Testimonial Archive -

“IvyWise, your assistance was absolutely invaluable. Julian was by no means a "shoo-in" at Union College, and we are convinced that your advice, especially your comments on his essay and your contacts with Union's Admissions Director on his behalf, made a decisive difference in his being accepted there Early Decision. At all times, you were prompt in replying to our calls and requests. We were very pleased and strongly recommend your services to other families confronting the college admissions process.”

Father of Julian Rosenberg, California, USA
Son Accepted Early Decision
Union College, Class of 2008

 

“Yesterday we shipped Chrysta and her boxes off to New York...thanks to you and IvyWise and all the time and love you gave to help us with that very complex and detailed process.

There is no question in my mind that your experience, knowledge and personal relationships with the schools and their staff made all the difference in the world. It's certainly not what it used to be. The competition is ruthless...I spoke to her yesterday, and she's so happy...I'm not so happy, because my baby has flown the nest, but at least I know she's safe and sound and has a great future ahead of her. She’s thriving with a double-major in film and anthropology.”

Thanks,
A Very Grateful Mom,

Mother of Chrysta Olson, California, USA
Columbia University, Class of 2007

 

“As our daughter neared the end of her junior year of high school, we had just completed the college admissions process for our son who had graduated the year before her. He was admitted to the Johns Hopkins University, his first choice college. IvyWise's expert guidance, vast knowledge and enthusiasm throughout the college admissions process had become an integral part of our preparation and decision making for our daughter who ultimately decided to apply to Harvard University through the Early Action option. The compressed time element of the Early Action program requires a rigorous regimen of planning and preparation. IvyWise's expertise comprised the most integral part of our daughter's Early Action application and acceptance to Harvard University.”

Anonymous Parent New Jersey, USA
Daughter Accepted Early Action
Harvard University, Class of 2006

“In looking at my e-mail addresses for my annual 'clean-up', I realized I had not yet thanked IvyWise for the wonderful support of Will during the course of the last year. He is of course thrilled (and relieved) to have been selected by Columbia, as is our entire family. IvyWise's guidance, insight and discipline played a significant role in allowing Will to achieve his goal. For that, we cannot thank you enough!”

Father of Will Thomas, Oklahoma, USA
Son Accepted Early Decision
Columbia University, Class of 2006

“We knew very little about the whole college process and we thought we needed someone to be a surrogate for us, to nag our son and make sure all the essays were written and applications completed so he wouldn't wind up resenting us. One of our main concerns was with the expense and whether it would be worth it. We also were self-conscious about hiring a coach to help get our son into college. Conflicted, we moved ahead, with very subdued expectations. From day one, IvyWise earned our admiration and respect. Our counselor came to visit us...she was knowledgeable, having worked in admissions offices...she was articulate... within a few minutes, she told us where our expectations were realistic and where they weren't. She is not trying to win popularity contests. She is very direct and tells it like it is. Thank goodness she related well with our son, not sugar coating her answers to him and even daring to see through his charm and elaborate defenses to gently tell him he hardly knew what he was talking about. IvyWise accomplished the mission. Our son was accepted at the three schools that were at the top of his list...and wait listed at two other highly sought after schools. Most importantly, she prepared our son to go through this process on his own, using newly crafted skills, and ultimately using his own judgment to make his decisions; the ultimate outcome for good coaching and parenting. She did not write or rewrite one word of his essays nor dictate any response on an application or even steer him to a favorite school of hers, rather, she taught him what would be most effective, where his weaknesses were and especially his strengths. She encouraged him to work with his school advisor, to visit the schools, and to strategize, to be prompt and impressive. She instilled confidence with encouragement and pride when a job was well done. Not only that, she happened to really like a few of our son's essays and brought them to the attention of a few of her friends, which resulted in two fabulous internships and a great summer job! The IvyWise counselors seem to know everybody and when they like something, they make the world stop and listen and do something about it. We are most fortunate to have gone to IvyWise and owe them a debt of respect and gratitude.”

