Strong Endorsement and Praise!

My daughter was accepted to nine out of ten colleges she applied to, including her dream school, Stanford, where she will enroll this fall (2021). We chose Solomon because she attended a large public high school with competent yet stretched-thin guidance counselors. We worked with Cathleen Sheils, who was outstanding and deserves a perfect rating. We began our collaboration with Cathleen when my daughter was a freshman, and it turned out to be the best decision. Starting in freshman year was crucial because we understood that the college application is a journey focused on building a resume. It was beneficial to know which courses, extracurricular activities, and summer programs would best differentiate her application. For instance, my daughter was eager to join a prestigious research program during her sophomore summer. My husband and I were initially hesitant to let her participate until Cathleen explained how it would strengthen her college applications. Following her advice, she applied and was accepted. In Stanford’s welcome letter, the admissions officer highlighted her research experience. Another important aspect was that my daughter wrote all her essays herself, with Cathleen only providing critiques. This was important to us, especially in light of recent college application scandals. Her applications reflected her own work, ensuring her acceptance was based solely on her merits. I cannot speak highly enough of Cathleen; she was truly invaluable in assisting us through the complex college application journey.