Online College Advising

Whether you’re a senior finalizing college apps or an underclassman looking to build a remarkable resume, we’re ready to empower the college applicant in you.

 

Make that college admissions officer say “Wow.” Whether you’re starting your high school journey or deep in the throes of senior fall, it’s never been more important to stand out.

Before you can say “ready, set,” parents and students alike are already off to the races and waist-deep in worry. Therefore, when students and parents attempt to analyze college lists, Common App essays, and supplements with fresh eyes and blank slates, they struggle.

Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, our path begins with differentiation. How can you demonstrate your passion and initiative in unique and compelling ways? Or how can you communicate in college application essays the ways you have already demonstrated passion and initiative? With application counts—and applicant paranoia—seemingly ever on the climb, the time to pull out all the stops is now. Read on to learn more and get started.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COLLEGE Advising CLASS OF 2025!

90+% of our 2024-25 College Advising students were accepted to a U.S. News Top 20 university.

(And did we mention 90+% of our 2023-2024 students landed at Ivies, Stanford, or Cambridge?)

Get started with a free consultation, or read on to learn more about how we do it.

Ellipsis College Advising Matriculation list

Classes of 2022-2024

This unabridged list encompasses the schools our one-on-one college advising students have chosen to attend. We couldn’t be prouder!

Amherst College

Brown University (8)

Columbia University (4)

Columbia University/Trinity College (UK)

Cornell University (2)

Dartmouth College

Duke University

Emory University (Full-Ride Scholar)

Georgetown University

Harvard University (10)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (3)

Northwestern University

Princeton University (6)

Purdue University (Full-Ride Scholar)

Stanford University (7)

University of California - Berkeley

University of California - Los Angeles (2)

University of Cambridge (UK)

University of Chicago

University of Pennsylvania (6)

University of Southern California

University of Texas - Austin

Wake Forest University

Washington Univ. in St. Louis (Nemerov Scholar)

Williams College

Yale University (11)

The Ellipsis College Advising Journey

  • There’s no time like the present to change the world! Whether we’re brainstorming 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!).

  • We 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 and admissions tastes. We’ll also help you orchestrate a college visiting plan that prioritizes the right schools for you, makes full use of each location you visit, and finally will give you a transparent assessment of chances across dream schools and undiscovered schools alike.

  • How do you stand out from students with similar interests, from similar schools, hoping to study similar things? That question will center our exploration of Common App Personal Statement topics and approaches that will form a narrative connecting your interests, experiences, and aspirations. Ultimately, we’ll guide you as you identify, draft, and revise a Personal Statement that 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 activities and awards are selected, drafted, and ordered.

  • We’ll begin by drafting essay templates that address the most common supplemental questions, prioritizing unique approaches that reinforce the elements of your application that differentiate you from other applicants. Then, we will focus on applying these templates to Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and/or Scholarship supplemental applications that are clear and focused. Ultimately, we will help you ensure that you’re commanding emotional investment from their readers, helping students get — and keep — Admissions Officers on their side.

  • Beyond solely college supplements and school-specific scholarship applications, we empower students to send focused and clear scholarship and fellowship essays that also command emotional investment. From Coca Cola Scholars to GE Reagan Scholars, we have a storied history of helping students secure scholarships that can truly change their lives.

  • Whether you’re accepted Early Action or don’t get a “yes” on the first dice roll, we’re here to make sure things work out in the Regular Decision round. We’ll begin with a sync on Early Round to review any strategic adjustments and then set off on completing Regular Decision supplements with efficiency, quality, and confidence.

  • More than half of our 2022-2024 waitlist and deferred students ultimately received offers of admission. With dual focuses on storytelling and sincerity, we help ensure that students are doing all they can to fight for a spot and turn a “maybe” into a well-deserved “yes.”

Currently Available College AdvisORS

Get started with a free consultation — we can’t wait to discuss your goals and match you with the best college advisor for you!

