College Admissions Support

What if the college process were an opportunity for self-realization? We believe in a kinder, more holistic approach to college admissions.

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Process

College bound?

Your college application is an opportunity for you to articulate who you are and who you dream of becoming. We’ll help you find the right words.

1

Commit to doing your best in school

Your transcript is, bar none, the most important component of your application. Focus your attention on doing as well as possible in your courses.

Request an academic tutor
2

Develop a strong resume

Don’t overthink your resume - you should be spending your time doing the things you love to do! The point is not to simply accrue experiences for the sake of your applications, but rather to develop your interests in an authentic way, pushing yourself to try new things and explore you love to do more deeply. Fill your time outside of class with the activities that bring you enrichment. 
From our blog: building a resume of activities in high school
3

Make a plan for standardized testing

In the fall of your sophomore year, start planning for PSAT preparation, as it’s the perfect opportunity to develop test-taking skills and build confidence in a lower-stakes environment. Also, your performance on the PSAT will inform your game plan for the ACT and the SAT.

Learn more about our SAT tutoring
4

Select schools that best fit your needs

Honing your list of schools might seem daunting, but this can be one of the most helpful parts of the application process, as it will help you refine not just where you want to go to school, but why. Whether you’re creating a list from scratch or starting from your high school's suggestions, you'll need to do your own extensive research to craft a list of reach, match, and safety schools. Coming up with a school list is a highly personal process that's all about finding the right fit for you based on a balance of all sorts of factors, including academic goals, extracurricular expectations, geographic location, scholarship offerings, the kind of community you’d like to join, and more. 

View our sample syllabus
5

Tackle your essays

For most high school students, the personal essay is a critical introduction to self-representation. As you write your personal and supplemental essays, you should expect to go through lots of drafts, revisions, and editing, but in the end, all this work will result in writing that best represent you and of which you can be truly proud.

From our blog: how to choose the right essay topic
6

Choose the right recommenders

Your recommenders should be able to speak to who you are as a student and as a person. Select recommenders who know you well and who are excited about who you may become. The depth of the relationship is really important to making these letters work most effectively.

From our blog: how to select and contact your recommenders
7

Develop and rehearse a compelling interview performance

Interviews, whether with current officers or with alumni, can greatly strengthen your application. Remember, each reader usually takes between eight and ten minutes with your application, so meeting people face-to-face helps the college get a better sense of who you are. 

From our blog: interview tips
8

Stay in touch

You can expect your Student Support Manager to reach out to you right after your first session and throughout your relationship to make sure you are on track. But we love hearing from students and parents at any time.

Meet our Student Support Team

Coach spotlight

We are a cooperative of experienced college coaches operating in a variety of fields who provide exceptional one-on-one coaching and mentorship to our students.

Meet everyone

We are a cooperative of experienced college coaches operating in a variety of fields who provide exceptional one-on-one coaching and mentorship to our students.

Erin B.

Erin holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She also holds an MA in Modern & Contemporary Literature (University of Virginia) and BA in English (Rutgers University, summa cum laude with high honors).

Troy

Troy graduated from Yale with a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. After serving in Teach for America, he attended Harvard Law. Currently, Troy works for an education technology startup focused on preparing students for college.

Anjali

Anjali holds a BA in Classical Languages and Literatures from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She currently works in Private Equity in London.

Sarah Y.

Sarah graduated from Brown with a BA in History & International Relations. She holds a PhD in History from the University of Hong Kong and the University of Pennsylvania.

Anna F.

Anna graduated from Harvard University with a BA in English and a minor in Linguistics and Language Theory. While at Harvard, she was a curriculum editor for the Mamelodi Initiative in South Africa.

Emily R.

Emily graduated from Yale, where she majored in English and was a varsity athlete. She then worked for a technology startup and a human rights nonprofit before pursuing her MD at Columbia University.

Gus

Gus is currently in his fifth year of pursuing his PhD in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University. He is currently conducting psychological research using experimental and survey methods and serves as the doctoral student leader of the Internet, Disclosure & Psychotherapy Lab.

Michaela W.

Michaela is an MD/PhD at Harvard-MIT. She holds a BS in Biochemistry with minors in Philosophy and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Colorado (summa cum laude), where she was an NCAA Division I, All-American track athlete.

