Exceptional Counselor and Support Beyond Expectations!**

Ms. Lara Andersen, my counselor, assisted me in ways I never could have imagined. Before starting the admissions process, I was dealing with a family emergency and negative influences that drastically lowered my grades. When I decided to pursue Aerospace Engineering, I was struggling with three C’s in my AP STEM courses during my junior year—it was a tough period for sure. Prior to joining Empowerly, my previous college admission counselor dismissed me, even mocking my situation and advising me to drop the courses where I was getting C’s, especially halfway through the year. Empowerly, and particularly Ms. Andersen, were like lifelines for me. Ms. Andersen was incredibly approachable and supported me not only through the college admissions journey but also helped me manage my personal challenges. I had a hard time with tests, never scoring above three on any AP Exams, and my SAT score was 1240, which led me to choose test-optional applications. Ms. Andersen helped me organize my thoughts and develop essays that got me accepted into schools I never expected. She never judged me or made me feel bad about my grades; instead, she was always encouraging. Even when I was stressed, she reminded me that it was my responsibility to present my application in a way that truly reflected who I am and my values. She also made it clear that she wouldn’t be micromanaging me— it was up to me to ensure my essays were the best they could be before submitting them. While Empowerly as a company has its drawbacks (I strongly advise against investing in the Ad Coms), Ms. Andersen ensured that I was fully supported throughout the admissions process. One downside I noticed is that the company charges a high fee for Adcoms, which are mock admissions reviews, but they don’t provide meaningful feedback. In contrast, my counselor offered far better insights than those reviews. My advice to anyone considering Empowerly is to join as early as possible. It’s important to find out whether your counselor is a good fit before they help you with the college admissions process. Starting early gives you the chance to understand how helpful your counselor is and if they are willing to go the extra mile to help you succeed. Honestly, without my amazing counselor, I wouldn’t have received the offers I did from the colleges I applied to. If you’ve faced similar struggles with your grades and are determined to get into your dream school, I highly recommend booking an appointment with Empowerly and requesting Ms. Lara Andersen. She has the experience and dedication to ensure her students achieve their goals if they’re willing to put in the work and time. I’m now committed to the UCI Samueli School of Engineering as an Aerospace Engineering major, and my parents are incredibly proud. I couldn’t be happier and owe a lot to my counselor for helping me discover what I’m truly capable of.