 
  • Peter founded Ellipsis in 2019. His poetry has received a Pushcart Prize and has appeared in such venues as AGNI, American Poetry Review, Best New Poets, Harvard Review, Kenyon Review, New England Review, Pleiades, and Tin House, among many others. Peter graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with his B.A. in English and Consumer Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017 and obtained his M.F.A in Creative Writing from New York University as a Writers in the Public Schools Fellow. Numerous students of his have been recognized through the National YoungArts Foundation, the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the National Student Poets Program, the Foyle Young Poet of the Year Awards, Princeton University, the Davidson Fellows Program, the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program, TASP, the Coke Scholars Program, the Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Program, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program, and the Bryan Cameron Scholars Program. They’ve been featured at the White House, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the New York City Poetry Festival, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, and by BBC News, the Boston Globe, Disney Channel, Teen Vogue, and the Wall Street Journal. In addition to his role as founder and CEO of Ellipsis, Peter is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Adroit Journal.

  • Matthew holds a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in English & Creative Writing from Emory University, as well as an M.F.A in Creative Writing (Poetry) from the University of Michigan. He is an interdisciplinary scholar and writer with over seven years of editorial experience. As a former undergraduate instructor at the University of Michigan, a graduate coach at InGenius Prep, and a freelance essay tutor for many years, he knows the ins and outs of elite college admissions. He brings his own academic, liberal arts-fueled exploration and experimentation to his work helping students shape their applications.

    His clients have been accepted to Yale University, Northwestern University, Swarthmore College, Tufts University, Emory University, Ohio State (Law School), and other top colleges.

    Matthew is also an acclaimed poet with writing appearing in nationally recognized magazines like The Kenyon Review, The Spectacle, & Change, Court Green, and Frozen Sea, which nominated him for the Pushcart Prize. At the University of Michigan, he won multiple Hopwood Awards judged by acclaimed poets, including National Book Award winners. He has also received recognition from the Fine Arts Work Center, the Vermont Studio Center, and more.

  • Sara is a poet, journalist, translator, and college admissions professional based in Cairo. She holds an MA in arts journalism from Columbia University, and an MFA in poetry from New York University. Elkamel's poems have appeared in Poetry Magazine, Ploughshares, The Iowa Review, The Yale Review, and Gulf Coast, among others. She was named a 2020 Gregory Djanikian Scholar by The Adroit Journal, the winner of Redivider's 2021 Blurred Genre Contest, Tinderbox's 2022 Brett Elizabeth Jenkins Poetry Prize, and Michigan Quarterly Review's 2022 Goldstein Poetry Prize. Elkamel’s debut chapbook, “Field of No Justice,” was published by the African Poetry Book Fund & Akashic Books in 2021.

  • Lisa is a poet and college admissions professional. She is the author of Afterfeast, which was selected by Mary Jo Bang as the winner of the Dorset Prize in Poetry. She holds degrees from Boston University and Harvard University, and has a special interest in mentoring students as they mold their personal stories throughout the college process. Her creative work has appeared in Lambda Literary, The Common, and Kenyon Review, and has been honored with the AWP Kurt Brown Prize. She is Poetry Editor of The Adroit Journal and a 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Best-in-Grade Educator, and she is the Founder and Co-Producer of Queer Poem-a-Day at the Deerfield Public Library.

  • Matthew graduated from Princeton University in 2020 with a concentration in Religion and certificates in Creative Writing and Humanistic Studies. He currently lives in New York City, where he enjoys studying philosophy. He looks forward to helping students engage in the journey of self-discovery that, at its best, the college application process can be.

  • Michael is a songwriter and editor from Los Angeles, California. He has been commissioned to create musical works for Starbucks, Netflix, Pulse Publishing, and others. After an accelerated five semester course of study, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. When he’s not editing memoirs for independently published writers, he’s working one-on-one with high school seniors to refine their college application strategies and essays.

  • Margaret brings over a decade of expertise in admissions, essay development, and education to their consulting practice. With a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from New York University, and experience as an NYU Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing, Margaret possesses firsthand insight into what elite schools look for in top applicants.

    Their clients have matriculated to Barnard College, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Rice University, Stanford University, Swarthmore College, University of California - Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt University, and other top universities and colleges.

