Student Stories

From Students:

I wanted to take a minute to sincerely say thank you for everything you have helped me with throughout my college process. I am confident in saying that without your assistance my applications would not have been as strong and my sanity throughout the process would have been lost. I cannot say thank you enough!...I must say that I found the process extremely thorough. I really appreciated the organization and methodology that IvyWise has because applying to schools can be so overwhelming, and having everything laid out in front of you really helps. At first I thought doing everything through Skype was crazy (I have only ever been tutored face to face) but after one session I realized how simple it was. I loved how accessible you were to me, whether through email, the phone or video sessions. We really focused on my essays which was so important to me. At times I thought "this essay is fine let's be done" but you kept pushing me to make it better and better and now my essays are pieces of writing that I am so proud to have authored. My experience with IvyWise was extremely organized and strategical, but I found there was still enough flexibility for me to work on my own schedule and do my own thing. I'm really happy I got the opportunity to work with IvyWise and am forever grateful for all the help that you and the IvyWise team have given me.

I am really happy with my decision to attend NYU and what is to come of my time there. This of course could not have been possible if it were not for [my counselor] and all the Ivy Wise team, so thank you again and a thousand more times!

Looking back, I can honestly say that I could not have gotten into Yale without IvyWise. They knew exactly what to do, the kind of questions to ask me, and the kind of universities for me to apply to. They told me to look into universities that I hadn't even heard of - which I had later found out to be exactly what I was looking for...The effort the team - especially [my IvyWise counsellor] - put into my application is beyond what I had hoped for when I chose IvyWise. If it wasn't for [my IvyWise counsellor], I would have chosen the wrong schools and written the wrong essays. I cannot imagine even referring any of my friends to a counsellor other than IvyWise, as it is quite obviously the best at what it does. Having worked with other counsellors prior to choosing IvyWise, I know from experience that no one puts in the care or the time that's required to guide a teenager in choosing and applying to a university at which he'll be happy.

Ivywise was terrific! [My counselor's] experience and know-how were key to defining a winning strategy. Given the very competitive process that we all face, having [IvyWise] on our side gave us the confidence necessary to face the challenge. From strategy, to test prep, college selection, and the final application process, everything was very well done. We couldn't be happier. We strongly recommend Ivywise!

With the college admission process becoming more competitive by the year, it's key to stay a step ahead. IvyWise understands what college admissions officers are looking for and knows how to maximize each student's candidacy. My counselor helped prioritize my interests and mapped out a fitting extracurricular and academic schedule. This allowed for us to develop meaningful essays and eventually submit applications where I knew I put my best foot forward. Throughout the process, I always felt the IvyWise team had my best interest in mind and knew that together we maximized my candidacy. As a result, I sit here grateful for all the hard work IvyWise put forth and recommend their services to any motivated high school student.

IvyWise helped me in numerous ways. I received more insight and advice than I could have ever imagined receiving from my school counseling. For example, my counselor helped me find safety schools that I would have loved to attend, helped me organize all of my extracurriculars and interests into an impressive resume, and made me think about what I wanted in a college and what I wanted in my career goals. I think the most helpful part of the IvyWise counseling was the essay brainstorming and editing. At my school, guidance counselors do not assist with essay editing. I didn't realize until I met with my counselor that the activity essay on the Common App was an important piece to the application. In the early fall, I gave my teacher a first draft of my personal essay. I got my essay back with 3 red marks and a grade of a 100. I didn't get any feedback or any ideas for development. With my counselor, I had tens of drafts until we felt the final product was perfect. My counselor helped with not only grammar and sentence structure, but also with guiding my thoughts and ideas. By the time I did reach a final draft, I felt as if my own writing skills had vastly improved.

After I sent in my applications, my counselor continued to help me with interview preparations. The practice and advice helped tremendously for my real interviews. And after I was accepted to many of my top choice schools, my counselor helped me organize my thoughts and opinions on each school and ultimately, choose the right school for me. During my time with IvyWise, I learned so much about the schools to which I was applying, the college application process, and myself. The whole IvyWise team was very helpful, answering any and all of my questions, responding promptly to my emails, and sincerely hoping for the best for me and my future. I really cannot thank my counselor and the IvyWise team enough. Everything that IvyWise helped me with was done so well that I could not imagine tackling the college application process again without them.

