Every year, the college admissions process becomes increasingly more competitive. With admissions rates decreasing at top rated schools, a college admissions consultant can increase a student’s odds of getting accepted.
Top Tier Admissions tries to make the process as easy as possible. They’ve created a signature boot camp to help students knockout core application materials in a short period of time. With 95% of their students getting into their top school, Top Tier Admissions has found a formula that works for many of its clients.
Is Top Tier Admissions right for you? We’ll dive deeper into who they are, what they offer, and how they help a wide range of students increase their chances of getting into top-rated schools.
Quick Summary
- Top Tier Admissions is a college admissions consulting company founded by higher education experts with extensive experience in Ivy League schools.
- The key to Top Tier Admissions results is its signature Application Boot Camp program which works with students beginning in their sophomore year of high school.
- Students are provided with an academic assessment to create a custom roadmap tailored to their personal admissions goals.
Top Tier Admissions Review Details | |
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Company Name | Top Tier Admissions |
Services Offered |
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Prices | Application Boot Camp runs for $18,000 with more affordable services starting at $1,500. |
Promotions | None |
What Is Top Tier Admissions?
Top Tier Admissions is a college admissions consulting company that works with students to improve their chances of getting into their top school. Based in Boston and with an office in Middlebury, VT, Top Tier Admissions has been guiding students through the college admissions process for more than two decades. According to their own data, 95% of students they work with get into one or more of their preferred schools.
Top Tier Admissions was founded by Dr. Michele Hernandez and Mimi Doe, both with backgrounds in Ivy League admissions and higher education. Their team hails from a number of top-ranked schools including Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.
One feature that sets Top Tier Admissions apart from other college admissions consulting firms is their approach to ethics. They pride themselves in transparency and accountability, supporting students through the admissions process to the best of their abilities.
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What Does Top Tier Admissions Offer?
Top Tier Admission’s signature services include boot camps designed to help students develop compelling applications that increase their odds of acceptance. They begin working with students as early as the fourth grade and offer counseling services all the way up through grad school admissions.
Application Boot Camp
Application Boot Camp is Top Tier Admission’s signature service. It’s so popular, there's a waitlist for it. The boot camp is a 4-day intensive where students work with the Top Tier Admissions advising team to develop a personalized strategy to navigate the college application process.
Students enroll in Application Boot Camp during their sophomore year. Prior to starting the boot camp itself, each student gets a personalized report that assesses their academic record and is used to develop a plan for getting into their top school. It takes into account creating a plan for standardized tests as well the student’s intended field of study. Students enrolled in the boot camp can review their personalized report directly with either Dr. Hernandez or Mimi Doe to get feedback to further tailor their approach.
The 4-day boot camp is held the summer before a student’s senior year and is used to complete application materials. Students work on the Common Application and their admissions essay. Students complete several versions of their essay and work with Top Review Admissions staff to review them and provide feedback. Students also work on preparing supplementary material like building out their resume and learning techniques to ace the interview.
Personal Boot Camp
Personal Boot Camp is another offering Top Tier Admissions provides. It’s a 3-day virtual program where students work with Application Boot Camp mentors.
Similar to Application Boot Camp, students receive a personalized report that assesses their academic career and college admissions goals. They work one-on-one with admissions counselors over Zoom to prepare their essay and other application materials.
Essay Guidance
Essay Guidance is a service that focuses on the personal essay typically submitted along with a college application. Top Tier Admissions experts work with students to hone their essay to capture the attention of college admissions officers.
The Essay Guidance program is offered in 5-, 10-, or 15-hour increments. Top Tier Admissions counselors provide extensive feedback on the essay and work with students to review different angles to take during the essay writing process.
Common Application 911
Common Application 911 is a specialized program that provides one-on-one consultations to help students complete the Common Application. It advises students on how to leverage their school activities and write a compelling statement to round out their application, increasing their chances of standing out.
The two hour service provides students with tips on how to complete information succinctly within the limitations of the application fields.
Other Services
Aside from these signature services, Top Tier Admissions also provides test prep, academic tutoring, transfer admissions support, and counseling on graduate programs. It’s Top Tier Futures program supports students in grades 4-8. It’s designed to provide strategic consultations with students and their families to develop an academic and enrichment strategy that aligns with their future academic goals.
