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New York College Admissions Consultants

Ivy Scholars is the premier college admissions consulting firm for high school students in New York City seeking admission to top-tier colleges and universities.

College Admissions Counselors in New York, NY

High school students in New York have high test scores, great extracurriculars, and dreams of attending the nation’s top colleges. Sadly, many of these students are under-supported when applying to college. In fact, the average student:counselor ratio at New York City high schools is 202:1. This is noticeably better than the national average but still leaves students without enough college admissions support, especially as applications grow increasingly competitive.

Parents want the best for their students and to ensure they have the support they need to get into top-tier institutions. For that reason, New Yorkers are turning to Ivy Scholars for their college admissions needs.

Ivy Scholars students continue to enter the nation’s top colleges at rates well above the mean as college admissions rates drop. Our results speak for themselves:

School

General Admissions Rate

IS Success Rate

Brown

7.1%

30.1%

Cornell

10.9%

50%

Harvard

4.6%

8.3%

MIT

6.7%

42.9%

Princeton

5.8%

11.1%

Stanford

4.3%

28.6%

UPenn

7.7%

44.4%

Yale

6.1%

16.7%

Overall, students who work with Ivy Scholars are admitted to their top-choice schools at 3x the average rate.

Our New York Connections

We have deep roots in New York and a long history with its colleges. Our mentors hold degrees from Columbia and CUNY and live throughout the city, from midtown to Brooklyn. We know the unique challenges and opportunities a city like New York provides from personal experience and how to leverage those opportunities when applying to colleges.

Ivy Scholars has experience helping younger students take full advantage of the resources available in the big apple. We’ve helped students secure internships at the Met and Bank of America and positions with the Council for Economic Education, 21/64, and Columbia University’s Incite program.

Of course, as great as New York is, some students want to get out of the city and move states for college. We have helped students gain acceptance into prestigious summer programs and internships across the country, including the Stanford Anesthesiology Summer Institute, Yale Young Global Scholars, Research Science Institute at MIT, Wharton’s Global Youth Program, LaunchX at MIT, and Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program.

New York Admissions Consultants

We hire the best admissions consultants wherever they are located, and this has given us deep ties to New York. We know New York, so when New Yorkers come to us for advice, we know to give it to them straight. We pride ourselves on giving accurate and actionable advice, which is tailored to each student’s unique situation and needs.

Every student is different and needs different things from their college counselor. A student who would thrive at NYU might freeze at Dartmouth, and one who finds a community they love at Barnard may get overwhelmed by the crowds at Cornell. They need college counseling that will take their needs into account and not just steer them down a pre-set, well-traveled path.

At Ivy Scholars, we approach each student as an individual and give them an honest assessment of their strengths and prospects in the admissions process. We then take their ambitions into account, whether that be an Ivy League university, a dream school in sunny California, the best scholarships they can get, or pursuing their athletic career at the next level.

Each student works 1-on-1 with a mentor, supported by a team of editors, strategy experts, and researchers. Each application benefits from strategic-level guidance on where to apply and on how to best craft their essays to appeal to the admissions officers at a specific college. After all, Yale and Harvard are both great schools, but that does not make them the same (just ask any alum!).

We begin working with students where they are, beginning as early as 8th grade or as late as right after Early Decision results come out; either way, we are able to help them find college solutions that work for them. New York may be the city that never sleeps, but you can rest easy when you entrust your collegiate future to Ivy Scholars.

If you want to hear how we can help you, schedule a free consultation today.

Feedback From Students & Parents

What are the best high schools in New York

Check out our best high schools in New York guide, where we cover how to find the best high schools in New York for your student, and then give a brief overview of these schools.

5/5
Wendy Y.
Parent
Below is my son's review. He was accepted to his dream Ivy League school!

From an admitted student's perspective, I am incredibly grateful to have met Sasha - he has been instrumental in helping me achieve my educational dreams (Ivy League), all while being an absolute joy (he's a walking encyclopedia, only funnier!) to work with.

Many people are dissuaded from seeking a college counselor because they think they can get into their desired college(s) either way. Honestly, going that route is a bit short-sighted and can jeopardize your odds of acceptances after years of hard work. The sad truth is, the American education system (even if you attend a fancy private school and ESPECIALLY if you go to a public school) doesn't really tell students how to write a compelling and authentic application. Going into the admissions process alone, without speaking with an advisor, is like going to court without a lawyer - you put yourself at a significant disadvantage because you don't have all the facts in front of you, or the help you need to negotiate the system.

