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College Admissions Counseling | ConnectPrep — Get Into Your Dream College
College Admissions Counseling

Get Into Your
Dream College.

You're in 11th or 12th grade. The clock is ticking and every decision matters. We build your strategy, write your essays, and get you in — 97% of our students get into their top-choice school.

★★★★★

"Jeremy's writing workshops were invaluable. I applied to 25 schools — almost all T20 — and was accepted to 18. I will be attending Harvard University this fall."

MM
Milan M.
Harvard — 18 of 25 T20 Acceptances
97%
Top-choice acceptance rate
300+
Students guided to top colleges
12+
Avg. years advisor experience
200+
Colleges visited by our advisors
100+
Universities our students attend
Student Acceptances

Where Our Students
Get Accepted

ConnectPrep students are accepted to the most selective universities in the world. Here's where they've gone.

HarvardHarvard
YaleYale
PrincetonPrinceton
ColumbiaColumbia
CornellCornell
PennPenn
DartmouthDartmouth
BrownBrown
StanfordStanford
MITMIT
DukeDuke
NorthwesternNorthwestern
GeorgetownGeorgetown
RiceRice
Johns HopkinsJohns Hopkins
VanderbiltVanderbilt
EmoryEmory
Notre DameNotre Dame
MichiganMichigan
Carnegie MellonCarnegie Mellon
UCLAUCLA
NYUNYU
HarvardHarvard
YaleYale
ConnectPrep advisor with student
97%
Top-choice
acceptance
Why ConnectPrep

Your Child Deserves a
Strategic Advantage

College admissions is more competitive than ever. We don't just submit applications. We build a clear, year-by-year strategy that puts your child in the best position at every school on the list.

Advisors with 12+ Years Experience
Our counselors have guided hundreds of students to top schools — they know what admissions committees look for.
Fully Personalized Strategy
No templates, no generic advice. Every student gets a roadmap built around their profile, interests, and dream schools.
97% Top-Choice Acceptance Rate
Over 97% of our students per cycle are accepted into their top-ranked college — including highly selective schools.
Deadline Management & Accountability
We track every deadline, manage the full timeline, and keep students and families accountable so nothing slips.
What We Offer

Every Service You Need
to Get Accepted

Every service is 1:1 and built around your child. We cover every part of the process.

School Selection & Strategy

Build a perfectly balanced list aligned to your profile, interests, and goals.

  • Balanced reach / match / safety list
  • Campus visit planning
  • Financial aid strategy by school
  • Early decision / early action guidance

Essay & Application Coaching

The personal statement is the single most powerful differentiator. We guide every word.

  • Common App personal statement
  • All supplemental essays per school
  • Multiple rounds of editing
  • Activities list optimization

Interview Preparation

Prepare for every format — alumni, admissions, and virtual — with mock sessions and feedback.

  • Multiple mock interview sessions
  • School-specific question preparation
  • Communication coaching
  • Response frameworks

Academic Planning & Test Strategy

Audit your transcript and build a focused SAT/ACT strategy for the scores your list requires.

  • 4-year course selection roadmap
  • SAT / ACT diagnostic & strategy
  • AP / IB selection
  • GPA protection
Essay Development

The Essay Is Where
You Win or Lose

Most students write about what they did. We teach them to write about who they are.

1
Story Mining & Brainstorm Workshop
We surface experiences and values most students never think to include — the moments that actually reveal character.
2
Narrative Structure & Arc
Every great statement has a dramatic arc: a specific scene, a turning point, a reflection that lands with weight.
3
Voice Preservation & Authenticity
Admissions officers recognize immediately when an essay sounds like a parent. We improve clarity while protecting every student's voice.
4
School-Specific Supplementals
"Why us?" essays require genuine research. We guide students to write supplementals that signal authentic intellectual fit.
5
Application Narrative Cohesion
The strongest applications tell one coherent story across every component — essays, activities, recommendations, and interviews.
ConnectPrep essay coaching
Every essay we work on
Common App personal statement
All supplemental essays
"Why us?" per school
Activities list (150-char)
Additional info section
Unlimited revision rounds
Standing Out

How We Help Your Child
Rise Above the Pool

Top schools turn away most qualified applicants. These are the six ways we build a real edge.

