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As someone with quite extensive experience in college admissions consulting, I feel compelled to share this Ivy Wise review, my review of a service that has been in the industry for over two decades. Ready to get the answer to the question – is IvyWise worth it?
In this review, I will begin by outlining the main pros and cons of Ivy Wise’s services, providing a snapshot of their strengths and weaknesses.
This will be followed by a more in-depth analysis of their offerings, pricing, team, and more.
Whooa, let me begin.
Pros and Cons of Ivy Wise’s College Admission Consulting Service
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| IvyWise’s team comprises former Deans and admission directors, bringing over 300 years of collective experience in college admissions at top schools in the US. | IvyWise’s services are among the most expensive in the industry, which may be prohibitive for many families. |
| Ivy Wise offers a wide range of services, from profile building and crafting a student’s “story” to executing college prep and helping students tell their story through compelling college applications. | While Ivy Wise offers “customizable” packages, the customization seems to be more about adjusting the price point rather than tailoring the service to the individual student’s needs. |
| IvyWise.com offers a variety of programs that are customizable according to students’ goals and needs, giving families access to expert college application advice. | Some of IvyWise’s services, like the Ivy Wise Roundtable, can be intimidating and potentially discouraging for students. |
| Ivy Wise claims that 92% of their students gain admission into one or more of their top three choice schools. | Online reviews of IvyWise are mixed, with some students and parents praising the service and others describing the environment as condescending and the process as more about criticizing than constructively helping applicants. |
Now that we’ve covered the broad strokes let’s delve deeper into the specifics of IvyWise’s offerings.
We’ll start by examining the main college admission consulting services provided by Ivy Wise.
What Are The Main Services of IvyWise?
IvyWise offers a range of services, from tutoring and comprehensive coaching to application support and test prep. They claim to implement a holistic approach, using extensive research to create a plan for each student to explore their interests and stand out on their applications.
IvyWise offers a wide range of college admission consulting services, including:
Building a Strong Academic Profile
From as early as 8th grade, IvyWise engages with students to guide them in course selection and academic planning throughout their high school years. Their aim is to help students establish a solid academic base from the onset, enabling them to seize all available opportunities.
Developing Your Unique Narrative
As students transition into 9th and 10th grade, Ivy Wise’s counselors work alongside them to delve into and fine-tune their academic and extracurricular pursuits. This process aids students in authentically enhancing their profiles and crafting a unique narrative that defines them.
Implementing College Preparation
When students reach their junior year, they are ushered into the core of the college preparation process. IvyWise’s counselors utilize their tutoring and research services to assist students in creating a well-rounded list of colleges, fine-tuning a suitable testing strategy, and planning college visits, among other tasks.
Narrating Your Personal and Academic Growth
IvyWise’s counselors collaborate closely with students to help them articulate the personal and academic growth they’ve experienced over the past four years through engaging and thoughtful college applications. This process involves developing and implementing a strategic application plan to optimize results.
What’s Included in Those Packages?
Their packages are customizable according to students’ goals and needs. They offer a variety of programs, from long-term college counseling programs to short-term senior programs that offer access to expert college application advice.
Like A-List Education, they also offer specific services like the Ivy Wise Application Boot Camp, Portfolio Review, and Development and Philanthropic Counseling.
However, it’s important to note that while these services are comprehensive, they may not be suitable for all students. The customization seems to be more about adjusting the price point rather than tailoring the service to the individual student’s needs.
The services are also quite expensive, which may be prohibitive for many families.
Their Team
IvyWise’s team is composed of former Deans and Directors of admission, collectively bringing over 300 years of experience in undergraduate admissions at top schools in the US. Each member has evaluated thousands of applications and is well-versed in every type of school system and curriculum.
In addition to their counselors, IvyWise has a team of tutors who are subject matter experts with advanced degrees and an average of 15 years of experience. They also have a dedicated staff supporting their counselors and providing families with concierge-level service.
