College Admissions Counseling
Services, Team & Pricing
Work with an experienced college counselor to help you prepare
for and navigate the college admissions process.
Why work with CEG?
Setting up and sticking to a college preparation plan can be overwhelming.
Each year, we work with a small group of motivated students to help them plan and prepare for college. Our goal is to help students feel inspired and confident as they move through high school. Students who work with us find our process to be fun, effective, and in some cases life-changing. Students we work with go to a wide range of top colleges around the US and world.
As Seen In
This was my first time working with a competent college counselor, and she really showed me the extent to which she’s mastered the craft. She recommended me a lot of schools that were perfectly in line with what I want after an impressively short time knowing me. Her expertise in every part of the process was truly great: from polishing my commonapp to providing third-opinion feedback on my essays to responding to my emails within five minutes no matter the time of day, she works like a professional aimed at perfecting my college search experience. Thanks to her, I feel confident in every one of my schools, from my ED option to my likelies.
Jacob
Former Student
Strategic Admissions Plan
Develop a multi-year plan for tackling the admissions process for your targeted colleges, planning extracurriculars, developing a customized college list, and creating a roadmap to navigate the admissions process with purpose.
Academic Planning & Standardized Testing
Develop a rigorous course schedule that allows you to explore your passions, challenge your academic abilities, and make the most of your school’s offerings. We’ll help you create a multi-year testing plan to prepare for the SAT/ACT, plan test dates, and navigate test-optional admissions.
College and Program Discovery
Plan visits, discover new programs and college options and pathways, and develop a comprehensive list of colleges and programs to help you reach your academic goals.
Extracurricular Planning
Leverage your core values, strengths, and interests to plan how to spend your time outside of the classroom.
- Explore or showcase an interest
- Make an impact on your local or global community
- Expand an existing project/club
- Start your own entrepreneurial initiative
- Create a portfolio of creative work
- Develop an app to showcase your coding skills
- Intern at a local business
- Volunteer at a non-profit organization
Summer Planning
Plan a high-impact summer, whether you’re exploring summer programs, finding research opportunities, planning a self-directed project, looking for internships, or something else.
The sky’s the limit.
Major Exploration & Selection Strategy
Through a deep dive on college offerings, you’ll explore your academic interests and hone in on potential career areas and college majors to direct course selection and extracurricular involvement according to your values.
Working with the College Essay Guy team, I discovered who I am as a person, what I value, and how I specifically developed and express my values. Knowing who I am as a person was essential in genuinely presenting myself to college admissions representatives….I learned a lot about what I value as a person. I learned about my different qualities and characteristics that I have used in the past, and will continue to use in the future. I really enjoyed reflecting on specific experiences that led me to develop these value and working with the College Essay Guy team.
Ryan
Admitted to UPenn
WE’RE A CERTIFIED B CORP
Unlike traditional corporations, B Corps are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders: customers, workers, communities, and the environment. As a B Corp, we demonstrate our active commitment to providing college application support to every student, everywhere, by offering hundreds of free resources, and pay-what-you-can spots for our online courses.
We don’t like to brag…
But we know parents are often curious about the numbers.
Morgan
College Counselor
Core Values: Honesty, Gratitude, Trust
Morgan (she/her), Executive Director of Essay Coaching and College Counseling at College Essay Guy, brings over 25 years of admissions expertise to CEG. Her career is rooted in eight years of experience in college admissions where she was an application reader and oversaw admission to an undergraduate business school as a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions. Following her time in admissions offices, she spent over a decade guiding domestic and international students through the admissions process at two boarding schools in Massachusetts and North Carolina. Her dual perspective as a former application reader and seasoned counselor allows her to navigate the complexities of highly selective admissions skillfully.
