

College Admissions Services
We guide families through college preparation, selection, admissions, applications, and essays in a personalized way to help your student find the perfect college fit
How Our College Admissions Services Work
Step 1.
Speak with an Advisor
Schedule a free consultation with our experts to understand your goals and determine if one of our college admissions programs is right for your child.
Step 2.
One-on-One Counselor Guidance
Meet your college counselor and begin to map out a custom plan to meet your student’s college goals. Engage in regular strategy sessions and check-ins with your counselor to keep your student on track as they progress through high school to graduation.
Step 3.
Strengthen Portfolio and Gain Insight
Attend engaging and interactive peer group workshops and utilize our digital tools to help your student target the right majors, colleges, enhance stand out factor, increase ACT/SAT scores, and check off critical milestones throughout the process.
Step 4.
Apply with Confidence
Work with our team of essay, application, and finance experts to complete all aspects of college applications with less stress and a higher probability of admission.
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College Admissions Assistance
Only one in four students graduates from college in four years. Four out of five switch majors, and more than 25% transfer. Applying to college is complicated. HelloCollege is a comprehensive, guided program to help you avoid costly mistakes. We’ve got you covered.
Personalized Student Attention & Guidance




Barrington High School
Ogden International High School


Naperville Central High School
A dedicated counselor guides you through each step of the process. Your family and college counselor work together to build a plan that is tailored to your specific situation. These personal sessions provide you with all the information and guidance you will need to make the smartest possible decisions, covering areas such as high school course selection, how to identify schools that are the best fit for you, and how to get accepted.
- Access to both an expert counselor and a collaborative college admissions counseling and support staff with more than 200-plus combined years of professional counseling experience
- Individualized experts in admissions, finance, career coaching, and essay writing
- Partner with a dedicated college admissions counselor and receive:
- In-depth focus on student goals, and college and career interests
- Expert analysis of your student’s current standing and admissions potential
- A comprehensive strategy for completing the college application process
Structure & Organization



Hinsdale Central High School
Stevenson High School





Benet Academy


St. Ignatious College Prep


Staying on track and knowing what to do is one of the most impactful aspects of HelloCollege’s services. Our counselors and complementary digital tools provide a clear path to keep students from veering off track and moving toward their goals.
- Structure to help manage the college application timeline
- Checklists and resources
- Actionable items stemming from every meeting
- Customized dashboard and college list tools that allow counselors to collaborate with students on their college list
- College planning platform that tracks key milestones and displays action items for students as they follow the process
Academics & Testing




Plainfield East High School
Hinsdale Central High School
Reaching your full potential in the classroom and on the ACT and SAT comes down to preparation. Through HelloCollege, students work closely with their counselor to ensure they are taking the right classes throughout high school to set them up for success and to have a smart test prep strategy in place.
- Regular reviews of high school transcripts and courses
- Assessment of ACT/SAT score gaps and a customized ACT/SAT testing plan to achieve desired college acceptances
- Access to one of the top online prep courses available, including hundreds of video resources, practice exams and 18 weeks of course material
- Unlimited full-length practice ACT or SAT tests, some of which are proctored by our staff, with detailed reports that identify areas for improvement
- Expert-let ACT/SAT Strategy workshops to learn the tips and tricks for maximizing your score
- Customized tutoring programs in test prep and various academic subjects
Major and Career Exploration and Identification


Does your child have an academic path charted for success in a future career? Your student will receive a robust career assessment and then structured one-on-one career guidance from your personal college counselor. Once you’re done, you will have a narrowed list of majors and careers.
- Self-discovery interests and aptitudes assessment
- Comprehensive diagnostic report to identify best college major and career options
- Peer-to-peer workshop to explore results and available resources
- Personal major and career review
Build a College List & College Discovery
Alverno Heights Academy
You will have an invaluable opportunity to develop and refine a list of colleges that reflect your needs and desires utilizing HelloCollege’s S.A.F.E.© College List Strategy. In addition to being provided with tools to help you research, manage, rank, and track your potential colleges, you will receive hands-on guidance and counseling from our experts.
- A series of College Exploration meetings with your counselor to help uncover your true preferences in college life and provide strategies for visiting and exploring colleges
- Our exclusive College Ambassador program, which connects students and families with HelloCollege alumni at respective colleges to learn more about college life
- Multiple College List Strategy sessions, during which your counselor will create a custom college list based on your needs and goals, incorporating your in-depth career analysis
- Alongside your counselor, analyze college acceptance rates, academic profiles, and other criteria to understand your position
- Strategies to improve odds of:
- Admission into top-choice schools
- Acceptance into specialized college majors and programs
- Acceptance into highly selective schools (e.g., Ivy Leagues)
- Achieving the best college admissions results
Stand Out to Admissions


Given the large and competitive pool of college applicants, students must learn how to “stand out” to pique the interest of admissions offices. Among the qualities schools desire in potential students are leadership, initiative, creativity and empathy.
- Your counselor will assess your competitive positioning alongside other college applicants
- Peer-to-peer workshop to help identify personal strengths and develop a strategy for bringing students to the forefront during the application process
- Over a series of personal sessions, students and counselors work together to identify and grow a standout factor to showcase individual unique characteristics
Paying for College


