Collegewise Reviews 619

TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.9

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 138 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for their helpfulness and positive attitude, making interactions pleasant and productive. The service provided is frequently highlighted as exceptional, with many people appreciating the personalized and understanding approach. Reviewers are particularly impressed with the efficiency and ease of their overall user experience, often noting the quick response times and the smooth process. However, some customers also noted that while the service helped with organization and deadlines, the strategic advice on school selection was sometimes lacking. A few other people also felt that a counselor focused too much on weaknesses, leaving their child feeling discouraged.

What people talk about most

Staff

Users describe positive interactions with staff. Customers consistently praise the staff for being helpful,... See more

Service

Customers had positive experiences with service, finding it reliable, supportive, and helpful throughout the... See more

User experience

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of the user experience. Many customers found the support invaluable for... See more

Customer service

People report positive experiences with customer service. Customers consistently praise the helpfulness and... See more

Application

Consumers find the application process to be a positive experience. Many reviewers highlight the invaluable... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had the pleasure to work with Jessica Strange who partnered with our son on his journey to college. Not only he landed in a school of his dream, but Jessica made this journey so much less daunting... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Hi! I'm an incoming freshman at UNC Chapel Hill as an Assured Admit to Kenan-Flagler, all of which has been made possible through Collegewise. My counselor, Aaron Going, is one of the most proactive p... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I worked with counselor Judy Lee for three years. She was nothing but helpful, and tried her very best at a time when I, myself, wasn't sure what I was interested in studying. She recommended schools... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We began working with Collegewise a few months ago. While there was a small hiccup at the start, we were quickly connected with Shannon Frankel, the Customer Success Manager. She put us at ease. Thoug... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Educational Consultant

Written by the company

Founded in 1999, Collegewise is on a mission to help students access the transformative power of higher education. As the largest private college counseling company in the United States, Collegewise leverages the power of more than 70 admissions experts to help students identify the best possible fit of a university they can flourish in while also bringing fun into the college application process. Over the last 25 years, Collegewise experts have studied the changing landscape, identified the stressors and pain points of the whole process, and designed an approach to give more than 30,000 students the right information and tools to help guide them toward college. Collegewise prides itself on how much experience its counselors have (they hire and train the top talent in the space) and the tools they offer students and this approach has brought incredibly happy successes with their students, which is why 9 out of 10 families recommend Collegewise to their friends.


Contact info

4.9

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

619 reviews

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A Tutor Who Truly Gets Our Kid

We can’t say enough good things about Tanner. He’s been working with our son Eddie for years, and as a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, finding someone this patient and understanding means everything. Tanner truly connects with Eddie and makes learning feel comfortable and positive. Eddie always looks forward to their sessions, which says so much. We’re incredibly grateful to have Tanner as part of Eddie’s journey

5 February 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much for these kind words. It means a great deal to hear how deeply Tanner has connected with Eddie and created a space where learning feels comfortable and positive. We’re honored to be part of Eddie’s journey and so thankful for your family’s trust!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A Positive and Productive Tutoring Experience

Tanner Reive was attentive, professional, and truly invested in my daughter’s progress. He gave thoughtful, honest feedback and struck a great balance between pushing her to improve and allowing her to take the lead. It was clear that he genuinely cared about her growth, and we were very pleased with the experience.

29 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you for sharing this! We’re delighted to hear that Tanner provided such attentive and thoughtful tutoring support for your daughter.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Grateful and thrilled with outcomes

We are so grateful for the support of Dr. Summer Amorosino who guided my sons through the arduous college application process. They were both accepted to their dream schools (UT Austin Class of ‘29 and University of Michigan ‘30). We are beyond thrilled! Summer created a sense of urgency and kept them on track with all their key dates and deadlines. She inspired them to be authentic, creative and engaging in their essays. She is extremely dedicated to her craft!

