Private College Admissions Consultants in Boston, MA
CollegeCommit offers private college admissions consulting to Boston-area families, with every session held online. We’re based in New York City and work with students across Greater Boston by video, in the same Eastern time zone. Your student works with one lead advisor from our team of former admissions officers, Ivy League graduates, and senior mentors with over 20 years of experience.
Below, you’ll see how we work with Boston students, what it costs by grade, and how to book a free 30-minute readiness review.
Students Advised
Ivy League and Top 20 Admissions
Years of Experience
Online
How We Work With Boston Families.
Each student works with one lead advisor from the first strategy session through the final submission. When your student needs more support, we add specialists for essays, interviews, or test prep. The lead advisor coordinates the team and keeps the plan consistent, so you never explain your story twice.
Every session runs by video at times that fit your family’s schedule. There’s no office to drive to and no commute to plan around school, sports, or rehearsals. You can reach our team by phone at (212) 470-0389, MondayâFriday, 8 AMâ8 PM ET.
We’re based in New York City and work with families across Greater Boston, nationwide, and globally. As your student’s goals change, we adjust the plan to match.
What Students and Families Say
Jake Beater
Camila Gonzalez
Miguel Alamilla
FamilyAbdullah Alhaidar
I donât know who you are or where youâre from, but if youâre reading this, I want to share something.
Recently, a coach reviewed my personal statement and gave me some of the most meaningful feedback Iâve ever received. Sometimes, all it takes is one person who believes in you and reminds you to keep pushing forward.
Former Admissions Officers, Ivy League Graduates, and 14+ Years of Results
Our advisors have sat on admissions committees. They have read thousands of applications, voted on who gets in, and built the institutional knowledge generic consulting can’t replicate.
That experience translates directly into smarter school selection, stronger application narratives, and positioning strategies that reflect how selective institutions actually evaluate candidates.
Students Write Every Essay Themselves
Every essay your student submits is their own work. Our advisors read drafts, ask questions, and push students to go deeper â but the words on the page are always the student’s. That’s not just a policy. Colleges can tell the difference, and so can students when they get to campus.
Meet Our Founder
A Welcome Message From Dan Godlin
I spent my twenties living two lives. By day I was in studios and on sets, writing songs and auditioning. By night I was helping students figure out who they were and what they wanted to build. Both worlds taught me the same lesson: talent is common, but a voice that feels genuinely yours is rare.
The students who stand out arenât always the most accomplished. Theyâre the most themselves.
That idea shaped CollegeCommit. Long before senior year, we work with students on the harder questions: what excites them, what theyâre building toward, and how it all fits together. Itâs slower work than most college prep, but the applications are stronger for it, and so are the students.
- 1500+Students and families
- 14+Years of experience
- NYUPsychology graduate
Results From Our Students
The numbers below reflect CollegeCommit students nationally.
Roughly 3 in 4 students who applied Early Decision to Cornell were admitted. More than 35% of students who applied Early Decision to Penn were admitted.
When plans change, our advisors keep working. Of students who came to us after being deferred by their first-choice school, 38% were admitted in the Regular Decision round. Of students waitlisted by Brown, 42% received offers of admission.
*Results reflect CollegeCommit students nationally across all markets we serve, not Boston-area applicants specifically.*
One Full-Time College Admissions Consultant Dedicated to Your Student
Your student works with a dedicated lead advisor from the initial strategy session through the final college application. When needed, additional specialists, including essay coaches, interview mentors, and test preparation tutors, provide targeted support while the lead advisor oversees the overall admissions strategy.
This approach helps maintain consistent guidance, keep applications on track, and ensure that academic planning, extracurricular activities, and application materials support your student’s college admissions goals.
When to Start: 8th Grade Through Senior Year
Students admitted to selective colleges rarely start in September of senior
year. They build their course load, extracurricular record, and academic
story with intention over multiple years. The earlier your student starts,
the more of that work happens on purpose.
We work with high school students across the Greater Boston area, including families from:
- Phillips Academy (Andover)
- Milton Academy
- Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
- Noble and Greenough School
- Boston Latin School
- Lexington High School
- Newton North High School
- Newton South High School
- Brookline High School
- Concord-Carlisle High School
- Wellesley High School
- Winchester High School
Our student-centered approach serves both independent school and public school families across Greater Boston, Metrowest, and the North Shore. We provide all advising remotely, so families anywhere in Massachusetts have the same level of strategic support.
