Our Program

Building your Case.

“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” - Socrates

You start by filling out a 29 question, short-answer survey for us to understand your unique life path (academic, extracurricular and personal).

After we review your questionnaire, we have a 1 - 1.5 h zoom meeting where we deep dive into what makes you stand out as an applicant, and how to make that come to life in your application.

  • We gather information about your passions, academic pursuits, extra-curricular activities, adversities, character traits and more.

    Human brains are wired for stories and Admissions Counselors’ are no different. They want to get to know a real human being. Someone who is imperfect and has a unique character. Someone who has made the most of the opportunities that have been presented to them, in spite of the adversities they’ve had to overcome.

    The program starts with a 60 - 90 minute interview where we will go deep into your passions, fears, quirks, vulnerabilities and aspirations so that together we may craft the perfect application that will fully present your imperfect, unique being.

Choosing Schools.

“The arrow doesn't seek the target. The target draws the arrow.”

Once we understand exactly what makes you, you, together we will choose a list of schools.

We will define which schools to apply to based on your preferences, affordability and likelihood of admittance.

  • Choosing which schools to apply to is as much of an art as it is a science.

    We choose based on what schools you’re most excited about, potential scholarships you may receive, likelihood of acceptance, alignment between you and the school´s culture and more.

    Once we take into account all these factors, we come up with a list of 10 to 20 colleges spread out amongst the following three categories:

    Match (schools you strive for but within your reach)

    Reach schools (schools that might be a bit of a stretch but still worth applying to)

    Safety (schools that work as a safety net in case of rejection from reach and target schools)

    What are reach, match and safety schools?

Writing breathtaking Essays

“The pen is mightier than the sword.” - Edward Bulwer-Lytton

We will guide you every step of the way in writing unforgettable essays that will capture your admissions officer’s soul.

We’ll help you write essay supplements that showcase your multidimensional being and demonstrate the extraordinary alignment between your values, strengths and peculiarities and those of each school in your college list.

  • Essay writing is one of the most intricate and nuanced aspects of the admissions process. With Chat GPT and other generative AI technologies, essay writing is becoming, even more, about diving deep into your emotional and ideological world.

    Nowadays everyone can write elevated, grammatically perfect prose, but only you can tell your unique life story.

    At IvyQL we begin the process of essay writing almost immediately for three main reasons:

    1. Great writing takes time.

    2. You learn a lot about the schools in your college list by starting early on their essay supplements.

    3. Essay writing deepens your process of self-discovery, and self-knowledge infuses your academic and extra-curricular pursuits with truth and purpose.

Practicing what you Preach.

We will help you present a compelling case of how and why your extracurriculars demonstrate a real-world exemplification of your passions and ideals.

Depending on your specific case, we will assist you in entering competitive summer programs, publishing research, competing in contests, assuming leadership positions in your community or whatever else potentiates your extracurricular résumé.

  • Your extracurricular activities should be a real-world exemplification of your passions and ideals. Admissions officers can quickly identify if an applicant is collecting a ‘bag of tricks’ or if they are selectively engaging in a few activities with commitment and excellence.

    One of the most common mistakes we see strong applicants make is spreading themselves too thin on extracurriculars. They engage in too many activities, and inevitably, superficially so.

    Our approach is two-fold when it comes to extracurriculars:

    1. We identify which activities you are doing that do not amplify your application. We remove these from your schedule to avoid distractions, and give you more time to pursue your stronger activities.

    2. Once we’ve separated the wheat from the chaff. We’ll help you double down on the activities that make your application stronger. If you write, we’ll help you enter an essay contest or publish an e-book. If you’re on the debate team at your school we’ll enroll you in a regional tournament, if you have a passion for mathematics we’ll assist you in attending a competitive summer math camp…

Acing the Interview & Technicalities

We guide students on how to engage thoughtfully with interviewers, demonstrating genuine interest in the institution and presenting themselves as extraordinary individuals who will enrich the college community.

In terms of application details, our attention to nuance can make a world of difference. We guide you on subtle cues, such as noting the decision to include or omit a Social Security Number—a detail that can unintentionally signal a request for financial aid and influence the review of your application.

We also advise you on scholarship opportunities, and on finding the most affordable Ivy League+ path.

  • Although it’s not offered to everyone and definitely not a key point of your application, the alumni interview will become more important in the 2024 admissions cycle and beyond because of generative AI.

    You cannot (yet) send an AI clone of yourself to your interview. This is a great opportunity for Ivy League+ colleges to get a feel for the real you. We’ll help you ace the interview.

    We meticulously review each section of clients' applications to ensure that every answer strategically aligns with their admissions goals, presenting a comprehensive, polished, and intentional application package.

    We’ll also guide you in terms of affordability and scholarship opportunities. At least 10 of the top 25 US colleges are need blind for US applicants and about 5 are need blind for international applicants.

    Need blind means that your parents’ income is not considered in your application and that you’re guaranteed financial aid if admitted, so we’ll help you pay what you’re able to afford.

Our Support along the Way

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

— Isaac Newton

We’re not giants but we have successfully traversed the path you’re about to embark on. Let us guide you every step of the way.

We will provide comprehensive support throughout your application process. You will receive weekly task lists and consistent check-ins, along with email assistance from Monday to Friday.

Additionally, up to three hours of monthly Zoom consultations will be provided to meticulously coach you on all aspects of the program and application particulars.

Your success is our success, every step of the way.