That said, you need a good lawyer just like you need a good college counselor. And that's where Sasha distinguishes himself from the crowd of people claiming they'll get you into Harvard. I came to Sasha worried about and frankly dumbfounded by the college admissions process. I was unsure what to write about and how to go about drafting the essay that perfectly captured my passion, interests, and self. And I was highly skeptical that anyone could really help me. But, damn, did Sasha prove me wrong. From the beginning, Sasha amazed me with his understanding of the process, and ability to lend clarity and direction to me when I desperate needed it. After interviewing me about my background, experiences, activities, outlook, and vision, he helped me see qualities about myself I had not previously considered 'unique' or 'stand-out.' This process of understanding myself was so incredibly important in laying the groundwork for the essays I eventually wrote, and I'm certain I would've drafted boring, inauthentic essays without it.

Looking back, Sasha's talent is that he can see where your strengths lie, even when you don't see them. The truth is, although we don't always realize it, everyone has a unique story to tell. Sasha helped me see mine, and with his big-picture insight I was able to write the application that truly encapsulated my life and vision. He inspired me to dig deeper and write better, challenging me to revise and revise until my essays were the most passionate and authentic work I had ever written. As clichéd as that sounds, that's really what universities are looking for. In retrospect, it makes sense - in the real world passionate (not simply intelligent) individuals are the ones who make a difference in the world, and those are the individuals colleges would like to have associated with their brand.

In the end, I was accepted to the college of my dreams, a feat I could not have achieved without the direction Sasha lent to me. Essays (and the personal narrative you develop through your application) matter so much, and can literally make or break your application. I have seen so many of my 'qualified' friends receive rejections because they wrote contrived essays that didn't truly represent who they were; conversely, I have also seen so many friends with shorter resumes accepted because they were able to articulate their story in a genuinely passionate and authentic way - I fall into the latter category.

As a former admissions officer at Johns Hopkins, Sasha knows what types of essays jibe well with universities, an invaluable asset to have in the admissions process. He is responsive, flexible, creative, positive, and witty. For anyone who is serious about going into the college admissions process informed and prepared, I highly recommend Sasha.
5/5
Arda E.
Student
I used Ivy Scholars to mainly help me with college applications. Within weeks of using this service, Sasha was able to simplify the already complex process. When it came to writing the Common App essay, Sasha didn’t just help with grammar and syntax, he brought my essays to life. Sasha also worked tirelessly to help solidify my extracurricular activities, including research and internship opportunities. Without his help, I would have never had an impressive resume.

Sasha is not only an extremely knowledgeable tutor, but also a genuine brother figure. His guidance, throughout my last two years of high school, was everything I needed to get me an acceptance letter from my dream schools (UC Berkeley, Tufts, Emory).

When it came to testing, Ivy Scholars worked like a charm. Sasha offered a very comprehensive plan when it came to completely acing my standardized tests. Without his test taking strategies I would have never gotten straight 5s on my AP tests and a 35 on the ACT.

Working with Sasha, I didn’t just become a good student, I became a genuine scholar.
5/5
Samson S.
Parent
We worked with Ivy Scholars during my son's senior year. I was concerned that we may be too late to take advantage of college advising but the Ivy Scholars team quickly and confidently directed us through the steps to ensure no deadlines were missed. Sasha's knowledge about schools, what they looked for in candidates, and how to maneuver the application process was invaluable. Mateo and Ryan worked with my son to help him create an essay that would get noticed and I am so appreciative he had their guidance.

Prior to securing Ivy Scholars, we tried using a less-expensive online service which was a terrible experience. As a parent, Ivy Scholars brought peace of mind to an area that was frankly overwhelming. This service was invaluable in the knowledge that we gained throughout the process. He has also met with my freshman daughter to provide guidance for her high school courses, career paths, extracurricular activities, and more.

Prior to signing with Ivy Scholars, I tried a less expensive online service and was very disappointed.

As a result of our work with Ivy Scholars, I am pleased to say that my son will be attending Stern Business School at New York University this fall! I highly recommend Ivy Scholars. Highly recommend!