The earlier that you begin your engagement with Oriel Admissions, the greater impact that we can have on your child’s admissions chances. A student’s curriculum in middle school will often determine their academic profile in high school. Starting as early as 8th grade can allow us to set your student on the path for academic success.

For our long-term counseling engagements, we create a Strategic Roadmap that is personalized to each student and is designed to provide guidance for how a student spends their time in high school. We can build this roadmap for our students as early as 8th grade up to as late as the first portion of 11th grade.

However, we can also support students in the later stages of their high school experience and often engage with students who are rising into their senior year or who may need assistance improving their applications while in their senior year.

The Strategic Roadmap combines academic planning with extracurricular and leadership development and we create them when we begin working with students between 8th grade and 10th grade or in early 11th grade. All Strategic Roadmaps are completely personalized to the student and no two are alike!

The Strategic Roadmap will take into consideration the academic trajectory of a student and where they might need to double up on coursework or build new academic skill sets. The extracurricular and leadership development portion of the roadmap will provide guidance on the numerous ways in which a student may explore their budding interests and will make suggestions for finding meaningful ways to develop those passions and to make an impact in their community.

Our unique 360-degree approach to counseling is how we provide students and families with the most comprehensive level of support, allowing students to develop the skills that they need to be successful in high school, in college, and beyond.

The student will have a primary college counselor who will meet with them on a regular basis for advising sessions (8th, 9th and 10th grade) or who will work directly with them on their application (11th and 12th grade).

In addition to their college counselor, the student will be supported by academic tutors, SAT/ACT tutors, a career coach, a writing coach, and project mentors, as needed.

Rona Aydin, the founder of Oriel Admissions, is involved with every family as well. Rona will meet quarterly with the student to check on their progress and is always available to provide support and strategic direction as needed.

We offer comprehensive advising and planning services beginning as early as 8th grade, helping students navigate every stage of their academic and personal development.

• High School Roadmap Preparation: A tailored plan to guide students through their high school journey.
• Summer Programs Application Support: Assistance with identifying and applying to summer programs including preparing essays.
• Career Exploration & Resume Building: Support in exploring career paths, identifying relevant experiences, and crafting a strong resume.
• Passion Projects: Guidance on launching creative, entrepreneurial, or self-directed projects to showcase individual interests and strengths with knowledgeable project mentors.
• Research Mentorship: With our Oriel Ignite Research Program, students have the opportunity to conduct college-level research into an area that they are passionate about.
• Tutoring: Our expert tutors can assist students with academic readiness and SAT/ACT preparation.
• Advising Sessions: During these sessions, students will meet with their college counselor in order to discuss a wide range of topics related to applying to college.

As students transition into the college application process in their junior and senior years, we provide:

• College List Building: Identifying best fit colleges depending on a student’s profiles and their expectations for their college experience.
• Application Support: Comprehensive guidance on preparing all elements of the college application including brainstorming essay topics and all revisions and edits to an essay.
• Interview Preparation: Coaching to help students excel in interviews.
• Application Evaluation: Feedback on a nearly completed application, prior to submission in order to identify opportunities for improvement by a former admissions officer.
• Post Early Decision Evaluations: Strategic advice for improving applications after the Early Decision round.
• Letters of Continued Interest: Assistance in crafting compelling letters to demonstrate ongoing enthusiasm and updates to colleges.

All students will have a primary college counselor as well as a team of professionals available to support them. The Oriel Admissions team includes SAT and ACT tutors, academic tutors, career coaches, project mentors, and writing coaches who will work with students to build a holistic set of skills. Oriel Admissions goes above and beyond to ensure that each student is paired with a college counselor who aligns with their unique needs. If a student ever feels the need for a different fit, the team is committed to facilitating a seamless transition to another counselor. The same is applicable for the other members of the Oriel Admissions team.

Our counselors intentionally limit the number of students they work with to ensure each student receives the highest level of personalized support. A counselor will only take on a new student if they have sufficient time in their schedule and will refrain from accepting additional students once their capacity is reached.

Oriel Admissions provides a highly personalized, boutique service to students and families. We care deeply about building relationships and we keep in touch with many of our clients, even after they have begun their college careers.