Father of Max Joseph, New York, USA
Son Accepted Regular Decision
Brown University, Class of 2004

“I lead a very busy life and of course wanted Sara to have every opportunity to get into the college of her choice. I decided to hire a private college counselor to advise and guide her through the overwhelming process. IvyWise's expertise was invaluable. Our IvyWise counselor was clearly knowledgeable and realistic about every aspect of the college application process, from helping a student decide which colleges to apply to, to understanding what each college is looking for in an applicant. Having IvyWise guide Sara through the process gave me peace of mind because I knew she was in good hands. Our IvyWise counselor kept me updated on Sara's progress, and was always available to discuss my concerns and answer my questions. Sara did achieve her ultimate goal; she was accepted early to her first choice, the University of Pennsylvania.”

Mother of Sara Kramer, California, USA
Daughter Accepted Early Decision
University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2003

“I first spoke with our IvyWise counselor on the telephone in March 1998 after receiving a letter about them. Normally I throw out these types of letters that I receive on a regular basis, but this one caught my attention. After reading about IvyWise's credentials, I decided to call to discuss working with my high school daughter, Becky. During our conversation we discussed Becky's college preparatory needs as a junior, and I then arranged a meeting between IvyWise and Becky during Spring Break. I talked to Becky and told her that it was solely her decision whether or not to work with IvyWise to improve SAT I scores and to develop an overall game plan for the college application process. The initial meeting was a huge success! Becky and her IvyWise counselor hit it off right away, both in terms of their personalities and their mutual goals for the college application process. They immediately began working to prepare for the May SAT I test; this was the counselor's idea—she felt that Becky's scores would be stronger in May than in June, the usual time when juniors take the SAT I. Becky and her counselor worked diligently and intensely over the next month to prepare for the test. The tutoring and guidance that IvyWise provided was impressive to say the least—when Becky called to get her SAT scores over the telephone in June (she couldn't wait for the mail), her combined score had gone up 180 points, enough to make a significant difference in the type of college to which she could apply. IvyWise has been diligent in its care and concern for Becky's college choices and in her editing of Becky's college essays. IvyWise has made the whole college application process very smooth for Becky. We wish to thank IvyWise for all they have done on Becky's behalf.”

Mother of Becky Rauth, California, USA
Daughter Accepted Regular Decision
Yale University, Class of 2003

“The day I downloaded the applications for my dream colleges was probably the most frustrating day of my life! I stared blankly at the applications and I had no idea how to make an effective resume/ brag sheet, and my college essay writing skills were close to nonexistent. That day, I knew that if I did not do something or get some kind of help, there was no way I would get to the colleges I wanted. My mom contacted IvyWise. My counselor told me what courses I needed to take my senior year, where I needed to go in the summer, what activities to keep pursuing, which standardized tests I needed to take, and which to retake, how to contact people from the universities I wanted to go to, and how to make up excellent interview questions. In simpler terms, IvyWise organized my life and helped me fit it perfectly into the few pages of the application. My counselor and I spent days and nights working on my essays, bringing them to perfection and all of my applications were completed way before their due dates.

The only thing I regret was not starting sooner! But as I look back, even if I had not been accepted, I would never regret going to IvyWise for help. I know I would have never gotten there alone.”

Anonymous Student
Admitted Early Action
Harvard University, Class of 2008

“To coin one of my SAT vocabulary words, your qualities are "ineffable". You bring out the best in young people, and that is a truly special gift. I will never forget meeting and working with you—you have touched my life also. Keep up the good work—your country needs you!”

Elizabeth Yates, Pennsylvania, USA
Admitted Early Decision,
University of Pennsylvania- Wharton, Class of 2008

“There was an incredible amount of improvement between my first draft and the final application Katherine helped me prepare. Katherine made me realize all the opportunities I almost missed to let the colleges really know about me. By the time I completed my second draft, I was confident that the colleges would get a true sense of who I am.

