Don't just take our word for it.
(We tend to say nice things about ourselves.)
We’ve built our business on the generous recommendations of happy families who referred their friends to us. Below, we’ve shared some of the feedback we’ve gotten from students and parents of the high school classes 2009, 2010, and 2011. These families gave us permission to share their names and quotations here. We didn’t edit their responses to make them sound more impraessive, and we didn’t just pluck out the ones who attend prestigious colleges, as that would be decidedly un-Collegewise.
Parents
"From the moment we met the team at Collegewise we were excited to begin the process of seeking out the right school for our daughter. The expertise and knowledge they provided was accurate, relevant, and easy to understand. That made us feel so relaxed knowing we were getting the right information during each step of the journey. The information sessions for the parents were great and covered all the important topics, such as taking the SAT and ACT, financial aid, and the application process. Your help meant so much to us and we are now proud parents of an Azusa Pacific University freshman. Go Cougars!"
Rich Esparza
Parent of Cori EsparzaAPU (Azusa Pacific University)
"I am truly grateful to Collegewise for the second time. They helped my older son, Dan, get into Carnegie Mellon University, which was his first choice college. Dan is now completing his junior year and is starting his master's degree in the fall. Collegewise has now helped my younger son, Alex, get into his first choice college, the University of Delaware. He is very happy and I am thrilled that he is going to the college he wanted to go to. Our Collegewise counselor has been there to answer all of my questions and provide the advice that I have needed. If I had a third child, they would be going to see Collegewise as well."
Robyne LaGrotta
Parent of Alex LaGrottaUniversity of Delaware
"Adrift in the college entrance maze, we needed a guide and retained Collegewise. Nine applications and nine acceptances! Who could ask for anything more! Without hesitation we will entrust our college bound son with you this year."
James Roth ESQ and
Robin Frankel ESQ
Parents of Melina RothUniversity of Colorado – Boulder
"We'd like to thank Collegewise for providing two of our sons with the best college application experience possible. We'll definitely be back with our youngest!"
Rennette Crone
Parent of Riley CroneChapman University
"Our experience with Collegewise has been great. From our first meeting we felt we had made the right decision to begin Julia's college adventure. Our Collegewise counselor made us feel confident that Julia would find a school that would be just right for her. I don't know how we would have managed without their help."
Patricia Ruiz
Parent of Julia RuizTCU (Texas Christian University)
"Collegewise was a great investment for us. Our Collegewise counselor helped us to assure all the details surrounding college applications were in on time and enjoyable for us. All of the college applications were filed correctly and on time and complete. Collegewise carefully helped us navigate the biggest decision our daughter has made to date. Thanks for getting it right! We were very well advised. I wish there was a coach available for all big life decisions like this!"
Theresa Robbins
Parent of Taylor RobbinsUniversity of Denver
"We cannot tell you how much we appreciate Collegewise! The process they have to help a college-bound student is incredible. In addition, our counselor has been so caring for our son that we felt she was part of our family going through this process together. She and other advisors worked in a way that our son actually enjoyed meeting with them! And our counselor kept us informed every step of the way. They worked to combine our wishes with our son's. But the bottom line is that they focused on what was best for him. We cannot give the team at Collegewise enough praise. We have been telling everyone we know about how great Collegewise is. You guys are wonderful, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!"
Ho Kim
Parent of Caleb KimUniversity of Washington
"Collegewise took all the stress out of the application process. Our counselor was amazing and helped my daughter pull it all together. She applied to nine schools and the task seemed overwhelming until our counselor came on board. She helped her organize her thoughts as well as her time. In the end, she applied to nine schools, was accepted to eight, and is so excited to be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison next fall! We will definitely use Collegewise again."
Cindy Eisenpress
Parent of Jordyn EisenpressUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
"Collegewise has been a huge support and guidance for our son through his college planning and application process. Our counselor was always there to help, answers questions and guide him through the whole process while keeping us all sane and on track for our son’s success."
Joy Metzger
Parent of Austin MetzgerUniversity of Arizona
"We really enjoyed working with our Collegewise counselor. She was hysterical, knowledgeable and personable. Her sense of humor was refreshing and she kept my son on task, making him laugh off 'the attitude" he had because the whole application process seemed so daunting."
Leslie Walker
Parent of Eric WalkerCal Poly San Luis Obispo
"The college application process can be stressful and overwhelming for both the student and the parents, and we are grateful for all the help our daughter received from her Collegewise counselor. The program is so thorough and professional and we were always confident that Melanie was receiving the best advice and information possible. Because we are so pleased with the Collegewise program we have recommended it to many others and will continue to do so in the future. Thanks Collegewise!"
Chris and Greg Pellizzon
Parent of Melanie PellizzonUniversity of Washington
"We are very glad that we had signed up with Collegewise when we did. You gave our daughter (and us) direction and the necessary tools to wade through the maze of college application requirements. Without your coaching, she might not have realized the importance of submitting the college applications as early as possible. We saw the sincerity in the counselors in truly wanting to help the students. And every time we heard you guys speak at the student-parent meetings, we were simply awed by your knowledge in college matters. We also loved your ability to motivate the students and yet be candid about putting limits to their expectations."
Paul and Renate Kalra
Parents of Arianne KalraUSC (University of Southern California)
"This was our first child going into college and we were not sure what to expect. Our daughter didn’t experience any pressure or stress whatsoever when doing college applications. It couldn't have been more perfect! Our son will be next."
Lisa Moreno
Parent of Alicia MorenoUniversity of Colorado-Boulder
"I loved how you understood Doug and directed his college search with great insight, knowledge and humor. It was reassuring to me as a parent to have such a pro looking after him. We enjoyed our college selection process because of you! Thank you Collegewise! "
Mary Woodward
Parent of Doug WoodwardChapman University
"Collegewise has helped my daughter and me tremendously in this whole college application process. Our counselor took the stress away from me and my daughter was properly advised. Our counselor has kept me abreast of what's going on through emails and phone calls. Through this whole process, I must say, that our counselor has gone over and beyond her call of duty. I'm very happy and pleased. It was a good experience all throughout. I would recommend Collegewise to anyone."