Passion Project

Passion Project Development

A well-documented passion project is one of the most powerful differentiators in any application. We help students identify a genuine interest and shape it into an initiative with measurable impact.

Research

Research Projects & Publishing

High school research participation is a significant differentiator for top-25 schools. We connect students with research opportunities and guide development of academic papers for student journals.

Networking

Networking & Building Connections

We teach students how to build genuine relationships with admissions representatives, connect with alumni, and engage meaningfully in communities related to their interests.

Leadership

Leadership & Community Impact

We help students move from participation to ownership: launching clubs, taking on officer roles, founding initiatives, and turning service into something measurable and meaningful.

Brand

Personal Brand & Application Identity

The most memorable applications have a clear identity — a thread that runs through every component. We help each student discover and articulate that thread.

Internships

Internships, Summer Programs & Pre-College

We identify and help students apply to competitive summer programs, internships, and leadership institutes that align with their interests and strengthen the extracurricular section.

Passion Project Development

Where Good Applications
Become Great Ones

100% of our Ivy-accepted students had a documented passion project. It is the single most powerful differentiator beyond GPA and test scores, and the earlier students start, the more powerful it becomes.

100%
of Ivy admits had a documented project
#1
differentiator beyond GPA and test scores
4x
more essay material from one strong project
9th
best grade to start for maximum impact
Nonprofit & Social Impact
App or Technology
Research & Publishing
Media & Publication
Community Program
Business or Venture
Nonprofit & Social Impact
Build an organization that solves a real problem
High Essay Impact
Students identify a genuine gap (food insecurity, tutoring access, mental health stigma) and build a structured organization around it. A nonprofit with real reach, real partnerships, and measurable outcomes signals initiative that no list of club memberships can replicate.
What we help you build
Name, mission, 501(c)(3) pathway, volunteer structure, grant applications
What makes it stand out
Documented reach, number of people served, sustained growth over 2+ years
Student example: Peer tutoring nonprofit, 40 volunteers across 3 schools, local grant secured
Georgetown, Vanderbilt
App or Technology
Ship something real: even 200 users changes everything
Strong for STEM
A web app, mobile tool, or browser extension that solves a real problem and has real users. The scale does not need to be enormous. What matters is that the student identified a need, built a solution, and launched it into the world independently.
What we help you build
Problem scoping, MVP planning, launch strategy, user feedback loops
What makes it stand out
Live deployment, download count, user testimonials, press coverage
Student example: Accessibility app for seniors, 600+ App Store downloads
Carnegie Mellon CS
Research & Publishing
Original research creates academic credentials that matter
Critical for BS/MD
Original research submitted to a student journal or academic competition. A published paper at the high school level is an extraordinary credential that very few applicants can claim, and it anchors the entire application for pre-med and research-oriented students.
What we help you build
Topic selection, methodology, data analysis, journal identification, submission
What makes it stand out
Published or accepted paper, competition placement, faculty mentor acknowledgment
Student example: Sleep study published in Journal of Emerging Investigators
Johns Hopkins, Emory
Media & Publication
A consistent editorial voice, built over years not weeks
Great for Humanists
A student-run podcast, newsletter, YouTube channel, or publication with a defined voice and a real audience. Consistency and longevity signal more than size. 28 thoughtful episodes over two years tells a stronger story than a single viral moment.
What we help you build
Format, editorial identity, publishing cadence, audience growth strategy
What makes it stand out
Episode or issue count, subscriber base, press mentions, community impact
Student example: Oral history podcast on immigrant families, 24 episodes
Northwestern, NYU Tisch
Community Program
Ownership and longevity matter more than scale
Leadership Signal
A recurring tutoring program, youth sports league, workshop series, or community event the student founded and sustained over multiple years. Admissions readers immediately recognize the difference between someone who showed up and someone who built and ran something.
What we help you build
Program structure, recruitment, scheduling, measurable outcomes, partnerships
What makes it stand out
Years sustained, participants served, district or institutional recognition
Student example: Mental health curriculum adopted by school district, 200+ students reached
Yale, Duke, Rice
Business or Venture
Revenue and real clients prove self-direction nothing else can
Standout for Wharton
A small business, freelance practice, or creative studio. Even modest revenue and a handful of clients demonstrate real-world initiative. Business experience reads exceptionally well for economics and entrepreneurship programs, and it is nearly impossible to fake convincingly in essays and interviews.
What we help you build
Business model, customer acquisition, documentation of growth and revenue milestones
What makes it stand out
Revenue figures, client count, years in operation, press or recognition
Student example: Design freelance business, 15 clients, $8K revenue over 2 years
Wharton, Cornell Dyson
Every ConnectPrep student develops a documented passion project, starting as early as 9th grade.
Start Building Yours
Financial Aid Expertise

