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Command Education says they are one of the best in college admissions consulting, as their experts can get you straight into the Ivies. However, after doing more research, I’m not sure if it’s worth the high price. So, I suggest you check out our Command Education review before making a significant financial investment.
Pros & Cons of CommandEducation
| ✅ PROS | ⚠️ CONS |
|---|---|
| Command Education publishes strong self-reported results (94% admitted to one of the top three choices). | Fees aren’t listed publicly, and press coverage cites a crazy price tag, up to $500,000. |
| The “near-peer” mentorship model, where recent Ivy League graduates mentor students. | Command Education doesn’t offer many short-term or hourly services, unlike other college prep companies. |
| Students get continuous 1:1 guidance from a Senior Mentor (often from elite schools) for tailored support across essays, extracurriculars, and strategy. | Success rates exclude students who didn’t follow their full method, and outcomes are not guaranteed. |
It’s obvious that CommandEducation sells a premium image at a premium price, but the substance often matches what solid, less expensive counseling already provides.
In my professional opinion, Command Education is overpriced and overrated. While they’ve helped some students get into top-tier schools, the price tag, lack of flexibility, and overly structured approach make it hard to justify the investment.
There are plenty of other consultants out there who offer more personalized, thoughtful, and affordable support. For more insights into other options, check out other reviews on the best college admission consultants.
What Are the Main Admission Consulting Services of Command Education?
Command Education is a top-tier college admissions consulting service promising support to help students get into Ivy League and other elite schools.
They offer consulting for students starting as early as 8th grade, helping them select the right courses, plan extracurriculars, and develop leadership projects that will stand out.
The pitch is simple: constant one-on-one support, a strategy for activities, and full application help when senior year hits. Sounds fine, but in reality, much of it feels like standard counseling wrapped in premium branding.
Let’s see what’s really behind the hype.
What’s Included in Command Education’s Packages?
Their offerings focus on personalized, one-on-one mentorship, starting as early as 8th grade and continuing through high school.
From what families tell me and what I’ve seen in shared docs:
- Academic & activity planning: course selection, timelines, and an extracurricular blueprint.
- “Passion project” push: students are nudged to start a blog, club, nonprofit, or research-lite project. As I know from general practice, this can look manufactured if the idea isn’t organically the student’s.
- Application execution: school list building, essay brainstorming and edits, rec letter strategy, interview prep.
- “Unlimited” guidance: marketed as always-on support.
All of this is bundled into different packages, so let’s start with the first one.
1. Premier Roadmap Package
Aimed at 9th – 11th graders, this package helps students develop leadership skills, plan extracurricular activities, and find opportunities such as internships and community service to strengthen their college applications.
This program offers ongoing support and guidance on standardized testing, community engagement, and personal growth.
2. Premier Senior Package
This package for 12th graders includes:
- Full application support – guidance on activities, essays, and recommendations.
- College list building – creating a balanced list of reach, match, and safety schools.
- Recommendation letters – advice on choosing the right teachers.
- Essay help – brainstorming and editing for personal and supplemental essays.
- Interview prep – strategy and practice to present confidently.
They also say that students’ applications undergo a three-tier review, which sounds impressive but really just means more layers of the same checking process.
3. College Application Booster
A more focused, short-term program that assists students with perfecting their college applications, including their statement and supplemental essays, over a few days.
4. Test Prep and Tutoring
Command Education also offers SAT and ACT tutoring alongside subject-specific academic support through private, one-on-one sessions, helping students achieve the scores necessary for admission to top-tier schools.
Their packages feel too organized, even though they sound like they cover everything. From experience, college applications need to grow more naturally. There is no way to make a plan that fits every student’s goals, and Command Education’s method seems too one-size-fits-all to me.
Who Is on the CommandEducation.com Team?
Command Education prides itself on using “near-peer” mentors—recent Ivy League graduates who are supposed to guide students like older siblings.
In theory, this is appealing, especially when compared with C2 Education. But from my experience, simply graduating from a top-tier school doesn’t necessarily make someone an expert in guiding high school students through college admissions. For this, you need deep expertise and sometimes more life experience than just a fresh diploma.
Sure, these mentors have been through the process recently, but are they the best to guide your child’s unique situation? That’s where I’m not so convinced.
Do They Offer Any Extra Services?
Besides their core consulting packages, CommandEducation.com also pushes a few add-on services:
- Internship and research help – Support with searching for opportunities, polishing resumes and cover letters, and prepping for interviews. They also claim to tap into their network of professionals, though from what I’ve seen, this doesn’t always translate into real internships.