While the team is experienced and knowledgeable, it’s important to remember that experience doesn’t always equate to effectiveness. The team’s background is primarily in admissions, which may limit their ability to provide a well-rounded perspective on the college application process.
Furthermore, the high cost of Ivy Wise’s services may not be justified for all students, especially those with more general needs or those who are looking for a more affordable college admissions consulting option.
Do They Offer Any Extra Services?
One unique service IvyWise offers is their Ivy Wise Roundtable, a mock application review conducted by their team of experts. While this could be beneficial, it’s worth noting that this process can also be intimidating and potentially discouraging for students.
Their Pricing and Guarantees
Ivy Wise does not disclose specific pricing information on its website. However, from the information gathered from external sources and reviews, it’s clear that Ivy Wise’s services come with a hefty price tag.
Their services are known to be among the most expensive in the industry. For instance, their tutoring services alone can cost between $300 to $600 per hour.
Some clients even told me that their packages could cost something like 100k bucks, but this sounded a little bit crazy to me, so I decided to contact with the sample query that I partially changed to send requests to different college admission consultants when I want to get the real quote.
Upon reaching out to Ivy Wise with a sample inquiry, I was quoted a rate of $440 per hour for one of their counselors. This price point is quite steep, even for the industry. The justification given was that my case was different, and they wanted to assign a top specialist to my task. While I can appreciate the desire to provide high-quality service, my request was quite general, and I found it hard to understand why it required a specific top counselor to guide me.
Why do I need a TOP counselor? I didn’t even ask for some specific admission schools or niche consulting with medical schools that are offered by BeMo for example. Nevertheless, I decided to count this price and taking into account several hours each week during years of preparation, the price is quite high.
The counselor they suggested was undoubtedly knowledgeable and seemed to understand the intricacies of the college admissions process. However, the cost of their consultancy over several years of high school would have amounted to around $65,000 to $75,000. This is a significant investment, and it’s worth considering whether the potential benefits outweigh the cost.
It is a high price, even higher than niche law college consulting by Admit Advantage, especially when we talk about SUPER GENERAL requests, like the one I did.
As for guarantees, IvyWise claims that 92% of their students gain admission into one or more of their top three choice schools. This is an impressive statistic, but it’s crucial to remember that many factors contribute to a student’s admission success.
While IvyWise’s services may play a part, other elements, such as the student’s academic performance, extracurricular activities, and personal essays, also have a significant impact.
Therefore, while the statistic is encouraging, it should not be viewed as a guarantee of success.
Their Professionalism in Terms of Reviews Online
The situation with reviews is a little bit similar to Admission Science, online reviews of IvyWise are indeed mixed. Here are a few examples of both positive and negative reviews of Ivy Wise that I found online.
One reviewer appreciated the critical evaluation of essays by the counselors and found the feedback to be insightful and helpful. They felt that the counselors were able to provide a fresh perspective on their essays and help them improve their writing.
A reviewer on Trustpilot felt that the counselors’ goal was to make the applicant seem inadequate and unworthy of Ivy League schools. They described the environment as condescending and felt that the process was more about criticizing than constructively helping applicants. They also noted a lack of advice on how to reword or rewrite essay prompts, and instead, there was repetitive criticism. The reviewer found the cost of the process to be extremely high, considering the input and guidance provided, and would not recommend IvyWise unless someone had a significant amount of money to spend.
In a Reddit thread asking about experiences with Ivy Wise, one user suggested being skeptical of services with “Ivy” in the name, implying that you might be paying more for the brand than the actual service. While this isn’t a direct review of IvyWise, it does highlight a potential concern about the perceived value of their services.
The article from Town & Country magazine described IvyWise as the “Rolls-Royce” of the college counseling industry, with fees reflecting that status. Some experts were suspicious of IvyWise’s approach, suggesting that it might lead students to feel like they’re fakes. This suggests that while Ivy Wise may provide high-end services, their approach may not resonate with all students and could potentially lead to feelings of inauthenticity.
These reviews highlight some of the concerns and criticisms that have been raised about IvyWise’s services and approach.
