As Seen in the Wall Street Journal
Do college consultants really make a difference—and are they worth it?
Featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, Crimson Education helps students boost their chances of getting into Ivy League and Top 10 schools by 6.75x. We analyzed thousands of applications to uncover the real impact of expert consulting—and whether it’s worth the investment.
Why More Families Are Seeking Help
The college admissions process isn’t what it used to be. Today, it’s more competitive and far more high-stakes.
For many families, it feels like trying to win a game where the rules keep changing. Parents are expected to help their kids: - Choose the “right” classes as early as 9th grade - Build standout extracurricular profiles - Create a balanced college list across selectivity tiers - Navigate early decision, essays, testing, financial aid, and interviews It’s no wonder more families are turning to experts to level the playing field.
“At Harvard, 23% of freshmen in 2023 reported using a private admissions advisor. For students from families earning over $500,000, that number jumps to 48%.”
The Wall Street Journal
What a College Consultant Actually Does
A great college consultant is more than an essay editor—they’re a strategist, mentor, and project manager who keeps the entire process on track. They bring structure, clarity, and calm to an otherwise overwhelming journey.
01
Map out high school with purpose—choosing courses, shaping extracurriculars, picking research projects, and setting long-term goals early.
02
Go beyond rankings. Identify schools that fit academically, socially, and financially—with a smart mix of reach, target, and safety options.
03
Guide every piece of the application—essays, recommendations, testing, and interviews—so each works together to tell a compelling story.
04
Turn passions into standout achievements with activities that align with the student’s interests and ambitions.
05
Find and apply for competitive programs (often with early deadlines) that strengthen the student’s academic narrative.
06
Keep everything on track with regular check-ins, clear timelines, and a structured plan—reducing stress for students and parents alike.
Ready to Start Your Journey to Your Dream University?
Fill out the form below and a Crimson representative will be in touch with you to book a free meeting with one of our expert advisors!
Why Crimson?
A Team of Specialists—Not Just One Counselor
At Crimson, you don’t rely on a single consultant for every aspect of your application. Instead, you get a dedicated team—from essay mentors and extracurricular strategists to interview coaches—each a specialist in their field, all working together to maximize your success.
131 Offers to
Yale
134 Offers to
Harvard
260 Offers to
Columbia
357 Offers to
UPenn
171 Offers to
Brown
86 Offers to
Dartmouth
246 Offers to
Cornell
109 Offers to
Princeton
187 Offers to
Stanford
52 Offers to
MIT
200 Offers to
Duke
156 Offers to
UChicago
141 Offers to
Johns Hopkins
26 Offers to
Caltech
379 Offers to
UC Berkeley
339 Offers to
UCLA
204 Offers to
USC
188 Offers to
Oxford
254 Offers to
Cambridge
250 Offers to
LSE
346 Offers to
Imperial
720 Offers to
UCL
804 Offers to
KCL
442 Offers to
Oxbridge
176 Offers to
Northwestern
131 Offers to
Yale
134 Offers to
Harvard
260 Offers to
Columbia
357 Offers to
UPenn
171 Offers to
Brown
86 Offers to
Dartmouth
246 Offers to
Cornell
109 Offers to
Princeton
187 Offers to
Stanford
52 Offers to
MIT
200 Offers to
Duke
156 Offers to
UChicago
141 Offers to
Johns Hopkins
26 Offers to
Caltech
379 Offers to
UC Berkeley
339 Offers to
UCLA
204 Offers to
USC
188 Offers to
Oxford
254 Offers to
Cambridge
250 Offers to
LSE
346 Offers to
Imperial
720 Offers to
UCL
804 Offers to
KCL
442 Offers to
Oxbridge
176 Offers to
Northwestern
131 Offers to
Yale
134 Offers to
Harvard
260 Offers to
Columbia
357 Offers to
UPenn
171 Offers to
Brown
86 Offers to
Dartmouth
246 Offers to
Cornell
109 Offers to
Princeton
187 Offers to
Stanford
52 Offers to
MIT
200 Offers to
Duke
156 Offers to
UChicago
141 Offers to
Johns Hopkins
26 Offers to
Caltech
379 Offers to
UC Berkeley
339 Offers to
UCLA
204 Offers to
USC
188 Offers to
Oxford
254 Offers to
Cambridge
250 Offers to
LSE
346 Offers to
Imperial
720 Offers to
UCL
804 Offers to
KCL
442 Offers to
Oxbridge
176 Offers to
Northwestern
131 Offers to
Yale
134 Offers to
Harvard
260 Offers to
Columbia
357 Offers to
UPenn
171 Offers to
Brown
86 Offers to
Dartmouth
246 Offers to
Cornell
109 Offers to
Princeton
187 Offers to
Stanford
52 Offers to
MIT
200 Offers to
Duke
156 Offers to
UChicago
141 Offers to
Johns Hopkins
26 Offers to
Caltech
379 Offers to
UC Berkeley
339 Offers to
UCLA
204 Offers to
USC
188 Offers to
Oxford
254 Offers to
Cambridge
250 Offers to
LSE
346 Offers to
Imperial
720 Offers to
UCL
804 Offers to
KCL
442 Offers to
Oxbridge
176 Offers to
Northwestern
Numbers Don't Lie
Proven Success. Unmatched Results.