Tong

Thomas earned his BS in Chemistry at Duke. He is currently an MD/PhD at Harvard-MIT. In the Harvard Immunology Program, he is studying how the immune system responds to severe viral infections such as COVID-19

Sheela

Sheela earned her BFA in Vocal Performance and BS in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. She earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Royal College of Music and an MSc in Cognitive & Decision Sciences from University College London. She also holds a JD from Yale Law School.

Cristina

Cristina holds a PhD in Linguistics from Harvard, an MS in Cognitive and Decision Sciences from University College London, and BAs in Applied and Computational Mathematics and Linguistics from the University of Southern California. Currently, she works as a forensic linguist.

Charlie T.

Charlie earned a BA in Political and Social Thought and English from UVA. Next, he earned his master's degrees in English and in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He is now a PhD candidate in English Literature at Harvard.

Trinh T.

Trinh holds a BA in Political Science from Yale and an MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from the University of Oxford. She is an incoming JD candidate at Yale Law School.

Matthew G.

Matthew holds an AB in Government from Harvard and a PhD in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University. He's a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan.

Hollis P.

Hollis holds a BA in Rhetoric and a BS in Environmental Economics and Policy from UC Berkeley. He is presently an MA Candidate in Architecture at Harvard University.

Kellen H.

Kellen holds a BA from Princeton in History & African American Studies, and a PhD from Columbia in History. She was a Predoctoral Fellow at UPenn’s McNeil Center for Early American Studies, and is now working on her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Penn State University.

Bex

Bex majored in theatre and minored in creative writing at Northwestern University, graduating summa cum laude. After settling in Chicago, Bex won a prestigious Luminarts Cultural Foundation fellowship in creative writing. They are now an MFA candidate at Hamline University, where they study writing for children and young adults.

Udodiri

Udodiri is a PhD Candidate in History of Science at Harvard University; she previously earned a BA in the same field at Harvard College. Her honors thesis on the biomedicalization of Civil Rights Protest in the 1960s and 1970s received the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize.

Sarge

John has been a professional writer, editor, and teacher for almost 40 years, working with everyone from students to corporate executives to help them get their good ideas down on paper in a clear and comprehensible way. He has taught at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, CT., and at Moses Brown School, in Providence, RI.

Nathan B.

Nathan is a lecturer in The Writing Seminars, the creative writing program at Johns Hopkins University. He earned his MFA at Hopkins, and also attended Emory University in Atlanta, majoring in English literature and creative writing and graduating summa cum laude.

Fang

Fang is a MD candidate at Harvard Medical School, spending his time conducting research at the Harvard Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. He holds a DPhil in Cardiovascular Medicine from Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.

Diana T.

Diana currently teaches at the Parsons School of Design. She holds an MS in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and an MA in Architecture from Kansas State University,

Isabel T.

Isa designed an independent major at Williams College titled “Critical Health Studies,” combining philosophy, sociology, and anthropology with the goal of complementing her science-oriented pre-medical education with a humanist and critical exploration of health and medicine. After graduating with Highest Honors, she is now an entering MD-PhD student at the University of Michigan where she will complete her doctoral work in sociocultural anthropology.

Nick O.

Nick attended Washington University in St. Louis as an Ervin Scholar, where he double majored in Mechanical Engineering and Sustainable Development. Currently, Nick is a doctoral student in the Management Science and Engineering Department at Stanford University, where his research focuses on the consequences of disruption, abolitionist technologies, and business models that incentivize responsible urban innovation.

Rasheca

Rasheca was a Robertson scholar who attended Duke University and also had the opportunity to simultaneously major at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. At Duke, Rasheca majored in Public Policy and at UNC Rasheca majored in Nutrition. She graduated in 2020 summa cum laude, with distinction, and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She is currently pursuing a medical degree at Harvard Medical School.

Sam C.

Sam graduated with a degree in Physics from Princeton University. After graduation, she taught physics at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She's currently pursuing her MFA in fiction at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Nadja

Nadja graduated from The Dalton School early, moving on to earn her BA in Psychology at Yale University, cum laude. Nadja was recently selected as a Fulbright Scholar and will serve in Kenya as an English teacher for high school and university students.

