Straight Answers to Real Questions
We believe families deserve honest, direct answers — not marketing language. Here is what you actually want to know.
We take only six full-service students per grade. Our model is built around genuine, deep engagement with every student and family we work with. We are not interested in volume.
We recommend starting as early as 9th grade. It is important for students to be on the right track from the beginning — choosing the right classes, building the right habits, and getting the mentorship they need as they adjust to high school. The earlier we can work together, the more we can shape a genuinely compelling profile over time.
Many companies brag about their experience working in admissions. We have not. Being able to read and assess an application is a very different skill set from being able to motivate a student and come up with creative, individualized ideas. We bring thirty years of Harvard alumni engagement, deep knowledge of what top schools are looking for, and — most importantly — the ability to connect with students as mentors and advocates.
The two founders are the only people involved. Both of us work directly with every student. There are no junior staff, no outsourced essay coaches, no intermediaries. When you hire Eliot Advisors, you get Deni-Kay and Alexandra — and we each bring different expertise to the table.
Most clients choose our all-inclusive package, which has no limit on meetings or access. On occasion, we have tailored our offering to meet specific needs — for example, an application review for a student who has been deferred, or targeted support for a recruited athlete navigating the admissions process. Reach out and we will discuss what makes sense for your family.
Yes. We have worked with international students and are happy to do so. The same philosophy and approach applies — every student deserves honest, strategic, and deeply personal guidance regardless of where they are applying from.
No. No one can guarantee results — and if a counselor tells you they can, they are not being truthful. What we can guarantee is our full attention, our honest counsel, and our genuine investment in your student's success. We will never steer you toward a "safe" list just to protect our numbers.
The college admissions process is genuinely difficult regardless of where a student is applying. Finding the right fit — the school where a student will thrive academically, socially, and personally — takes real work and thoughtful guidance. Every student is different, and we approach each one as an individual. Whether the goal is an Ivy League school, a top liberal arts college, a strong state university, or somewhere in between, we bring the same level of care and strategy to the process.