At CEG, Morgan’s mission is simple: helping students feel successful, authentic, and confident. Recognized as a Counselor That Changes Lives, she champions a student-centered approach built on values of trust and agency that empower students to turn a potentially stressful process into a transformative one. She was recently featured in U.S. News & World Report’s “7 Steps to Choosing the Right College.” Her students have been accepted at nearly all the Top 50 (US News Rankings) and many highly selective liberal arts colleges. Here are just a handful of the colleges she’s had students admitted to recently: NYU, USC, Georgia Tech, CMU, UNC-Chapel Hill, all UC campuses, UVA, MIT, Emory, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, UT Austin, Cornell, Michigan, Lehigh, Northeastern, University of Florida, University of Rochester, Boston College, McGill, Purdue, UC Boulder, TCU, University of Washington, and many more.
A New England transplant living in Chapel Hill, Morgan is as competitive about board games as she is about helping students craft standout applications. When she’s not talking college admissions, she’s adventuring with her family—especially her spunky 11-year-old daughter—somewhere near the water or on the ski slopes out west. She believes that self-reflection is the ultimate superpower of college planning and loves being her students’ biggest advocate, cheerleader, and strategist.
Education:
- B.A. Philosophy and Political Science
- M.Ed. Interdisciplinary Education
- Graduate Certificate in Counselor Education
Renee
College Counselor
Core Values: Growth, Creativity, Laughter
Renee (she/her), Senior College Counselor, has spent over 30 years navigating college admissions, including the last 6 years as one of the original College Essay Guy counselors. She has worked with students applying to colleges across the United States (and abroad) and loves diving into research to support students’ niche interests and high-achieving goals. She uses the knowledge she’s gained from touring over 200+ college campuses in the US, Canada, and the UK to guide students toward colleges that best fit their aspirations. She helps students understand what their college priorities are and infuses fun and laughter along the way.
Renee’s extensive tenure working in high schools, coupled with her leadership roles with NACAC (Capitol Hill advocacy), SACAC (state initiatives), and the Common App Advisory Board, position her to advise students to maximize their potential while understanding the national landscape of admissions. She has advised students pursuing college athletics, performing arts programs, and military academies, as well as most academic disciplines. Her students have been accepted at a wide range of colleges, including many of the most highly selective colleges in the country (T50 USNWR), the Ivy League, HBCU’s, and top ranked liberal arts colleges. In recent years, her students have been admitted to Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, MIT, NYU, Wellesley, Northeastern, Barnard, all UC campuses, University of Michigan, Davidson, Brown, USC, Smith, Stanford, Swarthmore, U Chicago, UGA, Ga Tech, Vanderbilt, UIUC, University of Washington, Scripps, Carnegie Mellon, UNC-Chapel Hill, Wash U, UT Austin, UVA, Wake Forest, Duke, Northeastern and countless others.
When she’s not planning her next college tour, Renee is likely tending to her garden, doting on her favorite dog, Pretzel, and plotting her next travel adventure.
Education:
- B.A. Psychology
- M.A. School Counseling
- Ed.S. Educational Leadership & Administration
Scott
College Counselor
Core Values: Humility, Kindness, Respect
Scott (he/him) is a College Counselor who brings two decades of experience in university admissions and college counseling to his CEG families. This includes 8 years as an admission officer at Middlebury College and 9 years at independent schools in Hong Kong and Vancouver, Canada. Scott brings his extensive knowledge of the admissions processes of the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, and Europe to his work with American and international families. He believes strongly in the philosophy of “best fit” in university admission. Having experienced the admission process from both the parent and counselor perspectives, he loves getting to know his students and families to help make the process as positive, comfortable, and stress-free as possible.
