John was invaluable throughout my daughter’s college process.  He was knowledgeable about a variety of schools all over the country and encouraged her to look at some non-east-coast schools that she would otherwise not have considered, including the one she ended up applying early to (and getting in!).  He helped her brainstorm a terrific essay topic, which she then wrote up and felt very proud of, and he made sure she finished up all the other supplement essays on time.  Through it all, he was a perfect balance of demanding and understanding and he knew how to employ humor when the going got tough.  We are so grateful to have found him and would recommend him very strongly.

From my first contact with Bowdoin College to the day I received my acceptance letter, John Powell was an instrumental part in helping me through the entire college process. In hindsight, there was no way I would have been able to navigate the recruiting process without him. From simple things like editing my essay or reviewing my common application, to complicated things like preparing me for my interview, John gave me the confidence and reassurance I lacked. John had such an influence on me that he was the first person outside of my immediate family that learned of my acceptance.

A simple recommendation can’t express the outstanding experience my daughter and I had with John as her college counselor and coach.  John’s expertise, intuition, and relationship skills created the perfect resource as we navigated this new world of college admissions.  He nudged my daughter at the right times, delicately challenged her assumptions, and I was able to step back and let him help her think about what she really wants out of college.  He has a terrific, light-hearted personality and his humor and candor was a great fit for your family.  John is no cookie-cutter kind of counselor.

Four key things stand out:  1) Ability to understand my daughter and provide appropriate ideas and input; 2) Develop individual relationships with the student and the parent(s); 3) Strong ethics and integrity around letting the student do the work while he provides appropriate input (John doesn’t just “edit” the essays—he asks questions; makes comments, and talks with the student to bring out their personality and strengths); and 4) Expertise and resources.

Hiring John was one of the best decisions in my daughter’s college journey.  He became a non-parental, independent voice of authority that my daughter truly appreciates.  He has become her mentor and I suspect John may find that his years of counsel with our family are not yet over.  Thank you John!

Working with John during the college process was amazing. He made a very overwhelming and hectic time much easier to handle. I was able to rely on him to help look over my personal statement as well as numerous writing supplements among many other aspects of the college process. I found that it was better to get feedback from someone who didn’t really know me as well as my parents or friends because he could provide the perspective of an admissions officer who would read my application. He’s also such a nice and funny person who is truly dedicated to the students he works with, and that really comes through in all the phone calls, Facetimes, and emails.