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When Nikolas, a high school senior who had a near-perfect GPA at a top NYC private school and an SAT score in the 99th percentile, was not offered admission to any of his dream schools, his parents were devastated. On paper, it seemed like he had everything a top school was looking for: stellar academics, top-notch test scores, and a diverse collection of extracurricular activities. But even that wasn’t enough, and the family was left wondering what more Nikolas could possibly have done. It wasn’t until their younger daughter began working with a private college counselor during her sophomore year that they realized where they went wrong.
When it comes to college applications, students and parents everywhere are always searching for the best way to ensure an acceptance letter. Most families think colleges are looking for a well-rounded student with a little bit of everything on their resume. While that was the case 20 or 30 years ago, it’s not the way college admissions operates now. Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of Command Education, knows exactly what top-tier colleges are looking for. This is why Command Education, a boutique college consulting firm, offers an emotionally intelligent approach to getting students into their top school.
While grades and test scores are the foundation of a strong application, a majority of students applying to top-tier schools will have near-perfect grades, so numbers alone won’t necessarily guarantee admission anymore. Colleges now want to build well-rounded classes, with students who have a singular focus or passion. Rim and his team know how to help a student authentically stand out and submit a memorable college application that not only demonstrates academic excellence, but also illustrates their leadership skills and the drive to be self-starters. This was exactly how they helped Nikolas’ younger sister receive admission to her dream school.
“We greatly appreciate your help. The direction and advice you have given her along the way has been very beneficial. We especially appreciate your promptness to any questions she has had during her time working with you. She has shared with us that this experience with you has been wonderful and has expressed how you have put her on a much better path to reaching her goal.”
Parent of a Command Education student
Founded in 2015, Command Education knows that admissions committees are looking at each student as a whole. Even if a student has slightly lower grades or test scores, colleges these days are looking for students with unique backgrounds or niche interests who are making a significant difference and are involved in their community. Whether they’ve started a nonprofit organization or are an entrepreneur, students with extracurricular activities that showcase interests outside the classroom will stand out.
“We work like an incubator for teens, providing support and expertise to help students develop their own passion projects, build a meaningful nonprofit, or run their own company. Students learn leadership skills within their community and this naturally helps them stand out to top schools. It’s important that this initiative develops the student’s own personal ambition and something they are truly passionate about — that’s why it takes years for something like this to be developed.” – Christopher Rim
The core focus of any high school student who has ambitious goals for college should be to explore and develop their passions, and end high school having made an impact in one of those passions. Command Education’s mentors help students through this process, and work with the student to identify and develop those interests. For example, one student’s main passion was video games, much to the dismay of his parents. However, after a few sessions with his mentor, this student discovered his passion for the design aspect of video games. From there, Command Education helped him secure a graphic design volunteering opportunity for a nonprofit organization, and he also began learning basic graphic design software. This student from northern New Jersey just recently graduated from MIT.
Command Education’s holistic approach to the college application process is unlike any other. The mentors put together year-long roadmaps that will outline different objectives students must meet, like summer applications, essay development, research, scholarship and internship opportunities, and much more. In other words, they guide their students from start to finish.
Their team of full-time mentors, who are all graduates of Ivy League or other top-tier schools, works with students to identify and develop their passions, which they are encouraged to explore in the classroom and in their community. They guide their students to focus and excel academically, boost their confidence, and excite them about potential lifelong passions. They help students develop their passions through summer programs, like researching their interests with professors, graduate students or postdoctoral fellows at local universities and attending programs tailored to their interests.
“Our students aren’t just class presidents — they are award-winning nonprofit founders, community organizers, political activists, and entrepreneurs.”
Christopher Rim
The critical component in any successful application is authenticity, which is why Command Education mentors take their time to get to know their students and identify their genuine interests. Often, parents may see this process as manufacturable, and think that a flurry of strategic moves can win their child admission to a top-tier school. However, this is far from true. If a student does not have an inherent, authentic passion for the work they are doing, they will not be able to commit the necessary time and effort to making an authentic impact. There is no “one size fits all” approach to this process.
When a student identifies and develops their authentic passions, they reap the benefits of their hard work, and parents more often than not are thrilled. One such parent wrote to Rim, “I wanted to take a moment to thank you and your organization for all the genuinely professional help you have afforded the center of my world, my daughter Marie. You have assembled such an outstanding group of individuals that represent you so well it has been a sincere pleasure to work with you and everyone at Command Education.”
Command Education works with a select number of students to ensure that the process is customized for each. This also allows Rim and the directors of mentoring to provide winning strategies, and though students work consistently with a personalized senior mentor, they have access to the entire team of experts. Former Command Education clients report that this approach is enriching, entrepreneurial, and delivers long-term motivation for life. Learn more at commandeducation.com.
Names throughout this article have been changed to protect students’ privacy.