Are There Any Fees?
Top Tier Admission's fees vary based on the program and the length of time a student expects to work with a counselor. Application Boot Camp is one of the most expensive options, running students $18,000.
Essay Guidance starts at $4,800 for the 5-hour service and goes up to $13,500 for 15 hours of support. Common Application 911 is a flat fee of $1,500. Top Tier Admissions offers bundles where students can do both Essay Guidance and Common Application 911 starting at $6,000 and going up to $14,700.
Top Tier Admissions doesn’t offer hourly support but they do sell packages of time. General academic tutoring starts at $1,800 for 5 hours’ worth of tutoring and goes up to $9,000 for 30 hours of support.
How Does Top Tier Admissions Compare?
Top Tier Admissions isn’t the most expensive option but it isn’t the cheapest either. Its general academic counseling service costs around $300 per hour while their signature services can start at $900.
The transparency in what they offer and what they charge (although expensive) was refreshing compared to other companies that sometimes feel like a black box of offerings and price points.
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Rating | |||
Pricing | $900+ per hour | $500+ per hour | $1,000+ per hour |
Standout Service | Multi-year boot camp to ace college admissions | Consulting for artists, athletes, and students with learning challenges | Graduate school consulting |
Years in Business | 21 | 10 | 25 |
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How Do I Start With Top Tier Admissions?
Top Tier Admissions offers an online portal with resources and guides once a student enrolls in a program like Application Boot Camp. To get started, interested students and their parents can schedule a meeting with a counselor on the Top Tier Admissions contact page.
Is Top Tier Admissions Safe And Secure?
Top Tier Admissions offers online resources as part of their boot camp packages where students may need to create an account to login.
The company maintains a code of ethics to keep student information confidential and to be transparent with their clients during the time they work together.
How Do I Contact Top Tier Admissions?
Top Tier Admissions is located outside of Boston, MA. They can be reached by email at info@toptieradmissions.com or by phone at (781) 530-7088.
They also have a contact page where students and parents can schedule a time to meet with a Top Tier Admissions representative to learn more about the company’s services.
Customer Service
Although Top Tier Admissions has been in business for more than two decades, there are no reviews of their services on sites like Google or Yelp. There is one five-star review on Glassdoor that affirms the company’s emphasis on maintaining high ethical standards.
Is Top Tier Admissions Worth It?
Top Tier Admissions might be worth it depending on your goals. They post annual results on their website, tracking how their students perform against national averages. For the Class of 2027, for example, Top Tier Admissions had an 80% acceptance rate to Stanford while the school has recently offered admission to less than 4% of applicants.
With 95% of students getting into one or more of their top schools, Top Tier Admissions offers a promising return on investment for their services. Given the fierce competition for spots at elite universities, working with a college admissions counselor can improve a students’ odds of getting in.
Top Tier Admissions Features
Product | College Admissions Consulting |
Services Offered |
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Prices |
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Free Consultation | Yes |
Years in Business | 21 |
Success Rate | 95% of students get into their top school |
Customer Service Email | info@toptieradmissions.com |
Customer Service Number | 1 (781) 530-7088 |
Promotions | None |
Top Tier Admissions Review
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Summary
Top Tier Admissions is a college admissions consulting company founded by higher education experts. The company offers many admissions services, including an Application Boot Camp for high school sophomores.
Pros
- Large variety of services for students ranging from elementary school to graduate school.
- Tailored services can meet students’ individual needs.
- Personalized action plan that students can implement alongside Top Tier Admissions counseling support throughout high school.
Cons
- No a la carte or hourly service options.
- There’s a waitlist to get into some of their signature programs like Application Boot Camp.
- Some support for interviewing and crafting a resume but not as comprehensive as their essay writing and application services.
Amanda Claypool is a writer, entrepreneur, and strategy consultant. She’s lived in the Middle East, Washington, DC, and a 2014 Subaru Outback but now calls Asheville home. Amanda writes about money, crypto, emerging tech, and the future of the economy on Medium.
Editor: Colin Graves Reviewed by: Robert Farrington