Maximizing Your
Aid & Scholarship Awards

Most families miss out on aid they qualify for. We help every family get every dollar they deserve.

FAFSA Optimization

The FAFSA deadline matters more than most families realize. We guide families through every field, timing strategy, and asset-reporting decision to maximize calculated need.

  • FAFSA completion & deadline strategy
  • EFC/SAI optimization guidance
  • State aid deadline management
  • Year-over-year appeal planning

CSS Profile & Institutional Aid

The CSS Profile is used by 400+ schools — including most Ivies — to award institutional grants. Small differences in how families complete it can mean tens of thousands of dollars.

  • CSS Profile line-by-line guidance
  • School-specific aid policy review
  • Non-custodial parent form strategy
  • Professional judgment appeal letters

Merit Scholarships & Outside Awards

Merit aid isn't just for National Merit finalists. We identify school-specific scholarships, match students to outside programs, and help craft winning applications.

  • Institutional merit scholarship matching
  • Outside scholarship identification
  • Scholarship essay coaching
  • Award offer comparison & negotiation
$0
Cost of leaving FAFSA fields wrong
400+
Schools use CSS Profile
$$$
Merit aid available at most schools
Student Success Stories

Real Students. Real Acceptances.

★★★★★
"I applied to 25 schools — almost all T20 — and was accepted to 18, waitlisted at 4, and only rejected from 3. Jeremy pushed me to achieve a 1550 SAT. His writing workshops were invaluable. I will be attending Harvard University this fall."
Harvard18/25 T20 Acceptances
MM
Milan M.
Class of 2028
★★★★★
"Jeremy is an incredible mentor. I ended up at my dream school — Cornell University. Working with Jeremy provided confidence and comfort. My acceptance to Cornell, Emory, and five other schools were only possible because Jeremy was in my corner."
CornellEmoryMultiple Acceptances
JM
Student
Cornell University
★★★★★
"I was extremely satisfied with ConnectPrep and was able to get into Dartmouth, Rice, Vanderbilt, WashU, and more. Jeremy is fantastic. With his help my daughter's ACT increased from 32 to 35."
DartmouthRiceVanderbilt
DP
Dartmouth Parent
Parent of Accepted Student
Common Questions

Everything You Need to Know
About College Admissions Advising

For college admissions counseling, most families begin in 11th grade. If your student is in 9th or 10th grade, our Academic Advising program is the right starting point.

On average, over 97% of our students per application cycle are accepted into their top-ranked college, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, and many other top-25 universities.

Our advising covers school selection, essay coaching, supplemental writing, interview preparation, academic planning, extracurricular strategy, test prep guidance, financial aid navigation, and decision support — all 1:1.

Book a free 30-minute College Strategy Call at connectprep.com/contact or call (914) 288-5718. No commitment required.

Limited Availability

Book Your Free College
Strategy Session

30 minutes with an expert advisor. No commitment required.

