Empowerly Review: Are They Worth the Investment?

Getting into your top school isn’t just about fulfilling a lifelong goal; it’s about building the life you’ve always dreamed of: getting the right education to lead you to the future you crave. Whether that’s starting your own business, saving lives as a brain surgeon, or becoming a civil rights attorney fighting for justice, you know you want to leave your mark on the world.

And the college admissions process is the first step.

I tested Empowerly, one of the top college counseling services in the nation, to see if it’s really as good as they claim. I went undercover as a student and worked with college counselors (including former admissions officers) and admissions essay graders. Whether you’re an ambitious student or a supportive family member, I’m here to report my experience to you.

Who Empowerly Is a Good Fit For

• If you’re looking for high-touch, expert-led admissions guidance, Empowerly’s 1:1 counseling and former admissions officer involvement are a strong fit.
• If you want rigorous essay development, Empowerly’s multi-round essay advising and Admissions Committee (AdCom) reviews work well for students aiming at selective schools.
• If you value fast, responsive support, Empowerly’s team-based model and quick turnaround times stood out in my testing.
• If you’re on a tight budget, Empowerly may not be the best fit, as most packages start in the five-figure range.
• If you only want to focus on a single angle, like essays, Empowerly’s packages may be more comprehensive than necessary.

Empowerly Overview

With so many college application process services out there, from freelance essay editors to comprehensive, 4-year guidance packages, Empowerly has managed to carve out their own niche. With experienced school counselors, extensive 1:1 support in every package, and an Admission Review Committee (dubbed AdCom) led by former admissions officers and counselors, they had everything I expected, plus a lot of unique programs other companies don’t offer.

In particular, I really appreciated programs that catered to neurodiverse students, grad and transfer applicants, and programs covering extracurriculars like passion projects, PhD-mentor-guided research projects, and startup internships. Empowerly felt a bit weaker for students passionate about athletics, but particularly for business and STEM aficionados, Empowerly is a strong choice.

Pros

Excellent Acceptance Odds: According to Empowerly, 98% of students got into one of their top three school picks; this has been the case since 2016.
Robust Support Team: I didn’t get one counselor; I got a panel of experienced experts to help with essay writing, personal statement development, extracurricular highlights, and interviews.
Lightning-Fast Responses: There were multiple times when I messaged a team member and received a response within literal minutes. They are incredibly responsive.
Stringent Essay Edits: These edits are exacting, but the effect was that my sample essay came out polished to pure gold. They don’t sugarcoat it, and that got my sample acceptance-ready.
Adapt to Needs: I’m obviously not a high school candidate, but I tried to see how they’d react to different situations, and they were always accommodating.

Cons

Premium Pricing: Empowerly is out of the price range for the average American; most packages start in the 5-figure range. However, if that amount won’t break the bank, it’s a sound investment.
Packages Start Large: The “smallest” package is for high school freshmen: 20 counseling sessions and eight essay edits. I wish there were a smaller package for students who may not need 20 1:1 meetings.

Empowerly Course Package Options

Packages vary quite a bit depending on the age of the student (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior) and level (Basic, Standard, or Premium). It’d take a long time to go through all 12 packages individually, so I thought it’d make the most sense to cover just one grade level as an example of what to expect.

Empowerly Package Comparison (Senior Year Students)

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Basic Package

The Basic Package is the lowest-priced package; however, what you get varies depending on your age/grade level. Honestly, I think this is a good fit for most students trying to get into a good school, but maybe not an Ivy League school. Or, if you’re a superstar on paper and a stellar essay writer, it may be the push you need to ensure your success.

• 16 counseling sessions
• 26 essay revision rounds
• 4 AdCom review rounds

Best For: Students who aren’t set on an Ivy League or superstar students who only need a little bit of lift to achieve their goals

Standard Package

The Standard Package is right in the middle. It includes the same number of essay revisions as the Basic Package, but adds six more counseling sessions and one additional AdCom review. This package is a better fit if you’re a strong candidate going after a competitive school, but maybe one or two parts of your application or academic history aren’t quite where you want them.

