Testimonials

Statements From Students & Parents

"Through detailed information sessions and google sheet organizers, Ivyboost has not only helped me through college applications and decisions but also provided tools that will be useful in finding my future career. The mentors there are very nice and helpful as they guided me through exploring my interests, finding summer programs, making my college list, writing essays, and putting together my application. I've been accepted to Dartmouth College and NYU as well as all the UCs besides Irvine and Santa Cruz, and I'm really grateful for IvyBoost."

"Tony and Albert combined to form a great team, providing me with lots of assistance and mentorship defining the list of colleges I would apply to, the major I would apply in, and revising my essays. Their mentorship was key in my college application and I definitely would not have gotten the college results that I had without their help!"

"IvyBoost has been instrumental in my college application process, and largely my entire high school career. I started with IvyBoost in sophomore year, and all of the teachers and mentors I had there were so inviting and willing to help me with any questions that I'd ever had. For the college process, I obtained so much help with making a college list, preparing for interviews, and so much more; I got into the University of Pennsylvania, the school of my dreams, and I couldn't be more happy with IvyBoost's help for me. Highly recommend!"

"I found IvyBoost when I was a senior in high school. My college application process was a little different than normal, and I was lost and confused about how my admissions process would work. After my initial consultation, I knew I had found the perfect counseling center. They were able to answer questions for me that no other admission counselor could, and it was clear that I was in good hands. From then on there was no limit to the amount of work IvyBoost was willing to put in for me. They helped me contact schools, would edit my essays until they were perfect, and helped me find the schools that were the best fit for me."

"We engaged IvyBoost and Tony to help our son with his college applications. Tony was very knowledgeable, experienced, patient, insightful and compassionate. Being our first time, there were a lot of things we didn't know about and we were feeling quite stressed. Tony calmly and patiently guided us through the whole process from pre-assessment, college selection, essay preparation to financial aid applications and final decision-making. He was very generous with his time for both student and parent. Albert, the essay tutor, was excellent. He was able to stimulate and motivate our son to think creatively and to craft really unique and personalized essays. Our son had frequent meetings with Tony and Albert, which kept him on schedule. Thanks to IvyBoost, he had a choice of several top universities to which he was accepted. We are very pleased with the IvyBoost team and highly recommend their college counseling services."

"The college application process can definitely be overwhelming, so having someone there who could break down the process was exactly what I needed. Whether it was researching colleges or writing essays, checking in with Jennifer really helped me find my direction throughout the whole process. She gave me the practical, clear advice I needed and was always very understanding. I am so grateful for her help."

"I've had a great time working with Jennifer and Tony so far! They are both counselors who care a great deal about what's going on in my life, and always remind me to not get overwhelmed through encouragement and constant support. Jennifer consistently checks in on how I'm doing, and considers many factors when helping me pick out colleges that both interest me and fit my needs. Tony is able to pinpoint a lot of the problems in my essays, and a lot of his insights really get you thinking about how to approach the essay and revamp the structure and ideas. I'm so glad I found IvyBoost to help me during this stressful college application season; I wouldn't settle for any other place/counselors!"

"I've been with IvyBoost since sophomore year, and it's been great. Their math tutor, Dr. Eva Zabric, saved my precal grade two years ago, and Tony & Michelle have significantly expedited my college application process since. Tony was very thorough and supportive in evaluating and providing suggestions throughout the years, and Michelle was super friendly and a great essay editor. They made the intimidating latter half of high school much more approachable and understandable. I owe much of my resulting success to them."

"IvyBoost was very helpful. This institution made my college application process less stressful. Especially the essay portion, they helped me a lot with that! Keep up with the good work!"

"I was accepted to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, Brown University and Cornell University. I am happy about the result and thanks for IvyBoost’s great help on my college application, especially to the help of Tony, Karen and Michelle."

"During the college application season, Karen/Tony/Lindsay all showed excellence in all of their work and went above and beyond their duties to help me to get into many colleges as well as secure lots of scholarships during the process. The fine tuned and personalized care really gives IvyBoost a significant advantage over the other institutions."

"Michelle is an amazing teacher for my son for more than 2 years, now. She has individually been teaching his English writing and reading comprehension. His skills improves and he learns something from her lesson. We tried different institutes several times for him but they all did not work out. IvyBoost knows right strategies and passion to help students as family members."