Dr. Cecilia T. Lontoc
Parent of Valerie Joy EncisoLoyola Marymount University
"Our Collegewise counselor was the perfect match for our daughter, Emily. We weren't looking for someone to manufacture or put spin on Emily's work and accomplishments. What we were looking for and found was someone to help guide Emily through a very complicated, emotional and time consuming process. Collegewise was all that and more. Our counselor helped Emily narrow down her college application choices, and helped her develop a schedule so that she could work on applications, play a fall varsity sport and work through the rigor of the IB Diploma. In the end, Emily was accepted into to the colleges that were the perfect fit for her."
Joe and Barbara Baer
Parents of Emily Baer Dartmouth College"Coming to Collegewise was the best decision we could have made for our daughter’s future. We were concerned about how to start planning, how to organize the information, meeting all the deadlines and motivating our daughter to explore all reasonable options. Our Collegewise counselor took on this daunting task, and after our first meeting, it was clear to me that I could sit back and relax, knowing our daughter would receive the guidance she needed to make the best decision available to her. She was in constant communication with us while holding Shari accountable for sticking to an appropriate timeline. The college application process was so pain free we decided to do it again this year for our son Evan. I strongly recommend this program."
Ruth Goldman
Mother of Shari GoldmanCal Poly San Luis Obispo
"Our family has been more than thrilled with our Collegewise experience. The staff lead our kids to great college choices and Collegewise did so in an organized and efficient manner. The stress level on the kids and on our family was reduced by the Collegewise system which made the application process smooth and seamless. We cannot say enough great things about Collegewise and we continue to recommend everyone with high school kids to the program."
Rick Salus
Father of Matthew (University of Arizona) and Jake Salus (Occidental College)
"Our family enjoyed so much working with our Collegewise counselor for the past 10 months. All the seminars, meetings and newsletters provide us numerous valuable information. Your knowledge, information and communication skills are fantastic. You became a wonderful bridge between us and our strong willed son and made the application process easier. Your passion, help, encouragement and patience are greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping Daniel to reach his first choice! May your terrific services benefit more and more students and parents!"
Angela Wang
Mother Daniel WangUSC (University of Southern California)
"We would like to tell you what a fabulous job you have done! Without your help, Jack could never have achieved the success for admission into so many wonderful colleges. We can't thank you enough for your perseverance and patience in helping Jack with the application process. Collegewise has been such a positive experience for all four of our children. You're 4 for 4! Thank you so much."
Catherine and Jack Senske
Parents of Jack SenskeVirginia Tech
"We could not be happier with our experience at Collegewise. They have the perfect personality to work with teenagers and parents! This is our first child going to college and our Collegewise counselor was extremely professional, informative and supportive. We really enjoyed working with her. Plus, my son got into every college he applied to but one! I refer Collegewise to all my friends."
Theresa Barnett
Mother of Michael BarnettUC-Irvine
"Signing up my daughter Isheeta with Collegewise was the best decision I have ever made. I feel fortunate to have found a place that really helped me and my daughter through this difficult process. The best part about this is that it was totally stress free for me. I did not have to worry about deadlines and the rest of paperwork that needs to be done in a timely manner. I am really impressed with the amount of kindness, knowledge and professionalism that our Collegewise counselor has shown in my dealings with her. Go Collegewise!!!"
Suketu Bhatt
Father of Isheeta BhattUC Davis
"We first came to Collegewise in 2006 for our first son's admissions process. We had an excellent experience at that time, and as a result, we came back in 2009 for our younger son. Our counselor was fabulous! She helped get to know our son, made suggestions for schools to look at and was very patient throughout his college list re-do's. We never worried that we might be missing anything because she had it all under control. She kept everything front and center on the to-do list, all finished well in advance of the deadlines. She was great to work with—fun, enthusiastic, and had our son's best interests at heart. They did a magnificent job for us and we highly recommend Collegewise We would come back again, except we are out of kids!"
Ed and Pandy Byrd
Parents of Nolan ByrdUniversity of North Texas
"I can't say enough about the difference that Collegewise made in my daughter's application process. In our first session, we got more information about schools, tests, essays, and applications than we could have imagined. It saved us so much time and energy! With her help, the application process became an exciting experience, rather than a daunting one. The end result—my daughter got into 8 of the 9 schools she applied to. We believe this is directly related to the help Collegewise gave her in choosing schools that were right for her. It didn't stop there. Our counselor also helped us when it came down to choosing which offer to accept, and did this by making good points about each option and letting Anita make her own decision. We couldn't ask for anything more. The whole process was positive and successful! Thanks Collegewise!!"
Angela Ruggeri
Mother of Anita DukartUSC (University of Southern California)
"Both of our children are going to two of the best colleges in the country (Ohio St. and Penn St.) and without Collegewise it would not have been accomplished. Thank you for all of your help. We are currently referring Collegewise to all of our friends that have college bound children."
Ron Shimizu
Father of Kelsie ShimizuPenn St. University
"Lauren and I loved her Collegewise counselor. In fact, we loved all the counselors at Collegewise. They are funny, hip, enthusiastic, intelligent, knowledgeable, helpful, supportive and always a pleasure to work with. Her counselor really listened to Lauren and encouraged and guided her through the entire application process. Lauren looked forward to each meeting and seminar. My only complaint is, Collegewise made senior year so stress-free and easy, now I don't Lauren to go away!"
Sarah Hilinski
Mother of Lauren HilinskiUniversity of Denver
"Working with Collegewise was such a wonderful experience. We loved all of the time and attention that was put into not only our daughter but us as parents with the entire process. We really enjoyed all of the seminars and found them very helpful in our search for the right school. From helping to find us an testing tutor to just being a positive person to hear us out, our counselor made all the difference in our experience and we can't wait to work with her again!!!"
Val & Danny Rowe
Parents of Chelsea RoweWhittier College
"Despite working as an administrator at a top tier university, I quickly learned that I didn’t know nearly enough to navigate the process with my daughter. Our Collegewise counselor was my daughter’s ally and sounding board. My daughter would listen to her “pal,” rather than hear the exact same information from me. The Collegewise staff knows how to balance the tricky roles between parenting and partnering."
Stephanie Tenney
Mother of Lauren TenneyOhio State University
"It is an absolutely delightful experience to work with our Collegewise advisor. Throughout the two and half years with our counselor, I am most impressed with her personality. She was sweet, nice, positive, patience, understanding, and caring; yet, she made sure all items—college research, essays, application forms, interviews, etc.—were done with the highest quality and finished with plenty of time left before the due dates. At times, the college application process was confusing and overwhelming – each school with its own deadlines and application requirements. It was so nice to know that our counselor was on top of everything and nothing would fall through the cracks. The majority of my son’s applications were completed and submitted at least one month before the deadline."
