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When you start searching for college admissions help, Accepted.com reviews often show up near the top. With its long-standing reputation and team of former admissions officers, Accepted seems a good option at first glance. Still, it’s smart to look twice. In this review, we’ll break down what Accepted is really like and whether the price makes sense for students who need solid guidance.
Also, if you’re considering other options, check out additional reviews on the best college admission consultants.
Pros & Cons of Accepted
Accepted.com offers custom services for several tracks, like college, law school, medical school, MBA programs, and other graduate programs. But in any case, there are some important pros and cons to consider.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Around 30 years in admissions consulting, with a dedicated consultant and former admissions leaders on the team. | Multi-year packages in Accepted run roughly $15,000–$25,000 and hourly starts around $830 for 2 hours. |
| Options range from multi-year guidance to targeted hourly help for school lists, essays, interviews, and waitlist strategy. | Standard edits from experts at Accepted.com take two business days. Rush responses cost extra. |
| Free 30-minute consultation, plus free guides, sample essays, blog, and podcast. | Their packages cap the number of colleges, and some support (like with scholarships) appears only in the top tier. |
Overall, Accepted knows what it’s doing. Their consultants have real admissions experience and can guide students through the whole process with confidence. That said, the cost is no small thing, and the limits on how many schools you can include might frustrate some families.
So, if you’re willing to pay for close, one-on-one help, it can be a strong choice. But for most students, it feels more like a premium convenience than a must-have service.
With those pros and cons in mind, let’s take a closer look at what Accepted.com actually offers.
What Are the Main Admission Consulting Services at Accepted.com?
Accepted.com is a well-known name in the college admissions consulting industry. They have been helping students apply to college, grad school, and professional programs since the late 1990s. For high school students, their main service is a combination of multi-year mentoring and one-on-one application coaching.
Consultants at Accepted encourage students to start planning early, offering advice on extracurricular activities, essay writing, and interview preparation. Looks very solid. In practice, it depends on which consultant you work with and how much guidance you need.
Also, according to previous Accepted.com reviews, their services lack customization. Unlike Prep Scholar, they seem to follow a generic formula, which might not be effective for students with unique backgrounds or aspirations.
What’s Included in Those Packages?
Accepted.com breaks its packages down by how many schools you plan to apply to:
- The Silver plan covers up to three schools, Gold includes six, and Platinum goes up to ten.
- If you’re sticking with the Common App, there’s a Common Application package that focuses only on that, without any school-specific essays.
- And for students applying to the UC system, there is a UC Application package.
The multi-year plans from Accepted supposedly cover everything from activity strategy to essay editing and recommender prep.
Now, to the details. When you pick a college-application package at Accepted.com (for 11th or 12th graders), here’s what you get across the board:
- One-on-one advising with an experienced admissions consultant available by video call, phone, or email.
- Strategic guidance on your application: choosing schools, shaping your story, identifying your strengths.
- Brainstorming, outlining, and full editing of your personal statement.
- Support and editing of the “Additional Information” section on the application.
- Waitlist advice, plus decision-counseling once you get your offers.
Accepted.com also offers hourly plans for students who just need “quick hits” of help, maybe final essay edits or a mock interview. However, several parents we’ve spoken with mentioned that the hourly sessions often get eaten up by planning discussions rather than actionable edits.
Who Is on the Accepted.com Team? Are They Knowledgeable Enough?
The Accepted.com team includes former admissions officers and consultants. Many have Ivy League degrees, admissions backgrounds, or years in education. But not every consultant from Accepted has up-to-date experience with current admissions and trends like test-optional policies or holistic review.
At Accepted.com, the advice students get depends a lot on the consultant’s background, not a unified strategy or philosophy.
Do They Offer Any Extra Services?
Accepted includes rush reviews for essays, waitlist support, and rejection review sessions. These extras can be helpful if you’re in a bind, but they come with an added cost. Also, multi-year tiers may include help with summer programs or competitions.
It’s worth mentioning that the rush turnaround is pretty pricey, even though other consulting firms often offer next-day feedback as part of their standard packages.
To see what a good example looks like, check out what Empowerly offers.
Do They Have Any FREE Services?
