🎧 Top College Admissions Tips for Private School Families

Hit play to uncover the biggest mistakes private school families make — and the key factors that actually influence top college admissions decisions

What a College Advisor Actually Does

A great college advisor 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.

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Why Crimson?

A Team of Specialists—Not Just One Counselor

At Crimson, you don’t rely on a single advisor 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.

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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.

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Devery D

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.

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Kimberley L.

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.

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Dana C.

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.

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