We aspire to unlock the potential and transform the trajectory of marginalized high school students who demonstrate curiosity, sincere passion, commitment and drive through individualized college application coaching and mentorship.
The Laurel Scholars Program serves to provide college admission consulting services to high school students who demonstrate need. In recognition that ability is equally distributed yet resources are not, the Laurel Scholars Program works to build a bridge between aptitude and opportunity for individuals who lack access to the necessary support. We believe that students who have overcome difficult and transformative life experiences are essential to the academic vitality of collegiate institutions and support the diversity of ideas that strengthen these communities. With emphasis on mentorship in the Socratic method, the Laurel Scholars Program supports students who seek to rise above challenging circumstances and helps them realize their goals and access the power of higher education. Laurel Scholars is devoted to giving students the resources and help they need to prosper in this process.
The Laurel Scholars Program sets itself apart from other programs with its bespoke approach to mentorship and level of strategic depth. Ivy Scholars is a boutique firm, which allows our mentors to cultivate rapport with our students. Our expert team employs an emotionally intelligent approach and tailor each engagement to the student’s nuanced needs. By encouraging students to self-reflect and build new relationships to their interests and ideas, we leverage their insights into actionable opportunities to make an impact in their communities. Our coaching sessions are adapted to suit the unique needs and stories of each student, and we encourage them to lead with authenticity as they navigate the college applications process.
We motivate our students to approach their application strategy creatively. We guide students in crafting essays that highlight their maturity, drive, and intellect and share their unique experiences in an innovative way. We’ve exhaustively developed strategies and techniques to assess how students need to develop their candidacy, provide students with a fresh approach, and coach them to write intentionally about their experiences. Our mentors are committed to shaping our scholar’s applications to reflect their unique skills and experiences.
Our scholars exhibit a need for college admissions consulting alongside economic instability, marginalized social backgrounds, and/or adverse experiences in their family or community. We are invested in their long-term well being and the impact that education can have on their lives. We measure our success by our scholars’ attainment of their educational goals, including college acceptances and full ride scholarships, measurable personal growth through extracurricular pursuits and soft skill development, and fit with Ivy League and top-tier university academic culture.
Our program is competitive. We encourage students to apply who already have a demonstrated record of academic excellence with high grades and test scores, but need that extra insight into the application process, or that extra 50 points on your SAT. We ask that you have foundational skills, like time management and organization, already in place. We also ask for a level of groundedness and maturity. Laurel Scholars demonstrate the intelligence and drive that is essential for successful top-tier college admissions.
The Laurel Scholars Program is a serious commitment. We ask that you remain committed to your studies, as well as attend weekly one hour meetings on Zoom with your mentor and complete 2-3 hours per week minimum of homework.
Although the amount of time assignments will take will vary, you should expect to spend up to five hours a week working on essays or other endeavors.
The Laurel Scholars Program is a serious commitment. We ask that you remain committed to your studies, as well as attend weekly one hour meetings on Zoom with your mentor and complete 2-3 hours per week minimum of homework.
Although the amount of time assignments will take will vary, you should expect to spend up to five hours a week working on essays or other endeavors.
The child of immigrants from Brazil, and recently a citizen herself, Anna was enthralled by American politics, and wanted to leave her mark on her new home. With a future goal of becoming a Senator, she had already involved herself heavily in politics in high school, serving as the Houston regional director for High School Democrats. Anna knew she needed a great education to support her dreams however, and turned to Ivy Scholars to help her get it.
Our first priority with Anna was helping her determine where she should apply. Her grades were good enough to ensure admission to UT Austin, but she had her sights set higher. She wanted to attend a school out of state, and needed one which would help her with scholarships as well. We helped Anna build a list of schools which would serve her well, all of which are dedicated to meeting financial need.
While her grades were amazing already, we also advised Anna on retaking her tests strategically. She had struggled with her tests before, due to test anxiety and a medical condition. We advised her on getting a doctor’s note to allow for additional time, and helped her prepare to ease her anxiety. When she retook the tests, her scores improved tremendously.