Wayne Cheng
Father of Justin ChengUC Berkeley
"I am truly grateful to Collegewise for the second time. They helped my older son, Dan, get into Carnegie Mellon University, his first choice college. Dan is now completing his junior year and is starting his master's degree in the fall. They have now helped my younger son, Alex, get into his first choice college, the University of Delaware. He is very happy and I am thrilled that he is going to the college he wanted to go to. Our Collegewise counselor has been there to answer all of my questions and provide the advice that I have needed. If I had a third child, they would be going to see Collegewise well."
Robyne LaGrotta
Mother of Alex LaGrottaUniversity of Delaware
"The best investment in our daughter's education started with Collegewise! They made looking for a college an adventure rather than a job. Seems to me the staff at Collegewise have found their niche in life with a profession they are passionate about as they touch parents’ & students’ lives, and make the transition from
high school to college an exciting experience! Thank you so much!"
Christine Zylstra
Mother of Carley ZylstraLake Forest College
"Collegewise is the BEST investment a parent can make in the future of their children. They helped make a very stressful time enjoyable, and their professionalism was nothing short of wonderful. I was amazed how our counselor helped my kids take full responsibility for the process. They worked hard and now it certainly has paid off! Thank you, thank you!!!"
Kelly Marks
Mother of Scott (Southern Methodist University) and Kimberly (UC Santa Cruz) Marks
"As our daughter entered her junior year, we were prepared for the year of stress and conflict that so many people had warned us about. Certainly it was a year chock-full of deadlines, pressure and hard work for our daughter. However, with our Collegewise counselor steering Rachel and us through the year, the college process for Rachel was organized, well directed and ultimately successful. We were thrilled with Collegewise and our son will be working with them starting this fall."
Stephen Rabinowitz
Father of Rachel RabinowitzThe University of Michigan
"Timmy is our second child to use Collegewise. Our first used only the essay portion to help him get into his first choice, U.C.S.B. Timmy was applying to many different private and U.C. schools, and Collegewise made the process painless for me and well organized and efficient for Timmy. He was admitted to 15 out of the 16 schools he applied to. Thank you for such a great job. I am looking forward to working with Collegewise again for my daughter, Rebekah."
Andrew Novom
Father of Timmy NovomPomona College
"Collegewise has made this journey very easy for us! With Taylor being our oldest, we were a bit clueless. But Collegewise is your personal guide who has an interest in your children making the best choice for THEM! Plus, the parent is not keeping the student on task—their Collegewise counselor is, which is a lot more effective!"
Brian & Kelly Landberg
Parents of Taylor LandbergCal Poly San Luis Obispo
"We are so thankful to our Collegewise counselor and her helpfulness with Kyle and his college applications. She was helpful, insightful, enthusiastic, and encouraged Kyle to stay on track and move through the process. I appreciated her candor and her fun sense of humor. I recommend Collegewise highly to those seeking assistance in the college application process."
Molly Beane
Mother of Kyle BeaneWhitworth University
“I highly recommend Collegewise. Their counselors are extremely intelligent, fun people who can relate to your son or daughter. From the first time we met Kailey's counselor, I knew we'd made a great decision. The whole college application process could not have been easier. I love that they have the students do the work, while giving them their expert knowledge and guidance throughout the process. We look forward to working with Collegewise again with our younger daughter. Thanks again for everything.”
Nanette Grant
Mother of Kailey GrantUniversity of Notre Dame
“I tell everyone—Collegewise is a MUST HAVE! We started their program when Matt was at the end of his freshman year. Our counselor enthusiastically helped him through the entire process, from course selection to formulating his college list (hugely important!) to completing his applications well in advance. We watched as other parents and their students struggled through the holidays getting their apps done, while Matt already had already received several offers of admission. Matt is completely happy with his choice and is excited to start UCLA in the fall. We could not have done it without Collegewise. It is the best investment a parent of a college-bound student can make.”
Krista Murray
Mother of Matt MurrayUCLA (Honors Collegium)
“I do not know what we would have done without Collegewise. Their no-nonsense, helpful, instructive, supportive, and enthusiastic advice, remarks, seminars, and meetings made this college decision and application process stress-free and enjoyable. Choosing a college, preparing the essays and completing the applications should be a fun-filled task, but like most family projects you have to do (mission projects, making dioramas, etc.), it is not. It is better left to the experts. We recommend you to anyone who will listen.”
Joe and Cathleen Pryor
Parents of Thomas PryorCollege of William and Mary
“Brenna is our third child that has utilized Collegewise. As with our sons, she went through the entire process on her own. She and her counselor researched and prioritized her schools and managed the entire process with very little stress. At the end of the day, Brenna is attending the school that we all feel is best for her and we are very excited that she will be a Titan later this year. Collegewise is fantastic and we couldn't be happier with the process and the results.”
Greg & Phyllis Cygan
Parents of Brenna CyganCal State Fullerton
“Boy, things have changed since I was in college! This thought came to mind a hundred times over the past year. The assistance that Collegewise provided made the process of college applications manageable…and even enjoyable. Now, as Jeremy plans to attend Boston College (his top choice), we are so proud. We want to convey our heartfelt ‘thank you’ to our Collegewise counselor.”
Tonyce Bates
Mother of Jeremy BatesBoston College
“I used the Collegewise counselors with both of my children and can definitely endorse this program. Both kids got unlimited individual attention and a great deal of support. I believe in their philosophy of allowing the process to be student-driven, from the first interview with their counselor to the last submission of a college application. I greatly appreciate your assistance and dedication to the students.”
Janice Shaw
Mother of Emily ShawIthaca College
“Our Collegewise counselor was absolutely wonderful to work with, and our daughter just loved her. She always had great advice and was so good about communicating with us so that we were always informed at every stage of the process. Thank you for all your help. We will be back with college applicant #3 next year.”
Linda Johnson
Mother of Lauren JohnsonUniversity of Oregon
“Thanks to Collegewise, my son and I were able to make it through the stressful application process without too many arguments. His counselor kept him organized and on task. And he listened to her! Thanks for everything.”
