I had an amazing experience working with Gourdy. He helped raise my ACT score a ton and was super helpful with all my college essays, from private schools to UCs. He really knows what he's doing and made the whole process way less stressful. He was also a big reason I got into UC Berkeley, which I'm super grateful for. On top of that, he's really knowledgeable but also funny, so sessions never felt boring. Definitely recommend if you want someone who actually makes a difference. read more

Gordy is an exceptional college counselor! He kept my son on tack and met all the deadlines even when we had limited time. He was encouraging and used virtual services effectively. I also liked how he created google folders and made the whole process of essays and tasks easy and even fun! I would highly recommend Gordy! read more

Working with Gordy was terrific throughout the college application process. He kept me on track with deadlines, where I was organized and could entirely focus on writing my best essays. His feedback on those essays was insightful, and I could show my true, authentic voice. He also proofread the rest of my application before I submitted it. I highly recommend Gordy; he's knowledgeable, easy to communicate with, and ultimately helped me get into my dream school, UC Berkeley. read more

As an older transfer student, I was looking for a college counselor that would understand my unique case. Someone who wouldn't just use a cookie cutter approach, but really get to know me. Gordy was great! He helped me get into my school with a scholarship!! He is caring, attentive, and knowledgeable. I also like that he provides a sliding scale price based on the clients income so it's more accessible. Definitely a good investment! read more

Gordy is by far the greatest college counselor I have ever seen. He was very attentive and scrupulous when he was working with me. although I am a perfectionist, he still handled me pretty well, I got into grad school with the aid of him despite that my GPA was not the best. He also recommended a great deal of GRE resources for me. Really appreciate it!!! read more

Gordy worked with both of my sons' applications, one was applying to college and the other to graduate school. Gordy is very knowledgeable in the application process for both undergraduate and graduate applications, and he is incredibly organized. He developed very specific plans to keep my kids on schedule to meet the deadlines of the applications. Gordy helped them put their words and thoughts down on paper that best presented their unique qualities and achievements on their applications My older son is accepted to the graduate program in computer science at Stanford and my younger son is accepted to all the UCs. I highly recommend Gordy for either undergraduate and graduate application process. I am grateful for his help with both of my sons. read more

Gordy provided some very good insights for us as we navigated a complicated college admissions issue. He takes his time to understand his client's needs and shows a genuine interest in their well being. He's professional, honest, and responsive. I highly recommend reaching out to him to discuss your needs. read more

Gordy Steil was the college counselor for both of my kids. Not only did he help them navigate through the college application so that both my kids got accepted at their top choices but he provided all around emotional and developmental support. Furthermore, I've realized that by having my kids work directly with Gordy, I did not need to be involved in this stressful process (and potentially add stress to the equation). I can't thank Gordy enough for his attentive and thoughtful guidance. read more

I highly recommend Gordy Steil. He played such an instrumental role in supporting my graduate school dreams. I had taken a 9 year break after undergrad and was nervous about applying to grad school and taking the GRE. Gordy's mentorship and training helped increased my confidence and preparation for the GRE and grad school applications. I ended getting a GRE score that I was really proud of. Gordy is a keen listener and caters his teaching approach in ways that are responsive to my needs. He ensures that his communication of content and strategies are clear and accessible. I was also impressed by the welcoming and professional atmosphere that he creates in the classroom. Gordy is able to facilitate a productive and engaging learning space that challenges you to deepen your critical thinking skills. read more

I was looking for help with my restructuring my portfolio for graduate school. Gordy guided me through the application process and gave me resources to study for both the GMAT and GRE. He had good insight to what admissions committee looked for and was prescriptive in incorporating my work experiences into my application. He was very flexible with timing to meet my schedule and was very thoughtful in constructing career advice for my situation. I was able to get into my top school with Gordy's assistance. I highly recommend him :) read more

Gordy was amazing at helping me craft essays for my college applications. Gordy was able to edit my essays while still keeping them in my voice. I got into UCLA, UC Berkeley, and many more, and I know I couldn't have done it without Gordy's help. read more

Gordy was a perfect resource as my husband is an immigrant and I only attended two years of college. We needed him! He helped our daughter study for SAT and refine her essay. we just heard today she was accepted to her first choice college plus three others. This is money well spent, trust me. read more

