Your Success is What We Strive For.
The experiences and testimonials of our students and families are what keep us going, building a better way to guide teens to college admissions success and beyond. See what they experienced working with us.
Sarah R.
Parent of Student at U.C. Berkeley
My daughter worked with Neil on her college applications process, and we could not have been more pleased. Neil not only coached her through the entire application process, but also gave her excellent advice to improve her academics and choose where to place attention on extracurriculars during her junior year.
She ended up getting some good schools in the UC system and elsewhere, but initially did not get the school she had her heart set on- UC Berkeley. We discussed with Neil, and he coached her through the appeals process. Through that process, he helped refine her application and draw out parts of her story she hadn’t wanted to include in the beginning. She was accepted! Neil’s insights and coaching made all the difference.
Bryan H.
Student at Santa Clara University
When I first started my college applications, I was a bit uneasy. I felt a lot of pressure to go for bigger schools that my friends were focused on. Working with Neil and thinking through what mattered to me in a school, I found options I hadn’t even thought about.
Our sessions helped me see that I wanted a smaller school environment, one where I could get to know professors and other students better. Neil’s help was key to helping me find the right school and get in. Our time working together and discussing how to be productive and have the right mindset actually helped me enter college prepared to do well. Thanks to that, I am now on my way to law school!
Nisha S.
Student at U.C.L.A.
My parents initially suggested that I work with Neil. I am so glad they nudged me to do that. My high school years were hectic to say the least, with me juggling many different activities and pushing hard in classes. At times I could feel disorganized, and my focus on college apps wasn’t there in the beginning.
Neil took a thorough and comprehensive approach. He brought up numerous angles to my search for the right school and major that I would not have even considered, given everything I had going on at the time. He also did this in a calming and positive way that helped me get my bearings. His support with essays and the whole process was stellar. Ultimately, I had several great options and Neil helped me clarify that going with UCLA was the right choice. I definitely recommend working with him.
Natalya K.
Parent of Student at University of Pennsylvania
Having our son work with Neil on his applications gave us both calm and confidence with college applications. As we were not familiar with U.S. college admissions ourselves, we knew little about how students can get accepted to selective universities. Our son had strong grades, but when it came to going for some of the top schools, there was quite a bit we weren’t ready for. Test-taking was an area where our son, despite his grades, struggled with because of pressure.
Neil’s coaching did what our son’s SAT prep and practice tests were not able to do, which was getting him calm and focused, and that raised his second SAT score significantly. His coaching sessions were so thoughtful and complete and helped tremendously with managing the deadlines and all the pieces of the applications. Later in the process, he helped with interview preparation with great mock sessions. Our son found these very helpful and said they definitely made the difference for his acceptance into an Ivy League school.