Joan Kirwin
Mother of MilesKirwin University of Virginia
“In the beginning stages of applications, my son and I were already butting heads. I knew we needed help, and that he needed help from someone other than us. Thank goodness for Collegewise. We are all so excited; we even have our OSU “Moms and Dads Weekend all set up! I can't wait for this new adventure in his life and I don't think it would have turned out like this if it hadn't been for Collegewise. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all at Collegewise!”
Christie Sarantha Vliss
Mother of Jenson VlissOregon State University
“We felt very relaxed to know that we had Collegewise on our side. From the very beginning of the process, we knew that our son was in good hands and that he was getting the support he needed to succeed. We are grateful for the guidance that we received.”
Tim & Karen McSunas
Parents of Taylor McSunasUniversity of Colorado – Boulder
“We loved the whole experience at Collegewise. I don't believe that Bri would have enjoyed her senior year in high school if it hadn't been for the organizational skills and timeliness that working with our counselor on this college application process provided. Our counselor was a joy to work with and so supportive of Bri; she really helped our daughter's confidence level and took away the worry for us parents.”
Alison Steinmetz
Mother of Brianna SteinmetzCreighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
“Using Collegewise was a great decision. They took the mystery out of college applications, essays and all that goes with the application process. Our counselor was great to work with; she was organized, informed and supportive. We have recommended Collegewise to other friends and will continue to do so.”
Flavia Frattali
Mother of Brian FrattaliUniversity of Portland
“Collegewise helped make the application process less stressful for our whole family (especially me!) Our counselor kept Sara organized and on schedule. It was a remarkably panic and drama- free experience.”
Barbara Burger
Mother of Sara KeithCollege of the Holy Cross
“Collegewise took a large part of the worry out of the college application process. Our counselor helped Nikki develop a realistic and exciting list of colleges to which to apply, and Nikki’s applications were all done in October! Collegewise made sure that my daughter was on top of the details and deadlines, which took a lot of the stress (and nagging) out of applying to college. I experienced none of the last minute rush and craziness so many fellow parents go through.”
Lisa Wetzel
Mother of Nikki WetzelUniversity of Oregon
“Our Collegewise counselor has been a Godsend. From the beginning of Jenna's college search and beyond the time when the job was officially done, Collegewise eliminated the parent-student conflicts that often occur when parents try to counsel their student through this process. She kept Jenna upbeat, all while Jenna was having to write essays and complete applications. At the same time, Collegewise kept us parents informed on a weekly basis. I would highly recommend them.”
Michael Shimokaji
Father of Jenna ShimokajiSeattle University
“I have seen many parents struggle through this process going it alone. It was so easy for me with Collegewise as our guide that, throughout most of this process, I was on cruise control. I would tell other parents that my daughter was taking care of this on her own along with her Collegewise counselor, and they were always amazed. Always. Our Collegewise counselor and Taylor had such a great relationship; she saved us a lot of sweat, tears and money, and Taylor got in to her first choice. Collegewise—the only way to apply!”
Tracey Dunn
Mother of Taylor DunnUC Irvine
“Two Thumbs Up!!! We have just come back from our orientation weekend and could not be more enthused with our choice of school and the selection process that we worked on with Collegewise. Our counselor expertly guided our son (and us parents) through the entire maze of what is best for our child, where to go, and how to best apply. The tension level was dramatically reduced at our house. Our son was proactively involved in the process, which motivated him and produced a better outcome. We are so enthused with Quinnipiac University and the Collegewise organization, and we will happily be a reference for anyone interested. We have two more sons that will be using Collegewise as well.”
David & Laura Engwall
Parents of Reid EngwallQuinnipiac University
“Collegewise was a great experience for our family. Alex is the oldest and down the road when our younger son is looking at college, we will use Collegewise again. A special thank you to our counselor who helped Alex not only one-on-one so many times with applying to colleges that would most likely fit her needs and wants, but also in eventually making that final college choice. Thank you!”
Karen Zanaboni
Mother of Alex ZanaboniClemson
“We heard about Collegewise from a lady in front of us in line at the supermarket. We decided to check it out and we are so glad we did. From our first meeting with our counselor all the way through, she and the staff there have been nothing but professional. I think the greatest criteria was for our daughter to like and trust our counselor and she did completely in leaps and bounds. Open offices in more cities—you provide a valuable service at a reasonable price.”
Scott Pearlman
Father of Nadja PearlmanUniversity of Colorado – Boulder
“Collegewise—specifically, our counselor—morphed the dreaded college application process into an exciting adventure for Jessica. Our counselor helped her to develop her list of schools to apply to, knowing Jessica and knowing at which schools she would do well. From essays to applications, she helped with each aspect of the process. Jessica enjoyed her scheduled meetings and never felt overwhelmed by the assignments. Thank you! You navigated a second daughter through this process successfully! Go LONGHORNS!”
Kelli Schwartz
Mother of Jessica SchwartzUniversity of Texas – Austin
“Our Collegewise counselor was excellent. She was uplifting, optimistic, thorough, responsive and instrumental in our son's ultimate decision. Without her input, I don't think some of the schools to which he was accepted would have been on his list. I highly recommend Collegewise.”
Jackie Whisnant
Mother of Danny WhisnantOhio State University
“Collegewise was a great help to us during a very hectic and stressful process. Our Collegewise counselor took the pressure off of us parents of being the "nag." We also appreciated that after the acceptance process started, she was there to give additional guidance and to answer questions. I cannot thank her enough for being so responsive to my numerous questions throughout the final weeks before we made our decision. I highly recommend Collegewise to all parents who want an efficient and successful college selection experience.”
Joyce Zacks
Mother of Taylor ZacksArizona State University
“Some kids need no help getting into any college they want. For others, finding the right fit and positioning for acceptance is imperative. We knew we needed a "native guide" to help us find our way through the jungle and to the right school for our daughter. With the help of all the great people at Collegewise, we not only found it, but also ended up with a bunch of them to choose from! I can't say enough about how helpful the Collegewise team was in achieving this milestone.”
Mike O'Connell
Father of Melanie O'ConnellUniversity of Mary Washington
“We had a wonderful experience working with Collegewise. I'm not sure how successfully we would have navigated the application process on our own. Our son will be attending his first choice college on a four-year scholarship. We cannot thank you enough, Collegewise!!!!”
