Collegewise (collegewise.com) has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 70 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Business Services and its reputation is excellent. Praise is nearly unanimous, with 98% rating it 4 stars or higher; The business has replied to 100% of negative reviews. Last updated 2026-08-10.
What people say
S
Sophie · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-26 ·
★★★★★
Thank you, Collegewise!
I am so grateful for Lori Jones as my college counselor! On top of being very organized and patient, she was also very kind and provided so much support during the entire application process. Not once did I feel overwhelmed while writing essays or submitting college applications. She is very experienced with the process and offered great advice. Additionally, Tanner Reive was an excellent SAT tutor and helped me significantly with test-taking strategies. Thank you Collegewise!
Reply from Collegewise2026-05-12
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re thrilled to hear that Lori provided such steady support, organization, and encouragement throughout your application process and helped make it feel manageable and stress-free. We’re also glad Tanner was able to support you with strong SAT strategies. We truly appreciate you being part of the Collegewise community and wish you all the best in your next chapter!
Helpful tracking tool, but lacks the strategic "expert" guidance promised
We initially hired Collegewise to help my daughter navigate the complexities of college admissions, but unfortunately, it fell short of our expectations where it mattered most.
On a positive note, the online platform/tool they provide is genuinely useful. It helped my daughter stay organized and keep track of various application deadlines and requirements in one place. If you are just looking for a project management system, that part works well.
However, we did not pay for a tracking tool; we paid for expert strategic advice, which was noticeably absent. My daughter did not receive the high-level guidance necessary to make critical decisions about her application strategy. We expected the consultant to help her determine which schools were the best fit for ED1, ED2, and Regular Decision cycles based on her profile and the current admissions landscape. Instead, she was left to make these pivotal choices largely on her own without any real "insider" strategy or direction.
If you are looking for a firm that provides proactive, strategic counseling on how to actually get into competitive schools, I’m not sure this is the right fit. It felt more like administrative support than true admissions coaching.
Reply from Collegewise2026-05-11
Thank you again for taking the time to speak with our team and share your family’s experience. We truly appreciate your openness and the thoughtful feedback you provided. We’re glad to hear that parts of the program, especially the organizational tools, were helpful. At the same time, we understand your concerns about the level of strategic guidance, and we’re sorry this didn’t fully meet your expectations. Providing a clear, personalized strategy is central to our work, and we regret that this wasn’t your experience.
Based on our conversation, we do believe there’s an opportunity to continue supporting your daughter in a way that feels more aligned and meaningful. Our Customer Service team would be happy to provide more structured, hands-on guidance as your student transitions to college, and we’d welcome the chance to partner with your family to ensure you feel well supported moving forward. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any additional questions or feedback. We would be glad to continue the conversation whenever it’s helpful.
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JHM · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-23 ·
★★★★★
Review by a Senior who Just Finished the App Cycle
I had Lori Jones as my counselor, and she was absolutely wonderful. I started with her during the middle of my sophomore year. I would give her 10 stars if possible. She was incredibly supportive and helpful in guiding me during both my application process and the years leading up to it. She is such a compassionate and caring person, always giving me a clear direction when I was confused on which extracurriculars to participate in, which activities to spend the most of my time on, and figuring out which classes to take each year. She was an amazing counselor, and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.
I also wanted to acknowledge my wonderful editor, Nico Flint. I felt that she gave me insightful and strong feedback that turned my essays for both colleges and summer programs into truly competitive and authentic pieces.
I am truly grateful to both Lori and Nico for their help. I will be attending MIT in the fall, and I don’t think I would have been accepted without their help.
I rated the overall program as 4 stars due to some improvements that Collegewise can make, none of these related to Lori or Nico. I participated in some of the add-ons, including the Passion Project (I did not work with Lori on this). For me, I did not believe that this program was very helpful, as I ended up finding different and more meaningful extracurriculars to spend my time on. Additionally, I found the interface of Collegewise’s website to be confusing and non-user friendly at times. Due to these aspects, I rated the overall Collegewise program with 4 stars; however, I would give Lori and Nico as many stars as possible.