Ryan Ra.

Ryan is currently finishing a PhD from MIT in Philosophy. During the next academic year, he will be a Visiting Scholar in Ethics of Technology at Phillips Academy at Andover, and a Research Affiliate at MIT in the Philosophy Department.

Jenny M.

Jenny currently teaches English literature at St. Johnsbury Academy. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Trinity College at the University of Oxford, and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Liz P.

Liz has been a professor at Harvard College (English) and Bates College (Theater and Dance). She holds a PhD and MA in English from Harvard University and a BA in English and Dramatic Art from UNC (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa).

Sasha

Sasha earned her BS in Physics and Mathematics from MIT and her PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from MIT. Her PhD research focused on engineering new energy-efficient magnetic nanomaterials. While at MIT, she completed two research internships in France, worked as a visiting scientist in a German physics institute, and pioneered a new physics education program in Chile.

Joshua

Joshua graduated cum laude from Middlebury College with a BA in Political Science. He worked for two years as a Research Associate at Mathematica Policy Research. He then worked at Kate Farms as a Market Access Associate Manager. Currently, Joshua is a dual degree master’s candidate in Comparative Urban Planning and International Governance at UCLA and SciencesPo.

Austin T.

Austin attended Harvard College, and graduated summa cum laude with a double major in Chemistry and English. She will start at Harvard Law in the fall of 2023, where she hopes to find a niche at the science-law interface.

Layla

Layla is an MD Candidate at Harvard Medical School. Previously, she graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a BA in Writing Seminars and a minor in Islamic Studies. Her post-grad fellowship conducting ovarian cancer research at the National Center for Advancing Translational Science culminated in her choice to pursue a career in medicine.

Benazir

Benazir holds a BA in Linguistics from Harvard College, where she graduated cum laude and with honors. More recently, she was a recipient of the Alex G. Booth ’30 Travel Fellowship, which she used to study, sail, and travel around the world.

Yael

Yael earned a BA in Math and the History of Art and Architecture from Harvard College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). In her senior year of college, she began the Harvard Teacher Fellows Program, through which she earned a Masters of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Molly P.

Molly received her BA from Harvard, graduating with Highest Honors in English and Theater, Dance & Media. During her time as an undergrad, she was named a Le Baron Russell Briggs Traveling Fellow, an Artist Development Fellow, and a John Harvard Scholar, and spent a summer studying Shakespeare at the University of Cambridge in England.

Max Sh.

Max holds a PhD in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies from Columbia, an MA in Near Eastern Studies from NYU, and a BA in Philosophy from Vassar. An experienced classroom teacher, he currently teaches World History at Poly Prep Country Day School.

Romina

Romina is currently a student at Yale Law School. She graduated from Harvard College with a BA in Social Studies and African American Studies. Prior to enrolling at Yale Law, Romina worked as a public finance analyst at Barclays Capital Inc. in New York City.

Benjy

Benjy graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College, where he majored in English, acquired Language Citations in Spanish and German, and minored in Music. He is passionate about making classical music and opera accessible, and is currently based in Amsterdam, working as a conductor and musical artist between Europe and the United States.

Akhil

Akhil holds a BA and MA in Political Science from Yale University. He is currently pursuing his MS in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. Following his time in Oxford, he will begin studying for his JD at Yale Law School.

Anna Tw.

Anna holds an MFA in Acting from the Shakespeare Theatre Company/George Washington University and an MA in Acting from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Previously, she earned her BA in Creative Writing from Stanford University.

Michael T.

Michael is a current JD Candidate at Harvard Law School. He previously graduated from Brown University with BA degrees in Economics and International Relations (magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa).

Linda L.

Linda has 36 years of classroom experience. She taught English at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School; started a small school, the Social Justice Academy, in Boston; taught Composition and Research to college students in Missouri (Stephens) and Massachusetts (Bentley); and helped lead the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science to its number 5 state-wide ranking.

Kiran

Kiran holds a PhD from the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. She also holds a Master’s in Latin American Studies from the University of Oxford, and a BA in Political Science from Barnard College.

Chris B.

Chris received his AB from Princeton, where he studied History and American Studies. After earning his Ed.M. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, he’s been teaching in Boston for the past decade.

Monica K.

