"We say that hiring you to help our daughter through the college application process was the best thing we could have done. It definitely eliminated a lot of stress for us. Your help through the Morehead-Cain Scholarship process was invaluable. We hope you are still offering your services when her younger brother is older! We have recommended you to several friends, neighbors and acquaintances. Please feel free to give out our phone number or e-mail address to anyone wishing to ask about your services.”
— Parents of 2008 graduate
"Hi Mrs. B!
We just culminated the signing celebration at our house – complete with cork popping and hunting. I wanted to again thank you for introducing me the fine institution that is Rhodes College in the final stretch of my time working with you. I have already highly recommended your services and will be looking forward to your visit to campus next year! Forever grateful,"
— 2008 Graduate
"The biggest strengths to us: helping us to stay "on task" which was essential to a procrastinating mom and son; evaluating and suggesting revisions to his essays; and as a homeschooling parent, having someone who was in-tune with the ins-and-outs of the college admission process. You were friendly, but firm as to what needed to get done by what time. Also, you had advised us to get the UNC application in early, which is something he failed to do. I feel if we would have followed your advise, he may have been admitted outright instead of being wait-listed and then finally accepted."
— Parent of 2008 home school graduate
"I particularly liked your grasp of “facts” about the sometimes intimidating application process. Also, I believe that your fees are reasonable. I don’t really have any negatives. You have been helpful and flexible. And, also very importantly, you spent the time necessary with our son to achieve objectives."
— Dad of a 2008 graduate
“We have nothing but GREAT things to say about Lee Bierer! Our daughter worked with Lee over the past year, and she will be attending a highly selective university on a full academic scholarship this fall. Although we credit our daughter with possessing excellent academics, service, and leadership, we credit Lee with helping her put it all together!"
— Parents of 2007 graduate
“Lee has been our trusty GPS in the college admissions process. She has guided our family with her “approachable wisdom”, up-to-date knowledge of what colleges are looking for, her genuine caring and a real sense of what high school students are dealing with on an everyday basis. We were thrilled with many of her creative ideas as well as her organization and consistent follow-through. Don’t leave high school without her!”
— Parent of a 2008 graduate
"Lee was incredibly helpful in demystifying the entire college application process for us as parents, and more importantly, for our son. She established a wonderful working relationship with him, and stayed directly involved throughout the application process. Lee guided us through the process of selecting the schools that represented the best fit for our son, how to best emphasize his strengths, and what makes a good application stand out. We unequivocally recommend College Admissions Strategies to parents and students preparing for and amidst the college admissions process."
— Mom of a 2007 graduate
"The services you provided met my expectations 100%. Applying to college was something I had been dreading and meeting with you assured me that it is really not that hard. By doing the match meter and college evaluations I was able to get a better feel for the school I wanted. Our meetings kept me on track for deciding where I was going to apply. After every meeting you would send me a meeting report which was extremely helpful because it kept me organized with deadlines to keep me moving along. Getting help with essays was another great thing about meeting with you because you took the time to listen and really try your best to make sure my essay was the best possible. I have a lot of younger friends who are just as scared as I was about applying to college. I think my friends would benefit by your guidance on the entire college process."
— 2008 graduate
"We felt it was a very valuable use of our money. You were very responsive to our son. Your follow-through was great. Your detailed Meeting Reports were a fabulous part of the service because it allowed us as parents to stay informed but not have to manage the process and the best part was that it kept him on task."
— Parents of 2008 graduate
"Given the apathy and incompetence which pervades high school guidance counseling departments, students will almost certainly miss opportunities if they fail to be proactive early in the college application process. Lee was instrumental in evaluating colleges well-suited to my son, and in positioning his applications for maximum appeal. My sole regret is not contacting her earlier. It is a mistake I will not repeat with my younger son."
— Parent of a 2008 graduate
"Your research and general knowledge of what colleges are looking for in an application. I liked that and your willingness to spend extra time with our son . You provided a dialogue/sounding board with him when he wouldn’t listen to us. I value the relationship you shared and the trust he had in you."
— Mom of 2008 graduate
"I started working with Lee in September of my senior year. Before meeting with Lee, I had no idea where I wanted to go to, which colleges offered my major, the selectivity to be accepted at each college and I certainly was overwhelmed with the whole application process. Lee made the college process so much less stressful. i realized that there was more to getting into college than just filling out the application. Lee really helped me market my strengths. She helped me put together an application that showed that there was more to me than just my SAT scores and my GPA. Lee helped me with all aspects of getting into college, from editing my essays to researching the colleges that suited me the best. Lee understood that we were in a time crunch and really helped me utilize my time. With Lee’s good time management skills and expansive knowledge on the application process , I got into my dream college!! I cannot thank Lee enough for her dedication, commitment and time! I could not have done it without her!"
— 2007 graduate
“It was just what we needed and expected. We wanted you to keep our son on task, which you did. In addition, your essay editing was good. The essays truly reflected him. You pulled his own thoughts out of him, I could tell they were his thoughts, not yours. Your report after you and he met was great. It let me know what you accomplished in your meeting and what tasks and by whom were required for the coming week. We were not making any headway in keeping him on task and it was very frustrating to us that he seemed so disorganized, so your help alleviated the frustration and possible (probable!) arguments. I am very likely to recommend you because you filled our immediate need. When I called you, I was in a near-panic mode and you were able to work with our son right away and I felt totally comfortable with you and knew you to be competent.”
— Mom of a 2008 graduate
"My time spent with you was very very helpful. I liked pro and con check lists I did for each college I was interested in. Also, it was very helpful to have someone there each step of the way to check in with and proof read what I had written."
— 2008 graduate
"2008 was a very difficult year for graduating seniors applying to highly selective colleges. Our son was initially deferred from the college of his choice and was concerned he would not be admitted at all. After a meeting with Lee Bierer, he had a plan to market himself. Lee made sure he followed up and was invaluable with her critiques and suggestions. He was accepted! We are convinced that he would have likely fallen through the cracks like so many other bright, well qualified applicants had it not been for Lee’s help."
— Dad of a 2008 graduate
Comments about “Countdown to College” column
“This is a great column! You are such a good writer and you bring the topics of your columns to life.” – High School Guidance Counselor
Comments from Lee Bierer’s
College Admissions Workshops
“Incredibly useful and provocative information. You even motivated my son!”
“The time flew by. You made it very entertaining and informative.”
“This seminar should be required of all parents, students, and educators.”