His students have been accepted at a wide range of colleges across the globe. In the US, his students have been accepted to Stanford, MIT, Harvard, UPenn, Cornell, Columbia, all UCs , Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Carleton, CMC, Macalester, BU, BC, NYU, Barnard, Wellesley, Purdue, UW, UVM, William & Mary, UMinn, Reed, LMU. And his students have been accepted to the following Canadian and UK universities: UBC, UoT, McGill, Western, Simon Fraser, U of Victoria, Queen’s, Calgary, Alberta, TMU, Acadia, Mount Allison, Dalhousie, UCL, KCL, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Manchester, Durham, Exeter, Bristol, Warwick, etc. Outside of college counseling, Scott enjoys cycling, Nordic skiing, travel, cooking, music, and good conversation. Splitting his time between Hong Kong and New England, he brings a truly global lens and a calm disposition to his students.
Education:
- B.A. in Social Anthropology
Tom
Admissions Insider
Core Values: Authenticity Fun, Wisdom
Tom (he/him), Senior College Counselor (Admissions Insider Offering), Essay Coach & Content Specialist at College Essay Guy, has spent 11+ years helping students and families navigate the college admissions process with clarity, care, and genuine insider knowledge. He has worked across every side of admissions: as an admissions officer at the College of the Holy Cross (his alma mater), where he led diversity fly-in programs and the LGBTQ+ Staff Mentor Program; as an Assistant Dean of Admissions at Pomona College, where he helped implement the school’s test-optional admissions policy; and as a college counselor at a selective Seattle independent school. He has also spent four summers as a faculty member at College Horizons, an organization dedicated to supporting Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students through the college process.Tom first connected with CEG when, as an admissions officer at Pomona, he encountered a Matchlighters student whose essay stopped him in his tracks. He has been part of the CEG family ever since. Rooted in a deep commitment to equity and authentic storytelling, Tom helps students move from “I don’t know what to write about” to a polished, compelling application that feels unmistakably them.Tom specializes in highly selective admissions and works closely with students applying to competitive schools nationwide. His students have been admitted to places like Columbia, Harvard, Duke, Stanford, Tufts, Carnegie Mellon, USC, University of Washington, Colorado College, Case Western, Amherst, Yale, Pomona, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pitzer, Williams, Bowdoin, University of Chicago, every UC campus (including Berkeley and UCLA), US Naval Academy, Middlebury, University of Virginia, Notre Dame, Penn, Brown, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, MIT, UIUC, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Caltech, Cornell, Carleton, Scripps, Claremont McKenna and many others.A passionate Kacey Musgraves fan (all eras, not just star crossed and Golden Hour), breakfast burrito devotee, and committed space tourism skeptic, Tom is the first to acknowledge how high-stakes and personal this process can feel. He has been on both sides of the admissions table, and you will find nothing but genuine empathy and solidarity from him as you navigate your college admissions journey. Tom splits time between Los Angeles and his roots in coastal Maine.
Tillie
Admissions Insider
Core Values: Close Relationships, Curiosity, Authenticity
Tillie (she/her), Senior College Counselor & Content Specialist at College Essay Guy, has been working with students from around the world for over 15 years. She’s worked in all facets of the college application process, first as an Admission Officer recruiting students, assessing applications, and awarding scholarships. She then worked as a counselor in elite boarding schools, at a private counseling firm in South East Asia, and then spent 5 years in the San Francisco Bay Area as a Co-Director of College Counseling. Most recently she was an undergraduate application reader for USC and has consulted with students and organizations across the nation.
Tillie believes in treating her students like the young adults that they are – working with serious attention to detail, deep listening, and a healthy dose of humor. She works closely with students applying to highly selective universities, especially majors in STEM (Comp Sci, Engineering, Biology, Data Science, etc.), Business, Social Sciences, and the Arts & Architecture. She specializes in helping students craft a cohesive, compelling story through their essays and portfolios. Her students have found great joy and success at places like Brown, Cornell, Columbia, UChicago, Duke, Emory, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan, USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, NYU, BU, Wash U St. Louis, Bowdoin, Pomona, and many more!
A filmmaker, trained ballet dancer, gameshow competitor, and guacamole enthusiast, Tillie is a proud Dodgers fan raised in Nairobi, Kenya, who now calls the Pacific Northwest home.