Monica is a practicing corporate attorney specializing in private equity mergers and acquisitions. She graduated from Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania, summa cum laude. While attending Harvard Law School, Monica interned at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement.

Hannah L.

Hannah earned her BA from Yale University, where her undergrad poetry thesis won her Yale’s Frederick Mortimer Clapp Fellowship. Hannah got her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 2015 and is currently an English PhD candidate at the University of Virginia.

Psalm

Psalm attended the University of Chicago as a QuestBridge scholar, graduating with an honors BA in Anthropology. Now a student at Yale Law School, he focuses on civil rights law and is committed to making a positive impact in the world.

Amy T.

Amy attended Stanford University, where she majored in Urban Sustainability and minored in Italian, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Amy went on to receive her MFA in Creative Writing from Hollins University, where she was a Dillard Fellow and received the Andrew James Purdy Prize in Short Fiction.

Rayen

After graduating with an IB diploma from the American International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago, Chile, Rayen attended The University of Chicago and graduated with a degree in Public Policy. She scored a 175 on the LSAT and will be attending law school.

Valerie N.

Valerie is an artist and scientist who holds a degree in Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology, as well as a BA in Art with a concentration in Painting from Yale University. She also holds an MA in Cultural Studies and Critical Theory from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Ava B.

Ava graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago. Presently, she is training as a psychotherapist at the California Institute of Integral Studies, where she hopes to build a more sustainable career addressing our world’s suffering.

Farita

Farita earned her BS in Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her MS in Biomedical Engineering at the MIT Media Lab. She is now a PhD Candidate working on the Theoretical Physics of Living Systems at the MIT Media Lab.

Olivia M.

Olivia is a 2016 graduate of Harvard University (cum laude) in English and Mind/Brain/Behavior. She also holds a Master of Studies in English (1900-present) from St. Catherine's College, University of Oxford (2017). Olivia works as both a professional tutor and theatre director in the UK.

Jack Mc.

Jack earned his BA in Theatre and Performance Studies (cum laude) at Yale University, where he also pursued extensive coursework in humanities departments like English and History. After Yale, Jack earned his MA in Theatre at The Ohio State University with a focus on dramatic literature, history, and theory.

Yurigrace

Yuri-Grace is presently a Clinical Science PhD Candidate & NSF GRFP fellow at Harvard University. Originally from Peachtree City, GA, she graduated from Harvard College in 2021 with a BA in Psychology (highest honors) and a secondary in Classics.

Sam H.

Sam graduated cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Literature. She has professional experience working as a paralegal and a classroom English teacher. She is now pursuing her JD at the University of Pennsylvania.

Rob F.

Rob holds an MFA in Fiction from New York University. Previously, he worked for Bain & Company and graduated from Stanford with a major in Political Science. He currently writes poetry, fiction, and art criticism.

Alexa Z.

Alexa graduated cum laude from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and a secondary degree in Psychology. She earned high departmental honors in Social Studies, and her thesis on political myths, critical theory, and female social mobility received magna distinction.

Arielle S.

Arielle majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale. She received the Class of 1971 Summer Science Research Fellowship, Dean’s Research Fellowship in the Sciences (twice), and Mellon Senior Research Grant for her research in the transfusion biology and immunology. She is now an MD candidate at the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis.

Caroline Be.

Caroline attended Yale College where she majored in History of Science and Medicine. She graduated with Latin Honors, Distinction in her major, and a 3.92 GPA. She was awarded the Heinrich von Staden Cup for her contribution to the social and intellectual conscience of the college.

Danielle J.

Danielle majored in English modified with African and African American Studies at Dartmouth College, where she graduated cum laude with high honors. She is currently a PhD candidate in English Language and Literature at the University of Chicago.

Shae

Shae holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago and an MA in History from Harvard University. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of History at Harvard University.

Jack S.

Jack graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Government. He completed coursework for an MPhil in Political and Economic Sociology at the University of Cambridge, which he attended as the Lionel de Jersey Harvard Scholar. Jack is also a graduate of the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School.

Kate K.

Kate holds a BA in Biology and Philosophy from Williams College. After working with Minds Matter Boston and Clarion Healthcare, she is currently an associate director in corporate development at Relay Therapeutics.