Working with Katherine was enjoyable. I worked hard on each of the improvements, but it was worth the time and effort. My one recommendation to future students is not to wait until the last minute to contact Katherine! I would have benefited from her advice much earlier in the process. Katherine has incredible insight into the process, and I am grateful for all of her help and advice.

Thank you for all of your help. I really was much more confident about the application after I worked with you. I am so excited to be a Columbia student!”

Anonymous Student, Texas, USA
Admitted Early Decision
Columbia University, Class of 2008

“At the end of my junior year in high school, while SAT I, SAT II's and AP exams dominated my daily schedule, I came to the realization that college was "just around the corner.” A rude awakening was in store indeed as during my first meeting with IvyWise, we arrived at the conclusion that there was much more preparation with yet a shorter time span to accomplish it in. Almost immediately following my older brother's acceptance through Regular Decision process I embarked on a rigorous Early Action application to Harvard University and was accepted to the class of 2006. IvyWise's supportive and knowledgeable guidance proved to be an indispensable asset.”

Anonymous Student, New Jersey, USA
Accepted Early Action
Harvard University, Class of 2006

“IvyWise played an enormous role in my college admissions. While IvyWise's reputation obviously preceded itself, nothing prepared me for the intense care and attention to detail that IvyWise offered me. Before our first meeting, my extracurricular activities lacked focus and my essays were barely coherent at best. After just one session, I had a much clearer idea of how to apply to college and what that special something that college admissions officers were truly looking for. IvyWise helped guide me in my selection of schools to apply to, while giving me a firm base to center my extracurricular activities around. IvyWise taught me how to emphasize my strengths, and downplay my weaknesses, while keeping me on task. My counselor looked over every single one of my essays and picked up mistakes that neither me, nor my mother could have picked up after reviewing them for hours. I must admit that I was skeptical at first, being that both of my brothers had gotten into the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, but when I found out just how increasingly competitive the admissions process had become over the past few years, I decided that IvyWise's counseling services were not an option, but a necessity. I can honestly say that the counseling mitigated the stress I was feeling about the process simply because I knew I was in IvyWise's care. When my applications were done, I looked back to compare them to both of my brothers', and it was only then that I truly realized how superior IvyWise's counseling had enabled my applications to be. It made me feel like I had a leg up in the seemingly arbitrary process and thanks to IvyWise, I will be attending my first choice school. In retrospect, I do not know what I would have done without IvyWise.”

Zachary Gleser, New Jersey, USA, Pro Bono Student
Accepted Early Decision
University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, Class of 2006

“IvyWise's expert guidance is one of the main reasons I was able to advance from the waitlist to full admission to the college of my choice (certainly not an easy feat). As the oldest in my family, I was the first to go through the college admissions process. Both my parents and I felt that applying to college would be straightforward, albeit a little cumbersome filling out all the paperwork. Coming from a new school with a poor college guidance department, I was on my own. However, at the time I did not know just how much of a disadvantage this would be. I applied regular decision to the Johns Hopkins University and to four Ivy League schools, with a distinct preference for the former. I was not made aware of the merits of applying early decision to my top choice school. I had the test scores and grade point averages required for all of these top universities and had participated in numerous extra-curricular activities for significant amounts of time. I thought that I would get into at least one, maybe more of them; I had the scores, right? Wrong.

By the end of the first week of April I found that I had been waitlisted at the Johns Hopkins University and did not get in anywhere else. I couldn't understand why. I knew a handful of people from my school with lower academic standing and test scores, as well as less extra-curricular involvement who had been admitted (some of them Early Decision) to the very same schools to which I had applied! I knew that something had gone very wrong. It was clear to my parents, after reading an article about IvyWise, that perhaps we should consult a college counselor. Whereas previously we had thought that college counseling was another unnecessary waste of money for a process that we thought to be simple, by the end of our experience with IvyWise we realized the extent to which we had been mistaken.

