Jump to content

Draft:Collegewise

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Collegewise
Company typeEducational counseling
IndustryEducation
Founded1999
FounderKevin McMullin
HeadquartersNewport Beach, California
ProductsCollege admissions counseling, Test preparation, Online tutoring, Essay coaching
Websitecollegewise.com

Collegewise is a private college admissions counseling company based in the United States. Founded in 1999, the company provides personalized guidance to high school students and their families throughout the college application process. Collegewise offers services including application strategy, essay coaching, and standardized test preparation..[1]

History

[edit]

Collegewise was founded in 1999 by Kevin McMullin, in Irvine, California, initially operating as a one-person counseling service. The company grew by offering tailored admissions guidance, emphasizing ethical college admissions practices, and student-centered counseling.[2]

In 2012, Collegewise was acquired by The Princeton Review. Under the new ownership, Collegewise expanded its offerings and locations nationwide.[3] In the same year, McMullin published If the U Fits: Expert Advice on Finding the Right College and Getting Accepted.[4] In 2015, the company was reacquired by McMullin and a group of private investors, making Collegewise an independent entity once again.[5]

Collegewise subsequently acquired test preparation company ATX Test Prep and college admissions counseling company Ivy Ed in 2018[6][7], allowing it to expand its service offerings and locations further.

In November 2018, Collegewise began a formal partnership with Reach Higher, an initiative former First Lady Michelle Obama started during her time at the White House to inspire students to pursue their education beyond high school.[8] Collegewise also partners with Reach Higher and the Common App to present the annual Excellence in College Counseling Award.[9]

Today, Collegewise has over 100 counselors and operates virtually across the United States and internationally, with offices in 4 states. It has worked with over 30,000 students to date.[10] Kevin McMullin still maintains a role in the company as the Chief Education Officer.[11] Collegewise is a member of NACAC, and individual counselors are part of various regional affiliates.

Services

[edit]

One-on-one college counseling services

[edit]

Collegewise provides one-on-one college counseling services to students applying to colleges in the United States.[12] Its services include:

  • College application advising – helping students with school selection, essay writing, and application strategy.
  • Profile building – supporting students in developing strong academic and extracurricular profiles to align with their long-term college goals.
  • Skill building – developing students’ critical foundational skills like time management and communication to leadership skills.
  • Academic planning – guiding students in course selection to enhance college applications, as well as academic tutoring.
  • Standardized test preparation – offering SAT, ACT, and AP exam tutoring.
  • Interview coaching – preparing students for admissions interviews
  • Specialized services – internships, research programs, athletics admissions counseling, graduate school admissions counseling.

The company has been recognized for its emphasis on reducing stress in the college application process and for promoting realistic college expectations among students and families.[13]

Partnerships

[edit]

Since its inception in 1999, Collegewise has established partnerships with over 200 schools, non-profit organizations, and corporations to enhance college admissions support.[14] Some notable partnerships include Johns Hopkins University[15], NVIDIA[16], ACT[17] and Fidelity[18] and Palo Alto Unified School District[19]

  • Corporate Partnerships - Collegewise partners with companies to offer college counseling as part of their employee benefits program.
  • School Partnerships - Collegewise provides professional development for school counselors as well as hands-on application assistance for students. Services include webinars, in-person events, boot camps, and more.
  • Non-Profit and Community-Based Organization Partnerships - Collegewise partners with non-profits and community-based organizations to offer college application support to students from various backgrounds and circumstances.

Media recognition and impact

[edit]

Collegewise has been cited by media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Forbes for its insights on college admissions trends and strategies.[20][21][22]

Collegewise is known for its ethical approach to college admissions.[23] It also supports transparency in the admissions process and provides free resources, including webinars, blogs, and guides, to demystify college admissions for students and parents.[24]

The company has worked with thousands of students across the U.S. and internationally, helping students gain admission to a wide range of colleges, including Ivy League schools and liberal arts colleges.[25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "College Admissions Counseling | Expert Guidance for College Applications | Collegewise". collegewise.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  2. ^ "College admissions counselors: Weighing the price". MassMutual. 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  3. ^ "Collegewise sold to The Princeton Review". wiselikeus.com. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  4. ^ "If the U Fits: Expert Advice on Finding the Right College and Getting Accepted". Amazon. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  5. ^ "Collegewise is under new—and old—ownership". wiselikeus.com. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  6. ^ "Lindon Law - Experience". www.lindonlaw.net. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  7. ^ "Ivy Ed in Fanwood Completes Strategic Transition, Joins Collegewise Counselor Network". TAPinto. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  8. ^ Ponnusamy, Arun. "Five Things Collegewise And Reach Higher Want You To Know". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  9. ^ "A Conversation with Our 2025 Excellence In College Counseling Winners". www.commonapp.org. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  10. ^ "Our Office Locations | Collegewise". collegewise.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  11. ^ "Kevin McMullin - Chief Education Officer at Collegewise". THE ORG. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  12. ^ "TeenLife & Collegewise: Pioneering Pathways to College Success". TeenLife. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  13. ^ Berman, Jillian (2019-03-17). "Are elite colleges really a 'golden ticket' to a successful life?". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  14. ^ "Collegewise Partners Program". collegewise.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  15. ^ "CTY College Admissions Advising". pages.cty.jhu.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  16. ^ "College Preparation at NVIDIA". NVIDIA. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  17. ^ "Your College Acceptance Story Starts Here | Collegewise". go.collegewise.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  18. ^ "Fidelity Alliance Network -- End Client Offers". clearingcustody.fidelity.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  19. ^ "Collegewise School Partnership Program". collegewise.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  20. ^ Korn, Melissa (2020-05-06). "Coronavirus Leaves Students and Colleges Playing Waiting Game". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  21. ^ Mathews, Jay (2020-10-17). "Perspective | Should you bring covid-19 into your college application essay?". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  22. ^ Korn, Melissa (2020-05-06). "Coronavirus Leaves Students and Colleges Playing Waiting Game". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  23. ^ Murphy, James S. (2019-03-13). "Born on Third, Stealing Home, Paying Off the Ump: The Unhinged Greed of "Elite" College Cheats". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  24. ^ Ponnusamy, Arun. "Five Things Collegewise And Reach Higher Want You To Know". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  25. ^ "Your College Acceptance Story Starts Here | Collegewise". go.collegewise.com. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Collegewise&oldid=1285905260"