For the ambitious college applicant

A practice of Ellipsis Writing
Established 2019

College advising led by seasoned storytellers

Ellipsis prioritizes narrative throughout the entire college application journey — from mapping out dynamite extracurricular activities to assessing major fit when it comes time to apply. We are storytellers who teach you how to tell your story the way only you can tell it.

Schedule a free consultation Meet our advisors

Why Ellipsis

We started
as writers

Most college consultants come from admissions, pitching that they know what admissions officers want to see. The trouble is that admissions officers want to see writing... but writing is not what most consultants have been trained to teach.

Our advisors are trained to teach writing, as well as storytelling. Whether they've publish books or edited literary journals or simply perfected battle-tested approaches to hooking readers, they know how to help students spin compelling, distinctive student narratives.

Peter LaBerge founded Ellipsis in 2019, after a decade of editing The Adroit Journal, the literary magazine he started as a high schooler and still edits today. By the time Ellipsis began, he'd read tens of thousands of submissions from teenage writers, as well as thousands of admissions essays from some of the world's strongest applicants. He had a clear sense of what worked and what didn't, as well as the keen writer's eye most unsuccessful college essays were missing.

We couldn't be prouder of our students, who consistently land at the world's top universities. Read on to view our matriculation data, and know we have what it takes to support you or the student in your life!

College advising · Five-year track record

Where Ellipsis college advising students go to college, and how often they are admitted

13×

Class of 2030 college advising students were admitted to Columbia at 13× the general admission rate.

150+

Students placed at top universities across seven cycles.

43

Institutions represented, from the Ivy League to public Ivies to liberal arts colleges and Oxbridge.

100%

Of top-quartile Ellipsis college advising students admitted to a U.S. News Top 20 university (2024–2026).

We've got the numbers to back up our approach

Click any institution to compare admission rates among Ellipsis College Advising students who graduated in the top 10% of their high school class against overall reported acceptance rates.

Columbia University 13×
Stanford University 11×
University of California - Berkeley 8×
Princeton University 7×
Cornell University 6×
Amherst College 5.5×
Harvard University 5×
University of Pennsylvania 5×
Yale University 5×

Featured institution

Columbia University

13 × higher admission rate
Ellipsis students (top 10% of class) 52%
Overall acceptance rate 4%

Ellipsis College Advising students are admitted to Columbia University at 13× the published general acceptance rate.

Each school listed received at least 15 applications from Ellipsis College Advising students between 2021–2026. Overall acceptance rates reflect the most recently published Class of 2030 (or Class of 2029, where Class of 2030 data has not been released) figures from each institution.

Getting started

Start with a free
consultation

A 45-minute call with Peter to talk through where you are and what you're working on, as well as what you're hoping to accomplish with Ellipsis. We'll map out a plan and propose advisor matches before giving you a sense of what working together would actually look like. Consultations are free and require no up-front commitment.

Schedule a free consultation →

No application essays required · Available year-round

College Matriculation Data

Celebrating the 2026 College Advising class's next chapters

The below list represents every 2026 Ellipsis College Advising student in the top third of their high school class — here's where they're headed next.

31
Students
16
Institutions
100%
U.S. News Top 25

Amherst College×2

Brown University

Columbia University×5

Duke University

Georgetown University

Harvard University

Johns Hopkins University×2Hodson Scholar

Northwestern University×2

Princeton University×2

Rice UniversityMerit Full-Ride

Stanford University×7

University of California, Berkeley

University of Michigan×2Ross School of Business

University of Pennsylvania

Williams College

Yale University

See full matriculation data

The Ellipsis College Advising Journey

A seven-step methodology, refined over seven admissions cycles of top-notch results.

From the first conversation about your passions to the final letter of continued interest, our process is designed to make every chapter of the college application journey feel intentional — and undeniably yours.

01 / 07

Seamless Extracurricular Development

There's no time like the present to make your mark.

If there's a secret sauce to college admissions, it's community impact. Whether we're brainstorming entrepreneurial ideas based on your passions or helping you translate an idea into a tangible, impactful project, independent study, organization, or campaign, we come bearing more than a decade of experience in teen entrepreneurship (beginning with Ellipsis CEO Peter LaBerge's founding of The Adroit Journal in 2010!).

02 / 07

Strategic College Search & List

Tailor your college list to you and your passions.

We typically begin our work together by creating or reviewing your college list and making personalized suggestions based on your preferences (size, location, etc.), proposed major, and specific school programs. (Expect a discussion about schools that historically favor your profile!) We also help students and parents orchestrate college visiting plans that prioritize the right schools and make full use of each stop along the way. Finally, we offer transparent assessments of chances — across dream schools and undiscovered gems alike.