7x
Our Crimson students get into the Ivy league and other Top 15 colleges at over 7x the general applicant rate.
Total Offers to the Ivy League
College-Specific Acceptance Rates
| Top Colleges | General Admit Rate | Crimson Admit Rate |
| Harvard | 3.7% | 20% |
| Stanford | 3.6% | 30.8% |
| Yale | 4.6% | 26.7% |
| Columbia | 4.3% | 32.7% |
| UPenn | 5.4% | 39.7% |
| Dartmouth | 6% | 50% |
| Princeton | 4.4% | 28.3% |
| Cornell | 8.4% | 55.9% |
| MIT | 4.5% | 26.1% |
98%
98% of our students are admitted to at least one of their top five college choices.
These Crimson Students Got In
Your child can, too.
Accepted to
Stanford
Holly C.
Medicine
“Aidan was my strategist and he helped me significantly by directing which activities I should be doing, how to frame them in my application and matching me with a great essay counselor.”
“Aidan was my strategist and he helped me significantly by directing which activities I should be doing, how to frame them in my application and matching me with a great essay counselor.”
Holly C.
Accepted to
UCLA
Jin T.
Engineering
“Jennifer was my essay mentor and she was just great. Whether sparking new ideas during the brainstorming process or looking over my finished draft for redundant words and ideas, she clarified the focus needed for specific essay prompts.”
“Jennifer was my essay mentor and she was just great. Whether sparking new ideas during the brainstorming process or looking over my finished draft for redundant words and ideas, she clarified the focus needed for specific essay prompts.”
Jin T.
Accepted to
Wharton (Upenn)
James N.
Undecided
“Jordan was my strategist and I know I could not have gotten into Wharton without his help. They helped me understand exactly what I needed to do.”
“Jordan was my strategist and I know I could not have gotten into Wharton without his help. They helped me understand exactly what I needed to do.”
James N.
Accepted to
Cornell
Alex R.
Undecided
“George was my Strategist. He helped curate a college list that would help with my ambitions as a scholar, athlete, and overall person. Above all, however, he wanted to make my dreams a reality and encouraged me. ”
“George was my Strategist. He helped curate a college list that would help with my ambitions as a scholar, athlete, and overall person. Above all, however, he wanted to make my dreams a reality and encouraged me. ”
Alex R.
Accepted to
John Hopkins
Ziyan L.
Medicine
“The best part about working with Crimson was how incredibly knowledgeable everyone on the team was. It gave me a lot of confidence during the application process.”
“The best part about working with Crimson was how incredibly knowledgeable everyone on the team was. It gave me a lot of confidence during the application process.”
Ziyan L.
Accepted to
Cornell
Jaelyn C.
Animal Science
“Crimson helped me strengthen my mindset and approach to the application process. Their guidance gave me the confidence and support I needed to stay focused on my goals.”
“Crimson helped me strengthen my mindset and approach to the application process. Their guidance gave me the confidence and support I needed to stay focused on my goals.”
Jaelyn C.
The Knowledge Network
Meet Our Experts
Crimson’s admissions counselors include an impressive lineup of Former Admissions Officers from the Ivy League and several other Top 10 and 20 universities, including Stanford, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and more.
Devery D
Former Harvard Admissions Officer
Devery brings a rare level of insight and institutional knowledge to the Crimson team, having studied higher education management at Harvard's Graduate School of Education in addition to serving as a Harvard admissions officer, UC Berkeley application reader, and an application reader for a top liberal arts college.
Kimberley L.
Former Stanford Admissions Officer
A former admissions officer at Northwestern and Stanford and a graduate of Wellesley, Kellogg, and Oxford, Kimberley brings a holistic perspective to helping students and families navigate the college admissions process.
Dana C.
Senior Strategy Consultant
Dana Crum is a Princeton graduate, former application reader in Princeton University's Office of Undergraduate Admission, and a seasoned admissions consultant with a decade of success guiding domestic and international students into top US, UK and Canadian universities.
Devery D
Former Harvard Admissions Officer
Devery brings a rare level of insight and institutional knowledge to the Crimson team, having studied higher education management at Harvard's Graduate School of Education in addition to serving as a Harvard admissions officer, UC Berkeley application reader, and an application reader for a top liberal arts college.
Kimberley L.
Former Stanford Admissions Officer
A former admissions officer at Northwestern and Stanford and a graduate of Wellesley, Kellogg, and Oxford, Kimberley brings a holistic perspective to helping students and families navigate the college admissions process.
Dana C.
Senior Strategy Consultant
Dana Crum is a Princeton graduate, former application reader in Princeton University's Office of Undergraduate Admission, and a seasoned admissions consultant with a decade of success guiding domestic and international students into top US, UK and Canadian universities.
Crimson Alumni are now working at top global companies