After our first meeting we realized how many errors we had made writing my applications. (I later found out that writing, not doing, is the appropriate term.) After reading through my credentials, my IvyWise counselor agreed that I had the necessary grades and scores. However, when she got to my essays and extra-curricular "brag sheet" she ripped them apart. My essays were vague and did not give any sense of my personality, even though I thought they did. And my brag sheet really didn't portray the amount of time and breadth of my extra-curricular involvement. Although she was tough, drawing big "X's" through some essays and brag sheet revisions, I was eventually able to rewrite, suitably, the erroneous parts of my application. A few long weeks after sending in this new material and a new interview (the skills for which had been honed by IvyWise) I received an admissions letter from the Johns Hopkins University and will be part of the class of 2005.”

Anonymous Student, New Jersey, USA
Accepted Regular Decision
The Johns Hopkins University, Class of 2005

“When I heard about IvyWise, I was unsure whether or not to sign up. I felt I was a pretty good student, a pretty savvy guy and on those self-delusions figured that it wasn't necessary. I was wrong. IvyWise worked with me for enlightening periods of time. They helped me organize my information, made sure I met key deadlines, helped me make the right decision on which college was for me, and most importantly, reviewed and gave constructive criticism to me on all of my college essays and the applications themselves. IvyWise's greatest power, and it has many, is its insightful knowledge of every college, their inner workings, and their expectations. When I asked my IvyWise counselor her advice on a good essay for Brown, she surprised me by posing that I send in one of my short stories--an idea that had never occurred to me before...an idea that didn't call for another essay—sounds good. However, my counselor knew that other colleges would not appreciate the story-as-essay idea so much and warned me so that I might take precautions. This is just one example of IvyWise's resourcefulness. IvyWise's greatest quality is its matchmaking skills. Because they knew all of the colleges so well, they were able to really help me make the right choice. They didn't tell me where to apply but instead help me sort out what I wanted from college and where I could get it. At first, I was also hesitant that IvyWise would usurp all authority from my college advisor at school. In fact, my college advisor at school was excellent, as well, and instead of overruling her, my IvyWise counselor urged me to listen to her. It definitely helped me to have good advice that was compatible. IvyWise runs a slightly smaller service apart from the college counseling gig. It could be called InternWise. IvyWise has helped me get internships at numerous film companies such as HBO and Independent Pictures. I believe IvyWise will generously share its connections if they feel that it is warranted. Without IvyWise, it would have been almost too accidental for me to have chosen the right college and then get in. IvyWise worked with me and stimulated me to approach the college process in a more logical, succinct way. IvyWise also saved my relationship with my family. Instead of having my parents read my papers over my shoulder, pestering me, and instigating fights, IvyWise kept separate my personal vortex and the nags of my parents. IvyWise's greatest gift to me was to allow me to put myself, my voice, and my personality into the fixed grids of the right college's applications.”

Max Joseph, New York, USA
Accepted Regular Decision
Brown University, Class of 2004

“I have to admit that at the beginning of my senior year I had a misconception about private college counselors. Most of the students at my school and in my community (including me) thought that they were unnecessary, a waste of money and, above all, a way of buying your entrance to college. IvyWise sure proved me wrong! As soon as I met them, I knew they were different. I wanted them to help me, not because they would get me into the college of my choice, but because they would help me bring out the best in me on my applications. That is exactly what they did. By working with them, I realized that you can have everything you need to get into any college you want, but all that merit is worthless if you do not know how to put it on paper. When I decided to work with IvyWise it was because I wanted to make sure that a flaw in my applications would not be what would prevent me from getting into the college of my choice. And IvyWise counselors sure know everything there is to know about the application process. They taught me so many valuable things that helped me understand what exactly colleges look for. With their help I was able to write great essays that reflected perfectly my personality. I know that there are some college counselors that almost write the essays for the student. IvyWise would never do that. If anything, IvyWise motivated me to put a lot more effort into my work. I learned so much from every little correction they made. Their advice and counseling are unparalleled. They were not only always eager to help (even if on vacation), they also calmed my nerves and always helped me make the best decision, whether it meant choosing which essay to send, or choosing which colleges to apply to and afterwards, which one to attend. I am extremely happy I had the opportunity to work with IvyWise; The counselors' dedication and sincere care for students make them unique. They showed me that college counselors like them are the final touch after all that hard work in high school. And they definitely erased that misconception about college counselors being unnecessary and buying your way into college... When I read my applications before sending them, I realized that thanks to IvyWise's help, I had been able to present the real me in the best possible way to the universities I applied to. I recommend IvyWise 100% to anyone who wants to do the same!