03 / 07

Story-First Common Application Completion

Unlock the Personal Statement only you can write.

How do you stand out from students with similar interests who hope to study similar things, or students from similar schools? That question will center our exploration of Common App Personal Statement topics and approaches that will form a narrative connecting your interests and experiences to your aspirations (in college and beyond!). We'll guide you as you brainstorm, draft, and ultimately perfect an Ivy-ready Personal Statement only you can write.

We'll then switch gears to focus on your Activities & Honors sections, ensuring that your narrative is upheld — and even elevated — as we strategically weave your activities and honors section into demonstrated growth.

04 / 07

Stand-Out Early Round College Supplements

Get (and keep) Admissions Officers on your side.

We'll begin by brainstorming approaches to answering the most common supplemental essay questions, leveraging opportunities to inspire emotional investment within your reader and to emphasize how you stand out from other applicants. Then, we'll focus on transforming these ideas into winning essays that help you stand out in the Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and/or Scholarship rounds of admission.

05 / 07

Story-First Scholarship & Fellowship Applications

Score scholarship and fellowship wins that change your life.

While we tend to prioritize college supplementals and school-specific scholarship applications, we also empower students to pursue potentially life-changing scholarship and fellowship applications with focused, emotionally-engaging essays. From Coca Cola Scholars and GE Reagan Scholars to Regeneron Scholars, we have a storied history of helping students secure recognition that has made affording college — and succeeding beyond it — possible.

06 / 07

Optimized Regular Decision College Supplements

Thrive in the Regular Round, no matter what the Early Round brings.

Whether you're accepted Early Action or it takes a few dice rolls to get a "yes," we're here to make sure things work out in the Regular Decision round. As soon as we complete Early Round applications, we concentrate on mastering Regular Decision applications - so you aren't facing rejection and a whole lineup of applications come December. We'll balance efficiency with philosophical alignment with each school on your list, to ensure the process is both streamlined and reader-forward.

07 / 07

Story-First Deferral & Waitlist Letters of Continued Interest

Turn a "maybe" into a well-deserved yes.

With dual focuses on storytelling and sincerity, we help ensure that students are doing all they can to fight for their spot at their dream schools. The core of our strategy? Establishing a bold, emotionally-resonant angle while rejecting the conventional generic approaches that often hold hopeful admits back. It's no wonder numerous students who have been waitlisted and deferred ultimately receive offers of admission each cycle.

50%+ of waitlist & deferred Ellipsis students received offers of admission · 2022–2024
Seamless Extracurricular Development

There's no time like the present to make your mark.

If there's a secret sauce to college admissions, it's community impact. Whether we're brainstorming entrepreneurial ideas based on your passions or helping you translate an idea into a tangible, impactful project, independent study, organization, or campaign, we come bearing more than a decade of experience in teen entrepreneurship (beginning with Ellipsis CEO Peter LaBerge's founding of The Adroit Journal in 2010!).

Strategic College Search & List

Tailor your college list to you and your passions.

We typically begin our work together by creating or reviewing your college list and making personalized suggestions based on your preferences (size, location, etc.), proposed major, and specific school programs. (Expect a discussion about schools that historically favor your profile!) We also help students and parents orchestrate college visiting plans that prioritize the right schools and make full use of each stop along the way. Finally, we offer transparent assessments of chances — across dream schools and undiscovered gems alike.

Story-First Common Application Completion

Unlock the Personal Statement only you can write.

How do you stand out from students with similar interests who hope to study similar things, or students from similar schools? That question will center our exploration of Common App Personal Statement topics and approaches that will form a narrative connecting your interests and experiences to your aspirations (in college and beyond!). We'll guide you as you brainstorm, draft, and ultimately perfect an Ivy-ready Personal Statement only you can write.

We'll then switch gears to focus on your Activities & Honors sections, ensuring that your narrative is upheld — and even elevated — as we strategically weave your activities and honors section into demonstrated growth.

Stand-Out Early Round College Supplements

Get (and keep) Admissions Officers on your side.

We'll begin by brainstorming approaches to answering the most common supplemental essay questions, leveraging opportunities to inspire emotional investment within your reader and to emphasize how you stand out from other applicants. Then, we'll focus on transforming these ideas into winning essays that help you stand out in the Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and/or Scholarship rounds of admission.

Story-First Scholarship & Fellowship Applications

Score scholarship and fellowship wins that change your life.