Maureen Incontro
Mother of Rob IncontroVirginia Military Institute
“I'm a single mother and I really don't think we could have done this on our own. It certainly wouldn't have been this stress free! Our Collegewise counselor was extremely helpful in navigating MacKenzie through the many college choices and narrowing them down to ones best suited for her. She forced MacKenzie to really research the schools to get a better idea of what she really wanted. Setting time frames and having deadlines to get each section done was exactly what MacKenzie needed and has helped her discipline. MacKenzie looked to her counselor as a role model and had a great deal of admiration and respect for her.”
Marla Pfund
Mother of MacKenzie PfundArizona State University (W.P. Carey College of Business)
“WOW! We can't believe we just completed our second child through Collegwise. Under their guidance and tutelage, our son, Austin, has remained focused and set his goals high for academic success. We believe their input was instrumental in ensuring Austin continued to strive for academic achievement; especially in those most demanding junior and senior semesters. With the encouragement and consistent message from the Collegewise staff, Austin earned an academic scholarship to his chosen school. Thank you for the years of support. We will definitely continue to recommend Collegewise for all our friends. God Bless the staff. You guys are awesome.”
Kim and Damon Jones
Parents of Austin JonesChapman University
“I was more than 100% satisfied. From the start, our Collegewise counselor worked to understand my son, what his strengths were, and really developed a relationship with him. The list of schools they arrived at was totally on target, and not the one I would have made. The application process was very easy for me as a parent, and Collegewise helped my son get everything in not just on time, but early, which allowed him to hear from schools early, which greatly reduced his stress. I would recommend your program to any senior who wants to make the best decision possible. Your expertise filled gaps I never could have begun to fill. I am immensely grateful for your help, and think Jackson has found an awesome fit.”
Monica Mehren
Mother of Jackson DarganUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison
Students
"I am extremely happy with my Collegewise experience. My counselor helped me to explore, and eventually apply, to schools that would have otherwise never even been on my radar. I feel confident in my college decision because I was able to explore all of my options very thoroughly. Collegewise is so individualized that I feel it could be a good aid to any type of student."
Lauren Eykholt
University of Washington"Working with Collegewise has been a fantastic experience for me. There wasn't one moment when my family or I regretted working with them. My Collegewise counselor was always willing to help and answered all of my many, many questions. Before I started working with Collegewise I was completely bewildered by all the things I needed to do to get into a great school, but Collegewise guided me step-by-step through the process so it was fun, easy, and not overwhelming. Everyone should use Collegewise! I'm convinced that I would not be where I am today without their help!"
Kate Cardone
USC (University of Southern California)"I am so grateful for Collegewise and all the incredible help my counselor gave me. I went into the college selection process totally clueless, with totally clueless parents, which is never a good combination. But Collegewise helped me manage all the overwhelming essays, forms, tests, and interviews with a really doable schedule. While all my friends were freaking out about last minute essays and the Common App, I was able to enjoy my winter break and quietly snicker at their procrastination. I really think they helped me find the schools that were a good match for me AND get into them! As corny as it is, I'm now going to my dream school, and I have Collegewise to thank for helping me get there with minimal stress!"
Janel Hull
Lewis and Clark College"Going into my senior year I had no idea what to look for in a college. Collegewise helped me really look into colleges and help create a list of schools that would fit well with my academic interests and personality. My counselor gave me tons of tools to research schools and weed through the clutter to create a final list for applications. The program allowed me to research colleges and by giving me deadlines allowed me to finish tasks in an orderly fashion. Collegewise I owe you so much. Thank you for all your hard work!"
Kristen Porter
University of Colorado - Boulder"My Collegewise experience was amazing. I couldn't have asked for any more in the college admissions process. I was so proud of myself when I got to ring the gong in the office when all of my applications were finished. The staff was friendly, encouraging, organized, and helpful. Collegewise has a very creative and distinct way of doing things. They are very dedicated to their students, and made the college admissions process fun! I am so happy I chose Collegewise! Thank you so much for encouraging me!"
Silvie Reynolds
University of Washington"YAY! I'm going to college! Collegewise helped me conquer the college applications in no time and they kept me on track to get everything done with time to spare. I couldn't be happier with my college decision."
Tara Campbell
USC (University of Southern California)"I cannot imagine the college application process without the help of Collegewise! I was so thrilled with all of my college acceptances and I know it wouldn't have been possible without my counselor’s help!"
Aaron Miller
UC Santa Barbara"At Collegewise the atmosphere is wonderful and encouraging. They relieve the stress of the college application process. They really know their stuff about EVERY school and stay on top of everything to make sure that you hand in everything well before the deadline so that your thanksgiving and winter breaks are actually breaks."
Sawyer Pierce
Carnegie Mellon"I cannot express how much help I got from Collegewise during my college application process. With the endless help from my counselor as well as the seminars and the essay writing meetings, I was able to finish all my applications on time despite my busy schedule. All the counselors are always there for you and try their best to make the process a lot easier! At the meetings with my counselor, we would get things done one by one and she'd help me keep motivated and excited about college, which helped me to force myself to meet all my deadlines. Collegewise really does a good job of making the process fun and easy."
Sooj Park
USC (University of Southern California)"Collegewise has helped me so much in the process of selecting and getting into the college of my dreams! I really enjoyed being exposed to so many different schools."
Sarah Reynolds
Penn State University"I couldn't have gone through search process for the colleges that were best fits for me without having the help from Collegewise. Thank you for everything!"
Valerie Enciso
Loyola Marymount University"Collegewise rocks!!! I am so lucky that I got to work with them and I couldn't have asked for a better counselor. My parents and I were completely new to the college application process and our Collegewise counselor was patient enough to guide us step-by-step and provide great advice. I found of all the seminars very helpful. I 100% enjoyed my time at Collegewise."
Maxwell Dartey
USC (University of Southern California)"After my first few appointments with my Collegewise counselor, I was beyond happy that I came here! I don't know what I would have done without her! The best part was definitely how Collegewise makes applying to college fun! This was the easiest, most seamless process I've ever been through."
