AP vs. Honors? SAT vs. ACT? ED I vs. ED II vs. EA vs. RD? Dual enrollment, summer programs, research, Glimpse videos, personal statements, PIQs, activities lists, supplementals:
The college admissions process has become overwhelming — and sometimes? It can feel dehumanizing.
At Michael Robin College Counseling, I rehumanize the process.
Building candidacy narratives
I help students dig into their passions and guide them toward making smart, intentional choices about course selection, activities, and testing in order to build compelling, unique candidacy narratives.
Putting students first
I teach students to become critics and observers of colleges, putting them in the driver’s seat of the college process.
Creating strategic lists
I help students build balanced, strategic college lists of schools that are intellectual, social, cultural, and environmental fits.
Writing authentic essays
Drawing on my background as a writer at Warner Bros. and HBO Max, I help students write compelling, authentic, unique college essays in which their personality jumps off the page.
Managing admissions deadlines
I help students organize the college process, providing structure, interim goals, and expert guidance that can decrease students’ stress — and bring peace to the dinner table.
Who I’m good for
You’re excited about the college search PROCESS — not just the outcome.
You want your student to take ownership of the process, while also having an expert support them in making intentional decisions every step of the way.
You’re excited about finding “hidden gem” schools where your student might thrive.
Your student has a LOT of interests — and is looking for a counselor to help them decide what to focus on and build a candidacy narrative.
Your student gets overwhelmed when staring at a blank page, or has SO MANY THINGS they want to write their essays about — and isn’t sure where to start.
Your student would benefit from a safe space to write a college essay about challenging material.
Artsy, quirky, funny, intellectually curious, self-motivated, ambitious kids. The D&D kids, the gamers, the gym rats and Science Olympiad obsessives and Model UN delegates and Junior Classical League veterans; hard-working athletes or dancers or musicians; theater and improv and a cappella kids; Taylor and Chappell and Charli and Kendrick and Marvel and Star Wars stans; queer kids; students with disabilities. (But this is not a comprehensive list!)
Who I’m not for
If you are starting the process interested only in a small list of prestigious universities and looking for an educational consultant who will “get your child into Harvard” — I’m not the guy for you. Many of my students have gained admission to prestigious colleges, but the process didn’t start with a list of prestigious schools — the process started with the STUDENT.
If you’re looking for a “magic bullet” or “insider secrets” — I’m not the guy for you.
If you think that my background as a Harvard alumnus gives me special insider knowledge or access — I’m not the guy for you.
If you’re looking for someone to write essays or fill out applications for your student — I’m not the guy for you.
If you intend to have your student write any portion of their application using AI — I’m not the guy for you.