College admissions season is stressful for just about every high school student out there—and their parents. After all, nearly 1 in 4 would-be students get rejected from 4-year schools, and the number for Ivy Leagues can be lower than 4%. Could a college consulting service like Admissionado really make a difference?
Founded in 2007, Admissionado is a college consulting firm that aims to guide students through the complexities of college admissions. With its sleek, minimal, emoji-dappled home page, it can take hours of research to determine if this is the right service for you and your family. That’s where I come in.
This in-depth review explores Admissionado’s admissions consulting services, with authentic user feedback and comparisons to competitors to help you decide if it’s worth the price.
Is Admissionado Right for You?
- If you’re a student aiming for the Ivy Leagues, then you could benefit from Admissionado’s expertise.
- If you don’t receive one-on-one admissions help through your high school, getting personalized guidance from Admissionado could help you through your application process.
- If you’re a parent who wants to invest in premium college services for your child, then Admissionado is an excellent place to start.
- If you’re applying to many schools, keep an eye on Admissionado’s cost per application—it can add up quickly.
- If you’re not applying to super-selective schools, Admissionado is probably overkill.
Admissionado Overview
Admissionado is a college admissions consulting company that provides personalized guidance to students applying to undergraduate programs. Their services include essay editing, application strategy, interview preparation, and mentorship. The company prides itself on pairing students with consultants who can help them craft compelling narratives to stand out in competitive admissions landscapes.
In reviewing the service, I was particularly impressed by how thoughtfully the consultant guided me through the personal statement and interview processes. Even though I wasn’t applying myself, the level of depth and customization was clear. They didn’t rely on templates or generic feedback—instead, they asked smart, probing questions that would challenge an actual student to dig deeper and find an authentic voice. It’s easy to see how this kind of high-touch support could make a meaningful difference in a genuine application scenario.
“I am thrilled to announce that I have been accepted to Harvard! I can’t thank you enough for your help; our session last week helped me nail my second interview, and I would like to think that it was what ultimately got me in. Hopefully I won’t have to do any more interviews for a little while, but now I know that I can knock it out of the park if I need to! Thank you again for helping me with the interviews; I truly couldn’t have done it without you.”
Admissionado Student
Pros
- Personalized Approach: Admissionado emphasizes individualized attention. Students are matched with consultants based on their unique needs and personalities, ensuring a tailored experience.
- Experienced Consultants: The team comprises graduates from top-tier institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton. Their firsthand experience with elite admissions processes can provide valuable insights.
- Comprehensive Services: Beyond essay editing, Admissionado offers a range of services, including application help, interview prep, resume development, and strategic guidance.
- High Success Rate: Admissionado reports that 97% of clients using their Gold or Platinum packages gain admission to at least one of their top-choice schools.
- Improved Focus: Where the average high school guidance counselor helps around 400 students at a time, Admissionado consultants manage just six students.
Cons
- Premium Pricing: Admissionado’s services come at a higher cost than those of some competitors.
- Additional Costs for Extra Applications: While packages cover a set number of applications, adding more schools can incur extra fees, which might not be ideal for students applying to multiple institutions.
Admissionado Review
College Package Options
| College Mentorship | Application Services | |
|---|---|---|
| Geared towards | Younger students, grades 9-11 | Grade 12 students actively applying to colleges |
| Price range | $2,050-$5,370 | $4,440-$20,000+ |
Mentorship Services
The Mentorship package is for students and their families who want to start the college process early (9th to 11th grade). It is not so much concerned with application help as with getting an idea of how you or your child is progressing toward becoming a future competitive applicant. Consultation hours range from 5 to 20, depending on the package chosen.
What’s Included
- Regular one-on-one sessions with a mentor
- Help with academic planning and course selection
- Extracurricular planning and guidance
- Summer program advice
- Support with early application strategy
- Personality development and goal-setting
Admissionado strongly emphasizes helping students build a story before the application process begins, which makes it stand out among competitors. That means shaping passions and assisting students to make meaningful choices that will positively impact them when it comes time to apply to colleges.