"It is fair to say that my entire high school career would not have been the same and as successful and fulfilling if I hadn’t worked with IvyBoost. In my freshman year, I was all but conscious of what I wanted to do in college and beyond, or even what direction I would like to pursue in high school at all. Tony encouraged me to explore and find my own unique path, because IvyBoost’s principal is to provide each student with customized counseling and guidance without expecting them to adopt a one-size-fits-all counseling plan. As I gradually discovered my passion through boldly experimenting with the extracurriculars my high school has to offer and progressed through my studies, Tony provided me with a clear sense of the timeline of when I should be taking what step and what tests at what time in my specific case. As a result of this intimate and high-efficiency environment of IvyBoost, I was able to see tremendous growth in myself not only academically but also as a person over the past 4 years."

"Around this time last year, we were the worried parents of a confused and scared 16 year old. We were unsure about our child’s future, had no idea how to wade through the college applications…actually we didn’t even know where to start. As for Kajal, I’m sure she was nervous and apprehensive too, her biggest fear being ‘Will I get into a good college?' Lindsay, ever since she started her sessions with you, we could see her confidence in herself growing. You guided her (and us) through all the application hurdles, gave us your time, answering our numerous questions and allaying our fears. When Kajal’s acceptances started coming in, our joy literally knew no bounds. Today, she has these great opportunities ahead of her, and we thank you for your guidance. I guess, I can say, my biggest reward was when a near stranger stopped me at a store and asked me which school Kajal had picked…she knew of all her choices only because she had attended IvyBoost’s seminar & had seen Kajal portrayed as one of your success stories! So thank you, once again!"

"The work Lindsay, Karen, and Tony have done with my son is exceptional. They are always accommodating and tirelessly helping him get through the college process. They help him at each and every step and without any doubt, I can say that I would recommend IvyBoost."

"It is an unforgettable life time experience to work with IvyBoost and my mentor Tony. As first generation immigrants, my parents and I really do not know about college and financial aid applications. My mentor Tony has been very patient and well prepared to guide me on the applications step by step. His response is always immediate whenever I have questions. The more touching part is that he consulted like an old-time friend or a family member with the most sincere and practical advice. He has been always supportive and continues to help me even after the contracted service is done. IvyBoost's counseling is just like a lighthouse to guide me to the right port - I get in my favorite UC with $21,000 grant and $10,000 loans."

"The counselor was very organized, flexible, and active in application process. He was there when I needed and was with me every step of the way."

"Tony was very organized at every meeting and knows what he is doing. The IvyBoost staff is very helpful and supportive. It is nice to walk in and be greeted by name."

"My mentor at IvyBoost really gave me the guidance, structure, and confidence I needed to succeed with my college application. Self-help books help, but they don't provide the type of advice and guidance a mentor can. Trust me, I now know myself: my counselor sectioned my college application process into manageable chunks with to-do lists and deadlines, helped provide information and inspiration for my essay topics, and most importantly, gave me tangible and applicable feedback and advice for my essays. She had me focused on the task and kept the entire process endurable-and really, that's mostly what you need when you're applying."

"I thought the counseling was very useful in terms of creating strict deadlines for the due dates, as well as for finding the right colleges to apply to. I found the information given about the colleges as probably the most helpful part because it allowed me to gain a lot of knowledge about various colleges, and which ones that interested me the most. I enjoyed the essay help, in depth edits such as specific information and trying to make the essay stand out more have been helpful in the process, the broad ideas were edited well too. The mentoring for the other parts of the applications were good as well and ran decently smoothly for reaching deadlines. Overall I am very appreciative of the help that I was provided."

"I have been accepted to: UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Berkeley, USC, Occidental, Pomona, Boston College, Northeastern, Santa Clara, and Georgetown. I'm super happy and thanks Melanie and IvyBoost so much for helping me because I'm sure you played a large part in me being accepted to so many great colleges."

"I was accepted to UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine and USC for public health or nursing program. I am happy about the result and thanks for IvyBoost’s great help on my college application."

"The SAT classes were constructive and yet fun as well to keep our focus/attention. The tutors made sure to meet our individual needs which are rare to come by."