From hourly consulting through our unlimited hours package, we provide graduate school admissions counseling to students seeking admission to Ivy League and other highly selective universities. Whether it’s through Skype, iChat, phone conversations, face-to-face meetings, or email, we are able to work with students from across the United States and around the world.
Based upon the 30-minute graduate school admissions consultation, we will work with you to design an appropriate package of services. We work by the hour or we can design a package for graduate school admissions counseling from 3 to 5 hours. We also offer the option of unlimited graduate school admissions counseling. Each package is specifically designed for our clients based on their individual needs. To get a better idea of what package might be best for you, read the sections below. Read More >< Less Text
We offer a free 30-minute graduate school admissions consultation to parents and students by telephone. This is an opportunity for you to gain invaluable insight about your case for admission to highly selective universities and learn more about which of our graduate school counseling services are most appropriate for you. All we ask is that you complete our free consultation form. Once we receive it, we will email you our fees and ask you to respond with some dates and times that are convenient for you for our free consultation.
We provide an hourly rate for the student who needs support on one or more specific aspects of the graduate school admissions or application process, or on an as needed basis. For an hourly consultation, we answer the student’s / parent’s questions, address the student’s strengths, weaknesses, and make appropriate recommendations.
In order for the graduate school admissions consultation to be most efficient, the following information should be sent to us ahead of time: college transcript, standardized test scores (i.e., GRE’s, GMAT’s, MCAT’s, and LSAT’s), CV / resume, and a preliminary list of graduate schools that are being considered.
For students who need assistance with one or more aspects of the graduate school / graduate program admissions process, we typically recommend a one-hour consultation. A one-hour consultation may involve any of the following:
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Profile Analysis
- Provide a thorough explanation of how admissions committees from graduate schools / programs with different levels of competitiveness would view the student’s credentials (transcript, standardized test scores, work / internship experience, extracurricular involvements, talents, skills, interests, honors / awards / scholarships based on academic achievement, etc.).
Addressing Weaknesses
- Address special situations or weaknesses, making recommendations and formulating a plan.
- Create a strategic plan including applying Early (since many graduate schools have rolling admission), standardized testing dates, recommendations for coursework, summer experiences, community service, and internship / work experience.
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Graduate School List
- Discuss the student’s interest in particular graduate schools and / or graduate programs.
- Compile a preliminary list of appropriate graduate schools / graduate programs categorizing them into reaches, targets, and likelies.
Specific Advice
- This can involve any aspect of the graduate school admissions process as it relates to the student.
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In a 3 – 5 hour package, we can often accomplish one or more of the following graduate school admissions services:
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Profile Analysis
- Provide a thorough explanation of how admissions committees from graduate schools / graduate programs with different levels of competitiveness would view the student’s credentials (transcript, standardized test scores, work / internship experience, extracurricular involvements, talents, skills, interests, honors / awards / scholarships based on academic achievement, etc.).
Ways to Improve Profile
- Enhance the student’s academic and extracurricular strengths, internship / work experience.
- Construct and revise CV / resume.
Addressing Weaknesses
- Address special situations or weaknesses, making recommendations and formulating a plan.
- Create a strategic plan including applying Early (since many graduate programs have rolling admission), standardized testing dates, recommendations for coursework, extracurricular involvements, summer experiences, community service, and internship / work experiences.
Essays / Writing Samples / Personal Statements
- Emphasize what grad school admissions counselors are looking for in resumes, essays / personal statements / writing samples and the rest of the personal information on the application.
- Brainstorm ideas for essays, writing samples, and personal statements.
- Review, critique, and edit the student’s written work and applications prior to submission.
Letters of Recommendation
- Advice on how to obtain more effective letters of recommendation from the student’s advisor and from professors who know the student the best.
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Graduate School List
- Discuss the student’s interest in particular graduate schools and / or graduate programs.
- Compile a preliminary list of appropriate graduate schools and / or graduate programs categorizing them into reaches, targets, and likelies.
- Refine the student’s list of graduate programs and suggest additional appropriate choices.
Mock Interviews
- Through our mock interview practice sessions, the student will feel more comfortable in his / her actual interviews and will often make positive, lasting impressions on the interviewer.
- Strategize and coach the student to prepare answers to possible questions. The student will know what questions to expect, how to answer those questions (without sounding too shy or too bold), and to know what questions to ask the interviewers.
Application Review
- Review of completed applications prior to submission.
Letters of Enthusiasm
- In the case of the waitlisted candidate, we brainstorm ways that the student can write an effective letter of enthusiasm to demonstrate interest.
