When you choose to hire an independent educational consultant, you want to make sure you select wisely.
One-Stop has helped hundreds of students and parents navigate the college application process, and we’re proud of our success! Read how our families have praised their experience with us…
Member Testimonials
University of Pennsylvania Student, Class of 2020 – STUDENT
My ED school was my dream school, and it was a real reach for me. Truthfully, I was pretty stressed about it. Before I joined One-Stop, I was scared to even think about college. The whole idea frightened me. But Laurie helped me through the application process, one step at a time. Laurie gave me guidance while making sure I had other colleges to fall back on if my reach school didn’t pan out. I couldn’t have done this without her! I’m so excited for next year!
Bentley University, Honors Program, Class of 2020 – STUDENT
I just received a letter from Bentley University! I was accepted with a Presidential Scholarship (1/2 tuition) and invited to join the Honors Program. I’ve never been more thankful…Thank you SO, SO, SO much for caring about my process and helping me!
Brown student, Class of 2019; Alpert Medical School Class of 2023 – STUDENT
Asking for Laurie’s help is the best decision we ever made. We have no doubt that Laurie’s guidance, advice, and encouragement was an invaluable part of our son’s successful early application to Brown’s PLME (8-year medical program). Although our son had a nearly perfect GPA, high test scores, and other extraordinary achievements, how could he have distinguished himself from so many other overachieving students during today’s super competitive college admissions process without Laurie’s help? Laurie has crucial insights and experiences with the entire admissions process. We are 100% confident in saying that Laurie’s way of crafting an application truly works. Without a doubt, she made our son stand out in the eyes of college admissions officers. While holding a student’s hand, Laurie makes sure that both the character and achievements of that student are presented in the best light possible through beautifully crafted essays. She would not stop or give the final “ok” to an essay draft until it was absolutely perfect, according to her very demanding standards. Some of the essays went through over 10 drafts. Laurie was always there; whenever our son had a doubt or question, he would get prompt and meaningful responses. One-Stop College Counseling is unsurpassable.
University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2019 – PARENT
We were so excited to learn yesterday that our daughter was accepted into her dream college during the early decision round. Looking back, we feel very fortunate that she had Laurie as her college counselor. We are so grateful for all of the guidance and support Laurie provided us along the way. As parents going through the college process with our daughter for the first time, we were tremendously appreciative of her invaluable assistance and advice. Thank you so much for making her another one of your One-Stop success stories. She could not have done it without Laurie.
New York University, Class of 2019 – PARENT
Laurie Weingarten is the epitome of the knowledgeable expert; she provides tremendous value and is worth every penny! Several years ago, she was instrumental in helping our daughter get accepted into her first-choice college, and now she has worked her magic with our son! Early on in the process she met with our son to identify his strengths and the areas where he needed to improve. Her guidance was extremely beneficial in other ways too: in helping us to figure out the types of colleges where he would thrive, and then in coaching us on how to best represent his positive attributes. She advised us to apply early decision as a strategy for increasing our chances of acceptance to his first-choice college. It was a reach for him, but with strong essays, effective positioning of his extracurricular activities, and the demonstrated interest he showed in the school…he was successful! He was accepted right before the winter break, making the holiday extra special for our entire family. Our son said that day was the happiest day of his life…a day we will always remember. Without Laurie’s honesty, her guidance, and her extensive knowledge of colleges and the application process, our son might still be dealing with the ongoing stress of the college admission process. Laurie’s help and expertise were simply beyond compare!
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Medalist, Class of 2019 – PARENT
I had my son join One-Stop three years ago. At that time, I had no idea how the college application process worked. Thank you, One-Stop for guiding my son through these years of college preparations! My son has now been successfully accepted by RPI with a Medal merit scholarship of $87, 200! Thanks again for Laurie’s professional services; I will recommend One-Stop to everyone.