    In addition to their admissions work, Margaret is an award-winning poet and editor. Their writing has been nominated for Best New Poets, the Pushcart Prize Anthology, and Best of the Net, and has received recognition from the Poetry Society of the United Kingdom, the Guggenheim Museum, the Kenyon Review, Interlochen Center for the Arts, the California Institute of the Arts, Tin House, Cave Canem, and more.

AVAILABLE STARTING SESSION BUNDLES

During synchronous online sessions (or through asynchronous review), you will receive support differentiating your candidacy, refining your college search, or refining college or scholarship applications, depending on where you are in the college process. Content and goals of sessions ordered are completely flexible to meet student needs.

Please note that you can elect for synchronous meetings, asynchronous review, or a mix of both styles.

  • 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 tasks such as refining a Common App essay, strategizing for a particular supplement, or polishing an activities list.​

    This package offers a flexible, low-commitment option for students who need expert guidance on particular aspects of their application.

  • Ideal for: Students aiming for comprehensive support across multiple application elements.​

    What’s Included: Ten hours of individualized advising, adaptable for meetings or essay reviews.

    You Can Expect: Assistance with developing a cohesive application narrative, drafting and revising the Common App essay, and strategizing for early decision/early action applications.

    This package provides ample time to delve into various components of the application process, ensuring each element aligns with your unique story and goals.

  • Ideal for: Students seeking in-depth, holistic support throughout the application journey.​

    What’s Included:

    • Twenty hours of comprehensive advising, suitable for meetings and detailed essay feedback, with a member of the college advising team.

    You Can Expect: Guidance on crafting a compelling personal statement, developing a strategic college list, and refining multiple supplemental essays.​

    This package offers a thorough approach to the college application process, allowing for iterative development and refinement of numerous application materials.​

  • Ideal for: Students desiring to pursue personalized mentorship from Ellipsis Founder Peter LaBerge.​

    What’s Included: Twenty hours of one-on-one college advising session hours (and/or asynchronous review) exclusively with Peter LaBerge.

    You Can Expect: Expertise in developing a standout application narrative, strategic planning for college lists, and meticulous essay editing.​ You’ll benefit from Peter's extensive experience in guiding students to top-tier colleges, with personalized strategies tailored to highlight your unique strengths and background.​

  • Ideal for: Students committed to a comprehensive, long-term application strategy and support across all or most college applications.​

    What’s Included: Fifty hours of personalized advising, flexible for meetings and asynchronous essay reviews.

    You Can Expect: In-depth support across all application stages, including narrative arc establishment, essay drafting and refinement, strategic list construction, and more. Priority scheduling with your selected College Advisor during peak application periods.​

    This extensive package ensures continuous support, allowing for a well-paced and thorough approach to every facet of the college application process.

  • Ideal for: Students seeking elite-level guidance with maximum personalized attention.​

    What’s Included:

    • Fifty hours of exclusive one-on-one advising with Peter LaBerge for comprehensive support encompassing all aspects of the application, from narrative development to final submission.

    • Priority access to additional sessions during high-demand periods.​

    You’ll engage in an immersive advising experience with direct mentorship from Peter. You’ll emerge with a crafted core narrative arc, an expressive and emotionally-engaging Common App Personal Statement, and a refined set of supplemental essays that authentically represent you in a unique, emotionally resonant way.

The Word on the Street

 

“Honestly, I look back at what I thought were final drafts—from back before I started working with Ellipsis—and I’m so grateful I refined them with Peter & Michael first. 10/10, I totally recommend working with Ellipsis!”

JOY CLASS OF 2020

 

“I’m so thrilled to see my daughter’s confidence in her candidacy and in the applications she sent off. She’s proudly heading to Dartmouth, but beyond that she feels prepared for the future. Thank you, Peter and Ellipsis!”

LAUREN PARENT

 

And we’ve got the numbers to back it up! admission rates among 2022-2025 Ellipsis college advising students in the top 10% of their classes far exceed reported admission rates:

6x Amherst College

8x Columbia University

7x University of Pennsylvania

8x Stanford University

7x CORNELL University

7x Harvard University

6x Princeton University

7x Yale University

*Each of the above schools received at least 15 applications from Ellipsis college advising students.

On that note…

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GETTING STARTED WITH ELLIPSIS