College Counseling FAQ
How do I get started with IvyBoost?
Fill out our quick sign-up form with your contact information. You can add details about your student in the message box. An IvyBoost team member will reach out shortly to learn about your needs and, if it’s a good fit, set up a free introductory meeting with a counselor.
How are your services offered?
All IvyBoost counseling and related services are offered through one-on-one online meetings, so students anywhere in the Bay Area and beyond can work with us.
What’s the difference between College Planning and College Application?
College Planning is for students from junior high through 11th grade and focuses on preparing for college admissions over time: courses, activities, testing and summer plans.
College Application is for 12th graders applying to college for the first time. It begins the summer before senior year so students have enough time to build their college list and complete strong applications.
How much do College Planning and College Application cost?
After you complete the sign-up form, we’ll arrange a free initial meeting for the student and a parent with a counselor. We’ll walk you through the service and cover package pricing in detail. You can also see our current promotions.
Do you offer a sibling discount?
Yes. We offer a 10% sibling discount on services.
Can we start counseling in the middle of the school year?
Yes. The package cost is adjusted based on the cost of a semester of counseling.
How does billing and payment work?
Once you choose a service, we’ll send a detailed invoice with the total amount and accepted payment methods. Services begin after the invoice is paid in full. We don’t currently offer monthly payments or installment plans.
Do you offer help with college application essays only?
Yes. Visit our EssayNarwhal page to learn about our essay mentoring service.
Do you work with out-of-state or international students?
Yes. We’ve worked with out-of-state and international students, and because all sessions are online, location is never a barrier.
What kinds of students have you worked with?
Read our student success stories and testimonials. You can also see reviews from families on Yelp and Google.
Do you specialize in specific schools, like the UCs or the Ivy League?
IvyBoost students have been admitted to UC campuses, Ivy League schools and many other top colleges. See the full list of colleges our students have been accepted to.
How big is IvyBoost, and how long have you been counseling students?
IvyBoost is a small, dedicated team of college counselors and essay mentors, and we’ve been guiding students through college admissions for more than 15 years.
How does IvyBoost protect our privacy?
IvyBoost Education follows the ethical standards of NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) and WACAC (Western Association for College Admission Counseling).
Our website only collects information you choose to provide through our sign-up form, such as your name, email address and phone number. We use it only to contact you about our services, enrollment, billing and invoices. We never sell or share your information with outside parties unless required by law or legal process.
Anything discussed in an initial meeting or during counseling stays between your family and IvyBoost, and is never shared without your consent except as required by law. If this policy changes, the current version will be posted here.
I don’t see my question here.
Fill out the sign-up form, choose the service you’re interested in and include your question in the message box. We’ll get back to you shortly.