4 February 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Woohoo! 🎉 Thank you so much for sharing this; we’re absolutely thrilled to hear about your sons’ amazing results, and huge congratulations on UT Austin and the University of Michigan! Your kind words about Dr. Summer Amorosino's dedication means a lot, and we’re so grateful your family trusted our Collegewise team to be a part of this journey.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great Application Process with Nikki and Collegewise

Our daughter started working with Nikki Rawson in her sophomore year to get a head start, knowing that athletic recruiting would start early junior year. She made it smooth and easy from the beginning and worked closely with our daughter so that we could stay out of the process almost completely. Nikki worked with her on how to research potential schools and key elements to consider, recommending a wide range of schools that she might not have considered otherwise that perfectly matched her criteria. They then brainstormed essay topics, developed them and ran feedback cycles such that my daughter’s essays were all essentially complete by the end of summer before senior year. Nikki was extremely helpful during the writing process with specific feedback, and she was also very responsive over email so that our daughter could reach her at any time.

Overall, Nikki made the application process so seamless that we as parents didn’t need to get involved at all and felt fully informed with only Nikki’s updates and sitting in on one or two meetings. We are so grateful as our daughter got into her top choice stretch school ED with minimal stress on our (the parents) part. We and our daughter felt that she was in good hands with Nikki and all the Collegewise resources.

31 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Nikki helped make the process smooth and low-stress for your family while keeping your daughter confidently in the driver’s seat. Huge congratulations on her acceptance to her top-choice school; that’s an amazing accomplishment! We’re so grateful you trusted Nikki and the Collegewise team to be part of this journey!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My experience with Collegewise was A+

My experience with Collegewise was A+, from day one. They spent a lot of extra time with our family to find just the right package to meet our needs. It was clear that they wanted what was best for our child, and it wasn't just a bottom line for them. Thank you to the team, Amy, Shannon, Brett, Caitlin, Albert, and our amazing college counselor, Emily S.

28 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you for such great feedback! We are so happy that your family found just what you needed with Collegewise.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Collegewise takes the stress out of applying to college

My son had an outstanding experience working with Lynne O'Shaughnessy at Collegewise. I was introduced to Collegewise through their free webinars. Then, I had a long conversation with a Collegewise intake counselor who paired my son with Lynne, who was the perfect fit. Always thinking ahead, she created a college application action plan that worked with our son's busy schedule and deeply listened to the things that he cared about. She was also available to my husband and me to answer any questions that we had. With Lynne's help, our son was recently admitted ED1 and will be attending his first choice college this fall. Thank you, Lynne!

22 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled that you were able to connect with Lynne through our webinars. Congratulations on his ED1 admission, and we’re so glad he’ll be attending his top-choice school!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A huge relief.

My son worked with Courtney Jusko at Collegewise on his college applications and clarifying what he wanted. She did a great job drawing him out and helping narrow his choices. As a parent, it was a huge relief—I didn’t have the bandwidth to guide him through the college application process myself.

1 October 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad Courtney was able to help your son gain clarity and narrow his choices, and that her support brought you some much-needed peace of mind along the way. We appreciate your trust in Collegewise!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A Path to the Right Fit

Working with Christina Mangano at Collegewise was truly life-changing for our kids. From our very first meeting, she transformed what felt like an overwhelming, high-stress college process into something thoughtful, manageable, and even empowering. Her calm, compassionate approach immediately put our entire family at ease.

Christina worked with both of my children, who had very different needs. Her ability to meet each of them exactly where they were was remarkable. Our daughter is dyslexic and has attentional weaknesses. Christina instinctively understood what she needed from the onset. She broke the process into manageable steps, explained everything patiently, and helped her identify not just where she 'could' get in, but what she should actually be looking for in a school. The combination of steady emotional support and clear, strategic guidance set our daughter up for long-term success and confidence.

Our son, a recruited athlete and a classic procrastinator, presented a completely different challenge for Christina and still she handled it with equal parts insight, organization, and good humor. She helped him thoughtfully weigh competing at D1 versus D3 schools, while also encouraging him to consider what life might look like if he chose a different path altogether. Just as importantly, she kept him on top of deadlines, saving us from countless family arguments and a lot of unnecessary stress.

Watching friends’ families make frantic, extremely expensive decisions based on limited or inaccurate information made us especially grateful to be working with Christina. We always felt informed, grounded, and in control, knowing we had a full-picture and an up-to-date understanding of the process.