Melanie Pellizzon
University of Washington"Out of the entire high school process, I feel that my greatest investment was in using Collegewise. I was at a point where I hated talking about college. Not only did I not know where to go, but I also hated the idea of leaving. Within a matter of months, college soon became one of my favorite topics. My college counselor has been phenomenal. She really took the time to get to know me and I could tell that she was passionate about finding a school I would love. My counselor relieved my stress and confusion when it came to the application process and made my work load manageable. Being a procrastinator all my life, I was shocked that I actually applied to all seven of my colleges by the early action deadline in November of my senior year. My other friends were all still applying in February! I can proudly say that Collegewise has prepared me and has played a key part in getting me excited for my future. If you choose Collegewise, I promise you will not regret it!"
Brittany Raab
Point Loma Nazarene University"When I started thinking about colleges, I thought I could just apply everywhere and see what I got. I never realized there was so much more behind it. My Collegewise counselor brought me back down to reality. She helped me a lot and taught me the little secrets behind the application process. When the decisions started coming in, I got acceptance after acceptance and lots of scholarships. I could never thank Collegewise enough for their help. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Arianne Kalra
USC (University of Southern California)“This is the second time that my family has used Collegewise. I personally liked how my Collegewise counselor never let me go through the college process alone. He was always there to help me with whatever I needed help with. He made me feel secure with the choices I made and answered all my questions. Collegewise in general is a huge help and some of my stress was relieved because I worked with them. ”
Lauren Calman
University of Rhode Island
“Collegewise was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was completely clueless about the college application process before I met my amazing counselor. They assisted me with everything and answered every question I had. They made a time that is usually extremely stressful fun and relaxed. I would recommend their services to everyone if you want to find your dream school, get tons of college help, and be done with your applications weeks before everyone at your school! ”
Mahsa S. Ashabi
UC Santa Barbara“I am SO happy I had a Collegewise counselor! It made my college application process so much easier. I was almost done with the most difficult parts of applications after the first month of school. My counselor helped me remember important dates and stay organized. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't change a thing! GO COLLEGEWISE!!!”
Colette Byers
George Washington University
“Collegewise helped me so much! I really enjoyed my Collegewise experience and my counselor was amazing. I don't think I could have gotten all of my deadlines in on time without them.”
Kelsie Shimizu
Penn State University“I really loved working with my counselor at Collegewise! She was always very supportive and I don't know what I'd do without her. She made the college process so much easier for me. It actually turned out to be an overall fun experience. Despite all the work, she made each step easier so I knew exactly what to do. I encourage everyone to go to Collegewise. Thank you so much for all your help!”
Julia Boyle
Loyola Marymount University
“I really enjoyed my experience at Collegewise! The help Collegewise provided me with made my life easier while going through the college applications. With structured checklists and weekly assignments, I was able to complete all my applications on time and as effectively as possible. The work I did with my counselor took out all the stress of college applications!”
Alex Lambeth
University of San Diego“Where to begin? First of all, my Collegewise counselor is an amazing person and I love her bubbly personality! She really connected with me and truly understood who I am. She was great at finding so many wonderful schools that I'd never heard of and really opened up my mind to the thousands of possibilities. In fact, she introduced me to the college I will be attending in the fall. I not only got into 12 schools, but I received several hand-written compliments on my essays from admissions counselors!”
Carley Zylstra
Lake Forest College
“I am so glad that I went to Collegewise for help with this process! My counselor helped me choose which colleges were good matches for me. She even took the time to look at little details like which schools had ballroom dance teams! Her dedication and knowledge made this whole process nearly stress free. I really looked forward to my meetings with her! Just when I would start feeling frustrated by the pressure of making a decision, she would give me a little advice that would make me excited about it.”
Anita Dukhart
USC (University of Southern California)“My Collegewise counselor kept me completely sane through the entire application process! I started out not even knowing where to begin and she had an immediate calming effect. Thank you so much! ”
Amira Khablein
Gonzaga University
“My experience with Collegewise was fantastic! I could not be happier with the help that I got. My counselor was incredibly knowledgeable about every college and together we picked the perfect college for me! I am so happy with my experience. Everything was great.”
Torey Cahn
Millsaps College“Collegewise helped me to easily understand the college process. My counselor kept me updated and helped me find the college that was the right fit for me. I am so happy with my experience and I could not have done it without them!”
Cristina Pellizzon
University of Oregon
“Collegewise has helped my college application process tremendously. I remember when I first walked into Collegewise my sophomore year in high school and saw all the pictures of previous classes and all the college banners everywhere. I had no idea which college I wanted to go to and what the CommonApp even was. But after every meeting, I became more accustomed to the application process and learned a lot. From experienced counselors to the entertaining college seminars, Collegewise has assisted me every step of the way to find and apply to the right college. Overall, I feel that Collegewise has done an amazing job. My life would have sucked without them.”
Justin Cheng
UC Berkeley“Collegewise has helped me enormously throughout the college process. I had never heard about SMU until I went to Collegewise and I can’t thank them and my counselor enough from helping me discover my dream school. Thank you so much for all of your help throughout the college process.”
Scott Marks
SMU (Southern Methodist University)“Collegewise has helped me so much, not just in the scope of looking for colleges, but helping me to understand myself better and where I would best fit. I honestly do not know what I would have done without my counselor and the entire Collegewise family. They make everything simple and easy to sort through, and make the entire college soul-searching process 100x easier. I truly owe a lot of thanks to the entire Collegewise gang! You guys rock!”
Kim Marks
USC (University of Southern California)
“Collegewise helped me to quickly find what I was looking for in a college, and narrow down my choices in a logical and effective way. They made the experience so much more fun and took away the stress of it. Knowing that there was always someone willing to help you, with all the answers to your questions is an amazing feeling. I am so excited to be attending Cal Poly SLO in the fall! I can't wait for the surfboard-making class and the late-night yoga!”
Shari Goldman
Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo“My Collegewise counselor was always there for me to make me feel more confident and less stressed out. Without Collegewise, I definitely would have been a nervous wreck. They are amazing!”
Jessica Bonner
University of Washington
“If it weren't for my Collegewise counselor, I would have waited to the last minute and probably missed important things on my applications. She was the best and I am so thankful that she helped me get into Oregon. Go Ducks!!!”
Gavin Arblaster
University of Oregon“I'm so glad that I went to Collegewise for help. Without them I wouldn't have been able to get accepted to any college. I was a struggling student, but they encouraged me to re-take classes. It was so much work but totally worth it. Thank you so much.”