Reply from Collegewise2026-05-12
Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed review. We’re so happy to hear that Lori and Nico made such a meaningful impact on your experience and provided the guidance, encouragement, and feedback that helped you grow throughout high school and the application process. It’s especially exciting to hear you’ll be attending MIT this fall, congratulations on such an incredible accomplishment! We also truly appreciate your honest feedback about the Passion Project add-on and website experience. Input like yours helps us continue improving our programs and support for students and families. Wishing you all the best as you begin this exciting next chapter!
I have found our college advisor, Shoshana, extremely supportive and highly valuable throughout the college search process. She was knowledgeable, insightful and responsive every step of the way. She helped my son optimize his content for all custom questions and personal essay to maximize the submissions. She provided key tips as we went through the Common App, things that I never would have known on our own. She provided clear guidance on strategizing test score submissions (or not!) based on each school, which can be a very daunting task. She explained the difference between Common App and SARS - who knew that there would be ANOTHER platform to deal with! I would highly recommend Shoshana and CollegeWise, I could not have felt confident about this process without her! My son was accepted to all 10 schools with one wait list and I can guarantee that is because of the support and guidance we received from Shoshana. We can't thank you enough!
Reply from Collegewise2026-05-12
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review. We’re thrilled to hear that Shoshana provided such valuable guidance and support throughout your family’s college application journey. From navigating the Common App and SRAR process to helping strategize test score submissions and strengthen essays, we’re so glad she helped make a complex process feel more manageable and confidence-inspiring. Congratulations to your son on his incredible results, being accepted to 10 schools is an amazing accomplishment, and we’re honored to have been part of his journey.
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Miki N · 1 review · Experienced 2026-03-26 ·
★★★★★
As a parent
As a parent, I’m so grateful for the support Kate Strzelecki gave my daughter throughout the college admissions process. From our very first meeting, I had a great feeling with Kate’s warm, energetic, and encouraging style.
She was especially supportive during the stressful period from late sophomore year through senior year, always keeping my daughter motivated and positive. I also really appreciated the detailed notes she shared after each session, which helped me stay informed and see the progress clearly.
Kate was open to supporting applications to schools outside the U.S., which we valued a lot. With her guidance, my daughter discovered her passion for environmental and urban design and is now moving forward with confidence and a clear sense of direction.
I would definitely recommend Collegewise and Kate to any family going through the college process.
Thank you so much, Kate!!
Reply from Collegewise2026-05-12
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review. We’re so glad Kate was able to support and encourage your daughter throughout the college admissions process, especially during such an important and sometimes stressful time. It’s wonderful to hear that her guidance helped your daughter discover her passion for environmental and urban design. We truly appreciate your trust in Collegewise and are so excited for everything ahead for your daughter!
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William Liu · 1 review · Experienced 2025-08-19 ·
★★★★★
Great College Counseling Experience
Our son worked with Lindsey, and we had a great experience. She was always available to answer questions, and her experience working with students aiming from a pre-medical trajectory was truly insightful. Our son had a difficult time writing essays, and that is where her encouragement and honesty really helped him. By the time decisions rolled around, he gained acceptance into one of his dream schools with a great merit scholarship. Highly recommend!!
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you for your review! We’re really glad to hear your son felt supported throughout the process, especially during the essay-writing stage and in staying confident and on track. We also appreciate you highlighting Lindsey and her availability, insight, and encouragement. Congratulations to your son on his acceptance to one of his dream schools with a strong merit scholarship 🎉
J
Jamie Stern · 1 review · Experienced 2025-10-01 ·
★★★★★
Work with Jared Rivers, an Incredible Experience!
Working with Jared Rivers was one of the best decisions we made during my daughter’s college process. From the very beginning, he brought a level of insight and experience that immediately set him apart. Knowing he had spent years reading applications at places like Cornell, Brandeis, and Bates gave us a lot of confidence, but what really mattered was how clearly he understood how to position Laurel in a way that felt both authentic and compelling. He didn’t try to mold her into something she wasn’t, instead, he guided her on how to tell her story in a way that truly resonated with admissions readers.