Today, both of our kids are thriving at schools that are excellent fits for them. They each received substantial merit scholarships that we wouldn’t even have even known to pursue without Christina’s guidance. She came highly recommended to us, and we have since enthusiastically recommended her to many others. The investment in working with Christina paid for itself many times over, and we are profoundly grateful for the impact she’s had on our children’s lives and futures. Christina is the absolute BEST!

9 April 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much for sharing this thoughtful review! We’re incredibly grateful for your trust and so glad Christina was able to support both of your children throughout their college application process. It’s wonderful to hear that they’re thriving at schools that are truly great fits. We appreciate your kind words and your enthusiastic recommendations!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We started working with Collegewise Summer before Senior Year

We started working with Collegewise during the Summer before my daughters Senior year. Elizabeth Majors is our College counselor assigned to us and we have been extremely happy working with her through this entire college process. She has given my daughter step by step instructions and timelines to keep her on track with deadlines and task. Liz has completely treated my daughter as her own through this somewhat frustrating process from beginning to end. She continues to provide her with so much encouragement and empathy no matter what news she receives and helps her in overcoming some of her feelings. Her knowledge is amazing about it all coming from a Mom who knows none of this and she has been very patient with us both. We are truly grateful for Liz and all of her guidance and support she has and is continuing to give to us. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with Liz for my senior daughter as she makes her final decision and of course starting to work with my freshman daughter soon!

1 August 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re so glad that working with Liz provided the support and guidance your daughter needed throughout her application process.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Sarah Turner

Sarah Turner was my counselor and she was the best!! She was extremely helpful, especially throughout the essay brainstorming process, and supportive of my ideas. She also ensured that I stayed on track and started the application process early. With her help, I got into my top school!

15 December 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Yay - we're so glad you got into your top school with the help of Sarah! Thanks so much for trusting Collegewise with your college application journey!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

CollegeWise is a Game-Changer!

Working with CollegeWise and our counselor, Ida Lonnqvist, was an absolute game-changer for our college application process. Ida not only helped us to focus and organize our timeline - but she also made the process enjoyable and FUN for our family! We highly recommend working with her and CollegeWise!

1 August 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

We're so glad that Ida and the Collegewise team was able to make the process enjoyable and fun for your family! Thank you for your recommendation!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great Experience with Collegewise

Overall, Collegewise offers great resources to support students, and I 100% recommend working with them!

Specifically, I am so grateful to have worked with Lynne O'Shaughnessy throughout my college process. She consistently helped me stay calm and confident during such a stressful time. At the same time, she made sure that I stayed organized and on top of every deadline. Her guidance and feedback truly strengthened my applications. I’m extremely grateful for her support.

10 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much for sharing this. We’re so glad Lynne was able to support you with both structure and encouragement during such a demanding time. We’re proud of the work you put in and grateful you trusted Collegewise to be part of your journey!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommended!

We truly could not be happier with our experience at Collegewise. Lynne O'Shaughnessy was our daughter's counselor, and she was exceptional in every way. She brought professionalism, clarity, and structure to a complex and stressful process, while always remaining deeply human, supportive, and understanding. She offered constant support, thoughtful guidance, and genuine care for our daughter and our family every step of the way. The outcome was the one we were hoping for, and we are so grateful for Lynne’s expertise and kindness.

7 January 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much for sharing this. We’re thrilled to hear how meaningful your experience was and how impactful Lynne’s guidance was for your daughter and your family!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend Sarah!!

Our daughter worked with Sarah and we are extremely pleased with how the process worked from start to finish. Sarah is extremely knowledgeable, professional, respectful, and patient! She was quick to respond to questions, flexible, and was great to work with all around. These qualities, and the fact that Sarah is very easy to talk to, made the college application process smooth for our daughter and with limited stress. Sarah's depth of experience was invaluable and our daughter's school counselor was also extremely impressed with the support our daughter received, esp with the common app essays.

