College Admissions Counselors in New Jersey

College Admissions Counselors in New Jersey

Find college admissions counselors in New Jersey. Getting into a top ranked college requires more than straight A’s. You need expert help; we help you find quality college consultants near your city and state.

According to our college consulting expert, David H. Nguyen, PhD, founder of Next Level Prep, Location is pertinent to finding the best educational consultant agencies because companies based in a region will understand the characteristics that admissions officers look for in students from high schools in that region. There is an edge that consultants gain from having worked with many students in the same region. That’s why our college consulting agencies are broken down state-by-state.

Most high school students have extremely limited access to direct guidance during the college admissions process. According to The New York Times, during the 2012–2016 school year, every public school counselor in the U.S. was assigned an average of 470 students! That doesn’t leave much time for one-on-one support as you figure out how to complete your FAFSA, decide which extracurriculars improve your chances of college admission, and what application strategies can help you stand out in a sea of other excellent students.

College admissions consultants, or college coaches, can help fill that gap, and give you a major advantage in finding the school of your choice.

Find College Admissions Counselors Close to You in New Jersey

Agencies are listed alphabetically within their cities.

Collegewise

Location:  Bedminster, NJ

Services include:

  • Tutoring & Test Prep
  • College search
  • Essay Prep
  • application assistance
  • College selection

Affiliations and Accreditations

DESTINATION COLLEGE SUCCESS

Location:  Bedminster, NJ

Services include:

  • Complete Guidance & Support
  • Timeline Instructions & Monitoring
  • High School Course Selection
  • Athletic Recruiting Services
  • College list creation & finalization
  • College Visitation Assistance
  • Supplemental essays
  • Interview Preparation
  • Financial Aid Consulting
  • Summer Program Applications

Affiliations and Accreditations

Collegewise

Location:  Bernardsville, NJ

Services include:

  • Create a Strategic Admissions Plan
  • application assistance
  • test prep
  • counsuling

Affiliations and Accreditations

    Compass-U Educational Consulting, LLC

    Location:  Branchville, NJ

    Services include:

    • College List Development
    • Curriculum and Standardized Test Planning
    • Essay Development and Editing
    • College Visitation Strategies
    • Interview Preparation
    • Extracurricular Activities Guidance
    • Letters of Recommendation Guidance
    • Application Timing and Completion Assistance
    • Final College Selection Guidance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Slosberg College Solutions LLC

    Location:  Bridgewater, NJ

    Services include:

    • College List Development
    • Curriculum and Standardized Test Planning
    • Essay Development and Editing
    • College Visitation Strategies
    • Interview Preparation
    • Extracurricular Activities Guidance
    • Letters of Recommendation Guidance
    • Application Timing and Completion Assistance
    • Final College Selection Guidance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    UnCommon Apps

    Location:  Chatham, NJ

    Services include:

    • College List Development
    • Curriculum and Standardized Test Planning
    • Essay Development and Editing
    • College Visitation Strategies
    • Interview Preparation
    • Extracurricular Activities Guidance
    • Letters of Recommendation Guidance
    • Application Timing and Completion Assistance
    • Final College Selection Guidance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Personalized College Consulting

    Location:  Englewood, NJ

    Services include:

    • Building a list of colleges
    • Scheduling visits to colleges on the list and evaluating how each college fits the student
    • Preparing for effective college interviews
    • Preparing for standardized tests
    • Preparing resumé
    • Writing the applications and supplemental applications
    • Choosing co-curricular activities
    • Selecting high school classes
    • Brainstorming, writing, and editing the personal statement
    • Selecting high school classes

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Educated Quest

    Location:  Ewing, NJ

    Services include:

    • College search
    • resume prep
    • essay prep
    • application assistance
    • course selection
    • test prep
    • interview prep

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Avery Educational Resources

    Location:  Fair Haven, NJ

    Services include:

    • SAT and ACT Test Prep
    • Tutoring
    • Boarding School Admission
    • college search and list building
    • scholarship adn financial aid assistance
    • essay prep adn assistance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Hallock College Consulting