Naperville Central High School


Oak Park River Forest High School


St. Ignatious College Prep Class of '22
Paying for college is expensive, and the financial aid process can be quite complicated. We help your family build a plan to reduce college costs through scholarships, merit-based aid, budget planning and FAFSA guidance.
- Budget Planning Session with our financial specialist
- Build a college list that considers your annual college budget and aid potential
- Discussion on the potential impact of adjustments to asset positioning
- Introduction to our proprietary Budget and Loan Analyzer tool
- Our intimate Paying for College workshop introduces concepts and strategies to afford college, win private scholarships, and maximize aid.
- Our Scholarship Workshop Series helps students identify, create a plan for, and offers hands-on assistance to apply for scholarships with the goal of minimizing your out-of-pocket costs.
- Learn best practices for identifying quality private financial awards
- Identify and create a plan to apply for scholarships
- Access our proprietary Scholarship Directory
- Rest assured that your application will be submitted properly with our Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshop. You also will be introduced to factors considered for schools that require the more complex CSS Profile financial aid application.
- Dissect your offers during an Award Assessment meeting. Using our Award Assessment tool, you can evaluate the monetary implications of attending each of your potential schools and create a plan to increase your aid by leveraging your financial aid offers from colleges through avenues such as appeals.
Essays
Class of '20 Glenbrook South High School
Deerfield High School Class of '21
Glenbard West High School Class of '21
Writing a winning college essay is challenging. It also is a key part of gaining admission to your preferred schools. Our expert essay coaches, with a combined 200-plus years of writing and editing experience, will guide you to craft an essay that improves your odds of being accepted.
- Comprehensive essay coaching by professional writers (e.g., journalists for national newspapers, magazines, and websites, as well as book authors).
- Utilize custom online tools and assessments that steer students toward a topic that is both compelling and conveys the attributes colleges covet.
- Work one-on-one with an essay coach to refine your essay topic(s).
- From outline to final draft, our multi-day Essay Bootcamp, offered the summer after junior year, will enable your student to complete the Common Application and/or Coalition Application essay well before “crunch time.” Students learn the elements of crafting a compelling personal statement, with our essay coaches providing assistance as you write your rough draft. After completing that first draft, you will shift to our online editing and review process until your essay has reached its full potential.
- The Supplemental Essay Workshop focuses on additional essays many schools require. An essay coach reviews your essay prompts, helping you to outline the most advantageous ways to approach them.
- Depending on the program you choose, you have anywhere from 3 to 40 essay reviews/edits. You will focus on the essay’s “story,” structure, and mechanics. At each step, you will receive in-depth feedback from your coach. This polishing process ensures that the essays stand out.
Applications & Admissions


Hinsdale South High School Class of '21
Willowbrook High School
Selecting the appropriate application strategy and avoiding common mistakes can be a game changer in boosting acceptance odds. You will work with your HelloCollege counselor to develop a strategy that ensures you will get into your preferred schools.
- Application strategy session(s) with a counselor select the right test submission policy and develop a strategy to apply Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision. Counselors create a timeline of important dates and deadlines to stay on track.
- You fill out the majority of the Common Application during our Common App Workshop with assistance from expert advisors.
- To be certain you are putting your best foot forward, an advisor from HelloCollege reviews each section of your Common App and helps you make whatever changes might be necessary during a Common Application Private Review.
- As part of the admissions process or internships, many schools offer or require an interview. Our One-on-One Mock Interview prepares you to make a winning impression.
Leadership Development & Career Preparation



Hinsdale Central High School


Hinsdale South High School





HelloCollege students not only come out with admissions success, but they also grow and develop in our program as young leaders and professionals. They engage in resume building, professional preparation, and college interview skills.
- Participate in exclusive members-only leadership building activities from our Student Advisory Council to our Networking Group to unique HelloCollege internships. Students are able to apply, interview, and participate in programs.
- Our exclusive Parent Mentor Network gives HelloCollege students access to high-level professionals from many disciplines and the opportunity for informational interviews, job shadowing, and internship connections.
- Our group workshops encourage students to meet others, come out of their shell and develop communication skills.
- Our High School Resume Workshop helps you craft a resume that showcases your strengths and accomplishments in an eye-catching way.
- In our College & Career Transition workshop, you take your first steps in building a professional network through LinkedIn and other resources that will prepare you for the job market after graduation.


Request a Free Consultation
Our consultations are designed to help you create a roadmap through college admissions. We break down the process into simple terms and help your family understand what’s involved. Plus, you’ve got an expert right there to answer your pressing questions.
College Counselors & Essay Coaches


Niloufar Azarnia
Customer SupportNiloufar has a BS in Marketing from Miami University, she loved her college experience and strives to help others find their SAFE school.


Chris Bench
Essay CoachWith an AB from Kenyon and an MA from UChicago, Chris has been a pro essay coach for a decade. He has very strong opinions about commas.


Alisha Braun
Essay Coach, Workshop Facilitator

Allison Dahleen
College CounselorAllison has an MSA in Administration Leadership and has worked with hundreds of students in higher education and graduate school.


Rabab Darwish
College CounselorRabab has her Doctorate of Education in Leadership Studies and expertise in academic and non-academic aspects of college readiness.


Dan Farnesi
President & COO - College Counselor

Debra Gershow
College Counselor

Terri C. Houston
Student Success Director, College CounselorTerri brings over 25 years supporting families in higher education, including UNC Chapel Hill. She holds an M.A. in Professional Counseling.


Kevin Krebs
Founder and Managing Director

Sue Nelson
Financial SpecialistSue has 25 years of experience in financial services and assists families with the financial aid process and cost saving practices.


Will Wagner
Essay CoachWill is an admissions essay expert, published author, and editor working on everything from national magazines to websites.


Sara Walsh
Essay Coach & Career Success CoachWith eighteen years of experience in international schools, Sara holds a B.A. in English from Notre Dame and an M.A. from SUNY New Paltz.


Amanda Yoder
College CounselorAmanda has over 10 years of experience as a high school counselor, She holds a Master’s in Education with a counseling concentration.