1 December 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you for sharing your experience! Sarah will be thrilled to hear your kind words, and we're so happy your family felt supported throughout the process.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Collegewise is the best at what they do!

Collegewise really helped me see beyond the haze of college application anxiety as a high schooler. I was able to center my application on my authenticity and communicate to colleges exactly who I am. I LOVED that they approached my application from an individual perspective by asking about my stories, experiences, passions, and little obsessions I never thought to write about.

Super duper big shout out to my #1 cheerleader in this process, Lori Jones! Even after my admission to Cornell, she always regularly checks up on me, catches up while cracking our inside jokes, and reminds me of how far I’ve made it. Her research and attention to detail were also impeccable, and she pointed me towards a ton of programs I may not have considered otherwise. Finally, her ability to let applicants speak through the page with warmth and joy is a unique talent you won’t be able to find elsewhere. I’m endlessly fortunate to have had her as my counselor.

I also worked with Matt Ihling for ACT prep and he was a delight. Incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and adaptable to goals that could be set even as an involved high schooler.

Collegewise’s counselors truly care about their kids, and it really shows from how they walk every step of the way alongside us. Couldn’t recommend them more to families as they begin such an involved process, it really passes by in a flash with them!

19 May 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much for sharing this. We’re incredibly proud of the work you did and so glad Collegewise helped you stay true to yourself throughout the process. Lori and Matt will love reading this, and we’re thrilled they could support you with such care, encouragement, and attention along the way. Congratulations on Cornell, and we can’t wait to keep cheering you on in everything that comes next!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent company, phenomenal counselor — Christopher Logan

Our experience with this company has been excellent, mainly because of our phenomenal college counselor, Christopher Logan. Christopher ensured that both our daughters were on track with their applications and catered their approach to the girls’ different personalities, interests and skill sets. Christopher helped the girls through the stressful application process, calmed them when they were panicking, and encouraged them to pursue their passions— all the while peppering their guidance with a healthy measure of humor! We could not be happier with the results in both 2023 and 2025. Christopher has remained a friend of the family and we look forward to working with them again when it’s our youngest’s turn to apply!

8 June 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you so much - we’re thrilled to hear how meaningful your family’s experience has been and how impactful Christopher’s guidance was for both of your daughters. We’re grateful for your trust over the years and can’t wait to work with your family again when your youngest begins their college journey!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Hanifa Abdul Sabur was incredible!

Hanifa Abdul Sabur was incredible! She was thoughtful, and brought an undeniably experienced view of the college admissions landscape to my son's application! I received this service for free through my workplace benefits and would highly recommend others to take advantage of great counselors like her!

22 December 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you for the positive review! We are so happy that Hanifa was able to guide your family through the college admissions process! We'll be sure to pass on your kind words.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I enrolled my daughter with Collegewise…

I enrolled my daughter with Collegewise when she was a junior in high school. We have had a fantastic experience working with Collegewise team, especially Melissa Royal, who worked as her counselor and supported my daughter every step of the way. Melissa guided her not only as a counselor, but also as a mentor and friend throughout the college application process.

I am extremely grateful and thankful to the entire Collegewise team and wish you the very best in helping students during the critical stage of applying to colleges.

19 December 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

We appreciate your kind words! Melissa will be thrilled to hear how supported she made your family feel throughout the process. Thank you!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First Impressions

We began working with Collegewise a few months ago. While there was a small hiccup at the start, we were quickly connected with Shannon Frankel, the Customer Success Manager. She put us at ease. Though we were anxious, she was calm, organized, and took the time to truly listen to our concerns. Her support made a big difference, and we’re looking forward to continuing our journey with Collegewise.

12 December 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Thank you for sharing your experience! We are so glad working with Shannon put your family at ease. We appreciate your trust and are looking forward to continuing the journey as well!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Collegewise Review!

Working with Liz Albertelly as a college Counselor was a dream come true! She was so positive all the time, extremely helpful, and a joy to meet with. (And I got into my top school!) I would 100% recommend to anybody interested!

9 December 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Collegewise

Yay, congratulations on your huge achievement! We're so happy that Liz was able to guide you throughout your journey :)

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