About Our Approach

What makes you different from other college consultants? We're dads and educators first, not admissions industry people. We don’t want you to lie. We want you to be the best you can be. Most consultants spend hours wordsmithing essays and padding resumes, helping you invent a story that’s not authentic. Instead, we help students actually accomplish things worth writing about, while remaining true to themselves. We're also direct about what's possible. We won't tell you what you want to hear just to keep you paying. If something's unrealistic, we'll say so and suggest better alternatives.

Do you guarantee admission to specific schools? No, and here's why: Anyone promising specific admissions outcomes is lying to you. We guarantee honest guidance and our full commitment. But we won't make promises we can't keep just to make a sale. What we can guarantee is that you'll understand exactly where you stand and what it takes to reach your goals.

What's your success rate? Rather than quote misleading statistics, here's the truth: Families we work with are very happy. Success looks different for each student - some achieve large SAT improvements, others develop genuine achievements that set them apart. Many get into schools that truly fit their goals. Most importantly, they build skills that matter long after applications are done.

SAT/Test Prep

Why work with a perfect scorer? Eh it doesn’t really matter that much. Most tutors you could find will have something at or near a perfect score. Don’t pay that much attention to this.

How many points can I improve my SAT score? Depends. Some gain 50, some gain 250, everything in between. Instead of promising specific numbers, here's what we know: Your improvement depends on your starting point, commitment, and timeline. What we promise is efficient, focused preparation that targets your specific weaknesses. We'll be honest about what's realistic and show you exactly where to focus your energy for maximum impact.

What's your typical SAT prep structure? We customize based on where you're starting. We anchor a lot in “doing the work” — taking practice tests, reviewing what you got wrong, rinse, repeat. The difference is we know how to teach. Mike founded a high school that had largest test score gains in the state. Sean is a nationally board certified teacher whose students made the largest gains of any math classroom in Chicago. We “get” how to move you forward.

The "Spike" Strategy

What exactly is a "spike"? A spike makes you stand out from thousands of other applicants with perfect grades and scores. Don’t join random clubs and pad your CV. Instead, try to do something real, something you genuinely care about. This is helpful beyond trying to get into college. We help you find opportunities to create measurable value and show real initiative or leadership.

I already have good grades and test scores. Do I need this? Maybe not? Depends on what you want. Good grades can be just the start. If you’re shooting for top schools, you know they already reject thousands of 4.0 students with perfect scores every year. Most applicants look remarkably similar on paper. We’ll help you talk through what you want - if you want “big swings,” we’ll need a big investment. If not, that’s fine too! We’ll help you find the best fit.

Working Together

When should we start? Best time to start is when you're ready to hear honest feedback and put in real work. We won't waste your time with vague suggestions or busy work. Instead, we'll give you clear direction based on your current situation and goals.

How involved are parents in the process? We’re pro-parent. Our goal is the same as yours — to build independence, not dependence, but we also know this is an investment. You care about the investment. We’ll keep you posted.

What if we're not a good fit? We'll tell you upfront. If we're not the right solution, we'll explain why and suggest more appropriate alternatives. We'd rather turn away business than take on a student we can’t help.

Investment and Expectations

Why do you charge what you do? We charge what it takes to do this right. We'd rather be upfront about costs than hide fees or push unnecessary services. You're paying for expertise and results.

What kind of time commitment should we expect? It varies based on your goals, but we'll be clear about expectations upfront. More importantly, we'll show you how to use that time efficiently. No pointless meetings, no work for work's sake. Every hour spent should move you measurably closer to your goals.

Next Steps

How do we get started? Book a Strategy Session. We'll assess your current position, discuss realistic goals, and determine if our approach fits your needs. We'll be direct about whether we think we can help and exactly what that would look like. No sales pitch - just honest conversation about what's possible and what it would take.