We also work with families across Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Brookline, Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Lexington, Concord, Andover, and the surrounding Greater Boston communities.
What Changes When You Start in 9th vs. 12th Grade
Starting in 9th or 10th grade gives students time to shape course rigor, build depth in a few activities, and plan summers around their interests. Testing can happen on a calm schedule instead of a crowded one.
Starting in 12th grade shifts the work to execution. The transcript and activity record are mostly set, so we focus on the college list, Early Decision and Early Action choices, essays, and interview prep.
8thâ10th Grade: Building the Profile Before the Competition Intensifies
These years matter most. We help students identify academic strengths, plan courses, and choose extracurricular commitments that reflect genuine depth rather than resume padding. A well-constructed college list starts with knowing what a student’s profile will look like by junior year, and that work begins now.
Junior Year: College List, Testing Strategy, and Early Application Planning
Junior year is where strategy becomes execution. We finalize the college list, set testing timelines, and begin developing the admissions narrative that will run through every application. We build Early Decision and Early Action strategy during this year, including which schools to prioritize and why, not at the last minute.Â
Senior Year: Essays, Submissions, and Every Deadline Met
Senior year is full execution. We guide students through the Common App, supplemental essays, interview prep, and deadline management for every school on their list. Students who arrive at senior year with a strategy already in place move through this stage with focus.Â
Families starting in senior year still get full support, and our senior-year college admissions consultant guide explains what that looks like.
Are College Admissions Consultants Worth It?
For most families targeting selective colleges, yes, when the consultant gives your student a defined plan, direct feedback, and steady accountability. A school counselor manages transcripts, school reports, and recommendations for every senior in the building. Private college counseling adds the one-on-one hours that work leaves little room for.
ASCA’s 2024â25 data puts the national ratio at 372 students per school counselor across all grades, with an estimated 195 to 224 students per counselor at the high school level. Even at 200 students, a counselor can’t spend hours on one student’s essays, college list, and interview prep.
That time goes into decisions general advising can’t make for you: which Early Decision school fits your student’s profile, which essay angle stands out instead of blending in, and which activities to highlight and in what order. All of it is part of the college admissions strategies we build around each student.
CollegeCommit vs. Your High School Counselor
Your school counselor provides real value. The difference is time and focus on one student. Here’s how the two compare:
The table below reflects the practical difference:
| Feature | CollegeCommit | High School Counselor |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 Strategic Planning | âPersonalized across all years | â Limited time per student |
| Essay Support | âIn-depth coaching and review | â General comments only |
| Interview Prep | âStructured sessions | âOften unavailable |
| Parent Communication | âOngoing updates | â Minimal |
| Early Application Strategy | âFully coordinated | â Basic guidance |
Pricing by Grade Level
Hour Packages You Control â Strategy, Essays, Tutoring, All in One Rate
Our consulting services use a flexible hourly model. Families purchase blocks of 10, 20, or 30 hours, applicable across all services: strategy, essay coaching, test prep, and interview preparation, at one consistent rate.
You can add hours as priorities shift. This model means families pay for what their student actually needs, not a fixed package built for someone else’s situation.
Average Annual Investment by Grade Level
Investment may vary based on the scope of services. More complex needs can increase the cost; a greater focus on grades may lower it.
8th grade
$5,000â$12,000
9th grade
(Freshman)
$8,000â$16,000
10th grade
(Sophomore)
$12,000â$22,000
11th grade
(Junior)
$18,000â$30,000
12th grade
(Senior)
$15,000â$28,000
Investment may vary based on the scope of services. More complex needs can increase the cost; a greater focus on grades may lower it.
Everything Included When You Work with a College Consultant in Boston
Every CollegeCommit engagement covers the full scope of the college application process. College applications to selective schools require far more than a filled-out form; they require a coordinated strategy across every component, from essays to application guidelines and submission steps.Â
- Common App and all supplemental essays â coaching, feedback, and editing (all writing remains the student’s own)
- Interview preparation with structured practice sessions
- Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling strategy
- School list development â reach, target, and likely schools aligned to the student’s profile
- Recommendation letter strategy and timing
- Scholarship and financial aid essay support where applicable
Families Who Trust CollegeCommit with Their Student's Future
College admissions is one of the most stressful seasons a family goes through. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Book a free 30-minute readiness review and speak with a former admissions officer who knows exactly what selective colleges are looking for.