Anupam

Anupam graduated at the top of his law school at King’s College London with First Class Honors. Since graduating from King’s, he has worked as a Growth Lead in the tech, finance, and film industries. He is now beginning an MPhil in Economics at the University of Cambridge.

Morgan

Morgan holds a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School and a BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University. She is a former lawyer admitted to practice in the State of New York (having worked in both government and BigLaw), and most recently was the Script Coordinator on a Netflix TV show.

Maddie

Maddie holds a BA in English Literature and Human Rights from Barnard College and an MA in Public Policy and Management. She is currently pursuing her JD at Columbia Law School.

Albert A.

Albert holds an MPhil in Economics from Oxford, an MFA in Fiction from NYU, and a PhD, focused on the theory of comedy, from the University of New South Wales. He is a published novelist and a playwright.

Karina

After graduating from UCLA with triple honors for her BA (summa cum laude, college honors, and departmental honors), she took a gap year, during which she trained in the rigorous Columbia Publishing Course in New York City. She is a fiction writer and PhD candidate in English at Harvard University.

Erica S.

Erica attended Stanford University, where she majored in International Relations and double minored in Economics and Modern Languages (French and Arabic). As a Marshall Scholar, she completed an MA in Middle Eastern Studies at SOAS University of London and an MA in Conflict Resolution at King’s College London.

Eric J.

Eric attended Harvard, concentrating in Environmental Science & Engineering with a Government secondary (cum laude). He is now a JD Candidate at Yale Law School, where he focuses on Energy & Environmental Law, Tax, and Data Privacy.

Nick Ma.

Nick graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a perfect 4.0 GPA from Harvard College. After graduating from Harvard, he attended Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar, earning a Master’s in Global Affairs. Now, he is a student at the University of Oxford, reading for a Master’s in Criminal Justice and Criminology.

Maryam

Maryam graduated summa cum laude with a BA in History and a Minor in Arabic from Princeton. After her Master’s in Early Modern European History at Oxford, she went on to pursue her PhD in in History and Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard.

Ian M.

Ian is a third-year student at Yale Law School. He previously graduated from Stanford University, where he studied Philosophy, History, and South Asian Studies. He graduated with Distinction, Honors in the Program in Ethics in Society, membership in Phi Beta Kappa, and received the Stanford Alumni Association’s Award of Excellence.

Ilana

Ilana graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Middlebury College with a Bachelor’s in Psychology. Currently, she is a fifth-year PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she is actively involved in research and clinical work.

Sydney D.

Sydney holds a degree in Political Science from Yale College and is pursuing a JD from Yale Law School. Post-grad, Sydney will be clerking on the Eastern District of New York and the Second Circuit before working for a DC law firm.

Hattie

Hawthorne graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021, where she majored in English and Political Science. She next received her Master’s from Cambridge University in Politics and International Studies.

Kyra

Kyra is currently pursuing an LLM in International Law at SOAS, University of London as a Marshall Scholar. She graduated from Stanford University with a BA in History, Phi Beta Kappa with honors, and a minor in Human Rights.

Jesi

Jesi received her BA in Humanities from Yale University, and her MA and PhD in English from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently serves as the Director of Undergraduate Research at the University of Washington Bothell.

Shaw

Shaw attended Stanford where she was a Political Science major with a minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality studies. Currently, she is a student at Harvard Law School, where she is an Article Editor for the Journal of Law and Gender and a member of the Mississippi Delta Project Student Practice Organization.

Julia M.

Julia holds a BA in Economics (summa cum laude) from Harvard College. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Statistical Science at Oxford University.

Clara B.

Clara holds a BA in English from Harvard and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Columbia. She is now an MD candidate at Harvard Medical School.

Henry L.

Henry is an MPhil Candidate in Latin American Studies at the University of Oxford. Previously, he earned his BA in Spanish and History at Yale.

Cynthia L.

Cynthia holds a BA in Public Policy from Brown. After graduation, she lived abroad in Madrid, Spain for two years pursuing a US Department of State Fulbright Scholarship and a Master’s degree in Marketing. She has worked in the NBA’s marketing department and now works at a sports agency in brand partnerships.