Education:
- B.A. Theatre
- M.A. International Education Management
Susan
College Counselor
Core Values: Professionalism, Open-Mindedness, Kindness
Susan (she/her) is one of the original CEG counselors, bringing a powerhouse career in admissions and counseling that spans 4 decades. She has navigated every corner of the admissions landscape, from guiding American and international students applying to highly selective research universities and liberal arts colleges, to fine and performing arts programs, test-optional institutions, and disability support programs. In college admissions, she has evaluated thousands of university applications to multiple selective institutions.
As a known expert in the field of admissions, she was a founding board member of the Character Collaborative, a nonprofit supporting the use of personal qualities and character attributes in students’ applications. She has served and volunteered on many other industry boards including College Board, the Educational Testing Service, the Common Application, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the access organization GoToCollege NYC. You can also find her as a regular contributor to the Your College Bound Kid podcast.
Susan is a counselor at heart who loves helping students and parents launch their college searches and prepare authentic and strategic college applications. When she isn’t podcasting or writing, this native New Yorker is a dedicated sports enthusiast and mother of adult twins (an ICU nurse and an entrepreneur). She splits her time between the Big Apple, Philadelphia, and the coast of Maine—bringing countless years of wisdom to every student she mentors.
Education:
- B.S. Psychology
- Diplôme de deuxième degré, France
- MS.Ed. School Counseling
Jay
College Counselor
Core Values: Authenticity, Balance, Compassion
Jay (he/him), Senior College Counselor, brings over a decade of experience specializing in the University of California system and admissions to highly selective colleges nationally. He excels at applying his expertise in STEM fields like pre-med, engineering, and computer science to student profile and college list development. As a former application reader and interviewer for UCLA’s Alumni Scholarships Program, Jay has a sharp eye for what makes an applicant stand out at top institutions.
Using a strengths-based counseling style, Jay collaborates with students to craft authentic applications that help students reach for dream schools empowered with confidence. He holds a California PPS credential, which grounds his counseling in a holistic approach, helping students with time and stress management and character development, recognizing that a student-centered approach is key to success. His students have achieved admission to all Ivy League schools, every UC campus, and top private colleges such as Stanford, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Duke, Rice, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, USC and more. Jay’s mission is not just to help students reach their dream schools but also to empower them with confidence and skills for a bright future.
As a Southern California native, Jay is usually at Newport Beach or taking a long afternoon hike in Crystal Cove. He’s a fan of anime, travel, sports, and discovering the latest food trends on TikTok.
Education:
- B.S. Microbiology
- M.A. Applied Psychology – School Counseling
Package Options & Pricing
No single strategy or admissions plan works for every student. Instead, your plan is catered to your unique needs and goals. Here are a few topics we provide guidance on to most students we work with:
Customized college list development and visit planning
Academic planning and course selection
Major exploration & selection strategy
Standardized test planning and preparation strategy
Extracurricular planning and coaching
Summer planning, program applications & internships
Interview preparation and planning
Time management and developing good habits
Other topics, as needed (Getting a tutor, time management, recommended reading, etc.)
FRESHMAN TO SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE PLANNING PACKAGE
SOPHOMORE TO SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE PLANNING PACKAGE
JUNIOR TO SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE PLANNING PACKAGE
RISING SENIOR YEAR COLLEGE PLANNING PACKAGE
What’s Not Included?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does your team help with….?
Yep! Our team has 150+ years of combined college admissions and college counseling experience. So if there’s a question or confusion you have, we’ve likely covered it many times over the past 30 years.
Who would we be working with? How do you determine which counselor is right? Can I meet my counselor before signing up?
Working with the right counselor that you connect with is key to feeling great about the college admissions process, especially since this might be a multi-year process. So we recommend that all prospective students and families schedule a Get to Know You call with our recommended counselor to see if it’s a great fit before getting started.
When is the best time to get started?
