Great Minds Advising
Helping students stand out at top colleges
We turn our students' interests into unique "hooks" that earn elite college acceptances.
We turn our students' interests into unique "hooks" that earn elite college acceptances.
"You guys are amazing at what you do, and I will continue to tell everyone I know you are THE BEST in the business!"
About us
About us
About us
top college specialists
Great Minds Advising specializes in helping high-achieving students become the applicants top colleges nowadays seek: students with compelling admissions stories centered around a focused passion, or "hook."
Combining strategic expertise with hands-on mentorship, our mission is to provide industry-leading support to a limited group of bright, enthusiastic students driven to maximize their potential and gain admission to a top college.
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2024-25 Acceptances
Number of students accepted to a top-choice college
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2024-25 Acceptances
Number of students accepted to a top-choice college
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2024-25 Acceptances
Number of students accepted to a top-choice college
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Accepted to Ivy
Number of our Ivy applicants accepted to at least one Ivy
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Accepted to Ivy
Number of our Ivy applicants accepted to at least one Ivy
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Accepted to Ivy
Number of our Ivy applicants accepted to at least one Ivy
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Ivy Early Round
Number of our Ivy applicants accepted early
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Ivy Early Round
Number of our Ivy applicants accepted early
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Ivy Early Round
Number of our Ivy applicants accepted early
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Ivy Advantage
Our Ivy acceptance rate vs. national average
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Ivy Advantage
Our Ivy acceptance rate vs. national average
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Ivy Advantage
Our Ivy acceptance rate vs. national average
Services
Services
Services
Unrivaled support
Our fully comprehensive program leaves no stone unturned in achieving the best possible admissions outcome.
Hook-Building
We help students craft compelling admissions themes rooted in their passions—then bring them to life through research, leadership, independent projects, and more. Every element supports a unified, differentiated narrative that stands out at elite colleges.
Academics & Testing
From course selection to SAT/ACT strategy, we aid students with maximizing their individual academic profiles, ensuring alignment with their admissions narratives and college goals.
Recommendations
We guide students in cultivating strong classroom personas and providing their teachers and school counselors with tailored materials to write standout recommendations that reinforce the traits top colleges seek.
School Strategy
One of a student’s greatest strategic edges is applying early. Using a high-precision analysis, we not only customize school lists but also aid our students in leveraging ED and other early plans to gain admission to the best school possible.
Strategic Positioning
Based on strengths, demographics, and major-specific competitiveness, we optimize how students present their academic interests and major selections to create the greatest possible edge in each college applicant pool.
Applications
From cliche essays to activities lists with no through line, students often cause admissions officers to glaze over and deny their applications. In contrast, we help our students craft applications that centerpiece their unique admissions hooks and stand out from the crowd.
Hook-Building
We help students craft compelling admissions themes rooted in their passions—then bring them to life through research, leadership, independent projects, and more. Every element supports a unified, differentiated narrative that stands out at elite colleges.
Academics & Testing
From course selection to SAT/ACT strategy, we aid students with maximizing their individual academic profiles, ensuring alignment with their admissions narratives and college goals.
Recommendations
We guide students in cultivating strong classroom personas and providing their teachers and school counselors with tailored materials to write standout recommendations that reinforce the traits top colleges seek.
School Strategy
One of a student’s greatest strategic edges is applying early. Using a high-precision analysis, we not only customize school lists but also aid our students in leveraging ED and other early plans to gain admission to the best school possible.
Strategic Positioning
Based on strengths, demographics, and major-specific competitiveness, we optimize how students present their academic interests and major selections to create the greatest possible edge in each college applicant pool.
Applications
From cliche essays to activities lists with no through line, students often cause admissions officers to glaze over and deny their applications. In contrast, we help our students craft applications that centerpiece their unique admissions hooks and stand out from the crowd.
Hook-Building
We help students craft compelling admissions themes rooted in their passions—then bring them to life through research, leadership, independent projects, and more. Every element supports a unified, differentiated narrative that stands out at elite colleges.
Academics & Testing
From course selection to SAT/ACT strategy, we aid students with maximizing their individual academic profiles, ensuring alignment with their admissions narratives and college goals.
Recommendations
We guide students in cultivating strong classroom personas and providing their teachers and school counselors with tailored materials to write standout recommendations that reinforce the traits top colleges seek.
School Strategy
One of a student’s greatest strategic edges is applying early. Using a high-precision analysis, we not only customize school lists but also aid our students in leveraging ED and other early plans to gain admission to the best school possible.
Strategic Positioning
Based on strengths, demographics, and major-specific competitiveness, we optimize how students present their academic interests and major selections to create the greatest possible edge in each college applicant pool.