- Career counseling – Mentors provide guidance on career matching, interview prep, and resume tweaks. It’s essentially basic career services that most universities already offer for free once you get there.
- Gap year support – For students taking time off before college, mentors help plan a “productive” year and handle applications later on.
In my opinion, while these sound useful, a lot of this overlaps with resources students can already access through school counselors, family contacts, or even free online platforms. For the price families are paying, these extras don’t really feel like a standout benefit.
Does CommandEducation.com Offer FREE Services?
Here’s a short answer: no. The company offers a free consultation, but it’s mostly a sales pitch to sign you up for their pricey packages.
I’ve seen plenty of admissions consultants who at least offer some free webinars or free resources on their websites, but Command Education keeps everything behind a paywall.
For a company that charges such exorbitant fees, I think it’s a missed opportunity not to offer free tips and advice to students who might be unable to afford their services.
Command Education Pricing and Guarantees
Now, let’s talk about the price. The cost of Command Education’s services is, frankly, astronomical. They don’t publish prices on their website, but it’s widely known that families have paid upwards of $500,000 for their full package. That’s not a typo. 😵💫
For example, according to Forbes, Command Education’s pricing ranges from a few hundred dollars per hour to about $85,000 for its most popular package, with multi-year options exceeding $100,000.
Several former customers also report spending between $85,000 and $120,000.
Sure, some people may be willing to invest that much in their child’s future, but Command Education is simply not worth it.
‼️ And even with that price tag, there are no guarantees. Their “94% acceptance to top 3 choices” claim excludes anyone who didn’t follow their method 100%. From my perspective, that’s misleading. Families pay tens of thousands, yet the fine print makes it clear the outcome is uncertain.
In plain terms, families are paying luxury-home-level prices for college consulting, with no guarantees.
Their Professionalism in Terms of Command Education Reviews Available Online
Looking at Command Education reviews, the picture is mixed, and that’s worth flagging.
On Trustpilot, some parents rave: “Truly thankful for Command!” one writes, describing how their child’s mentor helped them through U.S. admissions from abroad.
Others are less kind about CommandEducation.com.
One reviewer on Trustpilot bluntly says: “High price, no effort. The consultants were not particularly bright.”
On Reddit (in the ApplyingToCollege community), opinions are harsher. One comment states:
“He hires young kids with zero experience to guide … Command Education, nothing more than a scam.”
That sort of sharp language is a red flag in any consulting space, and especially one dealing with high stakes (your future college).
Another thread on Reddit discussed pricing, with someone mentioning Empowerly as a better option:
Whether or not that exact quote is representative, it underscores the perception many have: the prices are absurd, and the value doesn’t always match.
Areas of Command Education That They Should Work On
While CommandEducation claims to offer top-tier admissions consulting, there are several critical areas where they need improvement:
- ❌ Exorbitant pricing. Charging up to $500,000 for college consulting is outrageous, even for families who can afford it.
- ❌ Cookie-cutter approach. Command Education’s method doesn’t feel personalized enough. It applies a one-size-fits-all strategy that might miss the mark for many students.
- ❌ Lack of transparency in pricing. You won’t find any upfront pricing info on their site, creating discomfort and distrust for many families.
- ❌ Over-reliance on recent graduates. Near-peer mentors sound nice, but more experienced consultants would likely offer better guidance.
- ❌ Lack of free resources. Offering no free webinars, guides, or tools makes their services feel elitist and inaccessible to many.
These concerns make me question whether the value truly matches the price. For families considering a consultant, there are better and more affordable options.
Verdict
Command Education is more about branding than genuine student development. They market themselves as a “white-glove” service, but polish doesn’t replace authenticity. In reality, the focus is more on creating a glossy narrative than truly understanding each student.
From what I’ve seen, students just need honesty, real strategy, and someone who knows admissions inside out. Sadly, that’s where Command Education falls short.
But hey, the choice is yours: you can drop big money on hype, or find a consultant who puts substance over show.
❔ FAQs
How much does the Command Education service cost?
Prices aren’t listed online. Media coverage cites around $85,000 per year in older reports, $120,000 per year in more recent ones, and up to $500,000 for multi-year packages, depending on when a student starts.
Is Command Education a reputable company?
Yes, Command Education is well-known in the admissions consulting space, but reviews are mixed. Some parents praise the support, while others say the results don’t justify the cost.
Can CommandEducation.com guarantee acceptance?
No, Command Education highlights success rates, but no company can guarantee admission to Ivies or other selective schools.
Is Command Education worth it?
While Command Education offers extensive support, whether it’s worth the high price depends on your budget and needs. Other college consultants are offering similar services for significantly lower costs.