant points of contact undercuts a student’s efforts to demonstrate interest in the college to which they’re applying. We make sure that our students don’t make such mistakes.

Interview Prep

While the alumni interview has become one of the least important components of the elite college admissions process, we prepare students to stand out, impress, and showcase their singular hook.

Review and Offer Feedback on The Common Application

We go through every section of The Common Application, including the seemingly insignificant parts, identifying what works, what doesn’t, what needs to change, and how students should reposition their cases for admission so they can expect better results. If your child wrote about community service, sports, music, grandparents, or travel in their Personal Statements, it should be deleted. If your child included their social security number, it implies they needed financial aid.

Review and Offer Feedback on Up to 3 College Supplements

We can typically get through three complete supplements, offering insights on how students can more effectively demonstrate interest in their supplemental essays, ideally serving as critical complementary puzzle pieces to their Personal Statements. Or maybe they list majors that aren’t substantiated by their narratives. Or perhaps they don’t check that they’re interested in a particular program, which would increase their odds of admission.

Compose An Appropriate List Of Colleges for Regular Decision

Maybe your child overreached in the Early round. Perhaps their Regular Decision list is filled with more overreaches. If your child didn’t get into Cornell in the Early Decision round, their chances of getting into Harvard in Regular Decision are slim to none. We’ll fine-tune this list and ensure overlooked schools are included. In our experience, it’s the schools we add to students’ lists at this juncture where they so often end up.

Fixing the Regular Decision List

Maybe your child overreached in the Early round. Perhaps their Regular Decision list is filled with more overreaches. If your child didn’t get into Cornell in the Early Decision round, their chances of getting into Harvard in Regular Decision are slim to none. We’ll fine-tune this list and ensure overlooked schools are included. In our experience, it’s the schools we add to students’ lists at this juncture where they so often end up.

Putting Bandaids on Course, Testing, and Extracurricular Mistakes

When families come to us for the first time after their children have been denied Early admission, there will be some mistakes we can’t correct. But there will be other mistakes we can correct — before they jeopardize their child’s case for Regular Decision admission. As such, we’ll brainstorm a few new activities for them to get involved in so they can better showcase a singular hook. And we’ll fix the course and testing mistakes we can. AP Statistics doesn’t count as senior-year math. Stopping or switching a foreign language isn’t good. Students can still enroll in courses outside their schools to address these errors.

Brainstorming and Revising Material for College Essays

Do you think there’s one admissions essay, the Personal Statement? That’s cute. There are tons of college admissions essays, and they’re all equally as important. Most highly selective universities have their own supplemental essays, many of which must be uniquely tailored to the respective institution to demonstrate a student’s commitment to attending. We brainstorm and revise every paragraph of every essay, with each essay serving as a critical puzzle piece in a student’s admissions file.

Assistance with Non-Essay Portions of Applications

There are landmines throughout each college application. Including a social security number implies the student will apply for financial aid. Not listing significant points of contact undercuts a student’s efforts to demonstrate interest in the college to which they’re applying. We make sure that our students don’t make such mistakes.

Interview Prep (after the New Year)

While the alumni interview has become one of the least important components of the elite college admissions process, we prepare students to stand out, impress, and showcase their singular hook.

Review and Offer Feedback on The Common Application

We go through every section of The Common Application, including the seemingly insignificant parts, identifying what works, what doesn’t, what needs to change, and how students should reposition their cases for admission so they can expect better results. If your child wrote about community service, sports, music, grandparents, or travel in their Personal Statements, it should be deleted. If your child included their social security number, it implies they needed financial aid.

Review and Offer Feedback on Up to 3 College Supplements

We can typically get through three complete supplements, offering insights on how students can more effectively demonstrate interest in their supplemental essays, ideally serving as critical complementary puzzle pieces to their Personal Statements. Or maybe they list majors that aren’t substantiated by their narratives. Or perhaps they don’t check that they’re interested in a particular program, which would increase their odds of admission.

Compose An Appropriate List Of Colleges for Regular Decision

Maybe your child overreached in the Early round. Perhaps their Regular Decision list is filled with more overreaches. If your child didn’t get into Cornell in the Early Decision round, their chances of getting into Harvard in Regular Decision are slim to none. We’ll fine-tune this list and ensure overlooked schools are included. In our experience, it’s the schools we add to students’ lists at this juncture where they so often end up.

Brainstorm and Revise a Compelling Letter of Continued Interest

The letters that most students submit after being deferred do them no favor because they’re filled with brags, updates, and generic sentences that can apply to virtually any college. That’s not the approach of Ivy Coach’s letters. In a word, Ivy Coach’s letters are weird — and it’s a big reason why they so often work. And, as importantly, how we structure a deferred student’s Letter of Continued Interest will serve as the foundation for how they should reposition their Personal Statement and Why College essays for their Regular Decision schools.

Fixing the Regular Decision List

Maybe your child overreached in the Early round. Perhaps their Regular Decision list is filled with more overreaches. If your child didn’t get into Cornell in the Early Decision round, their chances of getting into Harvard in Regular Decision are slim to none. We’ll fine-tune this list and ensure overlooked schools are included. In our experience, it’s the schools we add to students’ lists at this juncture where they so often end up.

