EA Success Stories

Of the talented, hard-working, and how-in-the-world-did-you-manage-to-do-ALL-OF-THIS-in-four-years-of-high-school students that I worked with in the Elevated Admissions Class of ‘25, two stand out. Yes, they stand out on merit alone. However, they also stand out because their admissions journeys forced me to reckon with some hard truths regarding the state of admissions (and, ultimately, the supporting role that I play).

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, the landscape used to be that if you were in the t…

With great enthusiasm, we congratulate the Elevated Admissions Class of 2024! The acceptances were as stellar and varied as ever. 

Every one of our students did the satisfying but difficult work required: long hours of self-reflection, countless miles driven on college visits, and innumerable rounds of essay revisions to achieve an optimal application balance of self-promotion, vulnerability, and humility. 

You can thank me now. I was going to write this week's post about ballooning college application volumes and what to do about them. Then, I got a haircut and felt a little lighter in a world full of heavy issues, and so... I digressed. Bear with me.

Today let's remind ourselves of the power of the small wins in life – like a great haircut – and the relief we feel when we realize that some of what we've struggled to communicate to our children actually sank in and we no longer have to worry abou…

Meet Jesse. Jesse is a senior in high school @sussextech in Northwest NJ. Attending and succeeding in a project-driven, hands-on Engineering Program was not easy during COVID. Jesse has always liked to challenge himself and stay busy and fit but with virtual learning, he was left with more free time than he liked. The list of activities that were canceled was long: basketball, youth group, in-person classes, lifeguarding, weight room workouts, and engineering competition workshop projects.

Reco…

There is no limit to the amount of time and treasure we can invest in enhancing our children's potential. It can feel like there are endless educational and experiential opportunities to be had... because there are. It can also feel as if there's no limit to the expense those opportunities can amass. At the end of the day, we do our best with the means at our disposal to help our children realize their potentials, but as teens reach the cusp of adulthood, the stakes can feel higher. The added pr…

Jessie Martin and Elevated Admissions saved us! 

My son had begun his college application the summer before his senior year, and he had met with a local college advisor from another company. As we got closer to deadline day, we realized that he still had no idea where to apply or what to study in college, and his application was nowhere near where it needed to be. Based on many recommendations, we reached out to Jessie Martin at Elevated Admissions. 

With only three weeks before the early-admi…

“Our daughter attended a small, private elite prep school. The idea of hiring an independent educational consultant seemed absurd to me. Wasn’t she getting all of the support she needed from the school I was writing a hefty check to? The reality is that college admissions just isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. And, it’s a lot more completive. Our daughter had to write 18 different essays and she didn’t apply to a single Ivy League school.  I’m glad I let my wife talk me into hiring Jess…

After interviewing several college consultants, our family felt an immediate connection to Jessie. Our son is a freestyle skier at a ski academy with limited availability due to the demands of training and competition. She and the team at EA created a manageable plan for him that met his needs and worked with his calendar. Her thoughtful approach to developing a relationship with our son enabled him to craft a unique and compelling application and ultimately secure ED admission to his top choice…

You may have noticed something new around here.

Since launching my educational consulting practice in 2014, we’ve had three "official" names and – I am embarrassed to admit – several additional “unofficial” names. In a world where branding becomes seemingly more important by the day, consistency means a lot. And yet, throughout my professional life, I have had to pivot, reinvent myself, shift markets and embrace change. As they say, change is the one thing that's inevitable, right?

Our first n…

Recently I got a chance to talk shop with nationally-recognized testing expert, Alexis Avila. He asked me to share what I thought were the best strategies to MAKE THE MOST OF THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS DURING QUARANTINE.

Click HERE and use the coupon code, PREPPEDANDPOLISHED, to get full access to online mini courses at our "College Admissions Made Simple" Virtual Academy. 

Listen to the podcast HERE

Watch the Video Interview HERE  

@preppedandpolished @compassU #authenticfutures #hellop…