Extracurricular Strategy Mentorship

Extracurricular Strategy

At Collegewise, we know what makes an college applicant stand out: not a checklist, but a clear demonstration of passion and initiative. Our 1-on-1 mentorship provides the expert guidance to turn that passion into purpose. We empower students to move beyond the classroom, explore a genuine interest, and create a project with real-world impact. In the process, they build the foundational skills, such as leadership, problem-solving, and resilience, that top colleges are actively searching for.

TALK TO AN ADVISOR

The honest answer: There is no secret list.

It comes down to quality over quantity. There is no specific set of activities that "look good" to colleges. Community service, leadership, and passion projects can all work, but when every student chases the same checklist, they all end up looking the same.

It’s not the activity that matters to colleges; it’s the story behind it.

We look for the impact: Did your student show initiative? Would they be missed if they stopped showing up?

That impact looks different for every student. It could be a leadership role. Caring for a younger sibling after school. Teaching traditional Greek dancing at church. Solving math theorems with friends. Loving cross-country even as the slowest runner on the team. It takes all kinds.

Our job isn’t to reverse-engineer your student into a "perfect" applicant. It’s to help them double down on their own strengths and become more of who they already are.

Highest & Most Reviewed Consulting Company

We’ve built our business almost entirely on the generous referrals of families who join us; for us, that's the ultimate benchmark of our success. That personal trust is confirmed by objective public data. On Trustpilot, Collegewise holds a 4.9-star rating from over 500+ reviews, the most in our industry.

Working with Collegewise and our counselor, Ida Lonnqvist, was an absolute game-changer for our college application process. Ida not only helped us to focus and organize our timeline - but she also made the process enjoyable and FUN for our family! We highly recommend working with her and Collegewise!

Rebecca Krattiger

Jan 12, 2026
Sarah Turner was my counselor and she was the best!! She was extremely helpful, especially throughout the essay brainstorming process, and supportive of my ideas. She also ensured that I stayed on track and started the application process early. With her help, I got into my top school!

S.A.

Jan 12, 2026
I am so grateful to have worked with Lynne O'Shaughnessy throughout my college process. She consistently helped me stay calm and confident during such a stressful time. At the same time, she made sure that I stayed organized and on top of every deadline. Her guidance and feedback truly strengthened my applications.

Victoria

Jan 10, 2026
We truly could not be happier with our experience at Collegewise. Lynne O'Shaughnessy was our daughter's counselor, and she was exceptional... She brought professionalism, clarity, and structure to a complex and stressful process, while always remaining deeply human and supportive. The outcome was the one we were hoping for.

Marcela Melero

Jan 8, 2026
Our daughter worked with Sarah and we are extremely pleased with how the process worked... Sarah is extremely knowledgeable, professional, respectful, and patient! She was quick to respond to questions... and the fact that Sarah is very easy to talk to, made the college application process smooth for our daughter and with limited stress.

SG

Jan 6, 2026
Collegewise really helped me see beyond the haze of college application anxiety... I was able to center my application on my authenticity and communicate to colleges exactly who I am. Super duper big shout out to my #1 cheerleader in this process, Lori Jones! (...) Her research and attention to detail were also impeccable...

Jana Orief

Jan 1, 2026
Navigating college admissions can be stressful... partnering with Collegewise was the best decision we've made. Having an external counselor allowed us to focus on our role as parents - listening, encouraging and supporting - instead of pilling on the stress... Most importantly, it allowed my daughter to take ownership of the whole process.

Patricia Amaral

Dec 27, 2025
Our experience with this company has been excellent, mainly because of our phenomenal college counselor, Christopher Logan. Christopher ensured that both our daughters were on track with their applications and catered their approach to the girls’ different personalities, interests and skill sets. (...) We could not be happier with the results...

Shahbano Bilgrami

Dec 31, 2025
Hanifa Abdul Sabur was incredible! She was thoughtful, and brought an undeniably experienced view of the college admissions landscape to my son's application! I received this service for free through my workplace benefits and would highly recommend others to take advantage of great counselors like her!

Priya Rajan

Dec 22, 2025
I enrolled my daughter with Collegewise when she was a junior in high school. We have had a fantastic experience working with Collegewise team, especially Melissa Royal... Melissa guided her not only as a counselor, but also as a mentor and friend throughout the college application process. I am extremely grateful and thankful...

Akash Sahni

Dec 19, 2025
We began working with Collegewise a few months ago. While there was a small hiccup at the start, we were quickly connected with Shannon Frankel, the Customer Success Manager. She put us at ease. Though we were anxious, she was calm, organized, and took the time to truly listen to our concerns. Her support made a big difference...

