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Ivy Scholars guides 
students to craft stand-out applications to their dream schools.

With our help, you'll be ready to tell colleges your story with pride and confidence.

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Sasha Chada, Founder and CEO of Ivy Scholars

Get Complimentary Access to Our Ebook

Get access to your copy of our ebook, The Complete Guide to College Applications, a 90-page guide covering everything you need to know about the college admission process.

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Saahil, NYU Class of 2023

It's a different era in college admissions.

College admissions is more competitive than ever before. We build bespoke strategic plans for every student to improve their admissions chances, craft compelling college essays, and produce standout applications.

How We Help

We’re unapologetically obsessed with college admissions. What does Stanford want to see in their supplemental essays? How to decide between Restrictive Early Action and Early Decision? Which universities will forgive subpar scores? We know the answers!

We assist students through every stage of their scholarly development, from freshmen seeking fulfilling and challenging extracurricular activities, to sophomores struggling to prep for SATs, to seniors striving to write the perfect college essay.

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College Coaching

Expert guidance through college selection, application portals, and supplemental essays. We’ll help you show your best self to craft appealing applications. 

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Test Prep

SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests make a huge difference in admissibility. Alex Nelson, our test prep guru, will guide you through the tactics that have led our students to an average 230 (SAT) and 7 (ACT) point increase. 

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Candidacy Building

Personalized, growth-focused mentorship to develop impactful extracurricular activities, research, nonprofit work, and internships to make you a star applicant.

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Our approach makes the difference.

Admissions offices at top schools crave passionate intellectuals ready to lead in their field. Meet with us for a Complimentary Consultation to learn what it’ll take to become a stronger candidate.

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Quick FAQ

No, we work with students seeking admission to a variety of schools. 60% of our students apply to top tier schools, and 40% apply to schools like Rice, the University of Texas at Austin, SMU, Texas A&M, and Baylor.

The best time to start planning is 8th or 9th grade. Students are rarely self-motivated at this age, so parents have to take responsibility for helping their children to plan. Ideal students walk into their first day of high school with a list of extracurricular activities to explore and specialize in 1-2 activities by 10th grade. By 11th grade, a student’s college candidacy is mostly set, but quick intervention can still help juniors qualify for higher-tier admissions than they otherwise would.

A college admissions coach serves as an intermediary between parents and students, provides clear expert advice, structure,  and understands what universities want in an applicant. A student from Ivy Scholars class of 2018 (Wharton class of 2022) put it best, “going into the admissions process alone is like going to court without a lawyer – you put yourself at a significant disadvantage because you don’t have all the facts in front of you or the help you need to navigate the system.”

College Admissions FAQ
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Ivy Scholars Blogs

Don’t risk a red-flag application! Our strategy database will help you avoid common red flags that can sink your app.

