I enlisted Jillian's services for an application to Columbia University in NY. She listened deeply…read moreto my motivations and history before proceeding with me through the iterative writing process. My essays highlighted the key aspects of my character and experience as a result of our collaboration. Highly recommended.

From the owner: College Admissions Consulting services from a former Harvard interviewer and Harvard grad. I…read morespecialize in helping students get into the Ivy League colleges!

Can only speak to two tutors many years ago. They were spectacular and worth every $$$$. Our teen…read morerightly argued that his Advantage tutoring put others unable to afford it at a disadvantage. I could not disagree and suggested he use his advantage to get the best education possible and work to narrow the gap. As a civil rights attorney he's working on it.

I've been fortunate enough to prep with Advantage Testing tutors for the SAT I, SAT II, and the…read moreLSAT. They had a reputation for being the best of the best, and they delivered. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Going back to high school, I had a terrific experience working with Advantage on my college entrance exams. Even though I hated studying in school, I genuinely enjoyed working with AT's teachers. Aside from being gifted instructors, they are some of the friendliest people you'll meet, and they seem to genuinely care about their students. I remember they customized a study plan for me, focusing on the areas of the test that I needed to improve the most. Following their plan, and using the strategies I learned in class, I earned a 760 Verbal, 750 Math I, 790 Writing, and an 800 Math II, all a significant boost above my diagnostic scores (which I recall being in the low ~600 range). Years later, when I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer, and began looking for the right LSAT test prep service, turning to Advantage was a no-brainer. On my first LSAT practice test, I received a diagnostic evaluation in the 55th percentile. I knew that I would need a significant (aka Elle Woods-level) jump in my LSAT score to have a decent shot at the top schools. That's when Advantage came in. Studying with Advantage tutors, you learn to break down each section of the test into a set of consistent techniques, which you hone and solidify over repeated practice tests. After months of test prep, I took the LSAT and scored a 99th percentile on the official exam. Equipped with a great LSAT score, I was admitted to my top choice for law school, a feat that had seemed impossible only a few months prior. Now, as a practicing attorney looking back on it, I am certain I would not have been nearly as well prepared with any other test prep service. In sum, I don't think there is anyone as professional or effective as Advantage when it comes to the hard work of preparing for high-stakes entrance exams. I recommend them without hesitation.

A niece of mine in England had her heart set on applying to a very selective American university;…read morethough she knew she needed help with her application essays, there was simply no one at her school familiar enough with the US system to offer much assistance. I consulted a friend of mine in New York whose daughtter had used Don't Sweat the Essay, and she raved about Liz. So after doing a bit of research about her qualifications, I introduced my niece to her via Skype. Initially, I felt slightly uneasy about the whole process going on without face-to-face contact, but I needn't have worried: Liz was just as marvelous as my friend had promised. She guided my niece calmly through two essays, the Common App essay and "Why do you want to attend this college?" and in the process actually helped her to clarify what really was important to her; she wound up writing things she could feel proud of. And yes, it worked: she was admitted early to the university of her choice. Thank you, Don't Sweat the Essay.

From the owner: I work with students around the country and throughout the world on their college application…read moreessays - not people who spend time on Yelp NYC. When they post reviews here, Yelp moves them down because they are not regular Yelpers. I have dozens of testimonials on my website, and I can refer you to individuals who have worked with me. If you are looking for a top tier tutor who can help you think creatively about your college and graduate school application essays, I'm available. Many students struggle with the Common Application essays. Others have to write a more general personal statement for grad school. Often applicants have to write supplemental essays on a wide range of topics. I don't write your essays - I help you figure out what you need to do and guide you through the process as painlessly as possible. I'm a bestselling novelist, author/editor of 10 books, and a former Ivy League writing professor. Early acceptances to Ivies, state schools, and everything in between.. I'm the author of dozens Huffington Post articles on the subject. My goal is to help students get into their 1st-choice schools, including law & medical schools, and have as many choices as possible. I have decades of experience working with young people in stressful writing situations. Please see testimonials on Don't Sweat The Essay website. EMAIL ME at Liz AT DontSweattheEssay.com. Please DO NOT write me through Yelp.

Working with Expert Admissions was an incredible experience for both our daughters, each of whom…read morewas accepted early-decision into their top choice school. Our kids have different strengths, and we could see just how tailored the service was to each of them. Both counselors were fantastic, built warm and close relationships with our daughters, knew the college process inside and out, and managed to really reduce the stress levels in our family. We give our highest recommendation for Expert Admissions and have recommended them to many of our friends!

Expert Admissions delivers on its name. They are truly the experts and know the admissions process…read moreinside and out -- likely because the staff is comprised of former college admissions officers. So much of college admissions feels opaque, mysterious, and downright random. But Expert Admissions walked us through everything and put us in the driver's seat so that we felt like we had control over the process. From advice on high school classes and extra-curriculars to college selections all the way through applications, I knew we were in great hands. And we have the results to prove it. Our kids were accepted to their first choice colleges - Penn and Michigan - and couldn't be happier.

Working with the Opus team was one of the best investments we made in our daughter's future. From…read moreour very first consultation, it was clear we were in expert hands. They took the time to truly understand who she was -- her strengths, her passions, her quirks -- and helped her craft an application that felt authentic and personal. The guidance throughout the process was exceptional. Every deadline was anticipated, every essay went through thoughtful, constructive rounds of feedback, and every school on her list was chosen with real strategic intent. When anxiety crept in (and it did), our consultants were calm, reassuring, and always available. Our daughter was admitted to her first-choice school -- a university that felt like a reach -- along with three other outstanding offers. But beyond the results, she walked away from the process feeling confident and proud of the story she told. That, to us, is priceless. If you're on the fence about working with an educational consultant, stop deliberating. This team is the real deal.

