Strategic Success, Not Pure Luck**

On December 15th, 2023the pivotal day to hear back about Early DecisionI was abroad, nervously checking my email and juggling the time zone differences. Suddenly, a text from a friend whose daughter was also a senior appeared. It had only celebration emojisshe was accepted to Cornell! I was overjoyed for her! A few months later, I introduced her to Ms. Cathleen Shiels, and my son began working with her.Minutes later, a message from Boston University arrived. I rushed to my computer, but the internet felt unbearably slow and the webpage wouldnt load. Just as I was about to give up, a digital confetti burst appeared on the screen. Yes! He got in!That exhilarating moment is something only parents who’ve experienced it truly understand. I hope everyone reading my review gets to feel that joy for their child someday.I should emphasize that it wasnt a surprise. With all the guidance Mrs. Shiels provided, the comprehensive analysis of enrollment competition from the Solomon team, and thorough discussions with my son to understand his true desires, the Early Decision application wasnt a random draw. It was a meticulously planned strategy. Having a professional coach significantly increased our chances of success compared to going it alone. It wasnt a lottery win with unexpected outcomes. We trusted their advice, and as a result, my son was accepted into his top-choice, most accessible school.More importantly, through strategic planning, Ms. Shiels helped my son gain a deeper understanding of himselfhis identity and his aspirations. He isnt the most diligent, self-driven, or highly disciplined child, and hes not always the best listener to his mother! However, through this process, he was guided and motivated to tackle some of the most challenging research assignments, becoming increasingly independent in choosing his life path.To date, Ive referred two other friends to work with Ms. Shiels, and both have successfully achieved their goals. I hope my review assists more parents who are still in the process of researching.