Gordy helped me a lot in high school, prepping me for the SAT and also my admissions essays. I got easily distracted as a student but Gordy has a great way of making things interesting and easily digestible, so I was able to stay focused and was actually interested in learning. When it comes to my admissions essays, he helped me from figuring out what ideas work best for me to write about down to the nitty-gritty sentence structures and grammatical errors. I honestly think these essays got me into the school I went to. If I didn't have his help, I would probably be working an awful retail job or laying on the street somewhere...but I went to a good college and am living in SF, working a job I love. So I highly recommend him! read more

Gordy helped me through my college application. The keywords you'll need to look for when looking for the right person to help you with such are fast, detail oriented, efficient, accessible, witty, and personable. Not only is he ALL of these, but affordable as well considering the quality he provides. read more

Gordy guided me with my application process for grad school back in 2015. He provided me with many resources and tools to get what I needed to write my personal statement. Good techniques pointers is what really allowed me to manage my time during this process and get everything to go smoothly. I was given useful tips with incorporating generations of family history into my essay that I personally think that's what got me in! Needless to say, I'm two years into Acupuncture & Chinese medicine school and I enjoy it so much. read more

I reached out to Gordy for GRE prep and an independent review of my MBA application. Throughout the 6 weeks we met, he was exceptionally helpful, providing great insights on the application process and resources for the GRE. I highly recommend working with him if you are looking to get an unbiased review of your application! read more

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Gordy. He worked very hard with me to write a number of personal statements for competitive graduate programs. In addition, he helped perfect my CV. He has a deep understanding of the application process and helps you navigate it smoothly and with confidence. In large part to Gordy, I will be attending one of my top choice programs. Although unexpected, my writing skills have significantly improved. He has mastered the art of helping people write admissions essays that are unique to them. He is quick to understand concepts previously unknown to him and helps you convey them more clearly and succinctly. Gordy is focused, honest and most of all he cares. It has been an invaluable experience. Definitely work with Gordy if you are serious about getting into highly selective graduate schools. read more

I highly recommend Gordy. He tutored my son and helped him prepare for his SATs. He not only helped him prepare by working through the practice exams with him and putting together a study plan, but he also helped him with the psychology of test taking. The first and only time my son took the SATs he did really well thanks to Gordy's overall guidance. Gordy is also a great communicator and very easy to work with. read more

Gordy has helped me on multiple occasions as I prepared to apply for an MBA. Throughout the years-long process, Gordy has been incredibly helpful, insightful, and generally a pleasure to work with. I credit my extensive prep work with Gordy for my solid GMAT scores and recent admission to a top-tier MBA program. Over a year ago, Gordy helped me with GMAT tutoring. His personalized teaching style honed in on my strengths and weaknesses, and challenged me to improve those areas that were likely to bring up your score most. He has phenomenal understanding of the GMAT test structure, and provides effective strategies for problem solving and pacing, as well as the context to understand why and when to use those strategies. He helped me to understand how the test is written, and how we could use that knowledge to approach individual problems more effectively. Separately, Gordy helped me write polished and convincing GMAT application essays that helped me secure a recent admission to a top-tier MBA program. Gordy worked with me through the whole process: from brainstorming, outlining, refining, and editing. He helped break down each prompt and provided excellent context into what kinds of topics would be best to develop in my responses. Later, he helped me to edit and revise my essays for clarity and word flow. He made the application process feel quick and easy, I can't imagine how much more challenging and stressful it would have been without his guidance. I cannot recommend Gordy enough for test prep and application help. I've actually referred a friend to Gordy for GRE prep, and my friend has also been very happy with Gordy. On a final note, I found his prices very reasonable for what he was able to provide. Probably not the cheapest tutor out there, but the best value I've ever encountered. read more

My son worked with Gordy the summer before his Junior year in high school, to figure out which standardized test he was better at (it was close) and then to prep him for that test. He took the pre-SAT that fall and was recognized as a Commended Scholar, which got him a scholarship at his college of choice (which more than paid for the tutoring). Even though this was a really rough year for college admissions, we believe the CS status also helped him get in to some of the schools he applied to, even though they were technically test blind, as he could list that achievement on his list of honors. Working with Gordy helped raise his score to a 1490 on the SAT and a 34 on the ACT. Gordy is great to work with and knows how to prep your student to do their best on the standardized tests. He's really friendly, personable, and just a really cool guy, too! He can also work with your student on essays and other aspects of the college admissions process. My son and I highly recommend Gordy for all your college admission needs! read more