While we tend to prioritize college supplementals and school-specific scholarship applications, we also empower students to pursue potentially life-changing scholarship and fellowship applications with focused, emotionally-engaging essays. From Coca Cola Scholars and GE Reagan Scholars to Regeneron Scholars, we have a storied history of helping students secure recognition that has made affording college — and succeeding beyond it — possible.

Optimized Regular Decision College Supplements

Thrive in the Regular Round, no matter what the Early Round brings.

Whether you're accepted Early Action or it takes a few dice rolls to get a "yes," we're here to make sure things work out in the Regular Decision round. As soon as we complete Early Round applications, we concentrate on mastering Regular Decision applications - so you aren't facing rejection and a whole lineup of applications come December. We'll balance efficiency with philosophical alignment with each school on your list, to ensure the process is both streamlined and reader-forward.

Story-First Deferral & Waitlist Letters of Continued Interest

Turn a "maybe" into a well-deserved yes.

With dual focuses on storytelling and sincerity, we help ensure that students are doing all they can to fight for their spot at their dream schools. The core of our strategy? Establishing a bold, emotionally-resonant angle while rejecting the conventional generic approaches that often hold hopeful admits back. It's no wonder numerous students who have been waitlisted and deferred ultimately receive offers of admission each cycle.

50%+ of waitlist & deferred Ellipsis students received offers of admission · 2022–2024

In Their Words

Who you'll work with

A team of experienced storytellers

Founder & Advisor Peter LaBerge

Peter LaBerge

Founder & CEO · College Advisor & Creative Writing Instructor

  • MFA, New York University
  • BA, University of Pennsylvania
Read Bio
John Gardezi

John Gardezi

College Advisor

  • BA, Harvard College
Read Bio
Lydia Hall

Lydia Hall

College Advisor

  • MA, Columbia University
  • BA, Tufts University
Read Bio
Lisa Hiton

Lisa Hiton

College Advisor & Creative Writing Instructor

  • MEd, Harvard University
  • MFA, Boston University
Read Bio
Matthew Igoe

Matthew Igoe

College Advisor

  • BA, Princeton University
Read Bio
Camila Lacques-Zapién

Camila Lacques-Zapién

College Advisor

  • BA, University of California–Los Angeles
Read Bio
Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis

College Advisor

  • BA, University of Pennsylvania
Read Bio
Kevin Paul

Kevin Paul

College Advisor

  • JD/LLM, Duke University
  • BA, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Read Bio
Margaret Zhang

Margaret Zhang

College Advisor

  • MFA, New York University
  • BA, University of Pennsylvania
Read Bio
Meet the full team →

9 college advisors · all matched after free consultation

Our Approach, Applied

A real read of a
real student's essay

Below is the opening of a real Ellipsis student's personal statement, with a few of Peter's actual margin notes from the first read. The annotations are unedited. Click any highlighted line — or a note below — to connect the two.

The notebook lives in the bottom drawer of my desk, beneath my graphing calculator and a stack of college brochures I haven't touched.

On the cover, my grandfather wrote the word PANE in the same script I inherited, passed through the infinite grocery lists littering our house, from him to my mother to me.1 Inside are forty-three recipes for different kinds of breads2 he developed over thirty years. From pumpernickel to pumpkin-almond, each one was labeled with two sacred dates. The date he first made it and the date he decided he'd perfected it — sometimes years apart.3

I started baking from it during the spring of tenth grade, when there was nothing else to do and my mom accidentally tripled her flour order in our delivery grocery order4. The first loaf, admittedly, was a disaster. I had misread un cucchiaino as un cucchiaio, which (if you don't know) is the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon - and the difference between bread and a brick. At first, I wanted to throw away my brick and forget about it. But instead, I tried again the next weekend. I began to feel that I had a duty to carry forward my grandfather's legacy.5

Reading these recipes was my first real attempt to get to know the man my grandfather was. He died when I was eleven, before I could ask him any questions that truly mattered.6

Peter's Margin Notes

Note 01 / Showing

I appreciate the way you're showing instead of telling here. We get your connection to both your ancestry and culture through the sensory concept of idolizing your parents' (or in this case grandparents') handwriting — the reader can picture it. More importantly, the reader can relate to it.

— Peter
Note 02 / Specificity

"Forty-three" is doing a lot of work here. It feels believable in a way a vague number ("dozens" of recipes, for example) wouldn't. The subsequent specification of the breads ("pumpernickel to pumpkin-almond") only reinforces the believability of this detail.

— Peter
Note 03 / Structure

This is the sentence I'd build the whole essay around. "Sometimes years apart" tells us your grandfather was a reviser. Since you're also a reviser (in your own way, of course), this becomes a compelling and relatable through-line.