Potential clients need to consider these perspectives when deciding whether Ivy Wise is the right fit for them.
Grey Areas of Ivy Wise
I am absolutely sure this is the part most of you have been expecting for. No matter that I have partially spoiled this information in the Pros & Cons section let me highlight those opposing sides of Ivy Wise here again.
Cost
Ivy Wise’s services are prohibitively expensive for many families. REALY expensive…
Lack of Constructive Feedback
Some reviews suggest IvyWise focuses more on criticism than providing constructive feedback and guidance.
Limited Customization
Despite offering “customizable” packages, the customization seems to be more about adjusting the price point rather than tailoring the service to the individual student’s needs.
Intimidating Process
The Ivy Wise Roundtable, while unique, can be intimidating and potentially discouraging for students.
Lack of a Well-Rounded Perspective
The team’s background is primarily in admissions, which may limit their ability to provide a well-rounded perspective on the college application process.
Verdict of IvyWise Review
After a thorough review of IvyWise’s college admission consulting services, I find myself hesitant to recommend them wholeheartedly. While they boast a team of experienced professionals and offer a comprehensive range of services, there are several areas where they fall short.
Unlike the affordable services of Admissionado, their high costs are a significant barrier for many families. The quote of $440 per hour for a counselor, as I experienced in a sample inquiry, is quite steep. When calculated over several years of high school, the total cost can amount to around $65,000 to $75,000, a substantial investment that may not be justified for all students, especially those with more general needs.
The feedback from their counselors, as reported in some reviews, leans more toward criticism than constructive guidance. This, coupled with the potentially intimidating process of their services like the IvyWise Roundtable, may not provide the supportive environment that students need during the stressful college application process.
Furthermore, the team’s background is primarily in admissions, which may limit their ability to provide a well-rounded perspective on the college application process. While their experience is undoubtedly valuable, it’s important to remember that experience sometimes equates to effectiveness.
So, is IvyWise worth it? While Ivy Wise may be suitable for some, other college admissions consultants offer a more supportive, personalized, and affordable approach.
Highest-Rated Alternatives
| Best College Admission Consulting Firms |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant | Admissionado | BeMo Consulting | Admit Advantage |
| Price Range | $1,650-$9,880 | $3,397-$11,397 | $5,999-$14,999 |
| Admissions Feature | Colleges | Med schools | Law schools |
| Rating | 4,8 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| More info | Visit | Visit | Visit |
It’s crucial for students and parents to carefully consider their options and choose a service that best fits their needs and budget.
And I hope my IvyWise review will help you to make a decision. As you should remember, the choice is ALWAYS yours!
FAQs
How much does IvyWise cost?
IvyWise does not disclose specific pricing information on their website. However, based on external sources and reviews, it’s known that IvyWise’s pricing is on the higher end of the spectrum. For instance, their tutoring services alone can cost between $300 to $600 per hour, and the total cost of their consultancy over several years of high school can amount to around $65,000 to $75,000.
Is IvyWise a reputable company?
IvyWise has been in the industry for over two decades and boasts a team of experienced professionals, all of whom are former Deans and Directors of admission. However, online reviews of IvyWise are mixed, with some praising the service and others describing the environment as condescending and the process as more about criticizing than constructively helping applicants.
Can IvyWise.com guarantee acceptance?
IvyWise claims that 92% of their students gain admission into one or more of their top three choice schools. However, it’s important to remember that many factors contribute to a student’s admission success. While IvyWise’s services may play a part, other elements such as the student’s academic performance, extracurricular activities, and personal essays also have a significant impact. Therefore, while the statistic is encouraging, it should not be viewed as a guarantee of success.
Does Ivy Wise worth it?
The value of IvyWise’s services can vary depending on the individual student’s needs and financial situation. While they offer a range of services and have a team of experienced professionals, their high costs may be prohibitive for many families. Furthermore, some reviews suggest that their approach may not resonate with all students. Therefore, it’s important for students and parents to carefully consider their options and choose a service that best fits their needs and budget.