University of Pennsylvania, Seven-Year Bio-Dental Program, Class of 2022 – STUDENT
Laurie took my dream school, which was also my reach school, and put it within my grasp. Before I was a One-Stop client, the college process looked extremely daunting and unmanageable – I was content with putting it off as long as possible. But with Laurie’s careful organization, ability to keep her clients informed and on schedule, and extensive knowledge of the college application and admission processes, she took my fears and, pushed them away. I will now able to attend my dream school in the fall, and I owe a lot to Laurie and One-Stop for that.
Northeastern University, Class of 2019 – STUDENT
Laurie helped me in so many ways. Before beginning the actual college application process, Laurie assisted me in identifying my strengths and weaknesses. We worked well together to fix areas where there was room for improvement, while emphasizing and showcasing my best attributes. Not only was I accepted into my first-choice college in the early decision round, but I also learned a lot about myself during the process!
Tufts University, Class of 2019 – STUDENT
Working with someone who knows the ins and outs of college admissions helped me before and during the application process in more ways than I could have imagined. I don’t think that I would have been admitted to my top choice school without One-Stop College Counseling’s help.
Carnegie Mellon University, Class of 2019 – PARENT
Laurie knows exactly what the colleges look for throughout the admission process for practically any college in the US. From the moment the kids are on board, she sets a multi-year plan in motion that creates value for the kids in the eyes of the admission office and makes them stand out among other applicant peers. Her insistence on following the plan and encouragement every step of the way helps the students to set realistic and achievable goals. Her insightful knowledge and pointers prepared them well, whether it concerns the essay or the interview. All and all, she’s meticulously thorough, wonderfully persistent, and incredibly results-oriented. We know we are in good hands with Laurie.
University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2019 – PARENT
We cannot measure your input to our son’s success. Looking back, the whole college application process would have driven us insane…thank you so much for “holding our hands” throughout our emotional roller coaster of fear, anxiety and frustration. His IVY admission was the best present any family could have received!
University of Chicago, Class of 2019 – STUDENT
Laurie provided structure and guidance to a process that is known to be frustrating and ambiguous; without her support, my senior year would have been dampened by consistent stress over the college application process. With Laurie by my side, I could easily clarify any misconceptions or find out the best way to handle anything related to college applications. Being able to work with someone so understanding and motivating was an immensely enjoyable experience. She was essential in providing me insight and supervision on how to make my dream college attainable, and she was always there to give me that extra push to reach my goals. Of the many choices I’ve had to make in high school, joining One Stop College Counseling was unquestionably one of my best decisions.
Carnegie Mellon University, Class of 2019 – STUDENT
Since my son is the first born, we never went through the college application process before. We are so glad that we found Laurie. She is very knowledgeable and understands the college process inside and out. She helped my son set up a plan with realistic and achievable goals, and then encouraged him to methodically and consistently follow that plan. For the college essays, Laurie spent a lot of time helping fine tune our son’s writing. We are incredibly grateful for all that she has done for him. Thank you!
University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2019 – STUDENT
I am extremely happy to tell you that I have finally committed to college. I am going to PENN! I could not have been happier with the way everything worked out, and I want to thank you for all of your help along the way. This is one of the best feelings I have ever had, and finally all of the hard work and effort has paid off! Thank you for all of your insight, help, and support, and you truly made this process much easier for me. Go Quakers!
Boston College, Class of 2019 – PARENT
We want to express our deep appreciation for your support to William during this college application process. Compared to other parents who didn’t employ your professional services, we felt lucky that with your guidance, we had better admission options and avoided confusion and stumbles that could have caused so much frustration. Our biggest advantage from this experience was the reduced friction between William and us, because you were there to cheer us up when we are concerned, to cool us down when he was hot-headed, and to urge him to get his priorities straight when procrastination was always temping. Oh, boys. Thanks again, and I will tell all the other parents, your service was worth every cent we paid!
University of Maryland, Class of 2019 – PARENT
Now that the college admission process is over for our son, I wanted to thank you for your extraordinary efforts throughout the process. The guidance, support and encouragement you gave our son during the whole admission process was invaluable. I believe that the specific advice you provided to help him differentiate himself from the other applicants was critical to Maryland’s decision.