    Location:  Franklin Lakes,, NJ

    Services include:

    • Creation of college lists
    • essay prep
    • resume assistance
    • application assistance
    • interviewprep
    • evaluation of accepted colleges
    • Tutoring
    • Essay Workshop

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Balboni College Advising

    Location:  Gillette, NJ

    Services include:

    • Career and interest testing and counseling
    • Standardized test (PSAT, SAT, SAT II, ACT) counseling
    • High school course of study guidance and GPA calculation
    • College visit preparation
    • Interview coaching
    • Application counseling
    • Resume building
    • Portfolio/Audition coaching
    • College essay tutoring
    • Scholarship/Financial Aid Preparation

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    407 Kings Hwy W

    Location:  Haddonfield, NJ

    Services include:

    • College search
    • resume prep
    • essay prep
    • application assistance
    • course selection
    • test prep
    • interview prep

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Jenna Shulman College Consulting, LLC

    Location:  Hoboken, NJ

    Services include:

    • Collearch search
    • test prep
    • application and essay assistance
    • Career/Major assessment and evaluation
    • Resume preparation and job shadowing/internship assistance
    • Assist in all necessary financial aid loan requirements

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Preminente College Counseling LLC

    Location:  Hoboken, NJ

    Services include:

    • Private and Boarding School Counseling
    • Nursery School Counseling
    • academic advising
    • class schedule planning
    • standardized test schedule planning and advisement
    • extracurricular activity advisement
    • Complete school list created based on student’s academics, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores, and personal preferences
    • Preparation and planning for college campus visits and college interviews
    • International College & Graduate School Counseling

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Clear Directions

    Location:  HoHoKus, NJ

    Services include:

    • Identifying the Best Fit Colleges
    • High School Coursework guidance
    • Extracurricular Resume
    • Essay Writing and Guidance
    • College Visits
    • Testing Schedule
    • Letters of Recommendations
    • Application Preparation
    • Athletic Recruitment
    • Advising for students with learning differences, ADHD, IEP’s and 504 Plans

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Foley Prep, Inc.

    Location:  Holmdel, NJ

    Services include:

    • Test Prep
    • Academic Tutoring & Admissions
    • College Essay Coaching
    • Academic Tutoring and Executive Function Coaching

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Prime Education Consulting

    Location:  Leonia, NJ

    Services include:

    • College search
    • resume prep
    • essay prep
    • application assistance
    • course selection
    • test prep
    • interview prep

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Admit U Consulting

    Location:  Livingston, NJ

    Services include:

    • College List Development
    • Curriculum and Standardized Test Planning
    • Essay Development and Editing
    • College Visitation Strategies
    • Interview Preparation
    • Extracurricular Activities Guidance
    • Letters of Recommendation Guidance
    • Application Timing and Completion Assistance
    • Final College Selection Guidance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    The College Planner NJ, LLC

    Location:  Mahwah, NJ

    Services include:

    • Confidence building through mock interviews
    • Direction and tips for successful college visits
    • Advice on application options including early action, early decision, rolling, and regular decision
    • Selection of letter of recommendation writers
    • Final college choice counseling in event of multiple acceptances

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    One-Stop College Counseling

    Location:  Marlboro, NJ

    Services include:

    • College List Development
    • Curriculum and Standardized Test Planning
    • Essay Development and Editing
    • College Visitation Strategies
    • Interview Preparation
    • Extracurricular Activities Guidance
    • Letters of Recommendation Guidance
    • Application Timing and Completion Assistance
    • Final College Selection Guidance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    CollegeSavvy Consulting, LLC

    Location:  Matawan, NJ

    Services include:

    • Course selections and academic planning
    • Testing plan
    • Career exploration assistance
    • How to research colleges, navigate college fairs and interact with admissions reps
    • How to plan and conduct college visits
    • Application strategy, schedules, deadlines and review
    • Interview prep
    • Assistance with final selection if warranted

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Plan College With Me

    Location:  Millstone Twp, NJ

    Services include:

    • Application Support
    • Career Exploration
    • College List Creation
    • Course Selection and Planning Help
    • Essay Writing Help
    • Resume Building

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    College-Bound Services

    Location:  Monroe Township, NJ

    Services include:

    • College search and lists
    • test prep
    • curriculum guidance
    • application assitance
    • test prep
    • decision assistance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Cummings College Consulting

    Location:  Montclair, NJ

    Services include:

    • Advice on high school course selection and extracurricular activities
    • Application organization
    • List of college recommendations
    • Essay guidance and review
    • College visit planning
    • Interview coaching
    • Application review and assistance with application submissions
    • Portfolio development
    • Financial aid guidance
    • Resume design and review
    • Assistance with final decisions
    • Gap year evaluation

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Plan the Path, LLC

    Location:  Montclair, NJ

    Services include:

    • College List Research
    • Recommendations Strategies
    • essay and application recomendations
    • Course selection advice
    • College visit advice
    • Application Review

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Your Perfect College

    Location:  Montclair, NJ

    Services include:

    • Assist in determining college fit selection criteria
    • Presentation of a college planning calendar / critical milestones and dates
    • Full assessment of academic transcript, goals and objectives
    • Construction of student resume / activity sheet
    • Identify colleges and universities for consideration
    • Prepare for college visits / interviews
    • Help student and family evaluate admission choices
    • Personalized individual essay advisory services

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    EFM College and Career Consulting

    Location:  Moorestown, NJ

    Services include:

    • College Search
    • Application assistance
    • Essay Prep
    • Financial aid assistance
    • Recommend extracurriculars
    • Graduate school advice
    • Interview Preparation
    • Guidance on final choices

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Journey Education Consulting, LLC

    Location:  Moorestown, NJ

    Services include:

    • Explanation of college process to student and families
    • Evaluation of academic achievements
    • Counsel on high school course selection
    • List of reach, target, and likely colleges for student admission
    • College visit preparation
    • Advice on demonstrating interest to colleges
    • Customized college interview preparation
    • Assistance on scholarship research and applications
    • Application completion
    • Review of all applications, essays, and other materials before submission
    • Coaching on asking for teacher recommendations
    • Communication regarding specific steps in college process
    • Discussions and recommendations for college choice

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Licensed Prof. Couns./School Psych.

    Location:  Moorestown, NJ

    Services include:

    • Consultation and School placement: secondary (day and boarding schools), college, and graduate school
    • Consultation regarding career interests and aptitudes with appropriate testing available
    • Educational planning for all students including: athletes, artists, musicians, students with learning differences
    • Referrals to top tutors for SAT preparation and specific subjects
    • Advice on special programs, including summer academic programs
    • Essay brainstorming and support
    • Interview preparation and role playing
    • High School course advisement
    • Consultation for academic achievement issues and other school concerns

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    TheCollegeAdvisorNetworkForU,Inc.

    Location:  Morganville, NJ

    Services include:

    • College search
    • application assistance
    • essay prep
    • College Campus Visits & Interview Preparation
    • Athletic Recruiting
    • Transfer Applications

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    E. Wolper, Inc

    Location:  Morristown, NJ

    Services include:

    • Curricular and Standardized Testing Guidance
    • Extracurricular Leadership Mentoring and Summer Activity Selection
    • Creation of a College List
    • Essay Brainstorming and Editing
    • Application Completion
    • Interview Technique

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Learning Associates, LLC

    Location:  Morristown, NJ

    Services include:

    • Learning Evaluations
    • School Placement Advising
    • Consultations
    • College Admissions Counseling
    • College Application Counseling Process

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Mrs. Katie Boyer

    Location:  Morristown, NJ

    Services include:

    • College Search
    • Application assistance
    • Essay Prep
    • Financial aid assistance
    • Recommend extracurriculars
    • Graduate school advice
    • Interview Preparation
    • Guidance on final choices

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Positioned for Admissions, LLC

    Location:  Mount Laurel, NJ

    Services include:

    • College List Development
    • Curriculum and Standardized Test Planning
    • Essay Development and Editing
    • College Visitation Strategies
    • Interview Preparation
    • Extracurricular Activities Guidance
    • Letters of Recommendation Guidance
    • Application Timing and Completion Assistance
    • Final College Selection Guidance

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Aspirations Corporation

    Location:  Normandy Beach, NJ

    Services include:

    • Student Assessment and Development of College List
    • Student Positioning and College Assessment
    • Admissions Application and Process Support
    • Prepare for the college interview
    • Practice mock interview including coaching and critique

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Pearl Glassman Educational Counseling

    Location:  North Bergen, NJ

    Services include:

    • A list of college and or/school options best suited for the student
    • Recommendations for secondary school courses and school programs
    • Advice on admissions testing
    • Preparing students and their families for campus visits
    • Advice on admissions protocols
    • Practice interview and presentation skills
    • Brainstorming and reviewing college admissions essays
    • Coordinate applications preparation
    • Preparation of supplementary application materials
    • Follow-up upon acceptance and throughout the year.

    Affiliations and Accreditations

    Educational Counseling

    Location:  North Bergen,, NJ

    Services include:

    • A list of college and or/school options best suited for the student
    • Recommendations for secondary school courses and school programs
    • Advice on admissions testing (SAT, ACT, SSAT)
    • Preparing students and their families for campus visits
    • Advice on admissions protocols
    • Practice interview and presentation skills
    • Brainstorming and reviewing college admissions essays
    • Coordinate applications preparation
    • Preparation of supplementary application materials
    • Follow-up upon acceptance and throughout the year.

    Affiliations and Accreditations

      Newton Education Consulting Inc.

      Location:  Norwood, NJ

      Services include:

      • Explanation of the entire college application process
      • Advisement on high school academic course selection, extracurricular activities, and SAT and ACT preparation and testing
      • Research and recommendations of summer programs that suit a candidate’s interests and talents
      • Research and presentation of a list of recommended colleges appropriate to the candidate’s interests and qualifications including reach, possible, and safety schools
      • Provision and explanation of the Application Process Checklist, a step-by-step guide to completion of all applications
      • Specific sessions on the essay writing process and the college interview process, including a practice interview
      • Extensive discussion, evaluation, and proofing of all applications and essays throughout the summer and fall of the senior year until the application process is complete
      • Financial Aid work ( option ) – FASFA and CSS
      • Private Boarding School Consulting Program Asian Student Consulting Program

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Edvice Princeton

      Location:  Pennington, NJ

      Services include:

      • Student assessment
      • Creating the list
      • Strategy and organization
      • Standardized tests prep
      • Essay assistance
      • Interviews and visits
      • Recommendations
      • Deciding where to attend
      • Financial aid assistance

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Choices for Life

      Location:  Point Pleasant Boro, NJ

      Services include:

      • College Search
      • Application assistance
      • Essay Prep
      • Financial aid assistance
      • Recommend extracurriculars
      • Graduate school advice
      • Interview Preparation
      • Guidance on final choices

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      CW Education and Career Services

      Location:  Princeton, NJ

      Services include:

      • assist middle school students explore their interests and recommend options for summer programs
      • guidance in course selection in preparation for different academic tracks in high schools
      • Self-assessments and academic evaluation
      • College Search in all categories, i.e reach, target and safety schools
      • Extra-curricular planning
      • Application support

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Dr. Luisa Duarte Silva

      Location:  Princeton, NJ

      Services include:

      • College search and lists
      • test prep
      • curriculum guidance
      • application assitance
      • test prep
      • decision assistance

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Jo Leonard & Co.