Judy

Judy pursued her bachelor’s degree in History of Science at Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She subsequently earned her master of science degree in History of Science, Medicine and Technology from the University of Oxford.

Marcus

Marcus holds a Master's in Liberal Studies from Columbia University. He previously graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota with a BA in American Studies.

Sam J.

Sam earned his MBA from the Yale University School of Management, and his BA in Philosophy & Psychology from Wesleyan University as a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. He is currently working as a private business consultant.

Meet everyone

Testimonials

“Sarah played a big role in helping our son gain admission to Harvard. Sarah joined our son’s admissions process when we were all feeling a bit overwhelmed and lost, and she navigated the process with wisdom, compassion, and skill. Sarah helped shape our son's entire educational experience, and for that we are forever grateful.”

ParentMatriculated at Harvard University

“Jimmy has been the best instructor that my son has ever had: positive, supportive, astute, and effective. He's truly changed the course of my son's life. I am infinitely grateful to Cambridge Coaching for connecting us with Jimmy!”

RebeccaMatriculated at New York University

“As someone from a low-income household, investing time and money in my college applications was the best decision my family made. I was accepted into multiple Ivy League schools where I received full financial aid. My time with Cambridge Coaching was so, so, so worth it!”

JoeyAdmitted to multiple Ivy League schools

“I was very stressed out when I started the college transfer process, but Paul made me feel calm and confident the whole time. We worked together to ensure that I had several goals to achieve by the end of each week, and he always responded promptly and thoughtfully. It was a pleasure to work with Paul.”

MélanneCollege transfer

Testimonials

“Sarah played a big role in helping our son gain admission to Harvard. Sarah joined our son’s admissions process when we were all feeling a bit overwhelmed and lost, and she navigated the process with wisdom, compassion, and skill. Sarah helped shape our son's entire educational experience, and for that we are forever grateful.”

ParentMatriculated at Harvard University

“Jimmy has been the best instructor that my son has ever had: positive, supportive, astute, and effective. He's truly changed the course of my son's life. I am infinitely grateful to Cambridge Coaching for connecting us with Jimmy!”

RebeccaMatriculated at New York University

“As someone from a low-income household, investing time and money in my college applications was the best decision my family made. I was accepted into multiple Ivy League schools where I received full financial aid. My time with Cambridge Coaching was so, so, so worth it!”

JoeyAdmitted to multiple Ivy League schools

“I was very stressed out when I started the college transfer process, but Paul made me feel calm and confident the whole time. We worked together to ensure that I had several goals to achieve by the end of each week, and he always responded promptly and thoughtfully. It was a pleasure to work with Paul.”

MélanneCollege transfer

“From day one, Bryan made me more excited about my future instead of stressed about my application. Bryan’s enthusiasm motivated me to achieve the goals we set along the way, and his suggestions made me confident and happy to click the submit button.”

Jaret

“Jeb's commitment and superior service impressed our whole family. He grasped my daughter's strengths and weaknesses precisely and provide exceptionally high-quality support. We are very happy working with Cambridge Coaching––they deliver quality work at the highest professional level.”

Julia

“I contacted Sam two days before my ED deadline, and he was incredibly flexible under such short notice. Sam gave me insight on how to show who I was through my college essays. But most importantly, even though I was under a lot of pressure, Sam kept me motivated and focused.”

Bharath

“Jason is incredible! He's a brilliant editor, and he will help you write an essay that will pull the reader in. He makes sure that your story stays authentic and true to yourself. Jason sets high standards, but when he says you are done, you know it's perfect. Jason is amazing and worth every penny!”

Maria

“Hana had unwavering hope and faith in me. When many people in the process were doubtful and hampered my aspirations, Hana was cheering me on. Hana was exceedingly helpful in helping me craft my ideas into essays that would add to my applications. She has a breadth of knowledge and gave me guidance and tips that were insurmountable. There was never a dull moment with Hana. We were never stumped and always working productively. My experience was so amazing. Thank you guys.”

Robert DevoeMatriculated at Duke University

FAQs

  • What is the timeline for the college admissions process?

