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Drawing on my extensive experience in college admissions consulting, I can confidently say that Empowerly ranks among the best options for students who want that extra edge. And if you’re considering hiring someone to help you with college applications, this Empowerly review details their services, prices, and how well they help students overall.
Here’s what future students and parents need to know about Empowely.com:
| ✅ PROS | ⚠️ CONS |
|---|---|
| Empowerly has a strong track record, with 98% of its students (with a GPA of 3.6 or higher) getting accepted into the top 100 U.S. colleges. | Prices start at $10,495, so these packages might be a bit out of reach for some families. |
| 1:1 counseling, a planning portal, essay editing, and an AdCom-style review give students structured help across the whole application. | While Empowerly runs a fully remote model, some students might prefer more face-to-face interaction. |
| Empowerly offers add-ons like startup internships, research scholar programs, and passion projects that strengthen student profiles. | Empowerly encourages students to start working with them as early as middle school, which might overwhelm younger students. |
In my opinion, Empowerly is a top-tier service for families looking to maximize their college admissions success. The combination of expert knowledge, personal attention, and real-world opportunities makes them an excellent choice.
While they could improve a few areas, their results speak for themselves. If you’re serious about gaining an edge in college admissions, Empowerly is one of the best college admission consulting services worth considering.
Empowerly’s Main Admission Consulting Services
In my opinion, what sets Empowerly.com apart is its comprehensive approach to college admissions.
The strongest part of their platform is the Empowerly Score, which shows you how competitive your profile is and where you need to level up. From school selection to essay brainstorming and application strategy, they cover all the basics that matter most when you’re shooting for selective colleges.
Instead of just helping with one aspect, Empowerly provides a complete package that ensures students are fully prepared for every admissions process step.
What’s Included in Empowerly Packages?
Empowerly’s packages offer much more than you’d typically expect from a college admissions consulting service.
Dedicated Counseling Team
Every Empowerly package starts with a personal college counselor who works closely with the student throughout the process.
What’s different here is that the counselor is supported by a team of researchers, editors, and advisors, so students benefit from multiple perspectives, not just one person’s feedback.
Academic and Application Planning
In my opinion, one of the most useful features is personalized academic planning. Empowerly helps map out courses, extracurriculars, and testing strategies to build a strong academic profile.
They also guide students through college list creation, making sure choices align with both goals and realistic chances of admission.
Essay and Application Support
Essays are where many students get stuck, and Empowerly puts a lot of focus here.
Packages include comprehensive essay support, from brainstorming to editing. Their team reviews drafts, gives feedback, and even provides AdCom-style reviews from former admissions officers.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
What I find especially valuable is that Empowerly also provides financial aid planning and scholarship assistance through a partner program. It can make a huge difference for families weighing multiple college options.
Packages bundle a set number of counseling sessions, essay edit rounds, and AdCom reviews, with portal access throughout. What we like is that all the inclusions are spelled out up front.
Who Is on Their Team?
I’ve seen plenty of consulting firms that just hire recent grads with limited experience. But Empowerly is different. Their team comprises former admissions officers from top universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia, as well as professionals who understand how committees actually evaluate applications.
Feedback from someone who has been inside that decision room is priceless. Add in counselors who are good at motivating students without overwhelming them, and you’ve got a solid combo.
So, it’s obvious that Empowerly provides insight into how to stand out and offer strategic advice that’s hard to come by elsewhere.
Extra Services of Empowerly.com
This firm offers real-world opportunities besides traditional counseling, like connecting students with internships at startups or guiding them through impactful projects like launching nonprofits.
In addition, Empowerly includes exclusive opportunities that strengthen applications:
- AI Scholar Program – lets students work on cutting-edge projects in tech and artificial intelligence.
- Research Scholar Program – connects students with mentors to produce publishable research or advanced academic work.
These extras can make a huge difference, especially for students aiming for elite schools that look for leadership and initiative.
Also, there are BS/MD guidance, GOALS academic support for neurodivergent learners, test prep, and subject tutoring.
Do They Have Any Free Services?
At Empowerly, you can book a free 30-minute consultation to get an initial assessment. This is smart because it allows parents and students to evaluate if the service is the right fit without any upfront cost. By the way, not many consulting firms offer that kind of starter session without charging.