      Location:  Princeton, NJ

      Services include:

      • Initial consultation to ask and answer questions
      • ssay prep
      • College Internship Coaching
      • Development of extensive and interactive college list with safe, target, selective, highly selective schools included

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Lindseth Education Consulting, LLC

      Location:  Princeton, NJ

      Services include:

      • College search
      • application assistance
      • essay prep
      • College Campus Visits & Interview Preparation
      • Athletic Recruiting
      • Transfer Applications

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Objective In Sight

      Location:  Princeton, NJ

      Services include:

      • Fine Arts Portfolio Consultation
      • Advice on Entering High School
      • Study Skills, Organization, and Time Management
      • Essay Advising: Writing Skills, Brainstorming, Proofreading, and Editing
      • Choosing and Applying for Internships/Summer Activities
      • Getting the Most Out of College Visits
      • Scheduling SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests
      • Creating a Resume and Activity List
      • Admissions Interview Preparation
      • General Application Coaching

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Rapaport Consulting LLC

      Location:  Princeton Junction, NJ

      Services include:

      • College Search
      • Personalized college application timeline
      • Advice on high school course selection
      • Testing recommendation
      • Evaluating and comparing offers of admission and financial aid
      • Editing activities résumé

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      College Advising NJ

      Location:  Randolph,, NJ

      Services include:

      • College search
      • application assistance
      • test prep
      • Coaching and reviewing the activity resume
      • Conducting mock interviews

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Ann Rossbach Consulting

      Location:  Red Bank, NJ

      Services include:

      • Advice on course selection
      • Recommendations for extracurricular and summer involvement
      • Recommendations for standardized testing
      • Interest and personality inventory with an investigation into programs of study
      • Guidance for the activities resume
      • Interviews with parents and students on college preferences and goals
      • Preparation of a balanced list of colleges suited to the student
      • Support for learning differences and the neurodiverse student
      • Essay brainstorming and review
      • Interview preparation
      • Application review
      • Assistance with evaluating acceptances
      • Assistance for the transition to support services in college

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Ann Rossbach Consulting

      Location:  Rumson, NJ

      Services include:

      • Advice on course selection
      • Recommendations for extracurricular and summer involvement
      • Recommendations for standardized testing
      • Interest and personality inventory with an investigation into programs of study
      • Guidance for the activities resume
      • Interviews with parents and students on college preferences and goals
      • Preparation of a balanced list of colleges suited to the student
      • Essay brainstorming and review
      • Interview preparation
      • Application review
      • Assistance with evaluating acceptances
      • Assistance for the transition to support services in college

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      August Consulting

      Location:  Rumson, NJ

      Services include:

      • College search and lists
      • test prep
      • curriculum guidance
      • application assitance
      • test prep
      • decision assistance

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Coastal College Consulting

      Location:  SEA GIRT, NJ

      Services include:

      • College Counseling
      • SAT & ACT Test Preparation
      • Curriculum Tutoring and Study Skills
      • Essay Writing
      • Application Completion
      • Student-Athlete Recruitment
      • Mock Interviewing and Resume Writing
      • Academic Assessment
      • PSAT, SAT, and ACT Evaluations

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Lighthouse Guidance

      Location:  South Plainfield, NJ

      Services include:

      • College Search
      • Application assistance
      • Essay Prep
      • Financial aid assistance
      • Recommend extracurriculars
      • Graduate school advice
      • Interview Preparation
      • Guidance on final choices

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Insiders Network To College

      Location:  Summit, NJ

      Services include:

      • College Research
      • Application Preparation
      • Essays prep
      • Interviewing Skills
      • Application Preparation
      • Resume Writing

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Nolan College Consulting, LLC

      Location:  Summit, NJ

      Services include:

      • Create the college list.
      • Create a timeline for standardized testing
      • Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision Advisement
      • Make college visits count
      • Review academic courses for final two years of high school
      • Develop a resume and activities list
      • Participate in a mock interview session
      • Formulate a timeline for application completion, and complete applications
      • Strategies for wait lists and deferrals

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      The College Link

      Location:  Tabernacle, NJ

      Services include:

      • College Search
      • Application assistance
      • Essay Prep
      • Financial aid assistance
      • Recommend extracurriculars
      • Graduate school advice
      • Interview Preparation
      • Guidance on final choices

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      AUDREY WINTER KAHN, INDEPENDENT COLLEGE ADVISOR

      Location:  Tenafly, NJ

      Services include:

      • Review and recommend academic and extracurricular activities
      • Strategize about which tests (SAT I, ACT, SAT II, for example) to take and when to take them
      • Research and present customized college list
      • Visits and interviews
      • Application and essay prep

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Comprehensive College Counseling

      Location:  Tenafly, NJ

      Services include:

      • College List Research
      • Recommendations Strategies
      • essay and application recomendations
      • Course selection advice
      • College visit advice
      • Application Review

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Personal Best College Coaching

      Location:  Upper Saddle River, NJ

      Services include:

      • Course selection
      • Testing timeline/standardized test scores
      • Extracurricular activities
      • Honors and awards
      • Summer plans
      • Personal Best College Search Student Assessment and schools
      • The college application process/terminology
      • College visits
      • Standardized Testing Preparation
      • Interview tips

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Admissions on Track

      Location:  Westfield, NJ

      Services include:

      • Personalized College List
      • College Visits
      • College Essay assistance
      • Interview Prep
      • Support Services for Learning Differences
      • Application Review

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      College Bound Mentor, LLC

      Location:  Westfield, NJ

      Services include:

      • Create, Review, or Revise College List
      • Refine and implement curriculum plans, testing schedules and extracurricular activities
      • Select and approach teachers for letters of recommendation
      • Plan college visits and list of questions to ask while at schools
      • Work on supplemental essays
      • review rfinancial aid packages and identify best value for student and family goals
      • Help students make final decision

      Affiliations and Accreditations

      Elm Street Placements

      Location:  Westfield, NJ

      Services include:

      • College List Research
      • Recommendations Strategies
      • essay and application recomendations
      • Course selection advice
      • College visit advice
      • Application Review

      Affiliations and Accreditations

        Great College Advice

        Location:  Westfield, NJ

        Services include:

        • Recommendations on class choices and extracurricular focus
        • A custom college list
        • Strategies to reduce the cost of college
        • Standardized testing strategy and timeline
        • Guidance for teacher recommendations
        • Advice on campus visits and researching colleges
        • Admissions interview prep, plus a mock interview
        • Application timeline to meet deadlines and stay organized
        • Brainstorming, structuring, and editing of the primary personal statement
        • Assistance with five additional essays
        • Line-by-line review of the applications prior to submission

        Affiliations and Accreditations

        MacLean College Counseling

        Location:  Westfield, NJ

        Services include:

        • Course selection
        • Testing timeline/standardized test scores
        • Extracurricular activities
        • Honors and awards
        • Summer plans
        • Personal Best College Search Student Assessment and schools
        • The college application process/terminology
        • College visits
        • Standardized Testing Preparation
        • Interview tips

        Affiliations and Accreditations

        Your Campus Consultant-

        Location:  Westfield, NJ

        Services include:

        • Extracurricular activity discussion/planning
        • Summer activity recommendations
        • College Intake Assessment
        • Education about colleges, application procedure, and admissions process
        • Creation of college lists
        • Standardized test planning and evaluation
        • Resume brainstorming, development and review
        • Essay development and review
        • Application review
        • College visit and interview preparation
        • Review of Financial Aid process
        • Timeline of responsibilities

        Affiliations and Accreditations

        College Connexxions

        Location:  West Orange, NJ

        Services include:

        • College Choice
        • assistance for Students with Special Needs
        • Curriculum Planning
        • College Visits
        • College Interview prep

        Affiliations and Accreditations

        College Process Counseling, LLC

        Location:  Wyckoff, NJ

        Services include:

        • College List Research
        • Recommendations Strategies
        • essay and application recomendations
        • Course selection advice
        • College visit advice
        • Application Review

        Affiliations and Accreditations

        College Consulting FAQs

        What is an admissions consultant?

        An admissions consultant is a hired professional who can guide you through the complex landscape of college admissions. Admissions consultant companies vary greatly in size and service offerings, and operate either locally, or as part of a nationwide network.

        Learn more about how to select a college admissions counselor that is right for you in our conversation with NextLevelPrep college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen, who explains how to choose a college admissions counselor.

