HelloCollege in the LA Times: The Role of AI in College Admissions
June 5, 2025
We’re excited to share that the Los Angeles Times featured an article from HelloCollege that explores
Our team of the best college admissions consultants will provide expert college admissions assistance to your family through the academic and college admissions process, setting your child up for lifelong success.
There’s no denying it—college has gotten more competitive and more expensive. Gone are the days when perfect grades and high test scores guaranteed admission to elite universities. Given the increasing need to stand out, the students with the best odds of being admitted to their top schools are those who work with experts.
At HelloCollege’s top college admissions consultant will provide you genuine, personalized guidance and college admissions assistance that improves acceptance rates, minimizes debt, and matches students with their ideal college. Over the past 20 years, we’ve shared our college planning workshops, curriculum, and guidance with over 40,000 families. Our comprehensive approach covers every aspect of the admissions process, providing you with the tools and knowledge needed to make informed decisions and stand out in a competitive field.
Our mission is simple: We aim to demystify the college admissions process, empowering families to take back control of the admissions process and adopt an offensive strategy to gain acceptance. We believe in equipping families with knowledge, tools, and correct college admissions assistance for informed decision-making so that you can make the best college decision for your family. By pulling back the curtain on college admissions and providing personalized admissions assistance, HelloCollege’s expert college admissions consultant ensures that each step you take is informed, strategic, and tailored to your goals.
Your college admissions journey starts here.
See the results families like yours have achieved through our college admissions counseling services.
In today's admissions landscape, it's not enough to have great grades and test scores. Students need to stand out. That's why we help students identify their strengths and passions to create a Standout Factor, to help admissions understand each student's unique strengths. Our experienced college consultants then provide a framework to keep organized while completing myriad application tasks and to reduce stress along the way.
Did you know that the average 4-year degree actually takes 5.7 years to complete? It doesn't help that 37% of students transfer colleges and 80% change majors. We help students zero in on the right college list and major using our proprietary S.A.F.E. methodology. This leads to happy students with a career path after college — and it avoids the tens of thousands of dollars in college costs caused by delays in graduation.
We help families target the best schools for their financial situation by illuminating the real costs of college and helping to evaluate options. We work with students to create a target list of merit- and need-based scholarships that reflect each student's profile and interests, and we assist with the essays needed to apply. We then help families analyze their offers from each college and craft appeals.
You want your student to get into the best college for them, setting them up to be successful in life. To know whether HelloCollege's trusted college admissions consultant is for you, ask yourself:
Do you want your child to reach their full potential at the best possible school?
Do you find the application process overwhelming and not know where to start?
Are you unsure how you’ll afford the best schools?
Do you feel like your child would listen to a third-party expert more than mom and dad?
Do you worry you don’t fully understand how the admissions process has changed in recent years?
Do you not have time to figure it all out and just want expert college admissions assistance to cut to the chase?
Are you unsure how to identify the schools that best fit your child's needs and goals?
Are you worried you’ll miss a deadline or important detail?
The expert college admissions consultants at HelloCollege will simplify the admissions process, answering all of your questions and setting your student on a path to success.
Get a private and dedicated college admissions consultant to guide your student from day one. We simplify applications, essays, scholarships, and financial aid, while our 24/7 online portal keeps you and your student on track. Start early, finish strong, and secure the best opportunities for your child's future.
Identify a Standout Factor
Build a College List
Formalize a Custom Application Plan
Craft Essays and Applications
Dr. Raymond Gonzales is by far the best thing I have done as a parent for my daughter Taylor Young. We are so grateful Raymond was paired with Taylor. He was a guiding light for my daughter, creating the way for her to push past limitations, STARTING a Psychology Club, taking classes from Harvard over the summer, she thrived and achieved SO MUCH under his care. Taylor is going to Dayton, almost completely paid for as well;) Raymond thank YOU for making my life as a mom easier!!
Parent of Taylor
Lyons Township High School
University of Dayton
From our very first consultation, Hello College made us feel at home with their approach and their ability to help us! I would highly recommend them to anyone that is applying to a service academy or any other highly competitive institution. They build an entire profile specifically for you, so that you don’t miss any deadlines. They also spend time really getting to know you, so they can help you represent yourself genuinely. Because of them our son received appointments to both of the service academies he applied to. He is about to live his dream! Thank you Hello College! And special thanks to the two people who walked the entire process out with us: Counselor Amanda Yoder and Essay Coach Brooke Kent! Thank you for all of your diligence and care and for celebrating with us when we got the news!!