Putting Bandaids on Course, Testing, and Extracurricular Mistakes

When families come to us for the first time after their children have been denied Early admission, there will be some mistakes we can’t correct. But there will be other mistakes we can correct — before they jeopardize their child’s case for Regular Decision admission. As such, we’ll brainstorm a few new activities for them to get involved in so they can better showcase a singular hook. And we’ll fix the course and testing mistakes we can. AP Statistics doesn’t count as senior-year math. Stopping or switching a foreign language isn’t good. Students can still enroll in courses outside their schools to address these errors.

Brainstorming and Revising College Essays

Do you think there’s one admissions essay, the Personal Statement? That’s cute. There are tons of college admissions essays, and they’re all equally as important. Most highly selective universities have their own supplemental essays, many of which must be uniquely tailored to the respective institution to demonstrate a student’s commitment to attending. We brainstorm and revise every paragraph of every essay, with each essay serving as a critical puzzle piece in a student’s admissions file.

Assistance with Non-Essay Portions of Applications

There are landmines throughout each college application. Including a social security number implies the student will apply for financial aid. Not listing significant points of contact undercuts a student’s efforts to demonstrate interest in the college to which they’re applying. We make sure that our students don’t make such mistakes.

Interview Prep (after the New Year)

While the alumni interview has become one of the least important components of the elite college admissions process, we prepare students to stand out, impress, and showcase their singular hook.

Review and Offer Feedback on The Common Application & Up to 3 College Supplements

While there’s nothing your child can change in their applications, we must fully understand how they presented themselves so the narrative we help them craft in their Letter of Continued Interest isn’t out of left field. While it may hurt to hear, we’ll also point out the mistakes that can’t be corrected at this juncture just in case your child ever wishes to apply as a transfer applicant. In our experience, even if this makes them upset in the moment, they’ll get over it the next day.

Brainstorm and Revise a Compelling Letter of Continued Interest

The letters that most students submit after being waitlisted do them no favor because they’re filled with brags, updates, and generic sentences that can apply to virtually any college. That’s not the approach of Ivy Coach’s letters. In a word, Ivy Coach’s letters are weird — and it’s a big reason why they so often work.

Offer Feedback On Up To 3 College Applications.

We go through every section of each application that a student submitted out of high school, including the admissions essays. In our experience, students make the same mistakes as transfer applicants that they did as high school applicants if those mistakes aren’t identified. And, yes, everything from high school still counts in the transfer round.

Extracurricular Hook and Activities

America’s highly selective universities do not seek to admit well-rounded students. Instead, they want singularly-talented students. As such, we’ll brainstorm ways for transfer applicants to stand out in their activities during the remainder of high school and the first year of college.

Map Out College Coursework

We’ll fine-tune which courses transfer students should take during their first year of college to stand out as intellectually curious.

Transfer College List-Building

We’ll identify which colleges a transfer applicant should be setting their sights on through the process. And, no, unless they’re a veteran of America’s military, it shouldn’t be Princeton since Princeton, in our view, admits a negligible number of non-veterans as transfers.

Transfer Admissions Guidance Through the Process

Beyond ensuring that our transfer students are in all the right courses through the remainder of high school and the first year of college, pursuing the wonderfully weird extracurricular activities we explicitly recommend, and effectively demonstrating interest in the colleges to which they’ll ultimately apply, we’re here as needed for questions and hand-holding along the way. While all check-ins must be scheduled, we can always set up check-ins within a day or two of a request and write back to an email within a day or so.

Guidance with Extracurricular Pursuits

We don’t leave it to students and parents to come up with activities that showcase a wonderfully weird hook that will inspire admissions officers to root for them. We send them the activities we want them to get involved in during the remainder of high school and the first year of college. But, no, we don’t reach out to contacts at these activities on our students’ behalf. We work exclusively behind the scenes — and if a college counselor suggests they do otherwise, run!

Brainstorming and Revising Material for Recommendations

We don’t leave it to professors and school counselors to write powerful letters of recommendation for our students. In our experience, when left on their own, professors and high school counselors write generic letters of recommendation. As such, we help our students prepare anecdotes that they then share with their professors and former high school counselors. While our students will never be privy to what these recommenders write, in our experience, professors and counselors overwhelmingly want to help their students. So they’ll so often use what they’re given.

Brainstorming and Revising Transfer Essays

Do you think there’s one transfer admissions essay, the Personal Statement? That’s cute. There are tons of transfer admissions essays, and they’re all equally as important. Most highly selective universities have their own supplemental essays, many of which must be uniquely tailored to the respective institution to demonstrate a student’s commitment to attending. We brainstorm and revise every paragraph of every essay, with each essay serving as a critical puzzle piece in a student’s transfer admissions file.

Assistance with Non-Essay Portions of Applications

There are landmines throughout each college application. Expressing negative feelings toward the initial college a student attended. Including a social security number implies the student will apply for financial aid. Not listing significant points of contact undercuts a student’s efforts to demonstrate interest in the college to which they’re applying as a transfer. We make sure that our transfer students don’t make such mistakes.