Brianna Sabacinski

Dec 19, 2025
Working with Liz Albertelly as a college Counselor was a dream come true! She was so positive all the time, extremely helpful, and a joy to meet with. (And I got into my top school!) I would 100% recommend to anybody interested!

Nora Beach

Dec 19, 2025
I worked with Sarah Turner over the last year for the college admissions process and I can't say enough good things about my experience. She consistently held me accountable for submitting my supplemental essays... and gave me great starting points for finding the perfect institutions for me... With all the stressors of senior year, I can confidently say I was almost never stressed about college.

Al Pirani

Dec 17, 2025
Liz Albertelly, our college counselor at Collegewise, was excellent. Her kindness, positivity, resourcefulness, availability, and attention to detail really stood out and helped our son thrive during the entire college application process. We are so grateful we had her to guide us.

Suzanne Moffitt

Dec 16, 2025
While we are pleased with the college outcomes for our kids, we are even more grateful for the time that we were able to share with Sarah Turner and the steady and supportive guidance that she provided them. (...) The end results were always out of our collective control but the process was not. We are forever thankful to Sarah for making sure it was overseen with compassion and kindness.

Kevin Pirani

Dec 16, 2025
My Collegewise counselor, Ida, was extremely helpful and accommodating to any questions or revisions I went to her for. Thanks to her constructive feedback and comments, by the time my UC application needed to be submitted I truly felt confident in my PIQ essays, activities list, and additional information section!! Thank you Ida!

ayden aryeh

Dec 16, 2025
Lindsey Conger was my counselor and she was the ABSOLUTE BEST OF THE BEST. She was especially helpful with the essay writing process... and also super helpful at keeping me organized and on track... Because of Lindsey, I got into my #1 college that I also dreamed of getting into, and I would not have been able to do it without her. She's the best!

Jacob Lieberman

Dec 11, 2025
Collegewise, and especially our counselor Mary Finn, made the college application process so much more manageable for our family. Mary helped my son shape a powerful personal statement, refine his additional information section, and gave clear, practical pointers on how to write about his activities. Her guidance helped him present his strengths authentically and confidently...

Lamont &
Ruthie Cannon

Dec 1, 2025
Collegewise was very helpful in providing feedback and encouragement for my UC application. There is plenty of interaction with counselors, like my counselor Ida Lonnqvist, who provide lots of meaningful comments and suggestions for the application, particularly the PIQs.

Veronika Shidlovskaia

Nov 26, 2025
From the very first interaction with the staff, it was total professionalism; they really cared about what we were trying to do... Our coach, Sarah Turner, was absolutely the best. We came in knowing nothing about the college process, and Sarah... walked both my son and me through every step. He was accepted to his first-choice school...

Roxanne Spencer

Nov 10, 2025

What Colleges Are Really Looking For

Many families believe the goal is to build the longest, most impressive resume possible.

But after reading thousands of applications, admissions officers look past the list of activities and ask a different question: What does this tell us about the person who will show up on our campus?

They're looking for the story behind the resume.

They want to see genuine curiosity, capacity for commitment, and inner drive. They know that what a student pursues out of authentic interest is the best indicator of how they'll contribute and engage in college.

Our mentorship helps your student tell that story. We don't invent passions or assign projects. We have a conversation. We guide them to go deeper into what already excites them, whether that means launching a new project or expanding an existing activity in a more meaningful way.

This is how a flat list of activities transforms into a compelling story of who your child actually is.

Learning about your extracurricular activities and nonacademic interests helps us understand your potential contributions to the Stanford community. Students often assume our primary concern is the number of activities they participate in.

In fact, an exceptional depth of experience in one or two activities may demonstrate your passion more than minimal participation in five or six clubs.

You may also have work or family responsibilities. These are as important as any other extracurricular activity.

In general, we want to understand the impact you have had at your job, in your family, in your school, and in the larger community. We also want to learn about the impact that your experiences have had on you.

The Heart of the Application: Your Essays

The personal essay is the most powerful tool a student has to speak directly to an admissions committee. It’s their single best chance to share who they are beyond their grades and scores—to reveal their character, their voice, and their unique perspective on the world.

In a sea of qualified applicants, a memorable essay is what makes a student come alive on the page. It transforms their application from a collection of achievements into a compelling human story.

Our professional essay support is designed to guide students through this high-stakes process, helping them find their voice and tell a story that could only have been written by them.

