Planning for the future is an important—and nerve-wracking—part of a student’s high school development. In their later years, teenagers begin navigating a new world of decisions and responsibilities for the first time. But even outside of college or career planning, having a great mentor makes all the difference at this pivotal moment of self-determination. Focusing on positive, healthy goals helps teens make better choices. Not only can a great mentor push students to achieve their best inside of the classroom, but they can also encourage students to grow outside of the classroom as well.
While the benefits of collaboration and mentorship are clear, selecting your child’s mentor is hardly so simple. While usage of college and career guidance counseling is at an all-time high, many families are reluctant to divulge their teen’s privacy and talk about their journeys. How are parents supposed to know where to turn? What makes one counselor better than the next?
To help you make an informed decision, we’re here to provide you with a comprehensive comparison between two of the top college counseling contenders: Empowerly and Crimson.
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 Crimson
Crimson Education is based in Auckland, New Zealand. The founder, a young Harvard graduate named Jamie Beaton, created the company in 2013. He developed a full-service educational and college admissions consultancy for students like himself who wanted to study abroad at top universities and has grown the company from there.
Crimson’s key services include:
- Admissions Counseling
- Graduate School Consulting
- Med School Consulting
- Online Tutoring
- College Sports Recruitment
- Junior Programs and US Boarding School Admissions
- Essay Reviews
This company also piloted the Crimson Global Academy (for students in 9-12th grades) to expand their digital learning experience outside of the classroom.
Services Comparison
Empowerly | Crimson | |
---|---|---|
Admissions Counseling | Focuses primarily on US schools, specializing in the unique admissions processes of top US universities. This focus allows Empowerly to provide expert, tailored advice to maximize a student’s chances of acceptance. | Offers a broader scope of services, including specialized guidance for US, UK, and EU universities, making it suitable for students looking to study abroad. |
Essay Review | Provides detailed, iterative feedback on essays, helping students refine their narratives to highlight their strengths and unique qualities. The cost of editing sessions is included in the purchase of comprehensive counseling packages. Integrated within the student experience, Empowerly’s editor team includes experienced writers who understand what top US colleges seek in applicants. | Also offers comprehensive essay reviews with a structured feedback process to improve clarity, coherence, and impact, but with a more global perspective. Note that writing sessions are purchasable separately from admissions counseling sessions. |
Test Preparation | Covers a wide range of standardized tests required for US college admissions, including SAT, ACT, and AP exams. Empowerly’s resources and tutoring have proven successful in improving student scores. | Provides test preparation for a variety of exams, including those required for US, UK, and other international admissions, offering extensive resources and personalized tutoring. |
Extracurricular Guidance | Supports students in developing robust extracurricular profiles, advising on meaningful activities, leadership roles, and community service that enhance college applications. | Offers similar support, with emphasis on international opportunities and sports recruitment for colleges with athletic programs. |
Financial Aid, Scholarships | Assists families with financial aid applications, scholarship searches, and college financial planning, ensuring students can afford their dream schools. | Provides guidance on financial aid and scholarships with a global focus, including options for international students. |
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. | Offers the Crimson Global Academy, an online high school that delivers personalized education and prepares students for top universities worldwide. |
Customer Experiences
Empowerly | Crimson | |
---|---|---|
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! | Provides robust customer support with a wide network of counselors. Accessibility and scheduling are streamlined through their digital platforms, though students are limited to a single counselor. |
Success Rates | Boasts high success rates with students gaining admission to top US universities, including Ivy League schools. | Also demonstrates impressive success rates, with students accepted into prestigious universities worldwide. |
Testimonials | Clients frequently praise the personalized attention and comprehensive support, noting significant improvements in their applications and confidence. | Testimonials highlight the global reach and diverse expertise of their counselors, with many students achieving their goals of studying abroad. |
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 wealth of resources such as a YouTube channel, podcasts, admissions calculators, and university profiles, catering to a broad audience with diverse needs. |
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
Crimson
“This is my daughter second year with Crimson so far the experience has been great. The advice and counseling she receives has given her perspective and a purpose to everything she works on in High School toward her goal. We started early on the program so it has also given her the opportunity to explore and get to know herself better. The advisors that have been a sign to us are very organized they know what they are doing. I feel we have a team of professionals working with us.”
Martha, parent
“The personality oriented strategist/student makes a complete difference. My strategist and I are incredibly compatible and they helped me overcome some challenges that they faced as well. I think my application will turn out great thanks to crimson vast resources and a experienced team.”
Felipe, parent
“Crimson has been allowing me to properly prepare for university in a meaningful and proper manner. They give some of the top most quality education and it is fantastic to work with them.”
Musen, student
Conclusion: Empowerly vs. Crimson
Both Empowerly and Crimson offer comprehensive college counseling services with unique strengths. Empowerly excels in US-focused admissions counseling, personalized support, and innovative tools like the Empowerly Score and the one-stop-shop Empowerly Portal for streamlined experiences. Crimson provides a global perspective, extensive resources, and specialized programs for international admissions.
For students targeting top US universities and seeking tailored expert guidance, Empowerly is an excellent choice. Those considering studying abroad or needing a broader range of services might find Crimson’s global expertise more suitable.
To discuss your specific needs and determine the best fit for your student, schedule a consultation with Empowerly today and take the first step towards a successful college admissions journey.