Request Your Free Session

We respond within one business day to schedule your call.

Spots fill quickly. We limit new families each month. Reserve your session now.

Or call: (914) 288-5718

Why Families Choose ConnectPrep

What You Get
in 30 Minutes

Profile Assessment
We review academics, test scores, extracurriculars, and timeline — then tell you honestly where things stand.
School List Guidance
We'll discuss which schools are realistic, which are reaches, and which are worth exploring.
Zero Commitment Required
The call is completely free — no pressure to continue, no hidden agenda.
Recent ConnectPrep results
Student accepted to Harvard — 18 of 25 T20 applications successful
Student accepted to Cornell, Emory, and 5 additional schools
Student accepted to Dartmouth, Rice, Vanderbilt, and WashU
ACT raised from 32 to 35, accepted to Emory

Your Child's Dream School
Starts with the Right Strategy.

Book your free College Strategy Call. We'll review your child's profile, clarify target schools, and map the path to an acceptance — no commitment, no pressure.

ConnectPrep College Admissions Counseling is an independent advisory service. © 2026 ConnectPrep. All rights reserved.

What families say

Verified reviews from real families.

★★★★★
Google

“Elena was honest, encouraging, and knew exactly how to push my son without making things feel overwhelming. He was admitted to the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, his first choice, along with UVA, WashU, and NYU Stern.”

RN
Rajiv Nair
Verified Review
★★★★★
Google

“Jeremy guided us through every step of the college advising process, leading to acceptances at Georgetown, Rice, and Emory with significant merit scholarships.”

A
Abbey
Verified Review
★★★★★
Google

“She was accepted to every university she applied to with generous merit scholarships — an outcome that exceeded our expectations. Jeremy’s expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for his students make him a true standout.”

YG
Yvonne Gasperino
Verified Review
★★★★★
Thumbtack

“Mr. Fine’s expertise in the process helped me get into schools such as Dartmouth, Rice, WashU, Vanderbilt, and more. I would highly recommend ConnectPrep’s services.”

KT
Komal T.
Verified Review
★★★★★
Thumbtack

“Jeremy has been able to pull us away from the pitfalls and focus on what’s right for my child. He really focuses on community service, steady growth, and creating a memorable and positive high school experience.”

JJ
Jane J.
Verified Review
Admissions Counseling Questions

How College Counseling Actually Works.

Timeline, scope, top-three placement, financial aid, and what's actually included in an engagement.

When should we start college admissions counseling?

ConnectPrep recommends starting college admissions counseling in 9th or 10th grade.

Early starts allow time to build a strategic academic record, develop extracurricular depth, identify a passion project, and begin essay brainstorming before senior-year pressure.

Junior-year starts remain common and effective. Senior-year engagements are also available for families with compressed timelines.

How does ConnectPrep build a college list?

ConnectPrep builds college lists using the Four-Factor College List Framework:

  1. Academic profile match. Student profile against each school's admission profile.
  2. Demonstrated interest signals. Tracking and strategy at schools that weight it.
  3. Fit factors. Academic, social, geographic, and financial.
  4. Early Decision strategy. ED, EA, REA modeling against profile and aid considerations.

Final lists typically include 8 to 15 schools spread across reach, target, and likely tiers.

How long does the college admissions process take?

A full-cycle ConnectPrep college admissions engagement runs 12 to 24 months.

  • Spring of junior year: School list development
  • Summer before senior year: Common App personal statement
  • Early fall senior year: Supplemental essays
  • November: Early Decision and Early Action applications submitted
  • January: Regular decision applications submitted
  • March through April: Decision-day management and waitlist strategy
What is ConnectPrep's top-three college placement rate?

ConnectPrep maintains a 97% top-three college placement rate, meaning 97% of college admissions clients are admitted to one of their top three choice schools — a track record sustained since 2013.

ConnectPrep students have been admitted to all eight Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Duke, Northwestern, the University of Chicago, and over 100 other top-50 national universities.

Do you help with the Common App personal statement?