Applications Services
The Applications service is geared towards high school seniors who are in the thick of the application process, and is Admissionado’s most popular package. If you or your child is already in their senior year and needs serious application help, this is probably where you’ll land. Admissionado pairs each student with an experienced consultant (many are Ivy League grads) and an essay specialist.
What’s Included
- Strategy planning for target schools
- Brainstorming and editing of personal statement and supplemental essays
- Application review and feedback
- Resume and activity list polishing
- Interview prep
- Unlimited email access to the team
What Makes It Strong
- Two-Person Team: A strategist + essay expert ensures the student gets a well-rounded view.
- Multiple Rounds of Feedback: Essays are reviewed thoroughly, with clear, constructive suggestions.
- School-Specific Insight: Consultants often have deep knowledge about particular schools’ expectations.
A La Carte Options
Let’s say applicants have most of their application under control, but their personal statement needs work. Or maybe they’re struggling to organize their activity list. Admissionado offers many of their services à la carte to students who only need help with specific areas of their application process. Further, trying an à la carte option may be an effective way to discover whether you enjoy their process and staff before investing in a larger package.
Options Include
- Personal Statement Help (from brainstorming to final draft)
- Resume/Activity List Review
- Supplemental Essay Packages
- School Selection Strategy
- Mock Interviews
Choosing services as needed (rather than an entire package) is excellent for families on a budget or students working on a tighter deadline. Picking and choosing a few core services can focus your attention where it needs to be, without paying more for fluff you may not really need.
If you’re still not 100% sure Admissionado is the right fit, you should take advantage of their free consultation. This is a questionnaire designed to assess where you are in the application process, the types of schools you’re interested in, and where you feel you need the most assistance. The more information you fill in (such as high school transcripts and standardized test scores), the better Admissionado’s consultant can help you find a plan that works for you.
A free consultation is also available to MBA, Law, and Med school applicants.
Nitty Gritty Course Details
College Mentorship
The Mentorship courses are split into three tiers, with the main difference being the number of consultation hours you will receive.
| Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,050 | $3,320 | $5,370 |
| 1-on-1 Consultant Support |  | | |
| Consultation Hours | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Learn More | Get Started | Get Started | Get Started |
Application Services
Like Admissionado’s Mentorship services, the Application offerings are also split into three main tiers. These come with more nuances between them, which I’ll explore in more depth below.
| et St | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,440 | $6,860 | $10,940 |
| Strategy | | | |
| Essays | | | |
| Recommendation Letters Help |  | | |
| “High Level Scan” Application Review | | | |
| Email Support | | | |
| Phone Support | | | |
| Best For | Confident, self-motivated students applying to a few schools | Students applying to competitive schools who need maximum support | High-achievers targeting top-tier schools with complex apps |
| Learn More | Get Started | Get Started | Get Started |
The Silver Tier: Most Affordable
The Silver package is Admissionado’s most affordable application option—but don’t let the price tag fool you. It’s a lean, high-impact choice designed for students who feel comfortable managing their own timelines and materials but want sharp, strategic feedback where it counts most: the essays and overall positioning. Think of it as a focused layer of expert insight that sharpens your application without overcomplicating the process.
In testing this tier, I was struck by how substantive the feedback was, even without the broader bells and whistles. The consultant didn’t hold back, delivering honest, incisive edits that elevated the core narrative and structure of each essay. For applicants working under tighter budgets but still aiming for a polished, strategically sound submission, Silver offers tremendous value.
What It Includes
- Strategy call with a lead consultant to review goals and school fit
- Brainstorming session for the personal statement
- Two rounds of essay review (main and supplements)
- Final application review before submission
- Email check-ins and general Q&A support
Who It’s Best For
- Students who are already solid writers but need strategic help to shape their story
- Families looking for expert feedback without the cost of a fully immersive process
- Applicants to schools with fewer or less intensive supplemental essays
What it Lacks
If the prospective student is applying to highly competitive schools or struggles with writing, Silver may not provide enough back-and-forth. There are fewer revision rounds and less strategic depth than the upper tiers. For high-achieving students aiming for Ivy League or top 20 schools, it may feel a little light.
