College Consulting & Coaching

At Abigail Hillman & Associates, we take a student-centered and holistic approach to college consulting that has been proven successful with hundreds of students. Our goal is to have applicants emerge from the process not only confident and prepared for the next phase of their lives, but with a deeper understanding of themselves.

College Consulting

The admissions process has become increasingly complex, but our application and essay coaches are here to walk families through the process, step by step.

Our College Consulting Services

At Abigail Hillman & Associates, we take a student-centered and holistic approach to college consulting that has been proven successful with hundreds of students. Our goal is to have applicants emerge from the process not only confident and prepared for the next phase of their lives, but with a deeper understanding of themselves.

Our focus on authenticity sets us apart in our approach to college consulting. The work done by typical college consulting services too often leads to essays and applications that seek to impress the admissions committee but end up hollow and cookie-cutter. We strategically leverage different areas of the application to showcase a student’s strengths and skills, while making sure they convey to the admissions committee how they will enrich the campus.

The secret to a great college application? Making sure the student is likable. The admissions committee should finish reading the application and feel like they would be foolish to let this applicant go somewhere else.

Together, we identify and cultivate “interest gardens” that create colorful candidates and cohesive, rather than curated, applications.

We provide individualized support, customized to the student’s learning style, strengths, and needs. 

We help applicants present their experiences and ideas with a power, passion, and clarity that inspires lasting self-awareness.

Essay Coaching

Learning to identify and articulate our own story - whether to a college or a future employer is a critical life skill.

We guide students to identify their values and articulate what they want from their college experience in and out of the classroom.

Interview Prep

Articulating your interests and goals is great practice for grad school and job interviews.

With enthusiasm and support, we meet students where they are and push them to exceed expectations.

While teaching skills, we focus on strengths to increase self-esteem and decrease anxiety. 

After exploration, self-reflection, discussion, & research, we develop a narrative & build a network — charting a path towards degrees & jobs rooted in strengths & interests.

Our students have been accepted to

Stanford, Yale, Brown, Harvard, Duke, MIT, Columbia, Princeton, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, UPenn

UMichigan, Northwestern, USC, Vanderbilt, Amherst, Middlebury, UC Berkeley, Tufts, NYU Tisch, NYU MLK Honors, Carnegie Mellon, Vassar, Kenyon, Case Western, Colby, Bates, Boston University, Rice, Spelman, Howard, UNC-Chapel Hill, UDelaware Honors, Drexel Honors, Pitt Honors, SMU Honors, and many more.

Our students regularly receive letters from admissions counselors, like this one:

“The voice, presence, and potential conveyed in your application inspired the admissions team to take action and set you as a cornerstone member of the class of 2027.”

In Their Own Words

  • S.N. from Princeton, NJ

    I just found out I got into Brown! I am on tour with band and the hotel had to call security because I screamed so loud. This has been the best day. Thank you so so much for helping me get here. I am so so excited and could not have done it without you! You made this entire process so much kinder and less intimidating, and prior to working with you I had no confidence as a writer. After this I feel like I am not afraid to go to college and write papers, and I am just so hyped. Thank you so so much!

  • R.L. from Bryn Mawr, PA

    I am ecstatic to share that I will be attending NYU Tisch School of the Arts in the fall and I am so grateful that I had you by my side to help translate my narrative into an authentic, eloquent, and purposeful application! I cannot imagine navigating the college process without your guidance and support. You are so generous and brilliant; you have been an incredible resource and I am so happy to be your student!

  • S.F. from Newton, MA

    The most daunting part of my college process was not deciding where to apply or studying for standardized tests; it was writing the essays. I had no idea where to start or how to approach them, and that is where Abigail came in. Her help was exactly what I needed; she helped me come up with essay topics and took away the stress actually sitting down and writing.

  • C.J. from Radnor, PA

    Working with Abigail was instrumental in not only getting into Duke (my number one school) but also in allowing me (and my parents) to maintain a general peace of mind throughout the whole college process. Whenever a problem emerged in my application, I could count on Abigail for help. Her insightful suggestions and honest criticism are valuable resources for anybody staring down the daunting application process, and I could not recommend her services more strongly.

  • M.A. from Deerfield, MA

    I want you to know we sing your praises here in our house!!!! You have done an amazing job with L-- drawing out these stories and experiences and then helping her compose them in a clear, engaging and smart way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Truly. There is so much to be stressed about in this process that to have you be a steady, kind, knowledgeable partner was invaluable.

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