3 Ways STEM Students Can Stand out on College Applications - College Confidential

What Remote Teachers Can Learn from Streamers - eLearning Inside

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Ivy Scholars in the Media

Feedback From Our Students & Parents

Zara Dhar
Zara Dhar
2021-12-21
Before coming to Ivy Scholars pro bono program, I was overwhelmed with how many aspects of college admissions I needed to consider and perform well in. I was particularly worried about how I would have to go through the process during the COVID-19 pandemic since it was unprecedented, and I was unable to take the SAT or ACT. I’d accomplished a lot, but I felt like my application wouldn’t be enough compared to others. For my community service and leadership, I’d been active in my school’s Key Club, actively participating in almost all community service events and meetings, which led to me being elected President of Key Club in 11th grade. I also spent five years working my way up in my town’s Youth Advisory Committee, a program involving students in local government. Starting as a Secretary, I became a Vice President and then a President, leading all meetings, organizing projects, and keeping in contact with city officials to pursue our goals. To prepare for pre-med, I interned at a local doctor's office for 100 hours in 2019 for two months in the summer. I set appointments, took vitals from patients, shadowed the doctor, and helped organize patient charts with the CMAs in the office. I also worked on my communication skills by founding my school's speech and debate team, and serving as president. We attended several competitions and I won second and third place in some of the Lincoln-Douglas debate competitions. All this sounds great, right? Well, describing my accomplishments was one thing, but writing college essays was another. I’d tried a few drafts on my own, but I could see they weren’t what they needed to be. I was terrified that all my hard work wouldn’t be recognized because my storytelling fell flat. Since I had been there for all of the events in my writing, it was difficult for me to see the places in which context and necessary information for new readers may have been left out. My Ivy Scholars mentors helped me recognize those areas and develop my writing so it was ready for admissions readers to review. I worked mainly with Mr. Cruz. His essay review was the most impactful aspect of my college admissions process. Since essays are what make you stand apart from other applicants, I considered them to be the central part of my applications and appreciated his insight from an outside perspective that made my voice come through more clearly. It was interesting to gain another perspective on my essays and application and to see what context I was leaving out in my writing. I’m glad I reached out for help. I’m immensely grateful for Ivy Scholars for offering me free assistance. I am currently attending UC San Diego as a Neurobiology major. While UCLA was my first choice, UC San Diego was my second choice. When I got my acceptance, I was very excited since UC San Diego had been one of my top choices for a long time. I called my mom at work immediately and then we had a celebratory family dinner that night. Mr. Chada, Mr. Cruz, thank you for making that possible.
Alex Roa
Alex Roa
2021-08-23
Before meeting Sasha and the Ivy Scholars team, I was frightened by the college admissions process. Admissions nowadays are ever-so competitive, and I was worried I may not be able to stand out amongst the thousands of applications from around the world. I’ll be honest and share that I was not the most academically structured or organized, not knowing all that I was supposed to do to make my college application make me stand out as a candidate for America’s top-tier universities. I was struggling to get a desirable score on my standardized tests, and couldn’t seem to get an effective test-taking strategy to boost my scores to the top. I worked with Sasha personally on creating the effective strategies needed to consistently score 1400+ on SAT practice exams. Sasha showed me the path to confidence not only in my test-taking experience, but also as he helped me build my resume to include activities I would not have dreamt of before our working together. Sasha inspired me to think outside the box and use what resources I had in front of me to create something new and intriguing not only to impress colleges, but to help me find my sense of worth in a world similarly competitive with challenging philosophies on how to find a meaningful life. Now an entrepreneur with a successful online business, I credit Sasha’s guiding hand in helping me find my path in this crazy busy world we live in. After receiving unbelievable scholarships from various top-producing institutions across the country, I ultimately decided to attend Texas Christian University, for their small class sizes and close proximity to home. As a computer science major, I have close connections with all of my professors, using some of the relationship building techniques Sasha taught me in our many interpersonal sessions together. Sasha’s guiding wisdom and discernment on my life as he listened to my challenges made all the difference. It is for these reasons I can confidently recommend Sasha and the entire Ivy Scholars team as the premier test prep, candidate building, and admissions coaching company. Through Ivy Scholars I have met some long-term mentors, like Sasha, who I will continue to hold dearly even though it's been years since our program together has ended.
Jacob Psyk
Jacob Psyk
2021-04-17
Before I reached out to Ivy Scholars, I was absolutely nervous and afraid of the whole College admissions process. I truthfully did not know where to start, and or how well I would present myself to the admissions committees. As a current student, I would definitely describe my strengths as a motivated and encouraged learner, however, definitely not the most refined student there is. I tend to succeed in test settings as opposed to having to write essays that count towards academic progress. Working with Ivy Scholars helped me fine tune my writing skills and allowed me to present myself as best as I could. Having worked with them for several weeks, I was able to craft my work into something that stood out to the Admissions Committees. As a result, I was admitted into my dream school and given the opportunity of a lifetime. Throughout my childhood, Harvard College was seen as nearly impossible to be accepted to, however, through hard work and perseverance, this dream become reality. This was not done alone. Thanks to Ivy Scholars, I was able to be seen as individual who was unique and stood out from the rest, and am forever grateful for the work that was invested in me from this fine company. If you are struggling with College Admissions and where to start, look no further. You will have no regrets when choosing Ivy Scholars and be able to turn your dreams into reality.
Sharad
Sharad
2020-12-21