Jared has an incredible ability to connect with students. He quickly built trust with Laurel, striking that perfect balance of being supportive while also offering honest, thoughtful guidance. He has a calm, approachable style that makes you comfortable, but behind that is a very sharp understanding of what top schools are actually looking for. He helped Laurel focus on fit, where she would genuinely thrive, and that perspective shaped every step of the process in a meaningful way.
His guidance was instrumental in my daughter's admission to Cornell, where she is now a graduating Senior. That experience became a strong foundation for everything that followed. With Jared’s help, Laurel built a clear and cohesive academic narrative that continued to open doors, including earning a St Andrews scholarship that will fully fund her MSc at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She will also be attending Yale University for her MPH as a recipient of the rare Horstmann scholarship the following year, which is truly a dream come true.
What stood out most about Jared is that he truly cares. He is thoughtful, responsive, and deeply invested in his students’ success, not just in getting in, but in finding the right path. We always felt like Laurel was in the best possible hands. We are incredibly grateful for his guidance and would recommend him without hesitation to any family navigating this process.
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you for sharing this incredibly thoughtful note. We’re so glad to hear how meaningful Jared’s support was throughout your daughter’s journey, especially in helping her tell her story authentically and focus on the right fit for her goals. We also appreciate you highlighting Jared Rivers and the trust he built with Laurel, as well as his guidance through each stage of the process. It’s wonderful to hear how that foundation has continued to support her success, from Cornell to her scholarship at the University of Edinburgh and upcoming MPH at Yale. We’re truly grateful to have been part of her journey 🎉
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Abby Abdo · 3 reviews · Experienced 2025-08-04 ·
★★★★★
we were very pleased with the decision…
we were very pleased with the decision we made on using collegewise and working with Shruti who was an amazing counselor to our daughter and the whole family
it made a big difference, it eased up so much of the stress and guided our daughter thoughtfully in selecting her colleges which she got accepted in most of them with a good scholarship,
we will be using collegewise again for our second daughter
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
We’re so glad to hear your experience with Collegewise felt so positive and supportive for your whole family. We especially appreciate you highlighting Shruti and the impact she had in supporting your daughter throughout the journey. We’re grateful for your trust and look forward to working with your second daughter as well 🎉
Lynne was an amazing counselor and always available! I had a great and successful college application experience with her & the rest of the Collegewise team's help.
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this. We’re glad to hear you had a successful and positive experience, and we especially appreciate you highlighting Lynne and her support along the way. We’re grateful to have been part of your journey 🎉
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HT · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-04-12 ·
★★★★★
Less Stress, More Joy
Rebecca & Collegewise was transformational with our son. She worked with him through all 4 years of high school and believed in his journey. She took the stress off of us and allowed us to be his cheerleaders. The Collegewise platform kept him on track along the way. We ended with a great result - a college that’s he’s really happy with and a senior year full of great memories. ❤️
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this. We’re so glad to hear your experience felt supportive and helped take stress off your family along the way. We especially appreciate you highlighting Rebecca and her support throughout all four years of high school. We’re thrilled your son ended up at a college he’s really happy with, and we’re grateful to have been part of the journey ❤️
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Victoria · 1 review · Experienced 2026-03-30 ·
★★★★★
Matt Doyle did it again!!
We have had such a positive experience with Collegewise over the years. They first helped our daughter get into her dream school (one that is very competitive) and we were so impressed from the start.
A few years later, when it was time for our two sons (in 2022 and 2025), our previous counselor was not available anymore. But honestly, we could not have been luckier to work with Matt Doyle.
Matt was amazing with both of our sons. He kept them organized, on track, and focused, but never stressed. That, to me, says everything. The whole process felt manageable, and even calm, which is not something you usually hear about college applications!
He was also incredibly flexible with our family. We travel internationally during the summer, and Matt always worked around our schedule without missing a beat.
Both of our sons got into their #1 college choices, and we truly feel Matt played a big role in that.
We are so grateful. Five stars for Collegewise, and especially for Matt (only because we cannot give more!).
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this thoughtful note and for trusting Collegewise with all three of your children’s journeys over the years 😊 It’s wonderful to hear that your experience has been consistently positive and that the process felt organized and calm for your family, especially during such different application cycles. We especially appreciate you highlighting Matt Doyle and his ability to keep both of your sons on track while also being flexible with your international travel schedule. Congratulations to your kiddos on getting into their #1 college choices 🎉 we’re so grateful to have been part of your family’s journey across the years!
J
Jodi K · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-07 ·
★★★★★
Thank you Liz!
My son has worked with Elizabeth Majors as his Collegewise counselor for the past year. She has been extremely helpful with her expertise and ability to help my son think through how to write his applications in a concise and descriptive manner showcasing his talents and unique abilities. She gave thoughtful guidance in thinking through essays to ensure you are answering what is asked. She brought additional resources to help narrow the college list; although my son applied to numerous schools. I am happy to report with Liz’s help, my son was accepted in to numerous top schools including Ivy League schools that are known for Neuroscience; my son’s intended focus for college. Thank you Liz!
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this. We’re thrilled to hear your son had such a strong experience over the past year and felt supported in presenting his strengths and interests clearly and thoughtfully. We especially appreciate you highlighting Elizabeth Majors and her guidance in helping him refine his essays, stay focused on what each prompt was asking, and build a thoughtful college list. Congratulations to your son on his incredible acceptances! 🎉
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RDC · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-04-06 ·
★★★★★
Wonderful College Counselling!
We have had 2 children go through the college application process with Collegewise. We are indebted to Ali Springer for helping our kids through this difficult and stressful process. Our kids are very different and they were looking for 2 very different college experiences. Ali really took the time to get to know them and helped them brainstorm everything from interests to strengths to weaknesses. She helped them decide on reasonable college lists and helped them throughout to support their application process. Both our kids ended up with perfect schools for them and that is in large part thanks to Ali. I would rec her and the Collegewise program with no reservations. Ali Springer is truly outstanding and we are so grateful for her help.
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this, we truly appreciate your trust in Collegewise across both of your children’s journeys! It’s wonderful to hear how thoughtfully the process was tailored to each of their very different goals and experiences. We especially appreciate you highlighting Ali Springer and the time she took to really understand each student. We’re so glad both of your kids found schools that feel like the right fit, and we’re grateful to have been part of such an important chapter for your family.
We are very grateful to Anita for her support and guidance. She is very honest and approachable. She turned an overwhelming and stressful journey into something smooth and manageable for our student. We truly appreciate how Anita checked regularly on our student and kept them motivated and on track.
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
We really appreciate you taking the time to share this 😊 It’s wonderful to hear that the process felt smoother and more manageable, especially during what can often be a stressful time. We’re so glad to hear how supportive and consistent Anita was in checking in and helping keep your student motivated and on track. We’re grateful to have been part of the journey and truly appreciate your kind words!
K
Kimberly · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-01 ·
★★★★★
Highly recommend!
Our son (and we as parents) were very pleased and impressed with our experience. Fayelah Johnson gave clear and helpful ideas and feedback as our son navigated and prepared his college applications. Fayelah's guidance and affirmation boosted his confidence and also helped him to make his personality and strengths shine throughout his application, in addition to the usual academic "stats". Our son is thrilled to be accepted to his first choice university. Thank you!
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this, we’re so glad to hear it was a positive experience for both your son and your family. We especially appreciate you highlighting Fayelah Johnson and the way she supported him with clear guidance while helping his personality and strengths come through in his application. It’s wonderful to hear his confidence grew along the way, and congratulations on his acceptance to his first choice university 🎉 we’re grateful to have been part of this journey!
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Donald Cass · 1 review · Experienced 2026-03-07 ·
★★★★★
Work
Work takes H yy
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Matthew T · 1 review · Experienced 2025-10-15 ·
★★★★★
Great Application Support
At first, I was unsure about getting help from a college counselor, but it was incredibly helpful for my application process. My counselor, Fayelah Johnson, helped me brainstorm ideas for my essays and refine my extracurricular lists. Once I had some solid rough drafts, she coordinated with editors to review my essays and make them perfect. It was great to have a check-in at every step to ensure that I was on track. Thanks to this experience, I was accepted into to my top choice and will be attending in the fall. It was a great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone going through the college application process!
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you for sharing this, we really appreciate your thoughtful reflection. It’s so common to feel unsure at the start, so we’re glad the support made such a meaningful difference throughout your process. We especially appreciate you highlighting Fayelah Johnson and the way she guided you from brainstorming to polished essays while keeping everything on track. And of course, congratulations on getting into your top choice, that’s an incredible accomplishment, and we’re grateful we could be part of your journey! 🎉
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C_ J_ · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-04-02 ·
★★★★★
We had a great experience with Tanner/Bob
We had a great experience with Tanner Reive and Bob Kupelian as private SAT tutors for math and english, respectively. We had 1-on-1 sessions with Tanner and Bob in lieu of taking a more standardized SAT prep course. In just a few months, a score of low 1100s on the PSAT and similar on practice SATs turned into a mid 1300s.
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you for sharing your experience, we’re so glad to hear it was such a positive one. It’s great to see how much progress was made in just a few months; that kind of score improvement is no small feat. We love that the one-on-one approach with Tanner Reive and Bob Kupelian made a meaningful difference, especially with the focused support in both math and English. We’ll be sure to pass this along to them, they’ll really appreciate it!
I strongly recommend Collegewise to all my friends and family, in particular my daughter's consultant Kate Strzelecki. My daughter started with Collegewise early in her sophomore year after a recommendation from a close friend. I knew my family would need a private counselor to limit my daughter's procrastination and to reduce the stress and anxiety the whole college application process causes. The meetings have been so helpful to encourage her to research majors, then careers, then specific schools to create a strong list to apply to, then helping with essay topics, and so on. The results are in and wow, my daughter was admitted to 4 UC's, 2 Cal States, and 5 exceptional out of state universities!! The results have vastly exceeded my expectations. Kate has been so helpful and supportive every step of the way.
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this, we truly appreciate your recommendation. It’s wonderful to hear how your daughter’s journey evolved from early planning to such incredible results, and that the process felt more structured and less stressful along the way. We especially appreciate you recognizing Kate Strzelecki. Her support in guiding everything from exploring majors to building a strong college list and shaping essays is exactly the kind of impact we strive for. Congratulations to your daughter on such amazing outcomes, and thank you for trusting us to be part of this important chapter.
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Harrison Tronick · 1 review · Experienced 2025-09-30 ·
★★★★★
My Collegewise Experience With Kaila Brown
I had an amazing experience with Collegewise, and I can’t recommend them enough. The entire college application process can feel overwhelming, but they made everything so much easier and more manageable from start to finish.
I especially want to highlight Kaila Brown, who was absolutely incredible to work with. She was supportive, knowledgeable, and always available to answer questions or provide guidance. Our weekly calls quickly became the highlight of my week—I always looked forward to them not just because they kept me on track, but because of how genuinely enjoyable and encouraging they were.
Kaila took the time to truly understand my goals, strengths, and personality, and she went above and beyond to help me present my best self throughout the process. More than just a mentor, she became a friend, someone I could trust and rely on during such an important time. Her positivity and belief in me made a huge difference in my confidence. Thanks to her help, what could have been a stressful experience turned into something exciting and rewarding. If you’re looking for guidance through the college process, Collegewise, and ESPECIALLY Kaila, are the best choice and I honestly could not recommend them more!
Reply from Collegewise2026-04-21
Thank you so much for sharing this, it truly means a lot. We know the college application process can feel overwhelming, so it’s wonderful to hear that your experience felt manageable and even enjoyable from start to finish. We especially appreciate you highlighting Kaila Brown. The way you described her support, from understanding your goals to making your weekly calls something you looked forward to, is exactly what we hope every student experiences. We’re so glad you felt confident and supported throughout the process, and we’re grateful to have been part of your journey.