Applications
From cliche essays to activities lists with no through line, students often cause admissions officers to glaze over and deny their applications. In contrast, we help our students craft applications that centerpiece their unique admissions hooks and stand out from the crowd.
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
What our families say
See what students and parents say about working with our team.
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
I cannot say enough great things about Great Minds Advising. They gave me the tools to get into my dream school, Dartmouth College. They are truly the best!
Dartmouth | Class of 2025
I wanted to say thank you for your help over the last few years—I appreciate all of the guidance and support and couldn't have gotten where I am now without you.
Cornell | Class of 2029
We are still shaking. Thank you for your role in bringing to parents the happiness of seeing their son receive the educational opportunity and recognition he worked so hard to earn.
Penn | Class of 2028
We really appreciate all your guidance, advice, effort and input. The end result is so much better than we ever could have imagined.
Stanford | Class of 2025
I just wanted to say we are truly grateful and so glad we found you! I feel bad for those who don't have you guys!! lol
Duke | Class of 2027
Best decision we have ever made (apart from my marriage :-)) was to engage your help. Not only did you help her realize her dream, but you helped her discover herself.
Penn | Class of 2027
Podcast
Podcast
Podcast
Follow our admissions podcast
Hear our in-depth strategic commentary on winning admission to America's top colleges.
10 Ways To Ruin Your Admission Odds
From staying “well-rounded” and avoiding commitment to a hook to messing up your ED school and falling for trap essay questions, we flip the script and walk through the ten fastest ways to sabotage your college admissions chances—so you can do the opposite.
Season 2
Episode 3
By staying well-rounded and allocating your time toward a wide variety of disjointed activities, you ensure your candidacy has no particular theme, the admissions officers see no through line, and your application blends in with those of countless other students.
10 Ways To Ruin Your Admission Odds
From staying “well-rounded” and avoiding commitment to a hook to messing up your ED school and falling for trap essay questions, we flip the script and walk through the ten fastest ways to sabotage your college admissions chances—so you can do the opposite.
Season 2
Episode 3
By staying well-rounded and allocating your time toward a wide variety of disjointed activities, you ensure your candidacy has no particular theme, the admissions officers see no through line, and your application blends in with those of countless other students.
10 Ways To Ruin Your Admission Odds
From staying “well-rounded” and avoiding commitment to a hook to messing up your ED school and falling for trap essay questions, we flip the script and walk through the ten fastest ways to sabotage your college admissions chances—so you can do the opposite.
Season 2
Episode 3
By staying well-rounded and allocating your time toward a wide variety of disjointed activities, you ensure your candidacy has no particular theme, the admissions officers see no through line, and your application blends in with those of countless other students.
3 Lies Admissions Officers Love To Tell
In this episode, we reveal several forms of false reassurance that admissions officers often provide to applicants and their families, from the notion of “holistic” review to the great myth of “test optional,” breeding complacency and a dangerously naïve view of how admissions actually works at top colleges.
Season 2
Episode 1
For the top schools, even if you have a great SAT score—say a 1480, which is nearing a 99th percentile score—if that score falls below the college’s range, it is very possible the rest of your application will not even be reviewed.
3 Lies Admissions Officers Love To Tell
In this episode, we reveal several forms of false reassurance that admissions officers often provide to applicants and their families, from the notion of “holistic” review to the great myth of “test optional,” breeding complacency and a dangerously naïve view of how admissions actually works at top colleges.
Season 2
Episode 1
For the top schools, even if you have a great SAT score—say a 1480, which is nearing a 99th percentile score—if that score falls below the college’s range, it is very possible the rest of your application will not even be reviewed.
3 Lies Admissions Officers Love To Tell
In this episode, we reveal several forms of false reassurance that admissions officers often provide to applicants and their families, from the notion of “holistic” review to the great myth of “test optional,” breeding complacency and a dangerously naïve view of how admissions actually works at top colleges.
Season 2
Episode 1
For the top schools, even if you have a great SAT score—say a 1480, which is nearing a 99th percentile score—if that score falls below the college’s range, it is very possible the rest of your application will not even be reviewed.
The Truth About Summer Programs
Think college summer programs are helping your case for admission? Think again. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the widely popular—and vastly overrated—college summer programs in which so many high school students enroll and why almost all of them fail to impress top colleges.
Season 1
Episode 13
There are a lot of issues with college summer programs, from the unimpressive value they provide to students' candidacies to making an applicant less likable by signaling privilege or their preference toward one college over others.