The Gold Tier: Most Popular
The Gold tier is Admissionado’s most popular package—and it’s easy to see why. It strikes a smart balance between hands-on consultant guidance and student autonomy, making it a strong fit for motivated applicants who want expert support without being overly managed. With more structured touchpoints and room for in-depth feedback, the Gold package encourages thoughtful iteration and personal growth.
While reviewing this package, I appreciated how the process allowed for meaningful collaboration without feeling overwhelmed. The consultant offered insightful critique and strategic direction at key points, but also left space for the student’s voice to shine through. For applicants who are driven but still want an expert in their corner, Gold delivers just the right level of involvement.
What It Includes
- Everything in the Silver package, plus:
- Unlimited brainstorming sessions
- Three complete rounds of essay feedback (per school)
- Resume/activities list support
- Deeper involvement in school selection and positioning
- More email exchanges with faster turnaround times
- Interview preparation (for select schools)
Who It’s Best For
- Students applying to multiple selective colleges (e.g., top 50)
- Teens who benefit from more structured editing and accountability
- Writers who need several drafts to get their voice and message right
- Families who want personalized guidance across all aspects of the application
This is where Admissionado’s “storytelling” strength truly shines. The collaboration between the strategist and the essay expert also helps the student stay on track without losing their unique voice. The addition of phone support in the Gold package also provides a more personal experience, which can be incredibly valuable to students who appreciate one-on-one feedback that’s more personal than an email.
One testimonial from an Admissionado user praised their mentor for encouraging them to apply to a program they weren’t confident they could get into, saying:
“I reflected a lot and finally, I committed to USC! Thank you very much for helping me all along this process. I was remembering today the Skype session when I asked you if I should apply to the Academy even though only 30 students were accepted. If it weren’t for your support of the idea, I would have probably have applied undecided to USC… So great how things turned out along this journey… You were a great mentor!”
Who Might Want More
If you’re aiming for elite schools like Harvard, Stanford, or MIT—or submitting 10+ applications—you may want the even more comprehensive Platinum option, especially if you’re seeking help across a long list of schools.
The Platinum Tier: Most Comprehensive
The Platinum package is the top-tier experience for families seeking the highest level of guidance and polish throughout the admissions process. It’s the ideal choice for students targeting Ivy League or other ultra-competitive schools, or for those managing multiple complex applications filled with school-specific essays and nuanced strategic considerations.
In sampling this package, I got a clear sense of the depth it offers. The consultant didn’t just review materials—they proactively drove the process, offering structured timelines, sharp strategic pivots, and impressively granular feedback on every draft. For a real applicant, especially one navigating a demanding college list, this level of involvement could be the difference between a strong application and an exceptional one.
What It Includes
- All features from Silver and Gold, plus:
- Priority access and faster turnaround (ideal for tight timelines)
- Unlimited essay reviews, including complete rewrites if needed
- School-specific strategy sessions for each target institution
- Ongoing school list refinement
- Enhanced mock interview prep
- A dedicated project manager to keep everything moving smoothly
Who It’s Best For
- Students applying to highly competitive colleges with long supplement lists
- Teens who need extensive revisions, coaching, or time management support
- Families who want to hand off the stress and keep things highly organized
- Students seeking the sharpest strategic positioning and most refined writing
Standout Features
The Platinum experience ensures the applicant has a bona fide team behind them. The essay feedback goes deeper, the turnaround is faster, and the strategic insights are incredibly detailed. If you or your child needs help shaping their voice and organizing a complex application calendar, this tier delivers peace of mind and results.
Who Might Not Need It
If your student has a focused college list with fewer essays or if they work well with minimal guidance, Platinum might be more than you need. It’s a significant investment, and its value shows for ambitious, wide-net applicants aiming for top programs.