A big thank you to Sasha and his team (Charly, Mateo and others) at Ivy Scholars who were helpful in preparing my daughter for her college admissions. She got admitted to the school of her choice. My daughter’s junior year when she started thinking about colleges we were skeptical about any outside help. Nevertheless we met Sasha and he was extremely helpful and detailed in laying out the process involved in getting prepared for college admissions. I was impressed by his thoroughness, thoughtfulness and insights. Over the time that my daughter has worked with Ivy Scholars, I have noticed that they follow a structured rigorous process, be it helping the student articulate their own strengths/interests, to helping them with standardized tests and other aspects of polishing themselves, allowing the student to put their best foot forward for the college admission officers. Thank you Ivy Scholars.
Ayush Krishnamoorti
Ayush Krishnamoorti
2020-08-14
Ivy Scholars was instrumental in helping me understand more about myself, and improving my ability to describe myself to a new person. While the workload featured many hours of development, coming back to the drawing board a couple times, and slowly finishing every college supplemental, Ivy Scholars was great at navigating the process for a family that was applying to US colleges for the first time. I would extend my recommendation to anyone who needs help with the writing process as well, as I was able to make my essays captivating and they are testaments of my accomplishments thus far. I am glad to be reaping the results of such a process, getting my first-choice school, and that is thanks to Mateo and Sasha.
Quazi Rahman Shomu
Quazi Rahman Shomu
2020-08-11
It’s a true pleasure for me to write about Ivy Scholars who helped my son get into some top-tier universities. After early admission failure in mid-December, Faizan was scared and we contacted Sasha to ask for his help with personal essays. He had only two weeks to apply without much preparation. Sasha and his staff immediately jumped in to help Faizan. Charlie, Mateo and Nick were all phenomenal to work with Faizan to make sure every parts of the essays were taken of. What makes IvyScholars better than others is their layered approach of supporting and reviewing process by multiple staff members. Every essay that Faizan composed was revised and edited by ALL of them. That helped him to get different perspectives and and come up with amazing set up write ups. Faizan got his admission to Stanford, Rice and UT to name a few. A big shout out to Charlie especially, who challenged Faizan with many thought provoking ideas till the final day of his applications. I highly recommend ambitious kids to call Sasha if they dream about great schools. Good luck Sasha and team!
Nika Filippov
Nika Filippov
2020-07-14
This process - from the day I first met with Ivy scholars in 10th grade to reminiscing with my mentors today as I graduate high school - has been a whirlwind of progress and self realization. I knew nothing about the college application process before starting with Ivy Scholars and never dreamed I would be accepted to an Ivy. I was a good student with all As and participated in a few extracurricular activities, but I lacked vision for my future and the doubted my abilities nonetheless. Two years after starting with Ivy Scholars, I got into my #1 dream school (Columbia University) and developed a new set of skills, including self confidence, great time management and organization, and an open mind to the world’s opportunities. Ivy Scholars has taught me more about myself than I ever expected and through the process I have made valuable connections with my mentors, whom I now consider my friends. Thank you all so much for this experience, team. You guys rock 😊
Filippov Law
Filippov Law
2020-07-02
We have worked with Ivy Scholars to develop a plan for our daughter's college admission. Sasha and his team worked with her on SAT/ACT prep, SAT subject tests, and college admissions essays. In addition to college preparation, Sasha was instrumental in helping her adjust to transfer to a new school mid junior year. Sasha's dedication to our daughter's goals, positive encouragement, deep knowledge of the college testing and admissions process, and experience in working closely with children and families, all greatly contributed to her admission into an Ivy League university. Charly and Mateo are also incredible coaches who know how to relate to young people much better than any school counselor or college advisor I've ever met. It has been a real pleasure working with them. We are now starting to work with Ivy Scholars again to help develop a plan for our son's high school education and ultimate college major. We highly recommend the Ivy Scholars to anyone who has a child in High School who is planning on applying to college. Sasha and his team are very easy to talk to, know how to approach children and young adults and understand complicated family dynamics. Every member of Ivy Scholars is a talented and outstanding individual who is not only a pleasure to work with but is also a privilege to know.
Gauthami Moorkanat
Gauthami Moorkanat
2020-07-01
I can’t thank Sasha and Mateo enough for their advice and assistance throughout the entire college application process. When I first began working with Sasha, I was like any other student: stressed and confused. I had no idea how to approach college applications, as no one in my family had gone through this process. Through numerous phone calls and emails, Sasha demystified college admissions, by explaining to me what colleges were looking for, and he helped me create study plans for standardized tests. He truly listened to my interests and aspirations and encouraged me to find opportunities to pursue them and solidify my extracurricular activities. He helped me discover who I was as a student. When the time came to select colleges, he helped me find schools that were a good fit for me. He created a massive list of reach, target, and safety schools, highlighting each one’s academic programs and clubs that aligned with my interests. At the end of my junior year, I began working with Mateo on my Common app and early decision essays. I was so scared that I wouldn’t be able to find anything interesting to write about. He spent multiple sessions interviewing me, doing brainstorming sessions, and just talking to me about literature, culture, and other topics, to help me recognize the unique aspect of my identity that I had never even considered before. He pushed me to become a better writer, giving me honest feedback on each of my drafts, and taught me to be introspective in my writing. With Sasha and Mateo’s guidance, I was able to craft a compelling application that told a unique story about me. I gained admission into my top schools (UPenn, Cornell, and UCLA), and I was able to grow as a student and writer. Their sincerity, unique insight, and genuine care for their students really sets them apart, and I would highly recommend them for anyone who wants to be prepared for college admissions.
Google rating score: 5 of 5, based on 25 reviews