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Our unlimited package offers our clients the ultimate level of continuous personal attention to every detail in graduate school admissions counseling. The unlimited package has no hourly limit and is our most exclusive graduate school admissions counseling service. If the student is going to be applying to 10 to 15 graduate schools, with each requiring different essays, then this service is highly recommended. By offering unlimited hours, we can provide the student with a step-by-step approach of guidance and support including every aspect of the graduate school admissions process. While many students successfully complete the process in about 80 hours, it is not unusual for others to require much more time.
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Preliminary Review
- We begin by reviewing the student’s transcript (courses and grades), standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, summer experiences, internship / work experience, special talents, interests, and courses that the student is currently taking. We also assist in planning extracurricular involvements as well as summer experiences while focusing on strengthening whatever weaknesses (academic and personal) the student may have.
Graduate School Selection
- Based on the preliminary review and specific factors that the student is searching for in a graduate school and / or graduate program, (selectivity of school, selectivity / strength of program, size, location, setting, etc.), together we compile a list of appropriate schools. This list includes about 3-4 likelies, 3-4 possibles, and 3-4 reaches.
Visiting Campuses
- Once the student / parent has an appropriate list of graduate schools / graduate programs, we encourage them to visit campuses. We make appointments for campus tours and general information sessions as well as information sessions for specific programs. We make special arrangements so that the student may attend particular classes (some of which may not ordinarily be offered to prospective applicants). Once these visits take place, we discuss the experiences and refine the student’s choices accordingly.
Letters of Recommendation
- We discuss with the student which professors to ask for letters of recommendation and how to make those letters most effective. While some graduate programs require two letters of recommendation, others require more. We also help the student in writing excerpts of his/her experiences in specific classes so that this in turn can help their professors write more effective letters. Some advisors request that their students write an autobiographical statement to assist them in writing their recommendation, and we work with our clients in writing these letters as well.
Construct or Revise CV / Resume
- The final CV / resume will be one that shows a seriousness and quality of involvement. We assist the student in preparing the CV / resume and, if necessary, modifying it to each application.
Interest Quotient (IQ)
- We work with the student on how to continually express interest in particular graduate schools, especially after the application is submitted. This Interest Quotient, or IQ, can often be a deciding factor in the graduate school admissions process.
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Essays / Writing Samples / Personal Statements
- We help the student brainstorm essays and assist the student in writing samples / personal statements that will help make him / her stand out from the pack. In the end, the essays will be powerful and compelling. They will weave a narrative that is consistent throughout the entire application. The student will not make the mistake of sounding too arrogant or too humble. The student will not make the mistake of writing about a published work or the experience that he / she had while traveling in China. Depending upon the number of graduate programs to which the student is applying and the number of essay questions each program is requiring, this can be a daunting and often intimidating task. We work with the student on brainstorming essay topics and developing ideas. We use our expertise to carefully scrutinize each essay for opportunities in which the applicant can utilize this portion of the application so that he / she will be favorably remembered by the admissions committees. We help the student strengthen his / her voice and present the best possible aspects of his / her personality. We work to enhance the student’s writing style to reflect his / her charm and confidence, making certain that throughout the written work the tone is positive while ensuring that the student does not sound overconfident or egotistical. Throughout the application process, we continually work on style, tone, and format. We continue to work on these essays until they make a powerful statement about the applicant. This segment is one of the most vital graduate school admissions services that we offer.
Mock Interviews
- The graduate school interview can often prove significant in the admissions process. In the case of a borderline candidate, an outstanding interview can translate into an acceptance. In the case of a strong applicant, a weak interview can result in a denial. It is important that the applicant become familiar and feels comfortable with the types of questions that are frequently asked in graduate program interviews. In our mock interviews, we coach the student on the art of interviewing while pointing out factors that can result in excellent or mediocre evaluations. We teach the student how to strategize and prepare answers to possible questions. The student will know what questions to expect, how to answer those questions (without sounding too shy or too bold), and to know what specific questions to ask the interviewers. Through our mock interview practice sessions, the student will feel more comfortable in his / her actual interviews and will often make positive, lasting impressions on the interviewer.
Letters of Enthusiasm
- When a student is waitlisted at a particular graduate program, we coach the student on how to be proactive and brainstorm ideas in writing a compelling letter to the admissions committee.
Completing Final Applications
- Once we have the final essays / personal statements, CV / resume, and any other pertinent supplemental materials, we assist the student in completing all of the applications. By reviewing the student’s online applications, we are able to use our expertise in helping the student answer particular questions. Sometimes, it is a seemingly insignificant answer that a student writes on an application that can make the difference between an acceptance and a denial.
Continuous Support
- Throughout the process, we are available and have the expertise to help the student and the parents with ALL of their many concerns. But, most importantly, we prepare our students to look their very best so that they will gain admission to the graduate school of their choice and ultimately be happy and successful.
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