They do offer a free 30-minute consultation, which is nice if you’re still exploring options. Accepted.com also shares free blogs, podcasts, and sample essays that can give students a sense of what good applications look like.
That said, the free consultation feels more like a sales call than a strategy session because it’s mostly about matching you to a consultant and quoting package prices. Still, their free essays and podcast content can be genuinely useful for students just getting started.
Now, let’s move to the prices of all their packages.
Accepted.com Pricing and Guarantees
Hourly packages start around $830 for two hours, while full multi-year packages range from $15,000 to $25,000.
For college application packages (11th and 12th graders), you can expect the following prices:
- Common Application Package ($6,000) – focused on the Common App only, including one personal statement, activity list, and overall strategy support.
- Silver Package ($10,000) – covers three schools with full essay editing, strategy sessions, and one mock interview.
- Gold Package ($15,000) – includes six schools, three mock interviews, and detailed feedback on essays and supplements.
- Platinum Package ($20,000) – up to ten schools, adding extensive essay rounds, multiple mock interviews, and waitlist guidance.
- UC Application Package ($4,600) – support for all four Personal Insight Questions, activity section review, and UC-specific strategy.
If you want just college application essay editing, expect to pay $1,950. Optional add-ons, at a fee of $105 per item (for each essay, resume, or short-answer section), can also drive up the cost.
By the way, paying by ACH saves you 3%, but even with the discount, the price tag is significant, especially since Accepted doesn’t offer any results-based guarantees. You’re paying for time and expertise, not outcomes. Additionally, their restrictive refund policy will disappoint you if the service falls short of expectations.
To put that in perspective: newer consulting agencies with equally strong teams often charge half as much and include full essay cycles and mock interviews without limiting the number of schools.
Their Professionalism in Terms of Accepted.com Reviews
We’ve read mixed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and other forums. Some users appreciate the service, but many complain about the lack of individualized attention and the high costs.
Just so you know, many of the 5-star reviews on Trustpilot sound positive but a bit generic. A lot of them use the same phrases, like “very helpful” or “great experience,” without giving real details about what made the service stand out. It isn’t easy to judge how genuine the experiences really were.
As for negative feedback, one of their previous clients wrote: “I booked a complimentary consultation, and the advice was very standard and unhelpful. Apparently nearly 300 hours of clinical experience isn’t enough. It was ten minutes of my life I will never get back.”
Areas of Accepted.com That They Should Work On
Accepted has some severe areas that need improvement if they want to compete with other top consulting firms:
- ⚠️ The costs are high, but the tangible deliverables aren’t clearly defined. Families often find it hard to tell what’s included versus what costs extra.
- ⚠️ Some consultants are outstanding, but others seem outdated in their understanding of current admissions trends. There’s no consistent voice or structured methodology.
- ⚠️ Packages cap the number of schools, and upgrading later can get expensive. For families applying broadly, that can be a real constraint.
- ⚠️ Standard editing takes two business days, which can feel like forever when deadlines are close.
- ⚠️ The free consultation doesn’t deliver much actionable advice. It’s more of a marketing funnel than a real “assessment call.”
If Accepted.com addresses these shortcomings, they might be able to deliver a better experience for their clients.
Our Verdict
Accepted.com has heritage, name recognition, and a long track record, but it feels like a brand that’s resting a bit on its reputation. Their consultants are often capable, yet the experience can be uneven, and the cost doesn’t always match the value you receive.
In the end, the choice is yours, but it’s worth comparing Accepted.com with other admissions consulting options before making a decision.
How much do Accepted.com services cost?
Accepted.com’s application package prices range from about $4,600 for the UC Application to $25,000 for the Platinum multi-year option. Hourly help starts at $805 for two hours.
Is Accepted.com a reputable company?
Yes, Accepted.com has been in the admissions consulting industry for years and has a team of experienced consultants. However, reviews are mixed, with some clients feeling their services fall short of expectations.
Can Accepted.com guarantee acceptance?
No, Accepted.com, like most admissions consulting firms, cannot guarantee acceptance into any program. They offer guidance and support but cannot influence admissions decisions.
Is Accepted.com worth it?
It depends on individual needs and expectations. While some find value in their services, others feel the high costs don’t justify the results. It’s best to compare with other firms before deciding.