Targeted Support, When You Need It Most
Not every family is ready for full-service consulting. These one-time sessions give you direct, expert feedback exactly where you need it, backed by CollegeCommit's 14+ years of admissions experience.
Common App Review
One-time review
We audit your full Common App submission and hand back direct, actionable feedback on where it's strong and where it still needs work.
- Full review of your Personal Statement and Supplemental Essay(s) for one school
- Feedback to strengthen your Activities, Honors, and Additional Information sections
- A check for inconsistencies or weak spots across your entire application
- Guidance to reframe your experiences for your chosen school and program
- A detailed written report with specific notes and examples
- Turnaround: 4-7 Business Days
Essay Review (Personal Statement or 1 School)
One-time review
A full review of your personal statement or supplemental essay(s) for one school, so the writing sounds like you and stands out from a stack of applications.
- Review of your Personal Statement or Supplemental Essay(s) for one School
- Line-by-line feedback on clarity, flow, and impact
- Feedback to sharpen your voice, leadership, and personal narrative
- Notes on avoiding clichĂŠs or obvious angles
- Guidance to align your essay(s) with the school's values
- Turnaround: 4-7 Business Days
Focus Session with Dan Godlin
60-minute session
Meet 1:1 with Dan Godlin, founder of CollegeCommit, for a focused hour on whatever matters most right now â your essay(s), overall strategy, or application.
- One 60-minute 1:1 strategy session with Dan Godlin
- Direct guidance on your essay(s), overall strategy, or application
- Actionable next steps to strengthen your profile
- Straight answers to your toughest admissions questions
- A clear plan to move forward with confidence
Questions Boston Parents Ask Before Hiring
How Early Should Boston Families Start?
We recommend starting as early as the second half of 8th grade, or during 9th or 10th grade, when academic planning and activities begin to take shape. That doesn’t mean applying early â it means building a strong foundation. Juniors and seniors can still start, and the plan shifts toward execution.
How Do Sessions Work If You're Based in New York?
Every session runs by video, so location never limits access to your advisor. Boston is in the same Eastern time zone as our team, and sessions are scheduled around your family’s calendar. We work with families across Massachusetts, nationwide, and globally.
Does the MCAS Still Matter for College Admissions?
Since Massachusetts voters approved Question 2 in November 2024, by 59% to 41%, passing the MCAS is no longer required to earn a high school diploma. Students still take the exam. For selective college admissions, the weight sits on the transcript, course rigor, essays, activities, and SAT or ACT scores where a college requires or considers them.
How Does Early Decision Work at Boston College?
Boston College offers Early Decision I and Early Decision II, and both are binding. The Early Decision I deadline is November 1, with decisions by December 15. Early Decision II and Regular Decision are both due January 4, with Early Decision II decisions by February 15. BC doesn’t offer admission interviews, so the essays, activities, and recommendations do the talking.
My Student's School Has a College Counseling Office. Do We Still Need You?
Not always. If your student’s counselor has time for detailed essay feedback, mock interviews, and Early Decision planning, you may need less from us. Many families use us for the pieces a school office can’t cover one-on-one, through an hourly package or a one-time Essay Review or Focus Session.
Does Applying From Massachusetts Hurt at Harvard or MIT?
It isn’t a penalty, but it can mean a tougher comparison. Admissions offices read each application in the context of the student’s high school, so students from the same school are often compared with each other. What separates them is a distinct story and a list built around fit, which is the focus of our Ivy League admissions consulting.
Do You Guarantee Admission?
No. No ethical firm can promise admission, and we don’t. We deliver a defined plan, direct feedback, and steady access to your advisor, so families have peace of mind that every step has a reason behind it. The decision belongs to the college.
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Get Started With a Free 30-Minute Consultation
We offer a complimentary 30-minute consultation that includes a full readiness review and a snapshot of your student’s potential college admissions strategy. No obligation and no generic pitch â just an honest look at where your student stands and what a structured plan could look like from here.
Ready to transform uncertainty into opportunity? Join our upcoming cohort at CollegeCommit: Where Preparation Becomes Placement.
In The Press