I started my college application journey with Opus College Prep my sophomore year of high school…read moreand I am glad I chose their services. My consultant, Sylvia Vukos, did an exceptional job providing me with all the resources I needed to be successful. When I started I knew next to nothing about the college admissions process and she guided me through all of its complexities from dealing with the common app portal to interview prep and resume-building. She helped me with all my applications to the UCs, UPenn (Wharton), and Stanford. She did a great job outlining what each particular college looks for in their students, which Majors would dramatically boost my chances of acceptance. I got expert guidance from their writing coaches for my essays. With Opus College Prep's invaluable help, I was admitted to all of the schools listed above. I couldn't be happier. I want to take a moment to thank you for being a great coach to our son on this journey. We really appreciate the guidance you have provided throughout this process and countless hours spent to refine the essays & Apps to near-perfection. He thoroughly enjoyed working with you and he was super motivated after every meeting he had with you to continue and better his college applications. I strongly think we have presented the best possible profile for his case and you are instrumental in making this happen. I really want to thank you for staying patient with us (anxious parents), for inspiring our son, and keeping him motivated in this long process.

Parents, please look past the slick admissions package they hit you with and the glad-handing of…read morethe founder as he meets you at the door. A.W. is an LLC masquerading as a school. Their teachers are underpaid, under-equipped and over-worked, and it shows. They're not happy and this transfers to the students. Their mission is a good one, but their model and their methods fall well short of their ideals; for example: they stress transactional consequence as their primary management tool of student behaviors, even at the upper school level where this is laughably ineffective. Lastly, nobody wants their child at a school where the staff--all the way up to administration and even the founders--are laughing at them in the most derisive ways when they are not around.

Beware parents: The school costs over $130,000 for the school year and they don't refund any of…read moreyour money if it doesn't work out. My son attended for less than 2 months, we were extremely dissatisfied, had to take him out, and lost $130,000. We really could have used that money right now. Read the mom's review from 2 years ago below. Not much has changed. And I almost never write bad reviews.

Erin has been amazing throughout my whole process and I am so thankful I had her. She was amazing…read moreat helping edit my essays and she was always so positive. She also knows everything about the college process and will happily answer any questions you have. I really recommend her because I don't think there is anyone else better at this.

Dr. Erin Avery was my instructor for Principles of Educational Consulting at UC Irvine. As a…read morerelatively new Independent Education Consultant, her knowledge, experience, and passion for helping students and their families navigate the college admissions process was reflected in all interactions throughout the course. The college admissions process can oftentimes be filled with anxiety and stress, but it doesn't need to be. I strongly recommend Dr. Avery for any family seeking college and/or gap-year guidance for their student following high school.

Let me just say: I LOVE Big Apple Tutoring! The company is great: highly qualified, dynamic tutors;…read morededicated staff; excellent leadership: Dan Levine is just the best possible scout for educational talent I've seen. And I've seen a few. Test Prep; one-on-one educational assistance; home-school, etc. If you want competence, professionalism and that little something extra, (let's call it pizzazz), you'll be glad you called Big Apple.

From the owner: Big Apple Education combines pedagogy, counseling, curriculum, and teaching to provide top-notch…read morelearning experiences for its students. We cater to K-12 and college students in all major subjects -- especially English, Mathematics, and Science -- and standardized and admissions tests. Our proven track record and results show that we are truly a "total educational solution" company.

Shana and her team are consummate professionals. Their student support and growth is remarkable and…read moreits good to see they've continued to expand, opening an office in New York. Their test prep is customized for each student and results-driven. Her team is the devoted accountability you need for success at very reasonable rates. Their many happy students speak for themselves. Their flexible yet rigorous test prep curricula are incredibly well designed for students with learning challenges.

After we share almost the same last name, how could I not come here haha. I'm pretty terrible at…read morestudying for tests. I'm totally undisciplined and not self-motivated at all unless I have someone telling me what to do, and sadly with some pretty important tests coming up that I have no choice but to seriously prep for, I thought I could use some outside help just to stay motivated enough. Well I've succeeded and tremendously. I didn't think I could do it, but the girls here have been so incredibly helpful to me. Truly, they are a blessing. Love you all and thank you for everything you do!

I worked with Bara and two of TPNY's tutors last spring/summer to prepare for the GMAT, and they…read morewere phenomenal. I opted for tutoring vs. a class to get more individual attention and also a more tailored experience - focusing in on particular weaknesses rather than spending time learning everything from bottom-up to be applicable in a group setting. It really paid off. My tutors (Jennifer and Karen for quant and verbal, respectively) were really great, able to zero in really quickly on my particular areas of weakness and help develop my skills to address those problems (and quickly). Bara and Jennifer both also provide help with confidence, anxiety relief, and Jennifer even sent a pre-test-day brain food list. Taking a practice GMAT cold, no prep, I was at 640. With a little self-study, I was around 700. Working with TPNY, and taking the GMAT twice, I scored a 740, and then a 780. They're really top notch.

We really had a good experience working with Bara and her team. My daughter needed just a bit of…read moreextra help to get her SAT score out of the 1400s and we were about to achieve this with some great math tutoring (with Jennifer). She ended up with a score she was happy with (1530) after about 8 hours of tutoring. I think it was a great investment as it opened up doors in her application process.