P.S. I was accepted to Brown, Yale, and Harvard, and I will be attending Harvard.”

Anonymous Student, Central America
Accepted Regular Decision
Harvard University, Class of 2004

“IvyWise was invaluable during the college search and application processes because they have such a great knowledge of the numerous schools out there. They were able to tell me which schools they thought I would like and why. They know what schools are looking for and how to bring that out in each applicant. IvyWise also helped me write an essay that eventually led to an early acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania. They went beyond the investment and commitment of my college counselor at school and really made me feel like I wasn't alone. IvyWise was an integral part of my college application process, and I recommend them 100%.”

Sara Kramer, California, USA
Accepted Early Decision
University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2003

“Asking for IvyWise's help with my college application process was one of the best decisions that I ever made. They have helped me both with my SAT I preparation and with my college essays; I am extremely grateful to them for all that they have done for me. When I first met my IvyWise counselor last March—my junior year in high school—I had taken the SAT I for the first time and was determined to stay in California to attend college. I did not know then how much IvyWise would help me, nor the amazing relationship that we would soon have. At our meeting we discussed my SAT I scores; my IvyWise counselor and I decided that I should take the SAT I again in May; she felt that it was then that I would have the best opportunity to do well. We both knew how complicated my schedule would be during the fall of my senior year. During the six weeks before the test date I was dedicated to the SATs; I took a practice test every Sunday morning and met with my counselor for intense study sessions later that same afternoon. Together we corrected my mistakes and went over those problems that I had done wrong. By the third practice test I could already see improvement—I had fewer mistakes and my scores were higher. I am not an A student, nor do I like spending my weekends studying for a standardized test, but taking a practice SAT test once a week was one of the most valuable activities my IvyWise counselor ever had me do. With every test I became far more comfortable and calm; I began seeing patterns in the math section and in the verbal questions; I found the same vocabulary words over and over again. What I probably liked best about the tests, however, was scoring them—I was able to see my improvement immediately. After six weeks of studying on my own and working with IvyWise, I'm proud to say that I went up 180 points on the SAT I test that I took last May! That SAT I test was my last; my test scores went up and in doing so, my college list has grown. I am now a competitive candidate for colleges that I never thought I would qualify for, much less apply to! Only with IvyWise's extensive help preparing me for my SATs, editing and evaluating my college essays, and with their college advice and guidance, am I where I am now—a candidate for the most competitive colleges across the United States. I could not have done it without them.

P.S. I just received word from Yale University that I was accepted!”

Becky Rauth, California, USA
Accepted Regular Decision
Yale University, Class of 2003

“IvyWise is simply different. They are not what you would call typical college counselors. They are fun. They manage to keep a calm and friendly environment during a very stressful process: applying to college. IvyWise's most admirable characteristic is its desire for excellence. You will never hear an IvyWise counselor say, "Oh, that's fine." IvyWise will never allow you to submit a mediocre application. I can assure you that you will be working very hard until you hear the counselor say, "I love it!" Throughout my entire college application process, I felt my IvyWise counselor right behind me every step of the way. During March, their constant calls and emails calmed my nerves (at least for a while!) On the day I was accepted, I felt my counselor's sincere excitement over the phone and I knew she really cared.”

Alejandro Landes, Quito, Ecuador
Accepted Regular Decision
Brown University, Class of 2003