Our Mission
Few things feel more daunting to teens than college applications. At YourStory, it is our mission to transform an overwhelming, stressful process into an efficient and inspiring one. We help students discover their most unique and authentic stories and express themselves with a confidence and clarity that will set them apart from the pack.
Our Services
Comprehensive Counseling
From academic and extracurricular advising through school list development, applications and enrollment, we will help you navigate all aspects of the ever-evolving landscape of college admissions.
Essay Coaching
Whether you're working on personal statements or supplements, applying to undergraduate or graduate school, one of our coaches will guide you through the process every step of the way, from brainstorming through the final edit.
Resumes & Activity Lists
The best resumes and activity lists tell a story. They build a narrative that showcase who you are–not simply what you’ve done. In doing so, they strategically emphasize personal qualities relevant to the opportunity at hand. We will help you dig deeper into your past experiences and then relay them in a way that will distinguish you from candidates with similar experiences.
Interview Prep
We know. Interviews are scary. Preparation is essential when the pressure is on. We will help you prepare cogent, concise and creative answers to essential interview questions. We then coach you on your delivery, including your body language, speech cadence, and inevitable overuse of the word “like.” Nonverbal communication reflects maturity (or lack thereof) and we want to ensure that it is working in your favor.
Our Team
We are educators, poets, songwriters, screenwriters, and authors. Most of us have Ivy League degrees. Some of us have written Netflix shows. All of us are fluent in the language of elite academics and experts in the science and art of college admissions.
Over the past decade, we have helped hundreds of students tell their story and get into their dream schools.
​
Why We're Different
1
We believe college admissions is an art
In our eyes, it is a creative endeavor first. We’ve spent decades mastering the craft and know all the “rules” so we can help you break them strategically–like any memorable work of art does.
2
We individualize our approach
Every student is different, so we do not believe in a one-sized-fits-all process. There is no template. So much of the magic happens in the natural progression of the rapport between our coaches and students. Do we play quarterback and keep things moving forward? Absolutely. But we know inspiration sometimes comes unexpectedly, so we are dynamic and flexible in our approach.
3
We start with the student
We have been asked countless times: “What are the colleges looking for?” While we are intimately familiar with trends in admissions, we know that the best applications do not start with admissions officers in mind. They start with the student. They first ask what makes the student unique, memorable, and likable. We have unwavering faith in the power of authenticity over pandering. Our results tell the same story, but it’s not only a matter of results in our eyes; it’s a matter of principle. We teach students to be more powerfully themselves, rather than mold themselves into who they think others want them to be. It’s a powerful lesson for a young adult about to enter their first phase of real independence in their lives.
4
We are educators AND artists
We often get calls from prospective clients dissatisfied with the essay support from other other college counselors or local AP English teachers. All of our college advisors have the creativity to help students uncover their story and the pedagogical chops to guide them effectively in bringing it to life. So our team is intentionally made up of creative professionals who are master storytellers and have extensive experience working with teens.
5
We know what it's like
All of us have degrees from Ivy League schools or similar prestigious institutions, so we are intimately familiar with not only the language of elite academics, but the pressure of this process. We know what excellence looks like and strive for it, but we also appreciate the stress students students feel, and make sure our approach is rooted compassion, patience, and kindness. We even–dare we say it–try to make the college application process fun.
Results
Over 90% of our clients earn admission into at least one of their top 3 schools.
​
In the last 3 years, our clients have gone on to matriculate at universities such as:
.png)