University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2019 – STUDENT
One-Stop has helped me through the college process from start to finish. The interview advice was invaluable, and after all the essay critiquing, I have no doubt that I am a better writer and a stronger communicator. Whenever I had questions, One-Stop responded with helpful information in a timely manner. I would say that the most valuable thing I gained from this experience is learning that colleges are looking for a student who “stands out” and can contribute something unique to their communities. Thank you, One-Stop, for supporting me along my journey and for giving me the opportunity to be accepted into my top-choice schools, where I feel I can succeed and thrive.
Boston College Student, Class of 2019 – STUDENT
I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated all Laurie has done for me. Whether it was helping me with my essays, or even guiding me to stay true to myself, I was able to make accurate decisions about where I wanted to apply and what was within my reach. Simply keeping tabs on me was very motivating as well, and I am grateful for all the help One-Stop has given me!
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Class of 2019 – STUDENT
The search for a college was a daunting task that I would not have been able to conquer had it not been for Laurie Weingarten. She not only helped me to narrow down the hundreds of choices to fit my personality, scores, and preferences, but also showed me that she cared about my future success. She guided me every step of the way from filling out my Common App to weighing the pros and cons of my top two universities. I was completely clueless about the college process, but with Laurie’s help, I felt like I had insider knowledge. I am very happy to be part of RPI’s class of 2019, I couldn’t have done it without Laurie. Thank you for everything you have done for me. I really appreciate it.
Princeton University, Class of 2018 – PARENT
Laurie is very knowledgeable, diligent and an absolute pleasure to work with. She is thorough and does not leave anything to chance. Even though our son has extremely strong credentials, we felt Laurie’s help was invaluable. She teaches skills that are the key to a student’s success in college, workforce and beyond. We feel fortunate to have found her and now we have a lifetime friend and adviser. We could not have asked for anything better!!!!
Cornell University, Class of 2018 – PARENT
Since I am the eldest child in my family, the college application process was a new and intimidating experience. Even though I was confident I had the credentials to gain acceptance to the schools I hoped to attend, I was concerned about my ability to present them in such a way that my application would accurately reflect my hard work as a student, volunteer, and community member. Laurie helped me organize and fine-tune everything I needed to include on my application from the extracurricular activities to the essays. She even turned my attention to a school that I had overlooked in my initial college search. Thanks to her I found my first-choice school and will be attending that school in the fall.
Columbia University, Class of 2018 – STUDENT
Laurie is an insider. Because she knows exactly what the admissions officers search for and care about, Laurie can give priceless feedback on the standpoint of a true admissions officer. With her supervision, you will be able to present your best self to the colleges, and that matters. Even more important, Laurie is like a second mom. She works with each student with care and a concern for the student’s future. With Laurie on my side, I knew I would end up somewhere good, some place where I belong. And that’s exactly what happened.
University of Michigan, Class of 2018 – STUDENT
One-Stop College Counseling was incredibly helpful throughout my entire college process. The application process can be intimidating and overwhelming but they helped me through each step and made it easy. Most importantly, they helped me keep on top of my essays, interviews, and visits. It’s a great program, and I highly recommend it to any high school students.
University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, Class of 2018 – STUDENT
Laurie was the most helpful college counselor. Even after decisions came out, she continued to help me strategize and write letters for my top-choice college where I was waitlisted. I am so thankful for all her work, and without her, I would never have been accepted to so many colleges and taken off the waiting list to my top-choice college.
Tufts University, Class of 2018 – STUDENT
Not only did One-Stop help me narrow down my prospective schools, but Laurie also kept me organized amongst a sea of applications and essays. I knew very little about the college application process, and it definitely helped to have someone who was experienced and understood the way it all worked. My chances of getting into Tufts University would be significantly lower if I didn’t work with One-Stop.