The college admissions process has become so brutally competitive. IvyWise was the key to helping me maximize my accomplishments throughout my high school years. My counselor at school wasn't able to help me create the unique profile that top colleges were looking for. IvyWise did exactly that for me by guiding me every step of the way on both the extracurricular and academic fronts. [My IvyWise counselor] helped me maximize my efforts by guiding me on the direction that I should focus my energies. This guidance allowed me to become much more efficient and in the end accomplish a lot more than I had originally thought I would be able to. By being the most up-to-date and "in the loop" of what is going on in the college admissions world, the IvyWise team showed me how to create memorable essays, and overall create a final application that would be sure to attract the attention of admissions officers. IvyWise let me shine through the application process by honing in on every different facet of the process. I can't thank IvyWise enough for what they've done for me.

Since I attended a large public school, my counselor had about 100 kids to take care of. Therefore, I found it very helpful to have another person to aid me in the college admissions process. Although my [high school] counselor is a great person, she just could not help me in terms of my writing essays and completing my application because of all the kids she is in charge of. Having an individual and a team that is "in-the-know" with all the up to date information about the process is an invaluable resource! At times, I felt like I knew more about colleges and what they were looking for than my [high school] counselor did! This is not to belittle my school counselor but rather a testament to the great work the IvyWise team does. My IvyWise counselor was like a compass - she kept me going in the right direction towards my ultimate goal and destination.

In an admissions world where 2400's and stellar letters of recommendation do not guarantee acceptance to a student's first choice school, IvyWise helped me account for the difference. My counselor also helped me decide on narratives for my essays that allowed my personality and uniqueness to radiate through. Each sentence I wrote gave meaning to my personal statement. In addition, the entire advising team read over my work, which made me feel more confident when I submitted my applications. For each school I applied to I wrote different essays and truly emphasized specific and concrete reasons why I wanted to attend a certain school. IvyWise helped me set my best foot forward in the college process, for which I am eternally grateful.

It is still very surreal that I got into Bard. But I am so excited! I am also extremely happy about the other acceptances, especially getting into Sarah Lawrence. It is between those two, but I am leaning towards Bard. Thank you for all of your support and your lovely emails. I will let you know as soon as I have made my final decision. Thank you for all of your help, I really appreciate you having faith in me and giving me the confidence to succeed.

Working with my IvyWise counselor has been both fun and reassuring. The college admissions process is one that I found to be relatively painless, and I'm pretty sure I can attribute that directly to the preparatory work we did together both in sessions and over the phone. I saw plenty of friends break down and cry over missed deadlines, frustration over writing essays, and a sense of hopelessness at the sheer magnitude of applying to all of their colleges. Without your help, and the ApplyWise videos I watched, I wouldn't have been nearly as successful in my essay writing and interviews with private teachers. Thanks so much for all of your help; I look forward to keeping in touch with you over the coming months and years!

The college admissions process can be extremely overwhelming, especially for those who are not familiar with it. IvyWise guided me throughout the entire journey, helping me craft essays and perfect applications. I was admitted Early Decision to one of the best business schools in the world.

Knowing that I was being guided by a "safe pair of hands" through the transfer process allowed me to focus on my studies at St. Andrews and what I wanted from my next university. IvyWise took much of the stress associated with transferring from one college to another off my shoulders. This gave me the opportunity to devote my energies to my essays, rather than spending it on unnecessary worrying.

The rigorous review of colleges and writing of essays forced me to seriously evaluate my reasons for transferring. This helped me prioritize the goals that could be accomplished at the right university, and save others for my life after college. IvyWise helped me clarify my college path and realistically ascertain what I could accomplish at my new school.

Writing and re-writing my essays helped me better understand how I might present my personality and accomplishments to someone who has never met me before. It taught me how to condense my thoughts into a coherent essay, unlike those that I had previously written in high school and college.

Thank you again for all your help over the past six months. The time and attention you devoted to my essays, and your feedback on my concerns and questions, made me feel confident that I put my best foot forward in my applications and interviews.

I was accepted to both Yale College and Georgetown School of Foreign Service today!! I am in a state of utter shock. I couldn't have done it without you. Again, thanks. I owe you my future.