• 22 counseling sessions
• 26 essay revision rounds
• 5 AdCom review rounds

Best For: If your application is strong, but you have a few points you’d like to improve, this is an ideal fit

Premium Package

Finally, the Premium Package is the “go big or go home” bundle for students who either need some heavy lifting on their application or want to maximize their chances of acceptance into their top schools. You’re getting a lot more here in every area:

• 28 counseling sessions
• 32 essay revision rounds
• Unlimited AdCom review rounds

Best For: Maximizing your chances and going “all in” on your dream school, or students who need extra assistance (maybe you were ill in school, for example, and you need help telling that story)

Feature Deep-Dive: My Experience with Empowerly

Essay Grading

To evaluate Empowerly’s essay support, I submitted a sample personal statement draft designed to mirror common mistakes: vague anecdotes, uneven pacing, and an unclear central message. The feedback I received was prompt, thorough, and, more importantly, didn’t pull punches.

Rather than offering generic praise or vague suggestions, the reviewer dissected the narrative arc, flagged emotional beats that fell flat, and suggested a more focused story structure. What stood out most was how the comments reflected real admissions insight: they pushed for more personal reflection and specific impact, even suggesting how to link certain ideas back to a central theme. It was clear that the team wasn’t just correcting grammar or smoothing language; they were guiding narrative development with a strong sense of what colleges value.

I went through three rounds of revisions and found the level of attention consistent across each one. Each revision layered on deeper polish, from narrative pacing to line-level phrasing. For families considering Empowerly, I’d say the essay editing process is a standout feature, especially for students who have ideas but struggle to shape them into standout narratives.

“He has never rewritten anything or mocked my writing; instead, he teaches me how to advocate for myself with my own voice. It is incredible how he pushed me to use my own voice to properly reflect my authentic self. It genuinely improved the cohesiveness, memorability, and appeal of each essay.”

Aren, Trustpilot

Admissions Committee Review (AdCom)

To test the AdCom feature, I submitted a mock application packet to see how Empowerly’s committee of former admissions officers would respond. The review process simulated an actual admissions read: I received a detailed, multi-part report assessing strengths and weaknesses across the application as a whole.

This wasn’t just about academics or essays in isolation; the committee commented on how each element supported (or detracted from) the overall story. One reviewer noted that my mock résumé lacked leadership evidence, while another questioned the clarity of my academic goals as presented in the essay. Suggestions were practical and aligned with what top schools often look for: clarity of purpose, demonstrated impact, and personal authenticity.

What I appreciated most was that the feedback came from a place of experience, not guesswork. The recommendations felt grounded in admissions committee reality, helpful for students targeting competitive programs who need to understand how their materials will be received holistically.

ACT and SAT Test Prep and Tutoring

Although standardized testing wasn’t my primary focus, I explored Empowerly’s ACT and SAT support by reviewing test prep materials and joining several tutoring sessions as a simulated student. I deliberately asked broad, unfocused questions and brought in example problems to see how well the tutor adapted to them.

Each tutor I worked with had a clear command of the test formats and adjusted instruction based on the “student” profile I provided. For the ACT, the tutor immediately focused on timing strategies and data analysis, which were two areas I flagged as weak. For the SAT, we covered reading comprehension using College Board-style passages, and the tutor introduced pattern recognition techniques I hadn’t seen in other programs.

The teaching style was pragmatic, calm, and clearly informed by thousands of hours of test prep experience. The materials closely mirrored real test content, and full-length, timed practice sessions were emphasized more than I expected. While Empowerly doesn’t position itself as a test prep company first, the quality of its tutoring sessions suggests otherwise; they’re solid.

Graduate & Transfer Admissions

To evaluate Empowerly’s grad and transfer admissions services, I explored both pathways by presenting a simulated student profile and discussing admissions strategies with assigned counselors. I was particularly curious about how well the team understood the nuances of each type of application.

For graduate admissions, the Empowerly Score® assessment gave me a surprisingly detailed baseline of the fictional applicant’s competitiveness. The counselor walked me through how to shift the academic résumé and research narrative to better align with a target public policy program. I submitted a sample statement of purpose and received actionable feedback within 48 hours, including commentary on how to better articulate the applicant’s career vision, something many graduate programs care about deeply.

With transfer admissions, I tested Empowerly’s understanding of credit transfer challenges and personal positioning. The response was detailed and targeted, outlining a course selection strategy and a draft plan for justifying the transfer through a focused personal statement. Their guidance emphasized both emotional framing and academic fit, which struck me as especially valuable given how tough transfer admissions can be.