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5/5
Wendy Y.
Parent
Below is my son's review. He was accepted to his dream Ivy League school!

From an admitted student's perspective, I am incredibly grateful to have met Sasha - he has been instrumental in helping me achieve my educational dreams (Ivy League), all while being an absolute joy (he's a walking encyclopedia, only funnier!) to work with.

Many people are dissuaded from seeking a college counselor because they think they can get into their desired college(s) either way. Honestly, going that route is a bit short-sighted and can jeopardize your odds of acceptances after years of hard work. The sad truth is, the American education system (even if you attend a fancy private school and ESPECIALLY if you go to a public school) doesn't really tell students how to write a compelling and authentic application. Going into the admissions process alone, without speaking with an advisor, is like going to court without a lawyer - you put yourself at a significant disadvantage because you don't have all the facts in front of you, or the help you need to negotiate the system.

That said, you need a good lawyer just like you need a good college counselor. And that's where Sasha distinguishes himself from the crowd of people claiming they'll get you into Harvard. I came to Sasha worried about and frankly dumbfounded by the college admissions process. I was unsure what to write about and how to go about drafting the essay that perfectly captured my passion, interests, and self. And I was highly skeptical that anyone could really help me. But, damn, did Sasha prove me wrong. From the beginning, Sasha amazed me with his understanding of the process, and ability to lend clarity and direction to me when I desperate needed it. After interviewing me about my background, experiences, activities, outlook, and vision, he helped me see qualities about myself I had not previously considered 'unique' or 'stand-out.' This process of understanding myself was so incredibly important in laying the groundwork for the essays I eventually wrote, and I'm certain I would've drafted boring, inauthentic essays without it.

Looking back, Sasha's talent is that he can see where your strengths lie, even when you don't see them. The truth is, although we don't always realize it, everyone has a unique story to tell. Sasha helped me see mine, and with his big-picture insight I was able to write the application that truly encapsulated my life and vision. He inspired me to dig deeper and write better, challenging me to revise and revise until my essays were the most passionate and authentic work I had ever written. As clichéd as that sounds, that's really what universities are looking for. In retrospect, it makes sense - in the real world passionate (not simply intelligent) individuals are the ones who make a difference in the world, and those are the individuals colleges would like to have associated with their brand.

In the end, I was accepted to the college of my dreams, a feat I could not have achieved without the direction Sasha lent to me. Essays (and the personal narrative you develop through your application) matter so much, and can literally make or break your application. I have seen so many of my 'qualified' friends receive rejections because they wrote contrived essays that didn't truly represent who they were; conversely, I have also seen so many friends with shorter resumes accepted because they were able to articulate their story in a genuinely passionate and authentic way - I fall into the latter category.

As a former admissions officer at Johns Hopkins, Sasha knows what types of essays jibe well with universities, an invaluable asset to have in the admissions process. He is responsive, flexible, creative, positive, and witty. For anyone who is serious about going into the college admissions process informed and prepared, I highly recommend Sasha.
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5/5
Arda E.
Student
I used Ivy Scholars to mainly help me with college applications. Within weeks of using this service, Sasha was able to simplify the already complex process. When it came to writing the Common App essay, Sasha didn’t just help with grammar and syntax, he brought my essays to life. Sasha also worked tirelessly to help solidify my extracurricular activities, including research and internship opportunities. Without his help, I would have never had an impressive resume.

Sasha is not only an extremely knowledgeable tutor, but also a genuine brother figure. His guidance, throughout my last two years of high school, was everything I needed to get me an acceptance letter from my dream schools (UC Berkeley, Tufts, Emory).

When it came to testing, Ivy Scholars worked like a charm. Sasha offered a very comprehensive plan when it came to completely acing my standardized tests. Without his test taking strategies I would have never gotten straight 5s on my AP tests and a 35 on the ACT.

Working with Sasha, I didn’t just become a good student, I became a genuine scholar.
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5/5
Samson S.
Parent
We worked with Ivy Scholars during my son's senior year. I was concerned that we may be too late to take advantage of college advising but the Ivy Scholars team quickly and confidently directed us through the steps to ensure no deadlines were missed. Sasha's knowledge about schools, what they looked for in candidates, and how to maneuver the application process was invaluable. Mateo and Ryan worked with my son to help him create an essay that would get noticed and I am so appreciative he had their guidance.

Prior to securing Ivy Scholars, we tried using a less-expensive online service which was a terrible experience. As a parent, Ivy Scholars brought peace of mind to an area that was frankly overwhelming. This service was invaluable in the knowledge that we gained throughout the process. He has also met with my freshman daughter to provide guidance for her high school courses, career paths, extracurricular activities, and more.

Prior to signing with Ivy Scholars, I tried a less expensive online service and was very disappointed.

As a result of our work with Ivy Scholars, I am pleased to say that my son will be attending Stern Business School at New York University this fall! I highly recommend Ivy Scholars. Highly recommend!
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