Yes. The Common App personal statement is a core component of every ConnectPrep admissions engagement.

Students work with their counselor on topic generation, narrative architecture, outlining, structural drafting, and unlimited revisions until the essay is submission-ready. Every school-specific supplement is also coached and reviewed before submission.

What's a passion project, and why does it matter?

A passion project is a student-led initiative — research, nonprofit, business, creative work, or community program — that demonstrates intellectual commitment and measurable impact over multiple years.

Admissions officers at selective schools consistently rank passion projects above generic extracurricular lists. ConnectPrep has guided over 20 student passion projects across engineering, medical research, environmental science, athletics, community impact, and the arts.

Do you help with Early Decision and Early Action strategy?

Yes. Early Decision and Early Action strategy is one of the highest-leverage decisions in the admissions process.

  • ED acceptance rates run 2 to 3 times higher than regular decision at the same school
  • ED is binding, which limits financial aid negotiation leverage
  • EA and REA offer earlier decisions without the binding commitment
  • Restricted Early Action (Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Notre Dame) prevents simultaneous ED applications elsewhere

Each student's ED, EA, and REA strategy is modeled against their profile, target school list, and financial aid scenarios.

How does Early Decision affect financial aid?

Early Decision is binding, which limits financial aid negotiation leverage. Once admitted ED, a student commits to enroll regardless of the financial aid package offered.

  • Need-based aid is still awarded fairly — ED does not reduce demonstrated need calculations
  • Schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need (most Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Duke, Williams, Amherst, and others) commit to full aid regardless of ED status
  • Merit aid is more limited under ED because there is no competitive offer to leverage

ConnectPrep counselors model the financial aid implications of ED, EA, and REA against each family's specific situation before recommending an application strategy.

What's the difference between FAFSA and CSS Profile?

FAFSA: Required by all colleges for federal aid (Pell Grants, federal loans, work-study). Free to file at studentaid.gov. Calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI).

CSS Profile: Required by approximately 200+ private colleges for institutional aid. Administered by the College Board. Asks for more detailed financial information including home equity, retirement accounts, and non-custodial parent finances.

Families applying to selective private universities typically need to file both forms. ConnectPrep helps families complete both accurately and on schedule.

When should families start financial aid planning?

ConnectPrep recommends families begin financial aid planning during sophomore or junior year of high school — well before applications are due.

  • Junior year fall: Run Net Price Calculators on each target school
  • Junior year spring: Discuss budget openly as a family
  • Senior year October: File FAFSA as soon as it opens
  • Senior year October-November: Complete CSS Profile for any schools requiring it

Filing is recommended regardless of income level — many families miss merit scholarships that require FAFSA or CSS Profile data.

How does ConnectPrep help families maximize merit scholarships?

ConnectPrep counselors integrate merit aid strategy into the college list construction process from the start.

  • School list optimization: Identifying institutions where the student's academic profile is above the median admitted student
  • Honors college and named scholarship targeting: Morehead-Cain (UNC), Robertson (Duke and UNC), Stamps, Jefferson (UVA), and Park (NC State) scholarships
  • Application timing strategy: Many merit scholarships have priority deadlines earlier than regular admission
  • Test score optimization: Stronger SAT or ACT scores often unlock additional merit aid

Merit aid can offset $20,000 to full tuition at participating institutions.

What sets ConnectPrep apart from other college admissions consulting firms?

ConnectPrep stands apart on results and structure:

  • 97% top-three placement rate sustained since 2013
  • Founder-led firm. Jeremy Fine has personally directed admissions strategy since 2013, earning Thumbtack Top Pro recognition for eight consecutive years (2017-2024)
  • Campus visit depth. Counselors have collectively visited 200+ college campuses, with alumni representation from more than 100 universities
  • Integrated team model. Test preparation, academic tutoring, and admissions counseling under one team
  • Proprietary methodologies: the Four-Factor College List Framework and the Six-Category BS/MD Profile Model

Want a personalized roadmap? Book a free admissions strategy call →