“Empowerly helped me build a strategy around my STEM passion—Caltech was a long shot, but I got in!”
— Leo, admitted to Caltech
“I needed a clear transfer plan, and Empowerly helped me get the most out of PCC.”
— Tania, attending Pasadena City College
“My design portfolio improved immensely with Empowerly’s feedback. I was ready for ArtCenter.”
— Andre, admitted to ArtCenter College of Design
Empowerly offers strategic counseling for college and graduate school admissions, including essay guidance, STEM mentorship, art portfolio support, and test prep.
We match each student with expert counselors and former admissions officers who bring tailored insight and experience to the application process.
With a deep understanding of Pasadena’s academic strengths—especially in STEM and the arts—we help students develop applications that reflect intellectual curiosity and creativity.
Students get personalized coaching on essays and portfolios, ensuring their story and style come through with clarity and purpose.
Yes. Our test prep services include tutoring, planning, and skill-building, all geared toward score improvement and test-day readiness.
Just book a consultation with one of our Pasadena-based counselors to get expert guidance on your college journey.
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Milan always had a creative mind for problem-solving. During the summer before his sophomore year, his mother asked him to help bring heavy groceries from the garage, and he wondered how he could move them more quickly and efficiently. He researched, designed, and assembled an autonomous robot from scratch using materials around his house, including a hoverboard and commercial off-the-shelf electronic products. The robot he created has become a helpful addition to mundane household tasks.
After joining Empowerly, with the help of his counselor, Milan was able to bridge the connections between autonomous vehicles, software development, and his concerns about food supplies with the world’s growing population. Milan applied and was accepted as an intern with the Autonomy Testbed for Exploration Research and Simulation (OceanWATERS) software team with NASA during the summer before his senior year.
He spent the semester working with engineers, developing new simulations that could help astronauts use autonomous landers on a planet like Mars or aid farmers in avoiding injury by having them use robots to perform potentially dangerous tasks.
Milan’s dedication to making our world more manageable earned him an acceptance to Rice University, one of his dream schools.