I am thrilled with the final results of the application process and I do not know what I would have done without you. You not only guided me, but offered me comfort when I felt overwhelmed by the amount of work of the application process. One of the things I loved most of this whole process was how you helped me put into words everything I wanted to say but in a way that seemed genuine and honest. In addition, you were always available and you promptly answered all my emails. I am extremely grateful for all your guidance and aid throughout the last year and a half. It is for all of these reasons and so many more that I give you and the IvyWise team my highest recommendation. I am sure my sister will be just as pleased and fulfilled to work with you in the upcoming year.

As a side note, I would just like to tell you that I have nominated for a $4,000 dollar award for my community service program. Also, my family and I will be honored to have you here in Brazil whenever you and your family want to come visit.
Sincerely (as we see in say in Brasil, beijos)

Thank you all so much for you support and guidance in my application. It was obvious that you and the rest of the staff invested a lot of time and energy editing my essays and finding ways to emphasize my passion for Cornell and Ithaca. I'm sure you're thanked a lot of "helping to realize my dream, etc." but that's exactly what you've done in my case.It was a pleasure working with you.

I would most definitely recommend IvyWise to other students. (My IvyWise counselor helped with)... everything from planning what classes to take to essays. My IvyWise counselor was so helpful!

Mission accomplished. I cannot even begin to explain how ecstatic I am right now. Your guidance and insight was instrumental in helping secure my spot at Hopkins. I am truly very grateful for all you have done.

I just wanted to say thank you one more time for all of your hours and effort in helping me with my applications, 'imagining you're there's', and advice in choosing a place that was good for me. I could not have done it without your services, and I will always be indebted to you.

IvyWise was particularly helpful in the essay crafting process; my counselor guided me from conception to completion, and her input made all the difference. You can read the books until your eyes hurt, and you can hire the tutors until you're broke; however, an IvyWise counselor is the ultimate. Your counselor will probably know how your high school works better than you do! If high school is a game, IvyWise will show you how to win.

I used your service almost 5 years ago. You helped me get into UPenn, and I just wanted to thank you for all of your help. I just graduated, and I have to say that my time at Penn was the best four years of my life. I couldn't have gotten in without your help, guidance and encouragement. Although I am unsure as to what my future holds, I am sure that with an Ivy League education behind me it will be bright. I was recently on your website, and it seems that your service has had great success since I have used it. I wish you luck with IvyWise and in life. Thanks again for everything!

Coming from a competitive private school, it seemed that the entire college process revolved around finding a well-respected school and conforming to fit its application. Not only did my counselor dispel this myth, she also helped me find a school that would nurture my many creative and academic interests. Through her patience, guidance and unwavering support, she taught me to find my brightest strengths and illuminate them in a perfect college application. Confident with the self portrait I had painted I submitted my application and was admitted to Kenyon College as an early decision applicant.

At the beginning of the process, I found the task before me somewhat daunting and was quite intimidated by all of the work involved. By the successful end of the process, however, I came to understand the process and considered my counselor a friend, confidant, and trusted advisor. She sure knows how to get the job done!

While my IvyWise counselor guided me through the perceived challenges of the admissions process, working with her made those challenges seem like the workings of my imagination; she helped me to discover topics for the essays that made writing them more of a voluntary reflective task than an obligatory and tedious assignment. She seemed more like a supportive friend than a college counselor. Her assiduity ensured I had the best presentable application. When December 15 arrived, she celebrated with me on my acceptance to Johns Hopkins University! If you're serious about getting in to the school of your dreams, contact IvyWise to be one step closer to accomplishing your dream.

I just wanted thank you for helping me so much with all of my college worries. I heard back from Swarthmore about 1/2 an hour ago and I was accepted. I just couldn't be happier, and I certainly couldn't have gotten in without your help, so thank you for helping me be this happy!

Embarking on my college application seemed like an extremely long and daunting voyage. IvyWise helped break down my journey into manageable stages, guiding and reassuring throughout. Not once did IvyWise try to interfere too much with my application --so the true me was able to come across in a more impressive and polished way.

Being an international student, I found their help and expertise invaluable and would strongly recommend them to anyone searching for counseling with a difference.