— Peter
Note 04 / Voice

I admire how ordinary the moment of inception feels here. There's a common tendency to dramatize origins in high-stakes essays like this one, but that often produces melodramatic writing that's difficult to believe. Nicely handled here.

— Peter
Note 05 / Pacing

Nicely handled elevation here, from the initial sting of failure to the spark of deeper purpose and determination. You move us along in the story without making it feel effortful.

— Peter
Note 06 / Placement

Great job getting to this point. There's a weaker version of this essay that starts here - but in this version of the essay, we're already emotionally invested (and, notably, the essay is centered on you, rather than your grandfather!).

— Peter
Annotated by Peter LaBerge From the first read Excerpt published with permission. Identifying details changed.

Getting Started

Three steps to working with us

Our approach to student and parent onboarding begins with a conversation.

Step 01

Book a free consultation.

A no-pressure call to talk through where you are in the college process and what you're hoping to accomplish with an Ellipsis college advisor — whether that's a quick review of already-revised materials or support through the entire college process.

Schedule a call →

Step 02

Find the right advisor(s).

During the consultation, we'll talk through which of our advisors are the best fit for the scope of work you hope to accomplish, as well as for your timezone and timeline. You'll have the option of advocating to work with one advisor or multiple advisors.

Meet the team ↑

Step 03

Choose a session package.

Pick a starting bundle that fits your ambitions and comfort level. Hours are flexible — they can be converted automatically across different instructors, synchronous or asynchronous work, and even between college advising and creative writing instruction. Whatever moves the needle!

See packages ↓

How session packages work

Every Ellipsis engagement starts with a session bundle — a set of hours you can spend on synchronous meetings, asynchronous draft review, or any mix of the two.

Hours are fully flexible. Bundles auto-convert across instructors with no conversion fees (only differences in hourly rates apply), and they auto-convert between Creative Writing and College Advising for students pursuing both. One bundle creates one balance.

Ideal for: Students seeking targeted support on specific application components.

What's included: Five hours of personalized advising, usable for synchronous meetings or asynchronous essay reviews.

You can expect: Focused assistance on specific tasks (for instance, refining an existing Common App personal statement draft, strategizing for a particular group of supplements, or polishing the Common App honors section and activities list). A flexible, low-commitment option for students who need expert guidance on particular aspects of their application.

Ideal for: Students taking on a meaningful slice of the application — multiple essays, school-list refinement, or a focused supplement strategy.

What's included: Ten hours of personalized advising, flexible between synchronous meetings and asynchronous review.

You can expect: Enough runway to develop a Common App essay through multiple drafts or to tackle two or three supplements, stepping back periodically for higher-level strategic discussions.

Ideal for: Students seeking guidance through multiple high-stakes stages of the college process — from building a balanced school list and establishing a college-facing narrative to bringing the Common App Personal Statement from idea to polished draft.

What's included: Twenty hours of personalized advising, usable (or renewable) across the full admissions arc.

You can expect: A sustained working relationship through at least a significant portion of the application season, with room for revision, contingency, and the strategic conversations that meaningfully sharpen a candidacy.

Ideal for: Students seeking guidance through multiple high-stakes stages of the college process — from building a balanced school list and establishing a college-facing narrative to bringing the Common App Personal Statement from idea to polished draft.

What's included: Twenty hours of one-on-one advising with Peter himself, billed at the founder tier and usable (or renewable) across the full admissions arc.

You can expect: An intensive partnership with the same advisor whose top-quartile students have, for the third year running, all gained admission to top 20 universities.

Ideal for: Students starting the process early — typically sophomores or juniors — who want comprehensive support across leading up to (and including) the college process. Also ideal for students who know they'll want to work closely with an Ellipsis advisor on every step of the college advising process.

What's included: Fifty hours of personalized advising, with the longest runway we offer outside the founder tier.

You can expect: Long-arc strategic guidance: school-list construction, summer program planning, internship and editorial-experience advising, and the full application cycle when it arrives.

Ideal for: Families committing to long-form, high-touch partnership with Peter, often from early in the high school years through application submission.

What's included: Fifty hours of one-on-one advising with Peter, billed at the founder tier and usable (or renewable) across the full admissions arc.

You can expect: Long-arc strategic guidance from the same advisor whose top-quartile students have, for the third year running, all gained admission to top 20 universities. Level 4+ students often receive in-depth, tailored advising across school-list construction, summer program planning, internship and editorial-experience advising, and the full application cycle when it arrives.

Ideal for: Student writers seeking targeted support on specific projects, goals, or contest submissions.

What's included: Five hours of personalized tutoring, usable for synchronous meetings or asynchronous feedback.