“Not cheap, but highly meaningful help with admission/transfer between universities. The consultant answers all my questions, guides me through the application process, and the essay editing team responds as quickly as possible.”

Andrew Shaifer, Trustpilot

Comparing Empowerly to Other Top College Admissions Consultants

Here’s how Empowerly stacks up against other well‑known college admissions support providers like Admissionado, Crimson Education, PrepExpert, and PrepScholar so you can see what each does best and which might align most closely with your goals.

College Admissions Service Comparison

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Empowerly vs. Admissionado

Empowerly and Admissionado both deliver strong, personalized admissions support, but they lean in different directions. Empowerly impressed me with its robust mock Admissions Committee review, where former admissions officers give feedback on a complete application, not just essays. That holistic insight sets it apart for students who want a true admissions evaluation before submitting. Its counselor team also integrates with test prep and every part of the application process.

Admissionado, by contrast, feels like a boutique essay‑first experience. Their two specialist model pairing a strategist with a dedicated editor is excellent for students who already have solid stats but need standout storytelling to differentiate themselves. If your essay narrative is the one weak link keeping your application from dazzling, Admissionado’s writing focus is a real strength.

• Choose Empowerly if… you want a comprehensive, start‑to‑finish admissions process with mock admissions feedback and integrated test prep.
• Pick Admissionado if… your profile is already competitive and you need a deep essay strategy and narrative crafting to shine.

Empowerly vs. Crimson Education

Crimson Education operates on a bigger, often more premium scale than most other services. Their team‑based model draws on former admissions officers, specialist mentors, and tutors across academics, extracurriculars, and essays. I found their global reach and data‑driven strategy especially compelling for students aiming at Ivy League or other elite institutions; it’s essentially a whole ecosystem of support from academics to admissions.

Empowerly’s strength is in its personalized counseling and clear admissions insight, particularly through features like AdCom review and responsive support. It doesn’t have the sprawling global team or as many layers of mentorship as Crimson, but it feels more approachable and focused for students who want clarity without an overwhelming roster of services.

• Choose Empowerly if… you want focused, practical admissions guidance with expert feedback at each step.
• Pick Crimson Education if… your goal is top‑tier schools worldwide and you want team‑based, multi-disciplinary support with several specialists on your side.

Empowerly vs. PrepExpert

PrepExpert is best known for its standardized test prep strength; the SAT and ACT courses are built around proven tactics and score‑boosting strategies that many students swear by. Their admissions consulting arm also offers guidance, but it’s a smaller, more focused service compared with their test prep foundation.

Empowerly’s admissions counseling, in contrast, is broader and deeper by design: I tested its full admissions process, from essay brainstorming to mock AdCom feedback, and found it far more comprehensive than the typical PrepExpert admissions add‑on. Where PrepExpert shines is if test scores are the key blocker to admissions success… and you want both test prep and admissions strategy in one place.

• Choose Empowerly if… your focus is holistic admissions planning and expert application strategy.
• Pick PrepExpert if… SAT/ACT score improvement is a priority, and you also want admissions help.

Empowerly vs. PrepScholar

PrepScholar has built a strong reputation by combining SAT/ACT prep with college admissions advising at a competitive price. Their process tends to be high‑touch and strategic, especially in essay coaching and school list development. They also emphasize building profiles early and tailoring guidance to each student’s strengths and story.

When I looked at both providers, PrepScholar felt more standardized‑process friendly with a structured pathway that guides students step by step, which can be helpful if you want a predictable roadmap. Empowerly, meanwhile, offers more responsive, bespoke feedback through mock admissions reviews and quick counselor turnaround, which is excellent if you want nimble, expert feedback throughout the journey.

• Choose Empowerly if… you value responsive, personalized counsel and in‑depth feedback on applications.
• Pick PrepScholar if… you’d rather follow a structured, strategic roadmap with strong integrated test prep and admissions coordination.

Final Verdict

Overall, Empowerly is expensive, but with the level of support you get from a team of industry experts, it may be worth the investment. Particularly, if you know you’ll need to strengthen your application to get into the school you want, or if your dream school is in the Ivy League, Empowerly can be worthwhile. Otherwise, you may want to consider a more affordable alternative to get the most bang for your buck.

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