Anna had a great story, she just needed to tell it. We helped Anna brainstorm, draft, and edit her essays, showing her passion for the political process, and her drive to change the world and help people. Like many others, Anna desired to help as many people as she could, and saw politics as the best way to do that. In her personal statement, she showed the strength of her convictions, and how they drove her forward. With our help, she took her essays to the next level, and was able to submit them with confidence.
We sent out the applications, and Anna got accepted into Rice, USC, NYU, and UT Austin’s prestigious Canfield Business Honors program. She attended Rice, due to the amazing scholarship she was awarded. We were happy to help Anna on her educational journey, and look forward to seeing how she will go on to change the world.
The first in her family to apply to college in the United States, Zara was a brilliant student, but needed help to understand the admissions process. Her goal was to become a doctor, and dedicate her life to helping others. Ivy Scholars was glad to help her on her journey.
Her grades and test scores were amazing on their own, so we began by helping her organize her application journey using our Asana program. This tracked all of her applications, their due dates, and the materials she was working on. Zara wanted to apply to many colleges, so keeping everything organized was of paramount importance.
Next, we turned to her essays. Zara knew what programs she wanted to pursue, and we helped her craft the perfect essays to appeal to them. Zara has an amazing personal story, and Ivy Scholars helped her tell it to colleges.
With her hard work, and a bit of help, Zara was able to get into a number of great schools. These include: UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Howard University, Menlo College, and the Colorado School of Mines. She was also offered scholarships to Baylor College.
Zara is now studying pre-med at UCSD, well on her way to a medical career. Ivy Scholars is proud to have helped her achieve her collegiate dreams. Here’s what Zara has to say about the experience:
"Ivy Scholars was an incredible asset to me during my college application experience. With the COVID-19 pandemic and me being the first in my family to attend college in the United States, I was lost when I first started my college applications. I had so many questions, but no one to answer them. I was ecstatic when Ivy Scholars offered to be my guiding light pro bono, since I would not have been able to afford their services otherwise. Their detailed plan on Asana and deep, insightful comments on my personal essays helped me craft the best application I possibly could. Ivy Scholars was an immense help during a stressful time and for that, I’ll always be grateful."
In addition to meeting the requirements listed in the ‘Our Students’, students must demonstrate financial need.
Note: We recognize the complexity and nuance in how financial hardship may not be easily visible on paper and will consider circumstances on an individual basis for students who fall outside of these parameters.
We begin by developing an understanding of your goals and perspective. By identifying your strengths and passions, we provide you with opportunities to develop and address needs or problems in your community. From here, we help you build projects that make the world better and showcase your candidacy to top colleges. Finally, we help you explore which schools are compatible with these interests, and help you find your voice within admissions essays, focusing on how to convey an authentic, mature self to your target schools.
All coaching sessions take place online. We meet with scholars over Zoom, and review essays via Google Docs and Google Classroom. Students also have access to an online project management software, Asana, to keep track of assignments and stay organized.
100% of our students receive acceptance to a reach or target school. Many receive full ride scholarships, but we cannot guarantee it.
Our Laurel Scholars alumni have attended Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Rice, UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business Canfield Honors Program, Bates, and USC, with over 50% of acceptances meeting 90% of financial need.
Please read ‘The Commitment’.
We want to see students with a compelling story, who have worked hard and made the best of their situation. We look for the same thing colleges look for: engagement with passions, a desire to learn for its own sake, and internal motivation.
Yes. While we primarily work with students in the United States, we welcome students from around the world that meet our language and grade requirements.
It is okay to feel lost in regard to the college application process.
If you believe you demonstrate the intelligence and drive that is essential for successful top-tier college admissions, but have unique circumstances that do not fit our status quo, we encourage you to still apply and advocate for yourself.
Ivy Scholars is the leading educational consultant in Sugar Land, Texas, providing admissions coaching, test prep, and more to help students enroll at top tier schools.
Call us now: +1 (281) 215-5148
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