As any anxious high school student who was aiming for some of the top-notch colleges in the nation, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and confused with the college admissions process. There were so many factors to consider and so many things to worry about that I wasn't sure where to even start.
I had heard about IvyWise and other admissions consulting firms, but frankly, I had my doubts on hiring an admissions consulting counselor. It had already been the beginning of my senior year, and I had my doubts on whether anyone could truly help me improve my candidacy at that point. But after doing some research and reading several books on the college application process, it didn't take me long to realize that IvyWise could truly help me. Dr. Katherine Cohen's publications, Rock Hard Apps and The Truth About Getting In , were by far the most resourceful, professional, and insightful books I read. Finally, in the beginning of December, I decided to sign up for an Application Review; if [IvyWise was] able to guide me so professionally through the application process as a reader, I knew that it would provide me with even more invaluable advice as a client.

Needless to say, I was right; investing in IvyWise will always be one of the smartest decisions I made in my life. My IvyWise counselor helped me evaluate myself as an applicant from a fresh perspective, which ultimately allowed me to portray myself in the best possible light. I heard from all of my reach schools on March 30, 2006, which - thanks to IvyWise - will always be one of the happiest days of my life. I was accepted to all my top-choice schools, including Yale, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania. I am so proud to say that I plan to enroll at Yale this fall, and I will always be thankful for my IvyWise counselor's everlasting patience, support, and insight. She is truly the best in the field of admissions counseling, and I wholeheartedly recommend any applicant to seek her advice - I guarantee you won't regret it.

From Parents:

[My husband and I] have had many, many conversations about how lucky we are to have found you to guide [our daughter] and us through this very stressful, and at times overwhelming, process of college application...I truly wish every child and family could have the benefit of your great wisdom and centered approach to college admission...from the very start you have understood her idiosyncratic qualities and appreciated them. We are very grateful...Thank you again for helping [our daughter] achieve her dream to attend one of the world's greatest universities.

IvyWise met with us and immediately set us on the right path. They gave direction to my daughter in her college search. They recommended a great strategy for her and this lead her to embark on some exciting and challenging summer programs that vastly changed her life. The results were astounding. She got into her first choice early decision, and we were absolutely thrilled.

[Our daughter] had a great coach! We all did through you, and you made the process so much easier on us parents. In addition, we could relax knowing she had expert support for her decision-making and that she would be putting her best foot forward. No matter what the outcome, we knew she had done her best. We are thrilled she got what she wanted! And she got it early so she could exhale and chill and have more fun for the rest of senior year. Thanks so much for your help.

It was a real pleasure getting to know you as you worked with my son, Andrew. We called you in a desperate state with only two weeks left before his college applications were due. I couldn't help but be impressed by your immediate responsiveness, but also your compassion, professionalism and complete support. You were able to immediately grasp the complexities of our situation, quickly assess the situation, and draw the best out of Andrew. You gave us specific direction, as well as kept the process moving forward, so much so that not only did he get all of his applications in, but Andrew was accepted to his first college choice! Best of all you took all the stress and worry off my shoulders because I knew that Andrew was completely looked after down to the last detail. I also know that despite all the time, pressure, and hard work Andrew had to complete with you, virtually the entire process in two weeks, he was very confident he was in the right hands. He could relax knowing that you would help him follow through with every detail. We know that in you and your wonderful team at IvyWise, we will continue to have ongoing support. We are indebted to you for all of your hard work and support and look forward to you working with my daughter.

There are few counselors that are as good as [those at IvyWise] in working with students as they navigate the hazardous waters of the college application process. From assisting our daughter to narrow her list of potential colleges, working with her as she thought through her application, to being a good support person as the pressure of being a student athlete attempting to attend a highly academic college as a recruited athlete, we can't think of a better person than [our IvyWise counselor]. She knew how to work with our daughter – when to chide, when to soothe, and when to push. She was patient but firm with our daughter, but always with good cheer. It allowed us, her parents, to step back as we knew that a professional was helping to guide her. We cannot recommend [IvyWise] highly enough.

When Samantha started the college application process I purchased a book by Dr. Cohen. After reading her book and realizing Samantha's guidance counselor was unable to offer much assistance, we began working with IvyWise. Immediately, we knew we had made a great decision. Every interaction was positive, professional and timely. When Samantha completed her essays she had incorporated even more of herself into her writing. Her voice was very clear. It is amazing how working with the right person can develop a students skills. I believe even during this short time she became a better writer. From start to finish, Samantha was able to work closely with her counselor, stay focused and ultimately submit her applications. Her younger sister has just started with IvyWise this spring as we realize the benefits of working with this team. Without hesitation this was a good investment. I would highly recommend IvyWise.

