How is a pre-professional counselor different from a former admissions officer?

A former admissions officer explains how your student’s application reads from an admissions perspective. That’s genuinely useful, and Empowerly hires hundreds of former admissions officers.

But it only answers one question: How do I get in?

A working professional answers a larger (and arguably more important) question. What does it actually take for a student to become a doctor, an engineer, or a lawyer?

That’s why a meaningful share of Empowerly’s team comes from inside the professions. Our pre-med counselors, for instance, are doctors-in-training and licensed physicians, including a practicing surgeon who counsels students.

They have stood in your child’s shoes. They can spot the difference between an applicant who “looks the part” and one who genuinely reflects a future professional in the field.

Why does that matter for highly selective programs like BS/MD?

The most competitive BS/MD programs are looking for proof, not enthusiasm. BS/MD programs accept only a small percentage of applicants.

At this level, strong grades and test scores get you to the starting line — they don’t get you accepted.

What separates a successful applicant is an activity list and essays that read like someone who knows the field from the inside.

A counselor with lived professional experience can tell where a student’s story is thin and what’s actually compelling. They know what admissions committees want to hear.

Does every student need a pre-professional counselor?

No. Pre-professionals make up a percentage of our overall counselor and former admissions officer population. Our community of more than 240 counselors is deliberately diverse: pre-professional guidance is right for some families and not for others.

What every family gets with Empowerly is the best professional and college guidance. Remember that getting into college is one milestone — having a rewarding and successful career is arguably more important.

That’s what a pre-professional counselor adds: success on specific projects and a real sense of long-term accomplishment in your child’s chosen field.