Parent of Dirk
Fairfield High School
United States Naval Academy
I have had Gina T. and Amanda Y. as my counselors throughout my college application process and they have been immensely helpful. From the beginning, both Amanda and Gina have been nothing short of understanding and supportive towards me and guiding me through the extensive application process. Specifically, Amanda has been incredibly flexible and responsive when it came to any questions and concerns I had- she was always able to answer questions in a way that worked for me, as well as working with me rather than against me to build the best application that correlates to who I am as a college applicant. She kept me on a schedule that I was able to follow- as well as giving me access to the notes and spreadsheets we had created together so that I was able to reference anything we talked about at anytime. Gina has been incredibly supportive in my essay comprehension journey as writing the essays is one of the most stressful parts of the application process. She worked with me to create outlines and develop ideas that strengthened who I was as an applicant. She was very responsive and dedicated when it came to my essays. All of her feedback and comments felt personal and positive as she really cares about how you build an essay that reflects you and your best abilities. Hello College has been a great experience and I highly recommend this program when looking to enhance your college application.
Student
Shorecrest High School
San Diego State University
Hello College is a top tier college preparatory program; and would recommend them. My twins (class of 2025) have successfully achieved acceptance into their respective universities – thanks to this program and our ace counselor, Allison. She has kept them focused, motivated and engaged in what can be a cumbersome, confusing process. In addition to Allison’s guidance, each of them had an amazing college essay coach to help them find their voice in that all important essay. Parents, my one bit of advice is to start with Hello College by the winter of your student’s Junior HS year if not sooner – as they have a lot of test prep services as well. Hello College is the real deal and a valuable investment to make.
Parent of Piper & Georgia
Naperville Central High School
Butler University & The University of Iowa
I had an incredible experience with HelloCollege’s college counseling program. Specifically, Don Keller was a huge help throughout the entire process. Not only did he help keep me on track while applying to 15 different schools, but he was always available to help with any and all of my requests. Don Keller set up multiple mock interviews so that I could be prepared to compete for scholarships at the University of Texas and at the University of Virginia. I was incredibly impressed with his responsiveness and attention to my situation. Don was involved every step of the way. Whether it was reading essays, giving advice on college selection, or simply being interested and attentive about my personal life, I always felt confident that I could hop on a phone call with him and talk out my situation. Ultimately, with the help of Don Keller and the entire HelloCollege program, I was granted a full-ride scholarship to attend the University of Texas’s McCombs School of Business. I could not be more thrilled with this result, and HelloCollege was an integral part of this achievement.
Student
Saint Viator High School
University of Texas - Austin
We could not have been more happy and thankful for the services provided through HelloCollege! Their free seminars are amazingly informative introduction for families – especially for those of us who have not applied to college in over 20 years – a lot has changed! While the fee was initially jarring, the services provided are invaluable – personality tests to assist in determining right major, personalized organization of college choices based on a number of factors (your budget, school sizes, your child’s grades/interests/etc), essay writing workshops/edits, scholarship workshops/advising, time management of all college planning, consistent live communications, etc. Our advisor, Dan Farnesi, was not only an obvious expert in this field, but he was also so kind, gentle and encouraging with my daughter and us throughout the whole process (he was pretty much family therapist at times). When she became discouraged, he knew just how to boost her spirits and motivate her to proactively achieve her goals. Especially during these pandemic years, Dan was more than an academic counselor, but an encouraging friend and cheerleader. Through HelloCollege’s guidance, my daughter was accepted into 11 of the 12 colleges she applied to and received multiple >$15k per year scholarship offers (more than paying off the HC fee just in the first year). Our only regret was not starting with HelloCollege earlier – like freshman/sophomore year. Thanks, Dan and HelloCollege!!
Parent of Alina
York Community High School
University of Iowa
With our proven track record, we replace the daunting uncertainties of college admissions process with a clear roadmap to acceptance at your dream school. Stop guessing: your child's future is too important to leave to chance.
Our team of college admissions counselors have been there, done that, and they know how to guide your child toward success. Your aspirations are our goals, and we've got the blueprint to achieve them. Put the best college admissions consultants in your corner with HelloCollege.
Founder and Managing Director
Inspired by his parents, Kevin’s journey from a first-gen, diverse, low-income background to Northwestern University shaped him. After experiencing challenges, including student loan debt, he founded HelloCollege and has spent the last 25 years helping students successfully navigate college admissions.
VP of Client Services
As an MSA holder, Allison brings a wealth of experience supporting students in higher education. As the respected Service Leader at HelloCollege, she leads her team in expertly navigating admissions and academic advising, empowering students to achieve their goals with confidence and success.
Director of Counseling
Amanda leads our counseling team with over 10 years of high school counseling experience. She holds a Master's in Education with a counseling concentration and graduate certificates in Military & Family Education and Administration & Supervision (Educational Leadership).
College Counselor
Don is a highly skilled College Admissions Counselor, boasting a 20-year background in college admissions. Don's expertise includes admissions reading for UC - Berkeley and the prestigious Questbridge Scholars program, as well as many years as a high school counselor.
College Counselor
Raymond, a first-generation college graduate from the Bay Area, holds a Master's in Education from Harvard, a Master's in Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master's in Social Work from University of Southern California. His diverse experience includes roles at Assist America and the UN, reflecting a commitment to global youth advocacy.
College Counselor
Miracle received her B.A. from the University of California - Berkeley and a M.Ed. from the University of Vermont. She has a rich background in higher education, founding her own College Advising company and roles in business academic counseling at Tulane University and college advising at UC Berkeley.