Princeton University, Class of 2018 – STUDENT
Laurie is an invaluable resource to any student attempting to navigate the college admissions process. Her experience and wealth of knowledge enabled me to succeed far beyond my expectations, and I am sure that without her guidance I would not have the privilege of enrolling at an Ivy League university this fall. I am incredibly grateful for all that she has done for me and will recommend her to everyone searching for an independent college admissions counselor.
Yale University, Class of 2018 – PARENT
When my son was introduced to Laurie, his senior year had just begun. Like many other high school students, he wanted to aim high, but didn’t know what his target schools should be or how he should really prepare for the application process. When I heard of Laurie’s services and accomplishments, I was excited to sign him up right away. My son was initially hesitant because he was not aware of his friends using a private counselor. Teenagers make judgments by looking at their peers! Actually, I discovered later, that many of his classmates did hire a private counselor, but no one talks about it. We attend at a large public school in central New Jersey. Each counselor is assigned about 250 kids. We wanted more personal attention than they had time to give. Laurie helped guide my son to find his voice, to mold his story, to polish his sparkle and to shine. Laurie knows all kids are different, and she knows how to bring out what’s unique and special about each of them.
Harvard University, Class of 2017 – STUDENT
Laurie has been a great help to me during the college application process. She worked with me to create a school program that utilized my artistic abilities while giving back to the community. She then instructed me on how to communicate to college admission officers to let them know about my project. With Laurie’s help, I believe my application stood out amongst the piles of other applications. I was accepted at all seven of my top choices!
Smith College, Class of 2017 – STUDENT
My daughter, an “A” student at a top NY high school, didn’t initially use a private college counselor, and she was rejected at almost every college she applied to. She ended up enrolling in the one college that accepted her – it was a bad fit, and she was miserable. Then, through a friend, we heard about the college counseling services offered by One-Stop. After meeting with Laurie, we knew our daughter was in good hands. Laurie was professional, knowledgeable and organized. Within two months, my daughter got accepted to almost every single school she applied to! Without Laurie’s guidance, my daughter would not have been able to transfer to her top-choice college in the spring of her freshman year. Thank you, Laurie!
Dickinson College, Class of 2017 – PARENT
Laurie Weingarten provided invaluable service to our daughter and family in finding the “right school” for her. When we got involved with Laurie, it was at the end of our daughter’s junior year; her course schedule was not something Laurie could influence. Our daughter had just taken the SAT for the first time in May and had done so-so. Laurie helped analyze her test taking strengths and weaknesses to develop positive strategies, had her try a practice ACT to see which type of test suited her best, and recommended that she focus all of her time and effort towards the ACT exam. We needed the most advice in College Admission. Laurie ticked off a number of areas that we might consider receiving support on – determining what to look for in a college, developing a brag sheet, critiquing how to write a unique essay to get noticed, excelling in a one-on-one or group interview, and meeting deadlines for completion of all aspects of the admission process. We signed up with Laurie to receive all of these assistances. She helped our daughter find nine schools that were a good “fit” for her, critiqued her major essays that she had to write, prepared her for a college interview, and acted as task master to ensure she completed each element of the admissions process by the deadlines listed for each school. Laurie exceeded all of our expectations on her ability to prepare our daughter to apply and receive an early decision acceptance at the college of her dreams. She is also a master of acting as though our daughter was her only client; when in reality there are a multitude of other students simultaneously receiving assistance. Through Laurie’s excellent communication skills, insightful analysis of individual attributes, and an unlimited supply of positive outlook, she single handedly provided the catalyst for our daughter to shine slightly brighter amongst all the other stars seeking acceptance into the school of their dreams.
Lehigh University, Class of 17 – PARENT
Thank you for your support and guidance with my daughter’s college process. You made us feel at ease and we felt we were in good hands right from the start. You critiqued the essays thoroughly and prompted my daughter to think critically which helped improve her essays to a great extent. I appreciated your professionalism, patience and dedication; you also demonstrated your commitment to the whole process. I would highly recommend your services to my friends and family.
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