Gordy was helpful beyond words in preparing my application for undergraduate schools. I get a lot of anxiety and fear when writing essays, but Gordy did a wonderful job of guiding me through the process and easing my stress at every turn. He brainstormed with me to find out what I want to write about it and what colleges I want to apply to. He is an amazing college counselor who not only cares about creating the best application, but also the students. read more

Gordy is a great resource for help with resumes and with English writing in general. He also gives honest and helpful career advice. I highly recommend him! read more

My first review in YELP. Last summer I was preparing to apply to the School of Nursing at a top university. I knew that I needed help editing my essays for the application. I went to YELP and read some reviews and I emailed Gordy. Gordy had great reviews and he lives in Berkeley. Gordy replied to me the same night with service options and cost. We met and I realize that I had made the right decision. Since the moment we met, he provided me feedback about how to prepare for my upcoming GRE and finish the application that was due within 3 months. We created a schedule for when we would meet and he provided me tools to use to prep for the GRE, all included in the cost. He even included a coffee card which I appreciated due to my love of coffee. He really is an amazing guy who is honest, cares about his students, is well organized and is incredibly talented. Gordy knows the GRE examination so well, that he will break it down to your individual strengths and weakness. He helped determined what topics I needed help with to maximize my score. But it was when we started to work on the essays that I realized how amazing he is. For my application, we talked about the essays, then I would write drafts and then revise after spending some time talking about it. He edited my essays and captured my story so well. Then, for the interview, he helped me again prep by reviewing key questions and finding my best personal and professional stories for all sorts of topics. Gordy is truly an amazing teacher and editor to work with. Without judgment, he will help you and listen to your needs as he will always want the best for you. I got accepted in the program of my dreams. I'm still at odds to believe that I was accepted, but I honestly believe that Gordy made a difference in my life by helping through the process from the GREs to the essays to the interview. I love his working style, very causal but professional, and I would recommend him to anyone who needs support at any level in wanting to achieve and enter the program of their dreams. Thank you Gordy. I loved working with you! read more

Gordy helped me to (1) understand my career trajectory better, (2) develop my resume and cover letter and (3) most importantly, get the job I really wanted. He is patient, understanding, straightforward, professional, knowledgeable, caring, inspirational... and incredibly funny. You will not regret investing in his services! read more

Gordy got me into a top-tier business school. That should be enough! He is a professional. I enjoyed working with him for a 6-month period. During that time, his patience, professionalism, and expertise in admissions & test-taking prep helped me to get into a top-tier business school. I could not have done it without him. My background in undergrad was not business-oriented. He helped me to craft a strong application in addition to showing me some time-saving, smart ways to study. I HIGHLY recommend Gordy. He is a gifted instructor. read more

Gordy was an amazing help while writing my personal statement for grad school applications last month. I was feeling insecure about not having written a paper in over 5 years and he completely made me feel at ease. Together we went over what the personal statement required as well as other important personal touches to add that would help me stand-out. Finally, we came up with an outline of everything to be included into the statement which made which made actually sitting down and writing it that much easier. If I had any questions along the way he was just a phone call/text/email away. Needless to say, I found out today that I got into my top choice school's grad program! I can't stress enough how helpful Gordy was throughout the process. Definitely recommend his services! read more

Gordy is amazing. He truly helped me get into college and eventually to dental school. Gordy was my SAT tutor in high school and he was able to not only increase my writing/ reading scores but he was also able to help me recognize patterns throughout this standardized test. He also helped me write and edit my personal statements (for college and for dental school). He was able to guide my writing so that there was a clear and interesting narrative. He is truly exceptional (and very reasonable with prices)! read more

I hired Gordy to help me with my personal statement while applying to graduate schools. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the particulars of the application process and the unique personalities of each school I was applying to. He was both supportive and honest, which is important during what can be a stressful and emotional process. Our sessions together were structured and organized, but also pleasant. He really put me at ease and made the whole process less of a daunting odyssey, a huge relief for the neurotic types.. Needless to say I got into my top school so I really can't thank him enough! read more

