I did not think I would need a counselor/tutor outside of the support I had from my school, but…read morewhat 1636 Review boiled down to was exactly what I ended up needing: not a motivational tool, but a great set of eyes. Linda, having seen a wealth of both successful and unsuccessful essays, knew where to push certain essays, where to retract, and when to change the focus of a piece entirely. She, and the few students she has working for her, have a strong set of healthy tips to offer students struggling (or not) with essays of any kind. Additionally, Linda was eager to check in -- by phone or by email -- to ensure that the process was going smoothly, that I was meeting our agreed upon deadlines, and that I liked the direction in which my essays were going. Collaboration and support happened not just during sessions, but all the time. I never lacked a newly marked up copy of an essay, and when I did, it meant it was time for another meeting. Beyond essays, it was actually Linda that pushed me to apply Early Decision, a choice that I could not thank her more for influencing. I had a good idea as to what schools interested me, but it was Linda who really pushed me to make the firm decision, and as a result, I had a head start on essays, an unmatched interest in a school, and a free winter break! Thanks to Linda and everyone at 1636 Review!

Linda was incredibly helpful with my business school application and with her help I was just…read moreadmitted to HBS! I met Linda through my aunt who suggested I seek her advice with my essays. Through phone conversations and emails, Linda helped me craft my story into an essay that captured both my experience and personality. I couldn't be more happy with the result and I don't think I would be going to Harvard Business School next year without her!

I've been working with Sara Denaro to help guide my son through the college application process,…read moreand I honestly don't know how I would have managed without her support. From building a smart college list to helping him brainstorm and polish his essays, she has been organized, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable every step of the way. My son feels more confident and less overwhelmed, and it's been a huge relief for me as a parent to know that he's in such capable hands. Sara has a great way of balancing honest feedback with positivity, and brings out my son's authentic voice in his writing--something I really appreciate. If you're looking for someone who is experienced, responsive, and genuinely invested in your child's success, I highly recommend Sara Denaro. This has been one of the best decisions I've made during the high school years!

Sara has been an incredible support for my four kids during the college application process. She…read morehas a unique ability to meet each kid where they are and provide personalized help in the areas they need most. All of my kids have talked about how easy it was to work with her and how much confidence they gained in navigating the process. As a parent, Sara's guidance has been an absolute godsend. Knowing she was there to help my kids every step of the way made the entire experience so much smoother and less stressful for all. I cannot recommend Sara enough to anyone looking for expert, compassionate help with college applications!

I worked with Stefan on test prep; he was outstanding. The 1.5hr sessions FLEW BY!…read more Stefan is so fun and passionate about test taking strategies. He is so knowledgeable and is someone I wish I would have found earlier in my application journey. I am so grateful for his support! I loved having the whiteboard and he always sends the PDF of the notes that you cover in class. Stefan makes everything super easy to understand and very accessible. If you don't understand it, he will try to flip the concept on its head and reteach it to you. He is super patient! This has been my favorite test prep experience. I have tried it all - Manhattan Prep and other test prep companies. I only wish I found him sooner.

I highly recommend Stefan Maisnier for MBA admissions guidance. When our son decided to pursue his…read moreMBA on a tight timeline, Stefan quickly created a clear, strategic plan. He objectively evaluated our son's strengths and weaknesses, identified gaps--especially in quantitative skills--and worked closely with him to address those areas. Stefan's deep knowledge of admissions and test prep ensured our son targeted schools that fit his profile and goals, and he provided invaluable support throughout the process. Stefan's professionalism and expertise made a real difference for our family. My wife and I would recommend him to anyone seeking high-level, personalized admissions guidance and GMAT prep.

We hired Susan from Riley Baker to help both of our kids prepare for and apply to college. She…read morebegan working with the kids when they were early in their high school career. She helped both kids identify a career path and ultimately what they wanted our of their college experience. The biggest benefit of working with the kids this early was that they understood what was required in order to get into their top choice schools. She constantly gave them ideas for unique and relevant extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities and other resume builders. Susan also showed the kids how to start researching and evaluating schools, which can be overwhelming for high school students. She encouraged the kids to visit schools and discussed their feedback afterward. Finally, Susan helped the kids write all of their essays (countless rounds of edits), as well as actually apply to colleges. She showed them how to fill out the applications properly, double checked their work, help them describe their activities properly, etc. . Ultimately, both of our children got into their first choice school. Susan emphasizes more than just rankings and images - she encourages the kids to really want to go to their top choices for the right reasons. She is patient but firm with the teenagers and always keeps the parents involved. While it is large financial and time committment to work with a counselor from Riley Baker, it is worth the investment. I would highly recommend Susan and Riley Baker to anyone.

We worked with Kim at Riley Baker to help both of our kids with the college admissions process, and…read morewe couldn't be happier with the service we received. Our kids couldn't be more different, and she tailored her services to them both beautifully. Our son was first, and he had really no idea where he wanted to go or what he wanted to do. Kim helped him work out a process of elimination where he eventually narrowed down a list of qualities that were important to him in a school. From there, she helped identify schools to meet those criteria, and worked with him through the process. Kim was especially helpful with his essay. Our daughter this past year was quite the opposite experience. She knew what she wanted to study and had a good idea where she wanted to go. Kim was instrumental in helping her narrow the search down to a manageable number of contenders, and was again very helpful in the construction and editing of the essay. We were especially impressed at how Kim adapted to work with my daughter who is persuing the performing arts, something she hadn't encountered much before. Overall we couldn't be happier. We've recommended Riley Baker (and Kim specifically) to several friends who've been happy as well.

