WORK WITH SUSAN 1:1
1:1 college admissions counseling for students
dreaming of their top-choice school
Advising students on getting into their top-choice school for 15 years
Acceptance rate 10x the national average at top schools
Personalized, strategic guidance for families navigating the highly selective college admissions process
There’s a lot that goes into getting a student into a highly selective school. More, in most cases, than families realize until they’re already in the thick of it.
Over the last 15 years, I’ve drawn on my background as a Rhodes Scholar, Harvard-trained lawyer, and 30-year litigator to help hundreds of families navigate this process – and get their students into the schools they’ve been working toward.
No matter where your student is today, I’m here to help with every part of the process – from 9th grade to senior year – including:
- Extracurricular strategy and development, including helping students find and create stand-out opportunities based on their natural interests and talents
- Academic and curriculum planning
- Summer program identification and applications
- Testing advice
- College list development
- Application strategy and positioning
- Essays, activity list, honors list, and additional information sections
- Scholarship search and applications
- Interview preparation
What I won’t do is write your student’s essays for them, push them toward activities they have no interest in, or promise you a formula that guarantees admission.
Here’s what you can expect instead.
A personalized admissions strategy tailored to
who your student actually is – not who they think college admissions officers want them to be
Many students come to me doing things they think colleges want to see: activities they don’t enjoy, sports they’re tired of, clubs they joined just to put on their resume.
My first job is to change that. I work directly with every student to understand their genuine interests and talents, and then help them build on those in ways that are both meaningful and impressive to admissions officers.
In practice, this has looked like guiding students through personal impact projects that include:
- Creating and hosting radio shows broadcast around the world
- Publishing academic papers and creative writing in international journals
- Launching podcasts with 100,000+ listeners
- Founding international blogs, competitions, and discussion groups
- Establishing new publications on topics from philosophy to public policy
- And creating independent studies that allow them to become the kind of specialist selective colleges love!
Honest, expert guidance from a former 30-year litigator committed to building your student’s strongest possible case for admission
After 30 years as a litigator, I know that winning isn’t about one strong argument; it’s about making sure every piece of evidence tells the same story.
I bring that same thinking to college admissions. Rather than working on essays, activities, and other elements of their application in isolation, I help students build a cohesive application where every component works together to make the strongest possible case for their admission.
I don’t promise to hold the secret formula that guarantees students get in. What I do promise is that your student will put forward their absolute strongest application – in their own words, their own voice, and rooted in who they truly are.
A clear, step-by-step roadmap for where your student is right now, not just for application season
Every stage of high school brings different questions and opportunities to stand out.
That’s why, when we work together, I help your student identify exactly what they should be focusing on right now – whether that’s course selection, summer programs, developing the kind of personal impact project that will help them stand out, or fine-tuning the applications themselves. I also help them figure out what they can safely set aside.
Together, we’ll move beyond the conventional advice most families are still following: being “well-rounded,” joining every club, taking every AP class. Based on years of working with students and an acceptance rate at 10x the national average, I know what these selective schools are truly looking for, and I’ll make sure your student is pointed in the right direction.
A flexible support structure based on what your student needs at this moment
My 1:1 support is billed hourly – so you only ever pay for what your student needs, with no large upfront commitment or one-size-fits-all package required.
Some families work with me intensively over several months (or years!). Others check in as questions arise. And many begin with one of my workshops before deciding whether to add 1:1 support, which is a natural first step for getting a feel for my approach before making a larger commitment.
"What makes Susan a stand-out college counselor is her uncanny ability to look for and package a student's best self"
– Yale admit
“My daughter’s extracurriculars were so interesting because of your advice.”
-Parent of an MIT admit
“You are one of the foundational pillars in our son’s life. We were completely directionless before you came in and you guided me and him in doing all the right things. Can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for us!”
-Parent of Emory Admit
"I am so grateful for all the time and attention you gave to my application. I always felt every recommendation was thoughtful and pushed me to think harder about what I wanted to say.”
– Harvard Med school Admit
“I was accepted to all the PhD programs I applied to! Your help was invaluable for both my college and graduate school applications -- if there were a degree higher than a PhD, I know who I’d call for help on my application.”
– Harvard Economics PhD admit
“Just got the call from Harvard Law School! Thank you for many hours of sound advice.”
– Harvard Law School Admit
Seeking support in your graduate school application?
I am available to work with a small number of students applying to law school, medical school, and graduate programs each year.
Through our time together, my students have been accepted to programs including:
- Law: Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, Georgetown, UChicago, Northwestern, UCLA, Berkeley, Washington University at St. Louis, NYU
- Medical: Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, Vanderbilt, U. Michigan, Emory, Cornell, Temple, UC San Diego
- Masters: Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Duke, UPenn, Pomona
- PhD: Harvard, MIT, Tufts
Interested in having me work with your student 1:1?
The best way to get started is by reaching out to see if 1:1 support is the right fit for your student.
Get in touchOr not sure if 1:1 support is what your student needs right now?
Many families begin with one of my workshops to get clear, strategic guidance before deciding on their next steps.
Explore workshops & programs