In the competitive landscape of college admissions, finding the right counseling service is crucial for maximizing a student’s potential. Choosing the right fit in both colleges and college counselors can make a significant difference—in pay brackets, job satisfaction, and career achievements. Nonetheless, choosing a mentor is no walk in the park. How can families compare options when it comes to college counselors?
When it comes down to it, our common goal is your teen’s success. With that in mind, let’s discuss which resources are right for you. To help you make an informed decision, we’re here to provide you with a comparison between two of the top college counseling contenders: Empowerly and AcceptU.
While AcceptU has garnered many positive reviews, Empowerly does as well. So where else can we look? It’s vital to exercise critical thinking—just because a service works for others doesn’t mean it’s the best for you! Let’s get down to brass tacks.
Overview of Empowerly
Empowerly College Counseling, based in the United States, has helped thousands of students get accepted to their top-choice programs. The team consists of graduates from top US colleges with expertise in a variety of subjects including STEM, pre-med, business, and the humanities. The co-founders, Hanmei Wu and Changxiao Xie, are UC Berkeley and Princeton graduates, respectively. Both have diverse backgrounds in education which led them to create this student-focused company.
Empowerly’s key services include:
- College Admissions Committee Review
- Best-Match College Admissions Counseling
- Essay Editing from the Editor Team
- Expert Advice from the Resource Team
- Startup Internships, Research, and AI Programs
- College Financial Planning
Diverse Pool of Counselors with Broad-Ranging Specialties, Including:
- Former Admissions Officers
- Arts Portfolio Submissions
- Collegiate Sports Recruitment Strategy
- Joint BS/MD Programs for Pre-Med Students
- Elite Engineering Programs
This company also pioneered the Empowerly Score®, the first comprehensive evaluation tool for students that includes both qualitative and quantitative aspects of their college application profile. This tool allows students to target improvement more effectively to become competitive for their target universities based on evidence-based, results-proven strategies.
Overview of AcceptU
AcceptU is a college admissions consulting service based in Newton, MA that provides college guidance, life coaching, and essay editing. Having been established more than a decade ago, all of the counselors on staff at AcceptU are former admissions counselors. The founders, Marc Zawel & Stephen Friedfeld, have earned many 5-star customer reviews over the years.
AcceptU’s key services include:
- Undergraduate College Admissions Counseling
- Graduate Admissions Counseling
- Mentorship Programs
- AP Test Tutoring
Additionally, students registered with an AcceptU service can access their proprietary online college planning tool. This tool is designed to help students and families connect with the AcceptU counselors and services as needed.
Service Offerings Comparison
Empowerly | AcceptU | |
---|---|---|
Admissions Counseling | Specializes in US-focused admissions counseling, offering tailored advice to maximize acceptance chances at top US and North American universities. | Provides personalized guidance from college counselors for both undergraduate and graduate admissions. |
Essay Review | Counselors provide detailed, iterative feedback on essays throughout the writing process, helping students refine their narratives to highlight their strengths and unique qualities. In addition, the dedicated essay editor team includes experienced writers who understand what top US colleges seek in applicants, providing final line-by-line revisions seamlessly integrated within the student experience. | Offers comprehensive essay review services as part of their admissions counseling packages, ensuring essays effectively communicate students’ strengths and stories in personal statements. |
Test Preparation | Offers comprehensive test preparation services for a wide variety of standardized tests required for US college admissions. Their test prep program includes personalized tutoring, customized study plans, and access to a variety of practice materials. Empowerly’s test prep is designed to address each student’s unique strengths and weaknesses, so students benefit from experienced tutors, regular progress tracking, and strategic test-taking techniques to achieve their best scores. | Offers test prep for only the Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Their services for these exams include personalized study plans, one-on-one tutoring, and practice exams to help students improve their scores. |
Extracurricular Guidance | Supports students in developing robust extracurricular profiles, advising on meaningful activities, leadership roles, and community service. Through the Empowerly Portal, students gain access to a wealth of resources, including extracurricular opportunities for high school students. These programs are designed to provide students with distinctive experiences and skills that stand out in their college applications. | Guides students in identifying and pursuing extracurricular activities that align with their interests and enhance their college applications. |