        What does a college admissions consultant do?

        College admission consultants help guide families and students through the often complex college admissions process. Services typically include counseling on how to improve your chances of getting into your chosen schools, coaching on writing college essays and personal statements, SAT and ACT test preparation, and assistance in the scholarship process, among others.

        Why hire a college admissions consulting company?

        One of the primary benefits of hiring a college admissions consultant is their experience: an expert consultant will have up-to-date insight on what colleges are looking for in terms of grades, extracurricular activities, test scores, and personal statements. This knowledge can help you make a favorable impression on the schools of your choice.

        Plus, college admissions consultants who also provide test preparation can significantly improve your performance on SAT/ACT exams — improving your odds of both earning scholarships and getting into the higher-tiered schools on your list.

        When is the best time to start working with a college admissions consultant?

        This depends on your goals. If you simply need support during the test-prep and application process, you can begin your relationship with a consultant during your junior year of high school — just as the college search process really heats up. However, some college consultants begin working with families as early as 8th or 9th grade, guiding students in their academic focus, electdive course selection, extracurriculars, community service, and more.

        This type of full-service consultation is generally very costly, but the goal is to provide students and families with a complete road map leading directly to a top college.

        How much do college admissions consultants charge?

        The price for college admissions consultation can vary widely depending on the type of company and the nature of services you seek. From one-time seminars to weekly consultation, to hands-on guidance for the entirety of your high school education, you have a lot of options. The higher the level of service you seek, the more you’ll spend.

        For an overview of the pricing landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s ranking of The Best College Admissions Consulting Agencies.

        Are college admissions consultants worth it?

        Yes! If you have access, this extra level of support can genuinely provide you with insight into the admissions process and enhance your odds of admission. More importantly: you won’t be alone during the arduous process of applying to colleges.

        While your high school guidance counselor can literally spend no more than a few minutes a semester on your admissions process, a professional college admissions consultant will be directly and professionally invested in your success. This can make a major difference in where you end up earning your undergraduate degree.

        Can I trust college admissions consultants?

        Yes, you can trust the recognized college admissions consulting groups. That’s why we list only companies that are recognized by agencies and associations such as Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC).

        These independent agencies provide oversight and certification, ensuring that members adhere to all appropriate legal, ethical, and commercial standards both on behalf of consumers and within the higher education infrastructure. Consulting companies listed in their directories may be considered trustworthy and legitimate.

        For more on how you can safely and effectively navigate the college admissions consulting landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s Confessions of a College Prep Consultant.

        Find College Admissions Consultants Near You

        Colleges and Universities in New Jersey

        Nearly half of the colleges and universities in this state are private, and tuition rates range from $6,000 to $52,000. With a graduation rate of 97% and a student population of just over 7,000, Princeton University is the state’s most esteemed institution. Narrowing in on the sciences and arts, this Ivy League school offers unique areas of study, including robotics, intelligent systems, and public life. The remaining 31 public colleges and universities range in tuition from $4,000 to $17,000.

        Find college admissions consultants in your state.

        The state’s largest and top-ranked public research institution is Rutgers University. With campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden as well as smaller locations across the state, Rutgers awards degrees in physics, economics, criminal justice, and psychology. New Jersey also has 11 religiously affiliated colleges and universities, including the oldest diocesan university in the United States, Seton Hall University. This Roman Catholic university has a tuition rate of $42,000 and a student population of over 8,000.

        New Jersey, known for its sandy shores and busy expressways, also has more diners than any other state in the U.S., as well as the world’s longest boardwalk, located in Atlantic City. Many influential people, including Buzz Aldrin, Frank Sinatra, and Thomas Edison, have called The Garden State home. Visitors can even peek at some of Edison’s early light bulbs at the Menlo Park Museum. And with 50 higher learning institutions to choose from, students can find a school that suits their career path and budget.

        Learn more about earning your degree from one of New Jersey’s highly regarded colleges and universities.


        What are New Jersey’s Colleges & Universities?

        New Jersey’s Best Overall

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