College Counselor
Kim holds an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and has over 10 years of experience in college and career counseling. She has a passion for helping students discover their career passions and connect them to the perfect college experience.
College Counselor & Essay Coach
Brooke Kent, a summa cum laude graduate of Rice University, a researcher for the White House Transition Project, and the former executive writer for the director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, has spent two decades helping students tell their stories in a personalized, persuasive, and achievement-focused way. Her philosophy is simple: Your Story. Our Support. Your Solution.
College Counselor
Leslie has nearly 20 years of high school counseling experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and an Educational Leadership Endorsement from Longwood University.
College Counselor
Keira received a BS in Communications from the University of Miami and holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Columbia University. She has spent the majority of her career working in college admissions and college counseling as well as corporate recruiting. Her mission is to help students find and build their passions towards the next stage in their lives: college.
College Counselor
Dr. Bruce Watson is a seasoned higher education professional. With over 10 years of experience and a doctorate in education, Bruce has held leadership roles in admissions offices at several large universities.
Forget the sleepless nights worrying about college deadlines and requirements. We shoulder that burden so you can focus on what really matters — your family.
With HelloCollege, you'll stay on track and submit your applications with confidence.
The average high school student, throughout all 4 years of high school, spends only 38 minutes with their counselor. As a HelloCollege students, by contrast, you'll have a team of dedicated college admissions consultants in your corner, meeting regularly to answer your every question.
While doing the best they can, school counselors are often stretched too thin, managing hundreds of students and their varied needs. They simply can't provide the personalized attention or in-depth knowledge required for this critical process.
HelloCollege assigns a dedicated college admissions consultant to focus solely on your child's journey to college. Backed by financial specialists, essay coaches, tutors, and an online portal, we offer an unmatched level of attention and customization.
We’ve helped thousands of students get accepted to top colleges.
You plan for your child's future. You invest in your home to keep them safe and in sports and extracurriculars to keep them healthy and involved. Why wouldn't you invest in their academic and professional future?
Your investment in college planning will pay exponential returns in academic success and scholarship opportunities. A small commitment now can mean a world of opportunities for your child's future.
This proven process has helped thousands of families find college success.
Evaluate your needs.
Get personalized guidance.
Get accepted!
Read the latest articles about College Admissions from HelloCollege Blog
We’re excited to share that the Los Angeles Times featured an article from HelloCollege that explores
For students applying to highly selective colleges, the waiting period between submitting applications and receiving admissions
If you’ve attended a college information session or spoken to an admissions counselor recently, you may
I studied at Stanford University for five years: four for my Bachelor’s degree and one for
Navigating high school and applying to college is much different than a generation ago. The process has become competitive, confusing and stressful.
Let our experts help you with:
HelloCollege is here to provide expert college admissions assistance. Our students gain admission to their top schools, earn more scholarships and graduate faster with a job in their major.
We are here to cater all of your college admissions needs.
We provide academic tutoring for a variety of needs, from AP exam prep to life skills that benefit students into their futures. We focus on building strong relationships and personalized strategies.
The SAT and ACT have recently undergone major updates. Our test prep tutors are both masters in test subjects and prepared to handle these big changes.
Our team of expert Essay Coaches works with students in crafting creative and compelling essays that provide a personal element to college applications. We offer support through the entire process, from rough draft to final version.
Schedule a consultation with us to get all of your answers, otherwise here are some most asked questions and answers to them.
A college admissions consultant is your guide through the college application process. They offer personalized advice on building a college list, writing essays, applying for financial aid, crafting activities lists, and every other task along the way.
HelloCollege has a wide range of college counseling packages, as well as a la carte options for select services, like essay writing. Please schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about our college counseling plans and to get answers to all of your questions.
For a deep dive into every factor affecting the college admissions counselor cost, and to get a detailed idea read our linked blog post.
Whether or not a college counselor is worth it depends on a student’s aspirations and a family’s personal circumstances. But consider the average cost of a four-year college education—$108,584 for in-state public schools, $182,832 for out-of-state public schools, and $234,512 for private schools. Expert college admissions assistance during this crucial time will help you maximize financial aid, unlock scholarship opportunities, graduate in four years, and other key factors that will save you down the line.
For a full breakdown, visit our blog post, Are College Counselors Worth It?
Finding a college admissions consultant involves research. Research a counselor’s qualifications and credentials, but also look at student and parent testimonials on Google.
Compatibility is also key. You should feel comfortable with your counselor and assured they understand your goals and needs. Look for consultants who give you the chance to speak with them before enrolling.
High school counselors typically advise hundreds of students a year and tend to offer broad advice. College admissions consultants, on the other hand, work closely with students and consider their strengths, interests, and goals in creating a customized approach to college applications.
Junior year is the time for students to get serious about college planning, but we begin working with many students as early as freshman, which allows us to tailor the high school experience toward admissions. We firmly believe it’s never too early to start planning for your future.
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