The Truth About Summer Programs
Think college summer programs are helping your case for admission? Think again. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the widely popular—and vastly overrated—college summer programs in which so many high school students enroll and why almost all of them fail to impress top colleges.
Season 1
Episode 13
There are a lot of issues with college summer programs, from the unimpressive value they provide to students' candidacies to making an applicant less likable by signaling privilege or their preference toward one college over others.
The Truth About Summer Programs
Think college summer programs are helping your case for admission? Think again. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the widely popular—and vastly overrated—college summer programs in which so many high school students enroll and why almost all of them fail to impress top colleges.
Season 1
Episode 13
There are a lot of issues with college summer programs, from the unimpressive value they provide to students' candidacies to making an applicant less likable by signaling privilege or their preference toward one college over others.
FAQs
FAQs
FAQs
Answering your questions
Answering your questions
Answering your questions
Want to learn more about our program? Send us a message below.
Want to learn more about our program? Send us a message below.
Want to learn more about our program? Send us a message below.
What do top colleges look for?
Top colleges no longer look to admit well-rounded students but rather students with clear, academically-focused passions, or “hooks.” High-achieving students with strong grades and test scores but without a unique focus to sell to top colleges are a dime-a-dozen and will often find themselves rejected.
How is Great Minds Advising different from other advisors and services?
Unlike other advisors, we specialize in elite college admissions, work with a highly limited number of students, and offer the most comprehensive and tailored long-term advising in the industry. Along with a relentless culture of excellence, these unique features drive our track record of top-college results.
How are students selected for your program?
All families start by completing a thorough background form. From there, a select number are offered a parent call. Finally, the student must complete a brief assignment and partake in a 1:1 interview over Zoom before being admitted to our program.
Where are your students typically located and how do they work with you?
Our program is 100% remote and advises students from high schools, both public and private, across the US.
Do you offer hourly or a la carte services?
No. We offer a fully comprehensive program, with monthly installments. To give our students the best chance of success, we believe every component of the process must be optimized and guided by expertise.
When is the best time to start?
Given the time needed to build an effective hook and resume, admissions favors early starters. Students rarely begin our program after 10th grade. Availability is also more limited over time, as we cap the number of students per grade.
What do top colleges look for?
Top colleges no longer look to admit well-rounded students but rather students with clear, academically-focused passions, or “hooks.” High-achieving students with strong grades and test scores but without a unique focus to sell to top colleges are a dime-a-dozen and will often find themselves rejected.
How is Great Minds Advising different from other advisors and services?
Unlike other advisors, we specialize in elite college admissions, work with a highly limited number of students, and offer the most comprehensive and tailored long-term advising in the industry. Along with a relentless culture of excellence, these unique features drive our track record of top-college results.
How are students selected for your program?
All families start by completing a thorough background form. From there, a select number are offered a parent call. Finally, the student must complete a brief assignment and partake in a 1:1 interview over Zoom before being admitted to our program.
Where are your students typically located and how do they work with you?
Our program is 100% remote and advises students from high schools, both public and private, across the US.
Do you offer hourly or a la carte services?
No. We offer a fully comprehensive program, with monthly installments. To give our students the best chance of success, we believe every component of the process must be optimized and guided by expertise.
When is the best time to start?
Given the time needed to build an effective hook and resume, admissions favors early starters. Students rarely begin our program after 10th grade. Availability is also more limited over time, as we cap the number of students per grade.
What do top colleges look for?
Top colleges no longer look to admit well-rounded students but rather students with clear, academically-focused passions, or “hooks.” High-achieving students with strong grades and test scores but without a unique focus to sell to top colleges are a dime-a-dozen and will often find themselves rejected.
How is Great Minds Advising different from other advisors and services?
Unlike other advisors, we specialize in elite college admissions, work with a highly limited number of students, and offer the most comprehensive and tailored long-term advising in the industry. Along with a relentless culture of excellence, these unique features drive our track record of top-college results.
How are students selected for your program?
All families start by completing a thorough background form. From there, a select number are offered a parent call. Finally, the student must complete a brief assignment and partake in a 1:1 interview over Zoom before being admitted to our program.
Where are your students typically located and how do they work with you?
Our program is 100% remote and advises students from high schools, both public and private, across the US.
Do you offer hourly or a la carte services?
No. We offer a fully comprehensive program, with monthly installments. To give our students the best chance of success, we believe every component of the process must be optimized and guided by expertise.
When is the best time to start?
Given the time needed to build an effective hook and resume, admissions favors early starters. Students rarely begin our program after 10th grade. Availability is also more limited over time, as we cap the number of students per grade.
Newsletter
Newsletter
Newsletter
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