Success Stories

Class of 2021

It is such a pleasure to support brilliant women in STEM! IHA class of 2021 Daniela Makowka and Allison Monroe are heading to Cornell University’s College of Engineering and UMass Commonwealth Honors College this fall.

Congratulations to my student, Caitlyn Dornau for your acceptance into UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UMass Amherst, Virginia Tech, University of Wisconsin, Bucknell University, Binghamton University & Cornell University. So proud of you!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Serrano for her acceptance into the graduate program for her Masters at John Hopkins University!

Class of 2020

Over the years, I’ve had excellent results helping students increase SAT/ACT scores with short turnaround times. I quickly diagnose problems, and focus on solutions. A student last year came to me disappointed with her test results after working for months with another tutor. With two weeks of 1:1 work that I designed based on her score report, she increased her ACT score 7 points, surpassing what the track coach required for a place and scholarship at her preferred college.

With only ten days to prep before the November SAT, another class of 2020 student crossed the threshold she needed that helped her gain admission to Notre Dame; another student achieved his goal of a perfect score.

A future engineer discussed her credentials and desire to be a robotics engineer. She was not reaching high enough in her college selection. I suggested Cornell University as a fit, where she gained admittance and an 85% scholarship package.

A Westfield High School student wanted to complete her entire Common Application before summer ended, so she could maintain her excellent GPA and apply ED to the honors nursing program at TCNJ. She earned numerous excellent early admissions options and merit scholarships, including Binghamton University Decker School of Nursing, Seton Hall Honors Program, Pace University Honors Program, and Drexel’s Honors Program, but when the letter from TCNJ came in, she was all set.

A New Jersey student wanted to stay local

deeply committed to his parents, who depend on him for many household tasks. NSCA helped him realize options he was unaware of. He stepped up his admissions game … and stayed local.

Result: His guidance counselor updated me, saying “Michael is doing great as a junior at Princeton University. Thank you for helping him realize his potential.”

Challenge: Scholar-athlete wanted top tier school. How does an athlete expand options beyond colleges that are recruiting them?

Student Athlete Gets Noticed

Penny, an A student and club volleyball player in North Carolina, reached out to Division III coaches to enhance her admissions options. NSCA encourages students to be assertive and pro-active. Coaches and colleges are especially pleased when students advocate for themselves.

Result: She gained admission to Bryn Mawr, and will be playing on their volleyball team in Fall, 2018.

Challenge: So many excellent choices for a Bergen County Valedictorian.

Guidance and Essay Polish for Top Student

Catherine is the 2018 valedictorian of a highly-regarded public high school in northern New Jersey. She earned an array of exciting offers, including her top two choices: Yale and Tufts. NSCA helped her write and polish more than seven essays within a week, and helped her discern the best choice for her.

Result: After much deliberation, given many generous financial packages from top flight universities, Catherine chose Handsome Dan, the bulldog, … Yale.

College Acceptance to Tufts University | Not So Common ApplicationCollege Acceptance to Yale University | Not So Common Application

Challenge:

High GPA but low SAT

Student 2 had an A average at an all-female Catholic High School, and an interest in Veterinary Science, but her SAT scores needed to increase to meet her excellent transcript. 14 hours of ACT and SAT test preparation helped raise her SAT score over 300 points. Individualized, supportive essay coaching helped this student write ten strong, creative essays, which landed this student admission to Cornell University, Fordham University, and the University of Delaware Honors Program.

Result: She attends Cornell, which was a reach school.

Challenge:

B Student with low SAT

Student 1 had a B-B+ average from a Catholic High School in New York, wanted to pursue physical therapy, but only scored 900 on the diagnostic SAT.

We started exploring alternatives to college, and agreed to work together to improve SAT scores. With 12 hours of test preparation, her score increased by nearly 600 points, which improved the students’ options and self-esteem dramatically. A reserved student, her essay was brief. With a supportive writing coach, the student was able to re-frame some of her life experience to write a powerful essay.

Result: She is now thriving in an excellent physical therapy program, which had been out of her reach before we worked together.

Challenge:

Student seeks Scholarships

Student applied to fourteen colleges. He has an impressive transcript and backstory, but needed to earn scholarships. While his story was powerful and unique, befitting his desire to pursue a career in psychology, he needed guidance in how to best present it. We worked with him on each essay, and he ended up with multiple offers with substantial scholarships and grants.

Result: He ultimately accepted a full scholarship to Swarthmore College.

Challenge:

How to Stand Out in a Sea of Highly-Competitive Applicants?

Student had stellar scores and an impressive transcript from Bergen County Academies AMST (Academy for Medical Science Technology) – but so did many of his classmates. He had done unique DNA research and played basketball. He wrote witty essays that showcased his sense of humor and affability.

Result: Student gained admittance and scholarships to Williams College, Bowdoin College, Tulane, Notre Dame University, Rice University, Brandeis University, College of the Holy Cross, Boston College and Villanova University.

Successful Admissions

  • Adelphi University – Honors Program – Presidential Scholarship
  • Binghamton University
  • Binghamton University Decker School of Nursing
  • Boston College
  • Boston University
  • Bowdoin College
  • Bucknell University
  • Brandeis University
  • Bryn Mawr
  • Catholic University of America
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Columbia University
  • Cooper Union
  • Cornell University
  • Drexel University Honors Program
  • Emory University
  • Fairfield University
  • Fordham University – Presidential and Dean Merit scholarships
  • Franklin & Marshall College
  • Hofstra University – Pre-Med Honors Program – Presidential Scholarship
  • Iona College – merit scholarships
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Loyola University Maryland – Presidential Scholarships
  • Moravian College
  • Muhlenberg College – Presidential Scholarship
  • University of Notre Dame
  • Pace University Honors Program
  • Penn State
  • Pratt College
  • Princeton University
  • Quinnipiac University Physical Therapy Program
  • Rice University
  • Rider University
  • Rutgers University Honors Program
  • Seton Hall Nursing Honors Program
  • SUNY Albany
  • SUNY New Paltz
  • Swarthmore College – Full Scholarship
  • The College of New Jersey
  • Villanova University
  • University of Delaware – Honors Program, Entrepreneurs Fellowship
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Rhode Island
  • University of Scranton (Nursing and Merit scholarships)
  • University of Southern California
  • University of South Carolina – Acceptance and Soccer scholarship
  • University of North Carolina – Track, full scholarship
  • Molloy College, Nursing Program
  • New York University (NYU)
  • Pratt Institute
  • Tufts University
  • Williams College
  • Yale University
  • York College – merit scholarship

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