IvyWise helped my son realize his dream of attending a top college in the U.S. We knew that he was smart, with stellar grades, but it was with the help of [his IvyWise counselor] and [the IvyWise] team that he was able to present himself as a competitive candidate in the increasingly selective process of college admissions. What we appreciated most was [his counselor]'s completely professional attitude. She was never pushy and always encouraging. It was a very positive experience for all of us and we are very pleased that our boy ended up with great choices like Yale, Stanford and Princeton.

We are are very appreciative of the support provided by our IvyWise counselor. Her guidance was invaluable in our son obtaining acceptance to the University of Pennsylvania, his top choice. The advice she provided in terms of high school courses, and strategy in targeting schools, as well as advising on the application essays were critical. Her expert knowledge of the college selection process and practical experience in the field really made the difference I believe.

IvyWise was essential to the success of our son’s college application process. Although he is a talented young man with a strong academic record, he found it initially difficult to hit upon suitable topics for the essays required for the Common Application and for specific universities. The search for appropriate topics caused stress and friction between our son and us, which is why we turned to IvyWise. Working with his IvyWise counselor, he was able to identify, and to develop into essays, topics that showed colleges, in the best light, the kind of person he is. In the fall of his senior year, he regularly communicated with his counselor (a former admissions officer) entirely through video chat and email, and the process worked without a hitch to allow our son to produce essays that highlighted his identity, interests and strengths. The counselor even commented upon his proposed responses to college application short answer questions and descriptions, again with the goal of having him effectively present himself to admissions officers. As a result of the IvyWise guidance, we all felt that he was able to submit strong college applications. At the end of the day, he was accepted into numerous Ivy League universities, including one of his top choices, as well as other selective universities and colleges. We are grateful to IvyWise for helping him (and us) get through the challenging college application process.

IvyWise was a fantastic investment in our child's future. Our child's counselor and the rest of the IvyWise team gave excellent advice from beginning to end. Questions were answered with thoughtful, novel and creative answers. Interesting ways were suggested for our child to explore intellectual passions that led to positive life changing experiences. Every aspect of the college process was well thought out, from testing schedules and preparation to guidance with essays. Discussions about college essays provoked deep thought and investigation. Final essays clearly reflected our child's interests, values and personality.
The bottom line: Our child was admitted to the most competitive schools, and we were thrilled with the process and end result.

My wife and I cannot thank you enough for all of your help over the last three years. We are thrilled with our son's success in earning admission to Stanford and Harvard - we hope all of his choices in the future are as good and as difficult as this one. You guided our son through his course selection; extracurricular activity selection; summer activities; test preparation; application writing; school visits and final submissions. Along the way, you were able to offer some "tough love" when he needed it and lots of encouragement. I think you also helped him develop the confidence to work hard, do his best and aim high. You were also always available when we needed you, especially for interview practice, even at the last minute. His essays were genuine, thoughtful and undoubtedly helped him differentiate his application.

There is nothing more important than giving our children the best education and the opportunity to fulfill their potential. You have really helped our family.

[Our son's IvyWise counselor] provided direction on SAT questions, summer activities, and course selection. Our son was accepted to the University of Michigan, Tulane, University of Chicago, and his first choice school, the University of Pennsylvania, all by mid-December. Her organization and structure provided the support that was critical to this process. She worked night and day to help our son meet his deadlines. We have nothing but gratitude for her invaluable assistance and we expect to work with her when our three additional children reach college age.

What is so extraordinary about our IvyWise counselor is that she challenges your child to become the best that he or she can be. It's not just that she helps young people get into colleges, it's that she helps them become the kind of people who can succeed there. Step by step, and with a lot of tough-love, she helps your child uncover what he or she really wants from an education, and then helps them develop the tools to go after it.

Working with his counselor -- and me! -- on his application essays, our son found his voice as a writer. Relentlessly prepping for the SATs, he finally learned that he was bigger than those standardized exams -- that he could do it. Anxiously prepping for a college interview in a hotel bathroom, with Applywise open on his laptop, and a talk with his counselor impending, he learned so much about himself. About what he was made of, what he had already done, what in fact he really cared about. 