Our approach to college counseling mirrors the holistic nature of the application evaluation process. We want students to build a wide range of skills so that they are better prepared to succeed in high school, in college, and beyond. With our full suite of services, we are well equipped to help students excel throughout their educational journeys.

For students targeting selective colleges, students are expected to dive deep into a field of interest and we specialize in finding ways for students to stand out. We advise on pursuing entrepreneurial projects, passion projects, self-directed research, finding internships, and other unique opportunities.

Our team is another factor that sets us apart. All team members are carefully selected for their extensive experience and passion for working with students. Our team members are not only experts in their fields but also highly responsive and approachable. They are strong communicators who take the time to get to know each student personally.

Students benefit from the collective insights of multiple team members, each bringing a unique perspective and skill set to the table. This team-based approach allows us to offer well-rounded guidance that helps students feel confident and prepared.Our team’s dedication to student success is at the heart of our work and we are proud to support students and families through this important journey.

Our students come from all over the country and from all around the world. Our students attend public high schools, charter high schools, and private high schools. Additionally, we are well versed in the educational systems of the countries that commonly send their students to study in the US.

Even if we have not worked with a student from your district before, we will quickly familiarize ourselves with your school and what makes it unique. After all, there are over 20,000 institutions providing a high school education in the US and we have not yet had the opportunity to work with students from all of them!

We guide students with diverse academic backgrounds. Our students are incredibly diverse in their interests and passions. They are creative thinkers, aspiring designers, and artists eager to explore innovative fields. Many of our students are drawn to the humanities, seeking a broad and interdisciplinary education that fosters critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world around them. We also work with students who are passionate about STEM subjects and are driven to build quantitative skills in fields like engineering, computer science, and medicine.

What sets many of our students apart is their desire to pursue dual interests. We encourage them to use their time in high school to explore these parallel passions, crafting a unique academic narrative that reflects their individuality.

Our students apply to a wide variety of colleges and programs. From Ivy League universities and small liberal arts colleges to large public flagship institutions, they seek out schools that align with their goals and aspirations. They apply to specialized programs such as arts and design schools, engineering and computer science departments, business programs, and even competitive BS/MD programs. No matter the path, we help our students present their best selves and achieve success across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines.

Our students apply to every imaginable college in the US, Canada, the UK, and other countries throughout the world. Many of our students are targeting Ivy League and other highly selective colleges. We are equally prepared to support students with diverse goals and college preferences, tailoring our guidance to meet their unique aspirations.

We recognize that no two students are the same, and we are equally prepared to support those pursuing a variety of goals and college preferences. Our team tailors guidance to each student's unique aspirations, ensuring they find the best-fit schools where they will thrive both academically and personally.

The Oriel Ignite Research Program can begin at any time of the year. We work with students to accommodate their schedules and academic calendars, ensuring they can start their research journey when it best suits them.

Completing the Oriel Ignite Research Program provides students with valuable research experience, skills that colleges are increasingly looking for in applicants. Completing research demonstrates intellectual curiosity, initiative, and the ability to engage deeply with a topic of interest, which are all qualities that stand out in the admissions process. The program also allows students to develop academic literature review skills, critical thinking and analysis skills, and computer programming skills (either in R or Python).

Students are matched with their mentor based on mutual interests and areas of academic focus. We take the time to understand each student’s passions and goals, then pair them with a mentor who has expertise in that particular field. This personalized matching process ensures that students work with mentors who can provide meaningful guidance and help them explore their chosen topic in depth.

The Oriel Ignite Research Program requires a one-hour virtual meeting with a mentor each week, during which students receive guidance on their project. In addition to these meetings, students are expected to dedicate several hours of independent work each week to complete tasks discussed during the mentorship meetings.

Outside of college counseling, Oriel Admissions works with applicants to Masters programs in a variety of fields. We have worked with applicants to apply to Masters programs in real estate, computer science, public policy, finance, management, data analytics, as well as many others. We regularly assist candidates to M7 MBA programs, EMBA programs, and part-time MBA programs. You can read testimonials from our MBA clients here and on Poets and Quants.

Our counselors are committed to giving back by offering their expertise through pro bono counseling opportunities. Many of our counselors volunteer their time with programs like the Matchlighters Scholars Program and local Community-Based Organizations. While we actively support these efforts, we do not currently have a pro bono program through Oriel Admissions.