Testimonials & Success Stories

Even for families at high-end prep schools, Andy provides that final strategy check. Whether it’s navigating the high-stakes Early Decision (ED) window or choosing a specific major to increase the odds of admittance, his advice is grounded in data and experience.

"While our son benefitted from a strong college counseling department at his exclusive prep school, we engaged Andy toward the end of the process to help us think through his Early Decision choice. Andy's strategic advice, grounded in data and years of experience supporting students and families, went beyond what the college counseling department had advised and helped us make a decision that ultimately proved successful. Sam is happily enrolled at Cornell University." Nicolas B. 

One of the hardest parts of counseling is managing expectations. Andy helps students move away from a "prestige-only" mindset, encouraging them to look for schools that actually fit their personality rather than just their rank. 

 “Elias was overly focused on prestige and the most elite colleges in the country. Andy provided grounded common sense advice, that pushed Elias to expand both his list and his thinking as to what a great school might look like. Andy supported Elias with every aspect of the college application process. Having Andy available as needed  -  online, via phone, or text - greatly reduced the stress surrounding college applications. I highly recommend Andy for his expertise around the college application process." Stacey F. Elias is enrolled at Connecticut College.

For families, especially those with multiple college age children, the "dream school" has to be a financially viable school. Andy balances the social and academic "match" with the reality of the family budget.

 "Andy took the time to truly get to know both of my boys as individuals. He thoughtfully considered not only their academic profiles, but also their social needs, economics, and career interests, ensuring that the colleges they applied to would be places where they could thrive. His expertise in understanding the nuances of students with varied learning differences and styles was a gift. He helped us navigate options for academic support both in high school and in college, always advocating for environments that would foster their growth. What sets Andy apart is his holistic approach—he looks at the whole student, not just grades or test scores. I am grateful for his dedication, insight, and genuine care, as well as a much-needed sense of humor, approachability, and humility throughout the process. I highly recommend his services to any family seeking thoughtful and knowledgeable college consulting, including those with students who have learning differences, those with economic considerations, and/or those with passionate interests and ambitions for the future.

Claudia R, mother of 2 boys, 2 currently at Clark University, one at Bard College

 Andy doesn't just talk to the student; he teaches the student how to talk to the system. He provides tactical advice on how to engage with high school counselors and teachers to ensure letters of recommendation and school reports are as strong as possible.

" Andy was incredibly helpful with every aspect of the college application process - outlining each step, suggesting schools that matched our criteria, giving advice on what to include in the common app, etc. Andy also offered concrete suggestions on ways for our son to engage with his high school college counselor and teachers to ensure they could best support his college application. While UMass Amherst quickly emerged as a strong first choice, Andy offered great strategic advice related to intended majors that would afford the best chance of admittance. He was right, and Charlie is currently a senior at UMass Amherst's Manning College of Computer and Information Sciences program. As a parent, I also really appreciated that meeting with Andy at the start of the college application process brought the stress level way down for all of us! We are forever grateful for his help!"  Susi S.