What to look for when hiring a college consultant
Key points
- Not all consultants are the same. Some offer personalized, strategic support; others are overpriced and hands-off. Vet carefully.
- Essays make or break applications. Strong writing support is essential—don’t settle for firms that treat it as an afterthought.
- The best support starts early. Activities and summer planning matter just as much as senior-year essays.
- Large firms often overpromise. The person who sells you may not be the one guiding your student.
- Top Form Prep offers premium, personal guidance. We combine expert strategy with hands-on mentorship—no fluff, no shortcuts.
At Top Form Prep, we believe in being transparent. We’re a private admissions consulting company—but one built with intention. Over the years, we’ve worked closely with families, learned from students burned by high-priced, low-value firms, and shaped a program that prioritizes strategy, substance, and real outcomes.
Here’s our take on what private consultants actually do, how firms differ, and what families should keep in mind as they consider support during the college admissions process.
Part 1. What do admissions consultants really do?
Many firms throw around terms like “insider access” or “strategic branding.” But what does that mean in practice? Realistically, the work falls into two phases: Before senior year, and during senior year (or the summer before). Here’s a breakdown of the services offered:
Before Senior Year
1. Course planning - Consultants can offer guidance on building a high school course load that aligns with a student’s interests and ambitions.
2. Extracurricular development - Some firms are hands-on here; others take a backseat. Strong firms will help identify high-impact opportunities and see them through as part of your narrative.
3. School research - A smart school list doesn’t just happen—it’s crafted. Good firms research and evaluate options that fit their goals, values, and academic profiles, often planting seeds for future essay material along the way.
During Senior Year
4. Finalizing the school list - A well-balanced list includes reach, match, and safety schools—and reflects a student’s evolving interests.
5. Essay work - This is the heart of the application—and, frankly, where most consultants fall short. At Top Form Prep, essays are a collaborative, iterative process. We help students brainstorm, structure, write, and revise, ensuring their authentic voice shines through with clarity and impact.
6. Application support - Think of this as mission control: deadlines, major selection, activities list, testing strategy, and resumes.
7. Interview preparation - From mock interviews to delivery feedback, consultants prepare students to engage confidently with alumni and admissions officers.
8. Decision guidance - Once results roll in, advisors help families weigh options—academically, socially, and financially.
Part 2. How firms differ
The admissions consulting world is more fragmented than you might think. The majority of firms are actually solo consultants—over 30,000 firms averaging fewer than 2 employees.
Firm types
Here’s a breakdown of the three typical models:
| Firm type | Pros | Cons |
| Sole proprietor | Highly personal. Direct accountability. You often build a close relationship with the consultant—especially helpful for essay work. | Many lack reliable systems. If they overbook or get sick, service can decline. Support is limited to one person. |
| Mid-size firms | You'll have high-touch, personalized service. You'll develop a strong working relationship with someone who will help you develop a custom strategy. | Often higher costs due to smaller teams. |
| Large firms | Clear workflows, polished branding. Established, clean systems. | Often impersonal. Clients may get matched with overloaded junior staffers, while the “face” of the firm rarely stays involved after the sales call. |
Top Form Prep operates as a smaller mid-size firms. We believe students deserve a personalize experience—but one backed by structure. Our leadership is involved in every strategy call, but students still receive a dedicated mentor who follows your story and narrative.
Our Warning: Beware the Essay-Free Firms
If there’s one thing we encourage families to be cautious about, it’s firms that downplay the importance of essays. These firms may emphasize school list building or test planning while brushing past what is arguably the most labor-intensive and decisive piece of the application because it's at times lower revenue relative to the time invested.
In our experience, the real difference between a good and great application is often found in the storytelling. That’s why we invest heavily in our writing process—and why you should be skeptical of anyone who doesn’t.
The Pricing Paradox
Let’s be honest: admissions consulting isn’t cheap. But here’s the paradox—low pricing can actually be a red flag. For example, if a solo consultant is offering a comprehensive package for $3,000, they likely need 30–40 clients a year to make ends meet, especially if they're based in the United States (once you account for costs). That volume makes it nearly impossible to offer each student the time and depth they deserve.
On the flip side, there are firms charging $30,000+ while offering surprisingly shallow support. It’s not uncommon for these firms to staff up with recent grads or part-timers, while the high-profile consultants featured on the website are nowhere to be found during the actual work.
At Top Form Prep, we price responsibly—enough to ensure we can take on a limited number of students, but not so high that it dishonest or we become inaccessible to the students we seek to serve. You’re paying for strategic insight, not slick packaging.
Part 3. Our philosophy
Boutique by design
Top Form Prep isn’t trying to be the biggest. We’re trying to be the best — for the cohort of students we take on. Our boutique model allows us to offer a level of individual attention that larger firms simply can’t match. Every student gets direct, senior-level support from start to finish. There’s no handoff to junior staff or out-sourcing or vague “editing” help. We deliberately stay small so we can go deep: on your story, your writing, your goals, and your growth.
Selective for a reason
We don’t accept every student. Our application process ensures that we only work with students who are serious, ambitious, and ready to push themselves. This lets us give our full attention to each student and ensure a mutual fit. When we commit to a student, we go all in. That’s only possible because we’re selective by design.
Top-tier focus, top-tier results
Top Form Prep specializes in students applying to top-tier U.S. universities — Ivy League, Stanford, UChicago, and other world-class U.S. institutions. These schools don’t admit students based on grades and scores alone. They want authentic, compelling narratives — and that’s where we come in. We help students sharpen their stories, elevate their writing, and position themselves with confidence. The result: applications that stand out for all the right reasons.
No shortcuts, No scripts
We don’t use recycled templates or plug-and-play systems. Every personal statement, supplement, and strategy is crafted from scratch. We spend time getting to know each student so their voice leads the process — not ours. Our students don’t sound the same, because they’re not the same. That’s intentional. We believe in real writing, real reflection, and real growth.
Built around excellence
Everything we do — our process, our structure, our limits — is built around one goal: helping students produce the best possible version of their college applications. We’re not running a volume-based operation. We’re running a high-trust, high-investment partnership for students aiming for the top.