The Heart of the Application: Your Essays

In a sea of qualified applicants, a memorable essay is what makes a student come alive on the page. It transforms their application from a collection of achievements into a compelling human story.

Our professional essay support is designed to guide students through this high-stakes process, helping them find their voice and tell a story that could only have been written by them.

Uncover Their Authentic Interest.

It starts with a conversation. We don't assign projects. We help your student identify a genuine curiosity and brainstorm real-world ways to explore it.

Plan a Strategic Passion Project

A great idea needs a plan. We work with your student to set clear goals, break the project into manageable steps, and create a realistic timeline that works with their schedule, ensuring their passion becomes a reality.

Craft the Activity List & Narrative

Doing the work is only half the battle. We help your student articulate the "why" behind their project, distilling their journey into a powerful, cohesive story for their Common App Activity List and essays.

A Story That Gets Them Noticed

They gain a powerful, authentic story of impact that becomes the defining feature of their essays and interviews, showcasing their character in a way no test score can.

Proof of Real-World Initiative

They move from a passive student to an active creator. This demonstrates a level of drive and maturity that makes an admissions officer sit up and take notice.

Skills That Signal College Readiness

They gain invaluable experience in project management, problem-solving, and resilience, the very qualities that signal to a top college that this student is ready to thrive on their campus.

A Deeper Sense of Confidence and Purpose

Students who complete this process don't just have a better application; they have a clearer sense of who they are and what they are capable of achieving.

Essays are often the ultimate tiebreaker.

Here's something many families don't realize: for highly qualified applicants with similar grades and scores, the essay is often the ultimate tiebreaker.

Admissions officers read thousands of applications, and this is their one chance to hear a student's authentic voice and see how they think. A genuine story about a small, meaningful moment is almost always more powerful than a predictable essay about a major accomplishment, especially in supplemental essays which are a critical test of a student's genuine interest.

Cindy C.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Hands-on business experience at the bubble tea shop

Formal leadership in FBLA

Deep academic curiosity shown through her research

Proven Results, Backed by Experience

With the wisdom of guiding 30,000 families over 25 years, there’s no admissions challenge we haven’t seen or solved. That experience translates into real, measurable success: over 92% of our students get into one of their top three colleges.

A Team of True, Passionate Admissions Experts

Many of our counselors have sat on the other side of the desk, with experience as former admissions officers at institutions like the University of Chicago, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins. This ensures the guidance your family receives is informed by a 360-degree perspective.

A Truly Personal Guidance

Collegewise began with our founder driving to a family's house, sitting at their kitchen table. That kitchen-table ethos—of personal commitment and shared responsibility—remains at the heart of our work.

A Clearer Path, A More Confident Student

Our role is to combat fear with facts, replacing overwhelm with a clear, step-by-step roadmap so you always know what’s next. By creating a constructive environment, we help students take on challenges with confidence.

Top-Rated & Referred by Thousands

An incredible 9 out of 10 families refer us to their friends. On Trustpilot, Collegewise holds a 4.9-star rating from over 490 reviews—the most in our industry. The numbers speak for themselves.

The Right College for Your Student

We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all definition of success. We excel at helping all types of students—the high-achiever, the developing artist, the future engineer—discover the path that is uniquely right for them.

The Most Trusted Voice in Admissions

Our commitment is to share knowledge honestly. We are proud to partner with respected organizations like the Common App and Michelle Obama's Reach Higher initiative and give back through our pro-bono scholarship program.

Premium Guidance, Smarter Value

We provide elite-level college guidance, structured to be a more strategic investment than other six-figure programs, delivering an unparalleled return on one of the most important investments you'll ever make.

Years of Experience

3000

Families Guided Since 1999

73500

Average financial aid package

The Collegewise Difference

In today’s competitive admissions landscape, the right guidance can change everything. Our results speak for themselves: students we work with earn significantly higher acceptance rates at top universities compared to the general applicant pool. Check the percentage increase of Collegewise students' admission rate over the general rate.

363

YALE UNIVERSITY

336

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

332

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (NYU)

250

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

235

USC

120

UCLA

327

RICE UNIVERSITY

336

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

332

NYU

98%

of Students a Admitted
to One of Top 5 Choices

35,000+

Families Guided

26+

Years of Experience

$73,500

Average Scholarship & Grant Aid

Real Students. Real Outcomes.

We guide students to successful outcomes across the entire spectrum of higher education, from the nation's most selective private universities to top-tier public flagships to excellent liberal arts colleges.

Our goal is always the same: help your student gain admission to a college where they will thrive.

Universities and colleges our students have been accepted include: