Twenty years ago, Benji Birnbaum’s dream of attending an Ivy League university would not have seemed quite so remote. On paper, he was certainly an impressive student, possessing excellent grades and a perfect 1600 SAT score. Regardless, Dr. Herbert Birnbaum, Benji’s father, recognized how very much things had changed since he, himself, had applied to college. Simply being an excellent student holds no guarantees today and, indeed, many students at Benji’s private high school had similarly impressive credentials. It was also clear to Dr. Birnbaum that the responsibilities of running his own dental practice and being a single parent to three children hardly left him with a moment to spare; he needed to ensure that the time and effort he and his eldest son devoted to the admissions process would be used in the most efficient way possible.
After hearing about the company from a friend, the Birnbaum family ultimately chose to work with College Coach. Benji was paired with Lloyd Peterson, a former director of admissions from Yale, who immediately recognized not only his potential, but also his need to stand apart from the other academically impressive students at his school. Through a series of one-on-one counseling sessions, Lloyd helped Benji develop his own unique story by further examining his diverse achievements, interests and goals. Mock interviews and essay critiques gave Benji a better understanding of how to articulate that story and effectively convey it to an admissions committee. Even before Benji received a letter of acceptance from his first choice school, Cornell University, Dr. Birnbaum was so pleased with College Coach’s services that he decided to ensure his two younger children would have the same admissions advantage.
Unlike her older brother, Ilanna Birnbaum did not enter the admissions process with a specific college in mind. Like many students, she simply had a set of criteria for what she wanted out of her future school: a strong arts program, a flexible curriculum, and an urban setting with a strong on-campus community. College Coach helped Ilanna use these priorities to determine a set of institutions that would meet her unique geographic, academic and social needs. With the help of her counselor, Ilanna, rather than simply relying upon college rankings, guides and books, was able to gain true insight into even the most intangible aspects of each prospective school. When she decided to accept Boston University’s offer of admission she was not only delighted to have been accepted by her top choice, but also confident that she had truly chosen the college of her dreams.
Today, College Coach continues to work with the Birnbaum family. Arielle, a high school junior, chose to begin working with College Coach earlier in her high school career. As a result, Arielle has been able to make confident, smart decisions about her classes, activities and standardized test preparation. With the help of the personalized high school plan College Coach has given her, Arielle knows that she has already made a decisive, positive impact on her college admissions prospects.
Four out of five College Coach students get into their top choice college. The path to receiving the acceptance letter of your dreams is rarely simple and often unpredictable. The college admissions process is a personal journey and even a rite of passage, an experience that presents unique challenges and goals for each student and each family. College Coach’s counselors have the experience, both within and beyond the admissions office, to help minimize stress and maximize each student’s potential. Let the admissions experts at College Coach provide guidance, peace of mind, and most importantly, the results that your children deserve.