You can expect: Focused assistance on tasks such as revising a set of poems, preparing a contest submission, or working through a particular writing challenge. A flexible starting point for students who need expert guidance on a specific aspect of their writing.

Ideal for: Students aiming for deeper support across multiple projects or goals.

What's included: Ten hours of individualized tutoring, adaptable for synchronous meetings or detailed asynchronous feedback.

You can expect: Enough runway to revise a cohesive portfolio, strategize for upcoming contests, and refine submission materials for publications — with any remaining space devoted to dive deeper into craft, explore new creative directions, and polish work with intention.

Ideal for: Students seeking holistic, long-form support throughout their writing development.

What's included: Twenty hours of comprehensive tutoring with a member of our creative writing team, suitable for meetings and detailed feedback.

You can expect: Close mentorship across multiple genres and/or through a season of writing contests and publication deadlines. Optional focus areas include drafting and revising new work, strengthening craft foundations, preparing contest submissions, strategizing publication goals, and workshopping creative portfolios.

Ideal for: Students seeking transformational, personalized mentorship from Ellipsis founder Peter LaBerge.

What's included: Twenty hours of one-on-one creative writing tutoring exclusively with Peter, billed at the founder tier and usable (or renewable) across your full writing journey.

You can expect: Expertise in developing a standout portfolio, strategic planning for contest submissions, and meticulous editing — with informative craft lessons along the way. You'll benefit from Peter's experience as editor-in-chief of The Adroit Journal for the past sixteen years, as well as a Scholastic Awards Regional Judge in both poetry and prose for over a decade.

Ideal for: Students committed to a comprehensive, long-term writing development strategy spanning craft, collection-building, publication and contest recognition.

What's included: Fifty hours of personalized tutoring with an Ellipsis creative writing instructor, plus priority scheduling during peak periods and priority access to Peter's schedule.

You can expect: In-depth, long-term support across all stages of writing — drafting, revising, and preparing for contests and publications — with continuous, well-paced attention to every facet of creative and artistic growth.

Ideal for: Students seeking elite-level mentorship with maximum personalized attention over one or more years of instruction.

What's included: Fifty hours of one-on-one tutoring with Peter, plus priority access to additional sessions during high-demand periods.

You can expect: An immersive partnership with direct mentorship from Peter, designed to craft a writing portfolio that authentically represents the student's voice and aspirations. You'll benefit from Peter's experience as editor-in-chief of The Adroit Journal for the past sixteen years, as well as a Scholastic Awards Regional Judge in both poetry and prose for over a decade.

Frequently asked questions

What parents and students
ask us most

Yes! During your free consultation, we'll discuss two or three advisors whose strengths align with your goals. Students applying to engineering programs generally work with different advisors than students applying to liberal arts colleges; students with a defined creative writing backgrounds may wish to work with a college advisor with a publishing background. You'll receive price quotes for advisors of interest, and will have your pick from there.

We meet you where you are. Many of our college advising students arrive with drafts already in hand — whether that's a revised Common App Personal Statement, or a couple ideas for supplemental essays. We'll identify what's working and what isn't from your existing work — and then we'll help you figure out how to revise (or start fresh). We aim to provide whatever support you need, across any of the seven points along the college advising journey outlined above.

Deferrals are part of the process for many of our students, and we have a structured response. We recommend working on Regular Decision applications while waiting for Early results in order to mitigate the often-overwhelming burden of application preparation between Early results and Regular deadlines. If you're ultimately deferred from your Early option(s), we'll help you draft a letter of continued interest, advise on any additions or shifts to your college list, and press on through remaining Regular applications. More than half of our deferred and waitlisted students from 2022–2024 ultimately received offers of admission.

Many of our advisors were writers first. Not former admissions officers reading from a script, or consultants who learned the playbook secondhand. They're published novelists, poets, and editors who have spent their working lives spinning impactful, engaging stories from promising ideas. When they help students construct compelling college essays, they bring the same attention they bring to their own poems, stories, or literary submissions.

It happens, and it's fine! The entire Ellipsis session package is centered on flexibility, so if the chemistry just isn't there, or if a student's needs shift mid-process, or if the work calls for a different kind of voice, an existing session pack can be auto-converted as needed to sessions with another advisor. (This even applies for something as simple as a one-time second opinion on a high-stakes essay!) Oh, and there's no conversion fee - hours simply convert according to the applicable instructors' hourly rates.

Get Started

Ready to write your next chapter?

During a free 45-minute consultation with Ellipsis founder Peter LaBerge, you can review goals and explore how Ellipsis can help you reach toward the next chapter.

Schedule a Free Consultation
Explore College Advising Explore Creative Writing