In truth, we were in the 11th hour when a friend recommended IvyWise to me. September of our son's senior year. Somehow I had trusted that the college application boot camp at his exclusive private school would get him through. Then I read his essays. (About life's meaninglessness.) Unusable. Though his grades were good, he had taken few AP courses. And though we had spent a lot of money on tutors, his SAT scores were low. And he still knew so little about what colleges were actually out there. 

One talk with the IvyWise counselor -- which pretty much traumatized him -- and we took the plunge. As we went to work, I could not believe the essays that began to come out of him -- and how much we both learned about who he was. Prodded by his counselor, he excelled in an AP course, his SAT scores rose and rose. In sum, a few months of working day and night, and we had an early acceptance from one of our top choice schools. The following spring, we had two more great acceptances. 

In truth, the great result pales in comparison with the life experience of the journey taken together with our son. Was it expensive? Yes. But how do you put a value on helping your child become the kind of singular young person you always knew he was?

We have no doubt that without the aid of Dr. Cohen, Scott Clarke and the rest of the IvyWise team, our son wouldn't have gotten into Harvard. Their expert advice and assistance in making sure he had a compelling application that fully reflected all of who he is, was a critical part of his success! Their encouragement and psychological support were a great resource during what is a trying process for both the applicant and his family. Thanks, IvyWise!

Thanks so much for all your help and that of everyone in your team. You were invaluable and we could not do it without you. We are delighted with the result!

As a parent of a high school student, it is typically a slow realization as to what is required in order for our children to put their "best foot forward". Many times, parent's don't even begin to broach the admissions process until sometime in their child's junior year. IvyWise is a great source to bring order to the madness of the college admissions process. Regardless of your child's academic abilities, getting guidance early as to what is important, and how to best position yourself is invaluable. For very capable students, this guidance is paramount, as the level of competition at the top colleges and universities is double or triple what it was when we were aspiring to attend college! Having a specific set of goals as your son or daughter enters their first year of high school is not too early, and IvyWise can be a valuable partner in guiding your teenager thru the seemingly overwhelming requirements to compete for a top college spot after their four year high school career.

Our particular counselor came well prepared to guide us toward success. Having been an admissions counselor at Brown, she knows exactly which attributes of a student are most likely to be given priority, where you need to strive for excellence, and can give you realistic expectations of where you might be admitted. She has an organized, systematic approach to the admissions process that assures each attribute required is practiced, executed, and re reviewed. Be it tutoring for standardized tests, writing essays, or planning summer activities, our counselor was there to guide us constantly towards "putting our best foot forward." In the end, we had several top schools to choose between. In a year that was known for its record low admission rates, choosing which great school to attend was a wonderful problem to face!

We really appreciate your support in this process. My wife, my son and I were very happy with the outcome. Marcos always had very positive comments on the conversations and sessions he had with his counselor.

I have never written a testimonial for anyone or anything until now. Dr. Katherine Cohen is a person at the height of her profession. She is competent and compassionate. She has a knack of making the obscure and uncertain process of a college application into something understandable.

Three unconnected, but related events caused my family to seek out IvyWise to help our two children in their college pursuits. First, several years ago a client of mine lamented that although her daughter was extremely bright, and a high achiever in high school, she had been rejected by her collegiate dream school and was devastated. To make matters worse the girl had also been rejected by other not so dreamy schools. The college application process had so many twists and turns in the road that my client felt inadequate to help her daughter.

Another client advised me that although he had graduated from a State University, he would have had a far different life had he graduated from an Ivy League School. He had seen his colleagues progress on a fast track to success from those schools; his progress had been much slower.

Next, I was in a bookstore when my oldest child was in the sixth grade and a book caught my eye, The Truth About Getting In. The frank candor and tone of the author caused me to discuss IvyWise with my wife and contact [IvyWise].

Integrity, honesty, straight talk and tough love is what you will get from IvyWise. Quick, clear and definitive answers to the murky waters of the entire application process are provided. Perhaps your child would be better suited at a school you had never heard of, but is a top-notch institution. Perhaps your child does not know if an Ivy League School is right for him or her. IvyWise gives both direction and insight for both the student and the family.