But Empowerly doesn’t stop here! These freebies are worth checking out even if you’re not ready to commit to a full package:
- Blog and newsletter – Their blog is full of admissions tips, and the newsletter delivers strategies straight to your inbox.
- Webinars – They also host free live webinars, with recordings available afterward (sometimes instantly, other times after a quick email signup).
- Ebooks and guides – A library of resources covering essay writing, UC applications, and even parent-focused topics like financial aid. These are free to download, though you’ll need to fill out a short form first.
- College insights – Quick-access college pages with data like GPA ranges, tuition, and acceptance rates.
Plus, these are sample PDFs, such as the Guide to Application Essays, that you can open directly.
Pretty impressive set of freebies, right?
Empowerly Pricing and Guarantees
Their pricing ranges from $10,495 to $29,695, depending on grade level and package depth. Now, Empowerly lists the following headline options (all include counseling sessions, essay edit rounds, and AdCom reviews):
- Basic ($10,495): 16 counseling sessions, 26 essay edits, 4 AdCom reviews.
- Standard ($12,995–$24,995): 22–54 counseling sessions, 26–28 essay edits, 2–5 AdCom reviews.
- Premium ($15,595–$29,695): 28–62 counseling sessions, 32–40 essay edits, unlimited AdCom reviews.
In my opinion, this transparent breakdown helps families understand exactly what they’re getting at each tier.
For those who need extras like test prep, research programs, or internships, Empowerly lists them as specialized add-ons with “inquire for pricing.”
And if you want the most up-to-date and personalized pricing information, I recommend reaching out directly to Empowerly via their email at enrollment@empowerly.com or by calling 1-(800)-491-6920.
As for guarantees, Empowerly doesn’t guarantee admission (and no ethical firm should), but they do give you tools, expert feedback, and a system that dramatically improves your odds.
A 98% admission rate to top-100 U.S. colleges speaks for itself.
Their Professionalism in Terms of Empowerly Reviews
Empowerly’s online reputation is strong overall. On Trustpilot, they hold a 5-star rating, with many users praising “expert guidance” and how it made the admissions process less overwhelming.
Parents frequently mention how Empowerly helped their children manage overwhelming workloads, and many attribute their children’s acceptance into Ivy League schools to Empowerly’s advice.
On Facebook, one parent who purchased the top package shared that the service brought real value to their family.
Real success stories in one Empowerly review on Reddit, like one student being accepted into UC Berkeley’s top program, drive home this service’s impact.
Areas of Empowerly That They Should Work On
Of course, no service is perfect, and there are areas where Empowerly could improve.
- Pricing for extras – The big packages are laid out clearly, but some of the add-ons still say “inquire for pricing.” Families usually prefer to see exact numbers upfront.
- All online, all the time – Empowerly is built around video calls and their online portal. That’s super convenient, but some students (and parents) still wish there were chances for face-to-face meetings, especially when working on personal essays.
- Starting young – Empowerly works with students as early as 8th grade. For planning, that’s awesome. But let’s be real, for some middle schoolers, going into “college mode” that early can feel a bit much.
These are minor problems; for many families, the pros of a simplified, data-driven platform are more significant than the cons.
Ultimately, each student needs to find what works best for them. For many, Empowerly seems to be the right mix.
| Best College Admission Consulting Firms |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant | Admissionado | Hello College | Admit Advantage |
| Price Range | $2,050 – $21,050 | $1,125 – $34,999 | $2,050 – $8,930 |
| Admissions Feature | Best admission consultants | Great for college | Law school experts |
| Rating | 4,8 | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| More info | Visit | Visit | Visit |
❔ FAQs
How much do Empowerly services cost?
Empowerly’s packages range from $10,495 up to $29,695, depending on the package size and level of support. Families can also discuss flexible options and payment plans during the consultation.
Is Empowerly.com a reputable company?
Yes, Empowerly is considered reputable within the college admissions consulting industry. They have a strong track record, with 98% of their students gaining admission into the top 100 U.S. colleges.
Can Empowerly guarantee acceptance?
No, Empowerly cannot guarantee college acceptance, as admissions decisions are ultimately up to the schools. However, Empowerly claims to improve students’ chances, with statistics showing their students are up to 11 times more likely to be admitted into their top-choice colleges.
Is Empowerly.com worth it?
Empowerly is worth it for families seeking comprehensive support throughout the college admissions process. They offer services that cover everything from essay editing to internships, backed by a team of experienced admissions professionals.