College counseling services play a crucial role in helping students navigate the complex process of college admissions. Amid the increasing costs of educational resources, however, how can parents know what’s worth the investment? After all, it’s not just your bottom dollar on the line—it’s your teenager’s future.
With the increasingly fierce competition for spots at top universities, having the right guidance can make all the difference. But great support doesn’t have to cost your family’s entire savings just to get to the starting line.
To help you make an informed decision, we’re here to comprehensively compare two of the top college counseling contenders: Empowerly and IvyWise.
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 IvyWise
Based in New York City, IvyWise is an educational consultancy providing academic and admissions services to students from kindergarten through college graduates. Like Empowerly, IvyWise focuses on a team-based approach. However, IvyWise also includes support for US, UK, and Canadian applications, claiming to be an “elite” one-stop shop for a full range of student services and resources.
IvyWise’s key services include:
- College Counseling
- Test Prep and Tutoring
- Academic Advising
- Graduate Admissions
- K-8 Academic Guidance
While IvyWise doesn’t utilize an online platform to manage, organize, and track college-related progress, they do maintain an IvyWise KnowledgeBase for their clients. This is a database of collected information consisting of blogs, podcasts, guides, and more for registered students.
Services Comparison
Empowerly | IvyWise | |
---|---|---|
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. | Provides comprehensive counseling for US, UK, and Canadian applications. Their approach includes a thorough assessment of student profiles and guidance throughout the application process. |
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 personalized essay review sessions with experienced counselors who provide feedback and guidance to enhance the quality of student essays. Notably, IvyWise’s essay review process focuses on one counselor helping each student craft their most compelling stories. |
Test Preparation | Offers comprehensive test preparation services for standardized tests required for US college admissions. Their 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. Students benefit from experienced tutors, regular progress tracking, and strategic test-taking techniques to achieve their best scores. | Provides test prep and tutoring services for both US and other international standardized tests. IvyWise’s test prep services include personalized study plans, one-on-one tutoring, and practice exams to help students improve. |
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. | Offers guidance on extracurricular planning and development, helping students identify and pursue activities that align with their interests and strengthen 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. | Provides support with financial aid applications and scholarship searches, helping families navigate the financial aspects of the college admissions process. |
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 limited special programs but focuses on personalized academic and extracurricular guidance tailored to each student’s needs. |
Customer Experiences
Empowerly | IvyWise | |
---|---|---|
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 reliable customer support with counselors who are accessible and easy to schedule sessions with. Their team-based approach ensures students receive comprehensive support throughout their admissions journey. |
Success Rates | Boasts high success rates with students gaining admission to top US universities, including Ivy League schools. | Also reports strong success rates, with many students accepted into prestigious universities in the US, UK, and Canada. |
Testimonials | Clients frequently praise the personalized attention and comprehensive support, noting significant improvements in their applications and confidence. | Testimonials highlight the expertise and dedication of their counselors, with many students achieving their educational goals. |
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. | Maintains an IvyWise KnowledgeBase with blogs, podcasts, guides, and other resources. While they do not have an integrated online platform for tracking progress, IvyWise provides a wealth of information to support students in their college admissions journey. |
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
IvyWise
“I can’t thank you and the incredible IvyWise team enough for your exceptional work with my son. He grew tremendously during the process—improving in introspection, writing ability, communication style—and so much more.
Parent, Ohio
“We were extremely pleased with our IvyWise experience. From the very start, our experience was well-organized and professional, as well as warm and supportive. At the end of it all, our daughter was thrilled to gain admission to her top college choices.”
Parent, North Carolina
“Throughout the entirety of the college application process, IvyWise was right by my side, which made my experience immeasurably better. …I couldn’t have done it without IvyWise, and choosing to work with them was the best decision I made.”
Student, Illinois
Conclusion
Both Empowerly and IvyWise offer comprehensive college counseling services with unique strengths. Empowerly excels in US-focused admissions counseling, personalized support, and innovative tools like the Empowerly Score®. IvyWise provides a broader range of services, including international admissions guidance and extensive academic advising.
For students targeting top US universities and seeking tailored expert guidance, Empowerly is an excellent choice. Those considering studying abroad or needing a full spectrum of educational support might find IvyWise’s services 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 today.