In our case, one of our children was better suited at a non-Ivy League School. That child is now flourishing and looking forward to the end of her college career. Our youngest child was just accepted as an Early Decision Candidate at Dartmouth. In each situation our IvyWise counselor's guidance was invaluable.

Thank you so much for being there for us when we needed you. I know that this time you had to make an extra effort to fit Alex in your very busy schedule. He probably would not have been able to do it without your help.

Last night when Alex had to decide whether he would commit himself to attend Brown if accepted I couldn't think of making that decision without your advice... I will also value tremendously your advice regarding which teachers/classes are the most passionate and engaging in the Literature department. I am sure that some of your most outstanding professors are still teaching at Brown.

IvyWise not only helped our teenager organize her college process be helped her think deeply about who she is and what college would be a good fit.

In my extensive experience in the college admissions field, I have yet to come across counselors more capable of guiding a student through the complex and very competitive process of college admissions than those at IvyWise.

We are happy to report that Dylan has been accepted at the University of Chicago -- she is relieved and flattered. She likes Chicago a lot but wants to see what else might be available. She hasn't yet implemented your suggestions about her Brown application -- unclear if she will have time before vacation so we may not be able to get the revisions back for your review -- but your guidance was much appreciated.

It has been a pleasure working with you -- your comments have been sensitive, insightful and helpful and your editing is superb (particularly given the difficulty of editing while observing high ethical standards to assure that the final product is truly the student's). I am sorry that Dylan would not accept more of your help: her independence is both good and bad.

We wanted to thank you again so very much, for helping [our son] through his college admission process. Our counselor was a phenomenal help in navigating a high-stakes, complex adventure -- and we couldn't be happier with the outcome!

IvyWise's counselors are exemplary professional. We moved to the United States a few years ago and had no knowledge of the college admission process. IvyWise came to our rescue. Even though a child is talented, there are serious questions about how to make those talents known to college admission officers. Many choices face high school students, from courses to SAT I and SAT II selection and timing, extracurricular activities both in and outside of school, summer jobs, essay topics. IvyWise helps students work through these choices, developing appropriate responses with each one as a unique individual. It is a cooperative and engaged approach, where students are guided but not manipulated and required to do the work themselves. The counselors' skill is to help them to understand how to shine through the pages of an application form. Making the most of the student is, of course, what a good teacher is all about, and IvyWise has such teachers.

I wanted to thank you for steering my son to accepting the offer from Georgetown. I felt that you took the time to get to know him by meeting him, speaking with his high school counselor and me to give you the background required to direct him accordingly. Georgetown is the perfect fit for him and I know that he will have a wonderful college experience. It is a good feeling for both of us.

IvyWise was our savior. As Canadians unschooled in the ins and outs of the US college admissions process, we were able to depend on our counselor for up to the moment expertise. My daughter's counselor was extremely knowledgeable, practical, and achievement-oriented. She helped our daughter narrow her choices of colleges, fine tune her extra-curricular activities and pace herself in the application process. She was a constant sounding board and a diligent and demanding taskmaster. She took the second-guessing out of an equation that would otherwise have been completely nerve-wracking for us.

After four Ivy non-acceptances and one wait listing at Johns Hopkins, we realized at that very moment that we needed a college counselor who was well versed with the process and had vast insight into it; my first telephone conversation with IvyWise proved to be a turning point in this very disappointing situation. Our IvyWise counselor's methodical, meticulous, detailed and extremely knowledgeable review was a shining guiding light to all of us. Most of all, as parents, we were able to feel that a sense of control had been restored to our lives with IvyWise at the helm leading us. Our IvyWise counselor worked tirelessly with our son imbuing him with a sense of renewed confidence, pointing out strengths and weaknesses and thereby allowing him to develop and grow as a well rounded and effective individual. IvyWise's straightforward and realistic approach of the application process and its many details should have been our first stop as novices; however, our admiration and respect have only reached new heights right at the moment our son was advanced from the wait list at The Johns Hopkins University to admission to the class of 2005.

IvyWise's forte lies in devising a strategy to help the student present himself most effectively. Haphazard teenage choices were transformed into a revealing personal profile. This process in itself was a real turning point for Alejandro: he learned to see and acknowledge his own strengths and weaknesses more clearly. He saw where he was at and what he had to do to get where he wanted to go. He had his heart set on going to Brown and with IvyWise's help, he was offered a place there, his first choice school.