Darien College Admissions Consulting & Essay Coaching w Kate Stone — Local services in Darien

Starting this process in the UK we soon ran into the complexities and nuances of a very challenging American University application process. Kate and Zac were introduced by a friend and soon became essential. Their service is absolutely first calls and much broader and in depth than I could ever have imagined.

Zac is Mr Data. What he doesn’t know about EVERY US educational establishment isn’t worth knowing. His energetic and informed guidance about college choice and the entrance requirements for each on Max’s list was unbelievable. He introduced Max and I to a host of choices we had never thought of and after research the list was condensed to an application list tiered as Reach, Target and Likely…. With a sub category of ED, EA or Regular decision. All very ninja and totally alien to us !

Next came the essays; enter Kate. Max is a shy, teenage, English boy…. Writing a personal statement isn’t his thing at all. Patiently Kate drew a wonderful statement from Max. The prose was so great it made me cry… all in Max’s own words. Brilliant. There is no way I could have drawn that from him and had the time or patience to have him review, tweak and rewrite it. Then came more college specific essays ! It’s a crazy process and I can imagine it could get REALLY stressful. With calm and encouragement Kate pulled wonderful experiences and stories from deep inside Max, she kept him engaged and positive ... he almost enjoyed it LOL!!!

And it worked. Max has unconditional early offers from his top choices - for an international student that’s really impressive. The relief and joy is unquantifiable. Its really important to note that Max is not an exemplary scholar, but this process especially the writing with Kate has really boosted his confidence.

I interviewed college application consultants in both the UK and US and ultimately it was random connection through a friend that served us best.… The level of service we received from Zac and Kate was beyond anything we had anticipated. Thank you to you both - as a family we are...

Kate Stone from University Gurus was an outstanding college application advisor for my son. Kate’s engaging and personable approach made the daunting and tedious application process feel much mor palatable for my son and gave me a great sense of relief.

From my first conversation with Zach (the administrator) describing the process and Kate’s approach, I felt like it was going to be a good match. We immediately signed up. Kate’s ability to connect with my son was truly remarkable. She took the time to understand his unique strengths, passions and aspirations, and used that knowledge to guide him through his applications. Her genuine interest in his success created a trusting and comfortable environment, allowing my son to open up and confidently express himself through the application journey.

What impressed me the most about Kate was her engaging nature. Her enthusiasm and positivity were infectious. She consistently found creative ways to make the application process more enjoyable for my son and less burdensome. She truly understood how my son works best and made the process easier to navigate for him by breaking down the complex application requirements to manageable steps, providing clear and concise instruction. Her attention to detail, organization, and extensive knowledge of the process ensured that nothing was missed, relieving a significant amount of stress for both my son and me. She tailored her guidance to my son’s strengths and helped him to highlight his unique qualities in his essays and applications.

Throughout the entire process, Kate was always available and responsive. She consistently went above and beyond to support my son. Her dedication and commitment to his success were evident in every interaction.

If you are seeking and amazing and engaging college application advisor, I highly recommend Kate Stone. Her infectious positivity, ability to connect, engage, and make the application process palatable is truly remarkable! Thank you Kate for your exceptional guidance...

I began working with Kate as my college coach in the Fall of my senior year. I had expressed to her that I felt overwhelmed and anxious about the process because I was applying for a BFA in musical theater. That process is more cutthroat given the audition process, and getting in meant academically and artistically. I applied to about 20-22 colleges, and each individual school had 2-3 supplemental essays. Not only did Kate help me write a personal statement essay that most reflected what I wanted colleges to know about me, but she also gave me the tools and revision assistance to complete all of the supplements efficiently. Thanks to the schedule of "Action Items" she made for me each week I submitted all of my applications way before each deadline. Kate is very caring, and without her, I would have been so lost. My parents always intended to find me a college coach because the college process and my intended major differed from their experiences when they were my age. I am beyond grateful we found Kate. She helped me feel confident in my ED1 application to NYU, and I got into every school academically before I had to begin withdrawing applications due to my NYU acceptance. Work with Kate! Every dime is worth setting yourself or your child up...