Lorraine E. Bower
Marymount College
“Choosing Collegewise was without a doubt one of the best decisions I made. Without them, my junior and senior year would definitely have gone differently--most likely with multiple panic attacks, emotional melt-downs, procrastination, and consequently, lower grades. They made applying to college significantly less stressful. My counselor was extremely helpful, intelligent, and professional, yet charismatic, personable, and so easy to talk to. All of the seminars, especially for the letters of recommendation and interview, were so helpful. Having bagels and coffee definitely didn't hurt either!”
Jenny M. Lin
UC-Irvine“I can honestly say that Collegewise is the BEST help anyone can get for college guidance. They keep you on your toes and never les you stress out about college. The counselors make sure that the colleges you pick are the best options for you. When my friends were starting their college applications, I was done! I love everyone that's a part of the Collegewise team. And they are not just there for assisting you with applications, but for any kind of help and support. I got myself into a car accident right near their office, and they were there to help me through that, too! I love you guys. You are the best.”
Isheeta Bhatt
UC Davis
“Collegewise helped me organize the work I had to do for 16 college applications. Without their help, I probably would not have been accepted to nearly as many colleges. I would highly recommend working with Collegewise to any student who is looking for help in applying to college.”
Timmy Novom
Pomona College“Using Collegewise was one of the best decisions my family and I made during high school. They relieve so much of the stress commonly associated with application season by getting you started early and helping out with essays and all aspects of the applications. It's really great to be done with everything while you watch your friends stress out over getting everything in on time. I certainly couldn't have done it without Collegewise. Thanks so much!””
Jeremy Bates
Boston College
“My Collegewise counselor was the best counselor I could have ever asked for! She kept me on track with deadlines and made sure I did not wait until the last minute. Her ideas and positive attitude gave me motivation in believing in myself that I could be admitted to one of the most competitive schools in California. She made my college dreams come true and I cannot wait to be a USC Trojan! Thank you Collegewise! You guys are awesome!”
Paige Southern
USC (University of Southern California)
“While at first I was skeptical, working with Collegewise was one of the best decisions I have made. My counselor helped me create a doable list of schools that I was really excited about, and made sure I got it all done in plenty of time. If it wasn't for her, I would have never considered Lewis & Clark which is where I am eagerly waiting to attend next year. Thank you so much!”
Nate Miller
Lewis & Clark College
“Collegewise helps set students up for the colleges they want to get into. I applied to seventeen schools this fall and I got into thirteen of them. Although most of that was because of my hard work, my counselor was the one who helped me organize all of my thoughts into concise statements that colleges want to hear. I loved Collegewise and I recommend it to everyone and anyone. It's well worth it!”
Katie Robson
University of San Francisco
“At Collegewise, I was easily able to establish a strong and personal connection with my counselor. With this connection, my counselor and I were able to pick the perfect list of colleges that suited every little thing I wanted to experience in the next four years of my life. Thanks Collegewise!”
Ryan Jong
Boston College
“The Collegewise program was very beneficial to me and my future happiness. Without them, I would have had no direction in my search for a college. They help you achieve the goals you set for yourself.”
Chris Nicholas
University of Oregon
“Before going to Collegewise, I had probably never been so stressed out in my life. I had no idea what I was doing when it came to applying for college, but after coming to Collegewise nothing ever seemed simpler. Yes, it was a lot of work, but it would have felt like ten times the work without Collegewise. I would have been lost without them. I give thanks to Collegewise for every college I was accepted to and for the bright future it gave me.”
Macie Spear
Boston University
“I am so glad I did Collegewise. They helped me so much. Not only was I done with applications long before my friends started, but with the help of my counselor, applying to college was easy.”
Kelsie Heneghan
University of Missouri - Columbia
“Collegewise has been very helpful and my counselor was the one who truly guided me from day one. She is a SAINT! I do not know what I would have done without her! I was always organized and prepared. Out of all of my friends, I was absolutely the first person to finish all my applications. My counselor was always an email away, and whenever things were overwhelming for me, she would help me relax and focus on what to do first. I have told all my younger friends about how easy and helpful Collegewise has been. Thanks Collegewise!”
Katy Bekken
Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
“My Collegewise counselor was amazing and fun and knew exactly what she was doing to help me with such an important process. I never had to wonder if I was filling in the right box, or what form to send in. They just made everything so stress-free. Without Collegewise I would never have even known about half the schools I applied to. They helped me the entire way, finding amazing schools, applying, and narrowing down my choices to a school that I am absolutely ecstatic about attending!!!”
Lindsay Tucker
Skidmore College
“There are so many tricky steps to applying to colleges that I really don't think I could have done it all without Collegewise. All of the staff was so friendly and helpful with everything from choosing schools that best fit my needs and desires, to teaching me how to write engaging essays for my numerous applications. They were also very understanding of the typical high school student's hectic schedule. Thank you so much for all your help. I really appreciate it.”
Molly Flynn
University of Colorado – Boulder
“I love Collegewise! Without my counselor’s help and guidance, I don’t think I would have gotten into as many colleges as I did. She helped me with everything and made the college application process easy and fun! College applications can be stressful, but Collegewise made it easy. While all my friends were doing their applications in November, I was already finished. Thank you, Collegewise!”
Mackenzie Pfund
Arizona State University
“I loved working with my college counselor at Collegewise. I told her what I wanted out of my college experience and within minutes she already had colleges in mind that would be a perfect fit! I also loved attending the seminars that were held, especially the one about how to write great college essays. They really helped me relax and see that applying to college doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think! Thank you so much Collegewise!”
Melanie O'Connell
University of Mary Washington
“Participating in Collegewise was one of the best decisions I ever made. My counselor was so helpful throughout the whole process. If I ever had the slightest bit of uncertainty, I knew that a credible answer would be given with a simple phone call. I am so happy with the way all of my college choices fared out and it was nice to always be one step ahead of everyone else. I can't thank Collegewise and my counselor enough. I am so excited for the next four years! Thank you!”
Jill Copley
Loyola Marymount University
“I loved my Collegewise experience because it helped open my eyes to all the different colleges that I was able to apply to. Without their help, I might have never found the university that I will be attending. My Collegewise counselor was extremely nice and easy to talk to about what I was looking for in a college. She kept me very organized and ahead of schedule so that I never had to worry about missing a deadline. Thank you so much for making my experience the best it could possibly have been!”