We highly recommend Academic Approach. They always think of everything. Our first child used their…read moreservices and did great; now it is our daughter's turn, and 8 years later they are still just as good at what they do. From the very first day, Academic Approach delivered. You were awesome to work with, made these tests so easy to understand for us, and took care of all of my daughter's testing and academic needs. You are the best! Thank you so much.

Hands down would not be where I am today without Academic Approach. They helped me decide between…read moretaking the ACT or SAT. Once we decided on the ACT they helped me raise my score by eight points. I was able to get into the college of my choice early decision. It's within walking distance or a short bus ride from at 3-4 nearby high schools so it was super easy for me to get there after school on my own. I really appreciated being able to take a timed practice test about once a month. Come test day I was super comfortable with the timing and was able to perform my best. It's pricey but it's one of the bet investments my parents made.

Peter and his entire staff goes out of their way to make sure all aspects and understood, and all…read moreT's are crossed and I's are dotted. We have used Collegian Group, for over 20 years, for all our 4 children, with total professionalism and success Hats off a a great consultant Mr Peter Thank you sir B Siegel 3-5-2020

The Collegian Group has been exceptional to work with. They helped guide my twins and myself…read morethrough the college planning process. The Collegian team helped us navigate the very confusing financial process. My only regret is I didn't find out about them sooner since I made some financial mistakes that cost us money from receiving the full aid we were entitled too. I would advise starting the process in freshman year since it is important to plan early. They know ways to say you money and time. They provided my kids with great information which was a great guide in finding a good college fit! I highly recommend the Collegian Group.

I can't say enough good things about working with Ian at Hello College. My son has always struggled…read morewith math and was really nervous before the meeting. Ian's warmth and kindness immediately put him at ease. It was such a relief to see my shy kid relax and actually start to feel confident. Ian clearly knows the material, but what stood out even more was the way he connected with my son and explained things in a way that finally made sense. As a parent, I felt truly heard. Ian understood that this wasn't just about math -- it was about my child's confidence and self-esteem. He was honest, caring, and clear in his communication, which made me feel hopeful and reassured that we have a real path forward. I'm so grateful for the experience. What could have been stressful turned into something positive and encouraging, and that's because of Ian. I would wholeheartedly recommend Hello College, especially Ian, to any family looking for not just academic support, but someone who genuinely cares about kids.

Hello College is a great opportunity to help you or your child with ACT and SAT prep and ask any…read morequestions about the college planning process. They offer many services, not just test prep. Jeannine is very helpful and even called me on a Saturday (her day off) and scheduled an ACT prep test for my son. They are experts in college planning and so easy to work with. I recommend them and I am sure I will be using them again in the near future.

This review is long overdue. I worked with Jody 10 years ago, and the experience still leaves a…read moresour feeling. I would not recommend her to a friend. She exploited my vulnerability, tearing me down instead of building me up. Maybe that approach works for some, but I found it to be rather cruel.

Jody is an excellent executive coach. I attended her Mind-Mastery and Accountability Mirror…read moreworkshops followed by a 6 month-ish coaching engagement. Just the workshops alone made me see and think differently, better. With the personalized sessions, I had Jody in my corner as my coach, cheerleader, and critic (in a good way). And it all made a real difference, not just professionally but also personally. I feel different. And people who know me have commented about that - I'm less stressed, more present. But, if you want empirical data... she does a 360 review with managers/peers/reports at the beginning of the coaching engagement and then at the conclusion, and I can tell you that she helped me move the marker to demonstrate my improvement in my skills including communication, engagement and leadership. All round excellent experience. Thank you Jody!

They have closed down permanently according to Google but I wonder why? My teen went there in…read moremiddle school for test prep.

I used BEC Tutoring for my children when they were in grammar school & high school. BEC have an…read moreunderstanding of the gifted mind. They gave my children academically appropriate challenges and an individualized education. BEC tutoring delivered continues professional services. Carlos Becerra provided valuable insight on filling the gap with their school curriculum. This was money well spent! Thank you BEC

For me, getting funding for college was the most stressful aspect and was the number one…read moredetermining factor on where I was going to go for school. I really wish I had known about ISAC when beginning the application process a few years back. ISAC's Mission Statement is making college affordable for Illinois students - and they are true to their word. ISAC is a one-stop financial aid center - offering a number of programs to fit an individual's needs. A number of my friends who are still pursuing their degrees have used ISAC's services and are so grateful a program like this exists. One of my co-workers is using their pre-paid tuition program for his kid as well some of their other programs for himself as he is finishing up his masters. He said the thing that really made the difference was the level of assistance which was really great - anything with money is always stressful so having someone who has empathy for your situation makes it 1,000 times better. I'll be hitting up ISAC once I finally jump back on the track to get my next degree.

Added $16,000 in fees (nothing to do with interest) to my student loans. Nasty collection tactics,…read moreand unrealistic repayment expectations.