Gordy helped me with my admission essays for UCLA's MBA Program. I had to get my essay done very quickly as the admission date was approaching quickly. Gordy helped me in a timely manner and his work was excellent. His feedback was honest and valuable. He helped me create perfect admission essays. I will be calling him in the near future for continued help on application essays for more programs. I highly advise seeking help from Mr. Steil as I am 100% confident in his guidance. read more

We worked with Gordy to help our son with preparing for his SATs, select colleges to apply to, and to provide advice on his college essays. It was a breath of fresh air to step away from these issues with our teenage son who is always prepared to go it on his own and abhors his parents help. Gordy was fantastic. Calm, smart, decisive. He told our son which books to review for SATs (our son did not do a class), provided sage advice on which colleges to apply to, and edited our sons college essays. Our son was just accepted at UC Berkeley. Thank you Gordy for all your everything. read more

I did 5 hours with Gordy to prepare for the GRE. He was excellent in helping me focus on how and what to study in preparation for the test. I would have definitely been lost without him and don't think I would have succeeded without his help. I highly recommend him--he is very knowledgable about the GRE and I assume all other standardized tests as well as the application process in general. If I ever have a tutoring need in the future or need help with personal statements, etc, I would definitely hire him again! read more

I have been doing a lot of self-studying for the GRE and regret not consulting with Gordy earlier. He was able to focus my efforts and allowed me to quickly improve my scores by providing useful strategies - which many self-study books do not provide. I was able to get into my dream school with Gordy's help. Thank you! read more

Gordy was able to help me study for the GRE last minute and was extremely helpful in setting up a clear plan. He provided multiple resources, tips and tricks, and other insights into the GRE process and grad school application process. All along the way he was realistic in his planning and understanding of the restraints of my schedule. He was very flexible and without him I would have been completely lost. Thank you Gordy! read more

I worked with Gordy from my Junior year all the way up to early senior year of high school. It was one of the best decisions I've made. Not only did he help me with my ACT and SAT, I also received help in Pre-Calculus and college applications. ACT/ SAT prep was very enjoyable! I was able to develop methods in order for me to best take the test with Gordy and as a result, I was able to score proficiently. Gordy also helped me get way ahead on writing college essays which were some of the best essays I have written with his help and guidance. I got accepted into a great university with his help! read more

Gordy was tremendously helpful during my strenuous process of applying to Ph.D programs. I had him as a teacher for a GRE course, as well as a private tutor to help with my statement of purpose. He maintained constant and open communication and was always there to help when I needed him. I would definitely recommend him! I have just gotten into the Masters in Education program at UPenn, and I definitely wouldn't have been able to do it without him. read more

You can't argue with results. Gordy helped my 17-year-old son improve over his PSAT scores by 140 points. Not only that, but he helped make sure we met all the sign-up deadlines; Gordy was always reliable and made it easy for me to pay him without showing up for the sessions; and, most importantly, my son really enjoyed working with him. My son historically does not test well and we were all pretty nervous about how he'd do on the SATs. But not only did he score very well, but working with Gordy gave him both a solid prep methodology and the confidence to do what he needed to do. We are relieved and grateful! read more

Gordy is just the best. He made tests so much less terrible for me. I got the score I needed and it was worth every cent! He made my life so much easier during a really stressful process. He genuinely cares, is attentive to detail and takes the time to help you build confidence. read more

Gordy helped me study for the SAT last fall, and could not have been more helpful. He taught me the ins and outs of the test, and made it very clear how I should approach the test in order to improve my score by the most amount of points. Furthermore, he was really helpful in showing me exactly what my weaknesses and areas of improvement were, which was extremely helpful when it came down to test day. As a recent Yale and Stanford admit, I must say that I highly recommend Gordy for your test preparatory needs and college advice! read more

Throughout college Gordy was a valuable mentor and teacher. He is extremely helpful for English language learners and people who have a hard time with writing. read more

Gordy has been great for my son. He's easy to work with, easy to schedule, and focused with the time spent. Tommy just got his ACT score, a 34, and we are well pleased with having chosen Gordy for test prep. We look forward to working with Gordy on essays and the overall application package. Gordy has proven to us that he is a valuable resource who can be trusted with this critical work. Five stars for sure. read more