    Though preparation for the college process can start as early as 9th grade, the majority of the work will take place between the spring of junior year and the fall of senior year. Typically, students will sit for the SAT or ACT in the spring or summer of their junior year, with another sitting in the fall of senior year if needed. The summer between junior and senior year is also a great time to get started on application essays such as the personal statement and any school-specific supplements. Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are typically November 1st, while Regular Decision apps are usually due around January 1st.
  • Does my child need to take the SAT or ACT?

    Although more and more schools have gone "test optional" in the past few years, taking the SAT or ACT will still likely be a part of the college process, particularly if your child is hoping to gain admission to the most competitive schools. Should your child decide not to submit a standardized test score, it will be especially important to make sure the other components of the application (such as the essays, letters of recommendation, etc.) are as strong as they can be. Some schools like the UCs, however, have gone totally "test blind," so be sure to check the admissions sites of your child's programs of interest to confirm their rules.
  • So which test should my child take: the SAT or the ACT?

    Although the SAT and ACT are very similar, there are some significant differences. The SAT is more reading intensive (even in the math sections), whereas the ACT is a speed test with a math/science focus - it also has a science section, while the SAT does not. And, whereas the SAT focuses more on applying acquired knowledge to unknown situations and problems (aptitude), the ACT is more focused on testing the knowledge a student has acquired over the course of their schooling (ability). The best way to decide which test is right for your child is to have them sit for a diagnostic of both exams. If one test feels far more intuitive, or the end score is far higher, that is the one the student should study for and ultimately, take.
  • How do we decide which schools to apply to?

    Creating a school list will be one of your top priorities at the start of the college process. Junior year is a great time to visit college campuses and take virtual tours so that the student can get a sense of the different types of schools to which they can apply, keeping in mind academic program, location, and opportunities for extracurricular and social engagement. Then, to create a list that is right for your child, separate any programs of interest into Likely, Target, Reach, and Unlikely schools depending on where their grades and scores fall in accordance with past admissions statistics. The best school lists are both broad and diverse, with a variety of schools represented in all four categories.
  • What's the different between Early Action and Early Decision?

    To put it simply, Early Decision is typically binding (i.e. if you are admitted, you are committed to attending that college and withdrawing all other applications elsewhere), while Early Action is not (i.e. if you are admitted, you may still apply to other schools). Both ED and EA can show strong demonstrated interest on the part of the student, though neither is a guarantee for admission. Small colleges with binding ED decisions often admit close to 50% of an incoming class in this round, so it is helpful to apply early if your child has a strong first choice school. Do note, though, that ED and EA rules can differ from school to school, so it will be important to confirm each individual college's restrictions prior to applying.

Plans

We've created a structured yet flexible pricing plan that offers everything you need to succeed throughout the admissions process.

Choose a Tutor Tier

Hourly Rate

1 Hour

All of our coaching is available on an hourly basis. If you're unsure of how much coaching your child will need, you can enroll in our "pay as you go" option.

$ 140

$ 180

$ 260

$ 340

First Time Package

3 Hours

This initial package is a good way to get the ball rolling and evaluate the amount of coaching that your process will require. Allows for parents and student to get to know their coach, align on expectations, and determine a basic action plan.

$ 420

$ 540

$ 780

$ 1020

Single Application Package

25 Hours 5% OFF

Guidance on the early application or another application of your choosing. This package generally allows for regular meetings throughout the process, as well as remote feedback and editing on application materials by your coach. Represents our best estimate; students may need more or less time with their coach.

$ 3325 You save $175

$ 4275 You save $225

$ 6175 You save $325

$ 8075 You save $425

Comprehensive Package

50 Hours 10% OFF

Management of the process start to finish, from school selection through all aspects of the common application, supplements, and interviews. This package allows for regular meetings throughout the process, as well as remote feedback and editing on application materials by your coach. Typically allows for 10 - 12 applications. Represents our best estimate; students may need more or less time with their coach.

$ 6300 You save $700

$ 8100 You save $900

$ 11700 You save $1300

$ 15300 You save $1700

Tutor Tiers

We have 4 tiers of coaches. The coach’s tier is based on the experience level of the coach with our team. All coaches begin working with Cambridge Coaching at the Standard tier.

  • Standard

    0-150 hours
    $140/hour

  • Senior

    150-200 hours
    $180/hour

  • Guru

    250-300 hours
    $260/hour

  • Master

    350+- hours
    $340/hour

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