Brianna Steinmetz
Creighton University
“At first I thought Collegewise was going to be super lame, but the Collegewise crew made it as fun and as funny as humanly possible. My counselor made sure I did what I had to and for that I pretty much owe her my future. I cannot thank Collegewise enough.”
Hal Bracken
Xavier University
“I knew what kind of school I was interested in attending but I don't think I could've found Penn State without my Collegewise counselor’s help. Going to my Collegewise appointments was fun, and I learned so much about the application process. My counselor always kept me organized and on track. Overall, I had a great time being a Collegewise student!”
Bridget Beauchamp
Penn State University
“Three years ago, a family friend referred me to the counselors at Collegewise. She told me they were easy to work with, encouraging, and most importantly, realistic. My experience has been all that she said and much more. By the first day of senior year, I had already completed all of my college applications. Most of my classmates hadn't even started. This made the world of difference to my 1st semester. I don't know what I would have done without my counselor or the Collegewise experience. Thank you to the Collegewise team for making this stressful process so much easier!”
Jared Ginsburg
USC (University of Southern California)
“Throughout the entire college application experience, my counselor helped me feel relaxed and (relatively) stress-free. I never once felt lost or confused as many of my friends did; actually, I felt extremely prepared. I looked forward to every meeting; they were all incredibly informative and I would not have been able to do it without my Collegewise counselor. All of the seminars were extremely helpful and informative! And my essay editors were fantastic.”
Alex Sanchez
Georgetown University
“I LOVE COLLEGEWISE! They made applying for colleges so easy! I saw how stressed all of my friends were during application season, but because of Collegewise, I never had to experience that stress. My counselor made me so excited about college and the whole process, not to mention helped me out every step of the way. Thank you so much, everyone at Collegewise. I honestly had so much fun, and I'm so psyched for next year. You guys definitely helped me get into my dream school. Go Bruins”
Amie Johnson
UCLA
“If it wasn't for Collegewise, I wouldn't have found my incredible college let alone be going there this fall. You guys are great! Keep doing what you’re doing!”
Reid Engwall
Quinnipiac University
“Collegewise was truly my knight in shining armor that led me through the rocky road of picking the correct college. When I first came to Collegewise, I had several colleges in mind and was sure those were the only ones for me. Through my first few visits however, that steel lock on the colleges I would be applying to was fully pried open. I now stand knowing where I am going, a college I had not thought of, with numerous other colleges to choose from that would have helped me be successful. Thank you, Collegewise!”
Jackson Dargan
University of Wisconsin - Madison
“I attribute much of my success to Collegewise, but more specifically to the expertise and skill of my counselor. Not only did she posses the experience of a former college admissions officer, but she also truly cares about each one of her students. Without her encouragement and drive I surely would not be in the position I am in now. Do not hesitate for a moment when considering signing up for Collegewise.”
Robert P. Incontro
Virginia Military Institute
“I am so happy that I used the Collegewise program to help me with my college application process. I expected the whole process to be extremely stressful, but thanks to Collegewise, everything ran very smoothly and was not stressful at all. The organization of this program is extremely helpful and I am so thankful to have received such expert help and advice!”
Sara Keith
College of the Holy Cross
“Do you like awesome? If so, Collegewise is right for you! They transform the whole college process from something you dread to something you enjoy. From knowledgeable counselors and fantastic writing experts to quirky seminar leaders, Collegewise has got it all. If you are looking for the college that's RIGHT for you, Collegewise will help you find it. To put it simply, if I had to choose between lazer vision (yes, with a "z") and Collegewise, I'd choose Collegewise.”
Casey Finnerty
UC Berkeley
“Collegewise has helped me get into a great school that I love. I am the first child with a younger sister, so my parents had no idea how to approach what colleges I should apply to or what applications to fill out. So we went to Collegewise and my counselor walked me through everything, step by step. And although she gave me tons of work to do over the summer, I was nearly finished with all of my college applications before my senior year even started. So while all of my classmates were freaking out about applications, I was done months ago. Collegewise made the college process as easy as possible for me and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to get through the college process without having a heart attack.”
Joseph Kalb
University of Puget Sound
“Applying to college is scary and a pretty long process. I honestly do not know what I would have done without my Collegewise counselor to help me organize everything and set deadlines for all my applications. I was completely finished with the process way before all of my friends and I was able to hear back from the majority of my schools by Christmas! I did not feel stressed once throughout the entire process. It was a great feeling to be completely confident in my essays, as well as submitting all my applications early. I would advise any incoming senior to definitely use Collegewise and its amazing staff. Thanks Collegewise!”
Jessica Schwartz
University of Texas – Austin
“If I could describe Collegewise in one sentence, I would say that it is a place where you are in control of creating your own future with the help of supportive individuals who will stand behind you. If you, as a student, reach your hand out to Collegewise, they will help you climb higher up the mountain of life and assure success in your future. Great job!”
Zac Strom
Pitzer College
“Without Collegewise, the entire process would have felt very overwhelming. This program allowed me to relax and, more importantly, gave my parents peace of mind that everything would be done in a timely fashion. Thanks Collegewise!”
Jake Patton
Gettysburg College
“Collegewise was a wonderful experience for me in that I had somebody helping me best organize my time for finding and applying to certain schools. That took the pressure of having to do that entirely on my own off significantly and I was able to get through the process without any major stresses or difficulties. And having started this process a year ago, it made it easier to get through it one step at a time, from researching the schools to ultimately sending in the applications. To those starting anew at Collegewise, whatever you do, start early and use your time wisely, because it will pay off. And don't stress out: just take your time, don't procrastinate, and reap what you sow. But most of all, have fun!”
Nicholas Yates
The Evergreen State College
“I've never experienced anything like Collegewise (in a good way of course). Applying to college is SO stressful with all the stuff you need to know, but Collegewise made it fun and exciting. I wouldn't have found my dream school without my counselor who had all the inside scoop. She was awesome. We had a lot of laughs and I couldn't have done this without her. All the counselors at Collegewise really care about the students they're working with (it's hard to find places like this). Collegewise breaks the whole process down and regardless of your GPA, you WILL find a college that’s perfect for you. I’m so fortunate—this program is worth every penny. Thanks Collegewise!”