There is much discussion online as to whether using a college consultant is even worth it at all; some users on r/ApplyingToCollege have remarked that consulting services are like a “glorified Grammarly,” or that they “discourage you from being yourself to try to fit the mold they think colleges want.” Others chimed in and spoke about their positive experiences with consultants.
One user on r/ApplyingToCollege commented on how they viewed the value of consulting fees, saying:
“To me, this depends on your goals and your budget. If you’re selling a $300k house, you usually don’t worry too much about the ~$15k+ in agent fees because they make the process so much easier and help you get what you want out of it. If you’re buying a $300k education, I think it can also make sense to drop a few thousand on making sure you’re getting what you want out of it. There are many other industries where six figure deals warrant 4-5 figure agency / consultant fees, and this isn’t much different. You can totally buy or sell a house on your own and save agency fees. In some cases, doing it on your own might be the right move. In other cases, it’s worth the professional assistance.”
How Does Admissionado Compare To Its Competitors?
Admissionado isn’t the only game in town when it comes to college consulting companies. Let’s see how it stands up to some of its competitors.
Admissionado vs. Crimson
Crimson Education is known for its wide-ranging network of tutors, extracurricular strategists, and admissions advisors. One of Crimson’s strengths is its international focus—it’s particularly appealing for students applying from outside the U.S. who need help navigating different systems or applying to colleges in multiple countries. Crimson also provides tutoring for standardized tests and even AP or IB classes, which can be helpful if you’re looking for an all-in-one academic and admissions solution. If you’re an athlete, Crimson can help you get recruited to play your sport at a top school.
In contrast, Admissionado shines in the writing and storytelling aspect of the college application, which is arguably one of the most personal and challenging parts of the process. Rather than offering a “one-stop shop,” Admissionado emphasizes crafting compelling, authentic applications. If the applicant already has solid academic support but needs help discovering their voice and shaping a narrative that resonates with admissions officers, Admissionado offers more specialized, in-depth guidance in this area. It’s less about spreading many services widely, hoping it works, and more about going deep where it counts.
Admissionado vs. PrepExpert
PrepExpert is primarily known for its test prep courses, especially for the SAT and ACT. Their claim to fame comes from high-scoring instructors and strategies designed to boost scores fast. They also offer some admissions consulting services, but these are often add-ons rather than the core of what they do. If your main concern is increasing test scores or if you need help improving test-taking strategies quickly, PrepExpert is a solid option.
Admissionado, by contrast, doesn’t focus on test prep at all—it focuses fully on the application process itself: essays, resumes, interview prep, and long-term positioning. Where PrepExpert offers structured score improvement, Admissionado dives into the strategy and storytelling that test scores can’t capture. Suppose you’re confident in your or your child’s academic profile but want the application to stand out from thousands of others with similar GPAs and scores. In that case, Admissionado is the stronger choice for that crucial, subjective edge.
Bottom Line
If you or your child is a motivated student who wants to stand out through compelling essays and a clear, strategic application, Admissionado is a top choice. It’s ideal for families who value expert storytelling, in-depth feedback, and a personalized approach. It’s also ideal for students aiming for competitive or top-tier colleges and who need help shaping their narrative beyond grades and scores.
However, if you’re looking for broader academic support like test prep or tutoring, or want an all-in-one platform with international admissions help, Crimson or PrepExpert may be better aligned with your needs. Ultimately, the best choice depends on you or your child’s goals, learning style, and where they need the most support.
FAQ
If your child feels overwhelmed, is aiming for competitive schools, or lacks strong support at school, a consultant can provide structure, strategy, and confidence throughout the process.
Guidance counselors typically support hundreds of students and may not have time for in-depth application work. A private consultant offers personalized, one-on-one help with strategy, essays, and timelines.
While no consultant can guarantee admission, experienced consultants help students avoid common mistakes, present stronger applications, and position themselves more effectively to stand out.
Yes, as long as the consultant supports rather than replaces the student’s work. The best consultants coach students to express their own voice and ideas, not do the work for them.
Ideally, students start in 10th or early 11th grade to build a strong foundation and strategy, but even senior-year support can make a meaningful difference with the right guidance.