Financial Aid, Scholarships | Assists families with financial aid applications, scholarship searches, and college financial planning, ensuring students can afford their dream schools. | Offers support with financial aid applications and scholarships, helping families navigate the financial aspects of college admissions. |
Special Programs | Features in-house programs such as startup internships, research opportunities, and AI initiatives, in addition to highly-customizable passion projects, allowing students to gain unique experiences and skills. | Provides entrepreneurship mentorship programs and AP test tutoring for an additional fee as part of their comprehensive services. |
Customer Experiences
Empowerly | AcceptU | |
---|---|---|
Customer Support & Accessibility | Known for its responsive customer support and personalized approach. Counselors are readily accessible, and scheduling sessions is straightforward, ensuring students receive timely guidance. Each student family is assigned a Community Manager to ensure your journey is smooth! | Offers robust customer support with easy access to counselors. Their online tool facilitates communication and planning between students and counselors. |
Success Rates | Boasts high success rates with students gaining admission to top US universities, including Ivy League schools. | Reports high success rates, with many students gaining admission to competitive programs. |
Testimonials | Clients frequently praise the personalized attention and comprehensive support, noting significant improvements in their applications and confidence. | Clients highlight the expertise of former admissions officers and the personalized guidance provided throughout the admissions process. |
Technology & Resources | Offers a range of digital resources through the Empowerly Portal, including scholarship databases, activity lists, and examples of successful essays. Students also have access to robust essay editing, personal resource requests, application reviews, and college list verification—all in one, convenient place. As mentioned previously, the Empowerly Score® system within the Portal provides students with the opportunity to apply data-backed strategies to improve their chances of acceptance. | Provides a proprietary online college planning tool that helps students and families connect with counselors, manage tasks, and track progress. |
Family Testimonials
Empowerly
“I interviewed many college admission counselors and Empowerly stood out with its innovative, fresh approach. Our college admissions counselor was very helpful and a great fit, helping my son with the entire process. The AdComm Review was incredible, giving valuable brutally honest feedback. My son applied to various competitive EECS/CS programs and he was accepted early to UC Berkeley (his top choice!) as a Regent’s and Chancellor’s Scholar.”
Rachel, parent
“When my daughter started with Empowerly in 10th grade, she immediately connected with her counselor Brooke, who helped her build her resume for the pre-med track. We can’t say enough good things about Brooke! Additionally, the awesome Empowerly team helped immensely with finding a UCSF research internship and editing essays. If you’re a parent unsure of which counselor to pick, look no further and contact Empowerly.”
Nancy, parent
“Empowerly counseling was a very personal experience where I was encouraged to pursue my interests. If you’re wondering about how effective the process is, I would say that I accomplished more than I expected and I got into schools that would have been out of my reach otherwise.”
Casey, student
AcceptU
“I don’t think my son would have been prepared if he didn’t have the guidance of his counselor.”
Anne-Marie, parent
“It’s a very emotional time for the family, and having somebody who is objective helped the whole situation.”
Danielle, parent
“Working with my AcceptU counselor definitely made me feel a lot more confident about what I was submitting.”
Pallavi, student
Conclusion
Both Empowerly and AcceptU offer comprehensive college counseling services with distinct strengths.
Empowerly excels in US-focused admissions counseling, personalized support, and innovative tools like the Empowerly Score®. They provide extensive test prep, essay editing, extracurricular guidance, and unique programs such as internships and research opportunities.
AcceptU, on the other hand, offers strong mentorship programs and personalized guidance from former admissions officers, with a focus on both undergraduate and graduate admissions. Their proprietary online planning tool aids in seamless counselor-student interactions.
For students targeting top US universities and seeking tailored expert guidance, Empowerly is an excellent choice. To discuss your specific needs and determine the best fit for your student, schedule a consultation with Empowerly today and take the first step toward achieving your academic goals.