As we like to say with most college admissions questions, it depends on each student’s needs. Students that plan to apply to the most selective universities or are the first in their family to attend college in the US often start working with us as early as 9th grade. Not sure? Schedule a call with our team so we can learn more and provide guidance.
How are parents involved in the process?
Parents are crucial to the college admissions planning process. We invite parents to offer input at various stages of the college planning process, with often a bit heavier involvement at the start to provide input on family finances and college selection. We also often invite parents to join select meetings throughout the process.
How often do I meet with a counselor? What if I have questions in between meetings?
Every student’s needs are a bit different, and we cater our scheduling times and frequency based on the needs of families. On average, 9th and 10th graders may meet with us a couple of times a semester, with possibly more meetings if you’re looking for more hands-on summer application, college visit planning or extracurricular coaching.
Once 11th and 12th grade arrive, we recommend meeting closer to monthly during the school year. Counselors are typically in communication with students and parents in between meetings to answer questions or address emergent needs. We are here for you from the moment you sign up through the end of your senior year of high school!
When are counselors available to meet? Where do meetings take place?
Our counselors work with students to schedule meetings at mutually convenient times. We know that students are usually available on the weekends, after school, and in the evenings during the school year, so we don’t have issues accommodating most student’s schedules and this is something that can be discussed during your Get to Know You call. Meetings take place on Zoom.
Do you work with transfer, gap year or graduate students?
We do! We work with a number of transfer and gap year students every year. Ask us for more info about how we tailor our college counseling and essay coaching support for these students.
Applying to graduate school? Schedule a call with the head of our Graduate Admissions team here.
What types of students do you work with?
We work with students at all stages of the college admissions process, from high-achieving Ivy-bound students, those targeting liberal arts colleges, or even students targeting awesome in-state options close to home. We work with athletes, visual and performing artists, students applying to direct entry medical programs, selective business or STEM programs, and lots more. Share with us your unique goals and needs, and we can share how we might be able to help.
We also have experience working with non-traditional students, whether you’re returning after a decade plus long break from college, homeschooled, or embarking on a gap year before applying to college.
How many counselors do I work with?
Students typically work with one college counselor through the college admissions process, though you’ll have your profile and work reviewed regularly by our full team of college counselors throughout your time with us.
Once senior year starts to roll around, students can elect to sign up to work with a dedicated college essay specialist during the summer and fall to help you craft a compelling narrative in your essays, activities list, or other supplemental writing requirements.
How will my CEG college counselor help me get through the application process?
Our counselors love diving into the heart of the application process with students. We begin by preparing students for applications ensuring they understand what the application options are and how they function. Later in the fall of senior year, we play an active role by guiding and providing specific feedback for upleveling application content. We are typically the last set of eyes on your application before it’s ready to hit submit!
Does the counseling support end once my applications are submitted?
While we often find that students don’t need to meet on a regular basis after applications are submitted, our support is in place through senior year. This means that we are here to help with any unexpected needs through the application process to help you navigate college decisions. While it’s impossible to anticipate receiving a deferral or wait list decision ahead of time, we’ll be ready to provide guidance should you need to strategize around outcomes or prepare a letter of continued interest.
Do you guarantee admission? What’s your success rate?
Here’s the short version:
We don’t guarantee admission to any particular college (and if someone promises you they do, you might want to run the other direction.)
We work with students to plan ahead, think intentionally about their extracurricular involvement to have maximum impact, challenge themselves with a rigorous course load, and work hard to craft compelling college applications and essays. Students that we work with who have put in the effort have had gratifying success and go on to amazing colleges around the world.
Each year, we have half a dozen or more acceptances to each of the Ivy+ colleges, as well as top liberal arts colleges and public universities, selective specialized STEM, business, pre-med, and arts programs. But we don’t just base our success on where students get in.
Beyond getting into their top-choice colleges, we help students to move through the process with more ease and less stress, put thoughtful intention behind each choice they make, and to have some fun along the way. (Yep, this is gonna’ be fun.)