FAQ
Solving
your
doubts!
What is the difference between a consultant and my high school counselor?
A high school counselor, if you are at a school where you are lucky enough to have one, represents an indispensable ally and advocate in the university application process. In addition to being a great source of advice on choosing universities and preparing applications, school counselors are responsible for sending transcripts and other documents that constitute an important part of your university applications. Although school counselors work on many of the same things that we do, our caseloads are vastly different. In the US, for instance, the average counselor is responsible for around 400 students at a time—100 per class. Each consultant at Hyll works with no more than 15 students per class. This allows us to provide highly personalized service and attention to each of our students. We are able to supplement the important work of school counselors in all the ways that the task of creating the strongest possible applications requires.
Why should I choose Hyll?
We believe that there are three reasons that set us apart. First, our consultants have studied and worked at some of
the world’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning: including Harvard University, Williams College, and Vassar College. Second, each of our consultants has over a decade of experience mentoring students, and given the bond that must develop in any consultant-student relationship, this is critical. Finally, our consultants’ PhDs guarantee that we are excellent writers and editors—just see some of our blog posts if you don’t believe us!
How much do you charge for consultations?
Nothing! We believe it is important for our clients to have the opportunity to get to know us before making a decision, and that it shouldn’t cost them anything to do so. During the consultation, we will ask you about your situation, your goals, and your dreams. We will also answer any and all questions you have, and be completely honest with you about whether our services are a good fit for you.
How much do you charge for your services?
Each and every client has different needs. Our prices thus vary according to when our students begin working with us, the complexity of the application processes where they intend to apply, and other factors. After a free consultation in which we learn more about your needs, we will provide you with a quote relevant to your specific, individual case. Contact us to request an appointment here.
Do you guarantee admission?
At Hyll, we guarantee that we will work with you to ensure that your application represents the very best of you, ensuring that you are as competitive a candidate as you possibly can be. However, we never guarantee admission to any specific program or university. Indeed, we are specifically prohibited from doing so by the codes of ethics of the professional organizations to which we belong. Such guarantees would be a disservice to clients and a betrayal of their trust, since no one (outside of the admissions offices themselves) has any control over admissions outcomes. Even so, we are proud of our high success rate at some of the most selective universities in the world.
When should I begin preparing to apply to college/university?
That depends on where you are applying. For students applying in the US, we like to begin working with students as early as their freshman year (Year 10 in the British system, MYP in the IB system, 3º ESO in the Spanish system, and so on). In their evaluation of candidates, US universities consider four years of academic and extracurricular achievements (in addition to other criteria), so it is important to carefully weigh all of your choices during these years. For students applying in most of the rest of the world, we recommend beginning to prepare at the latest during the Spring of their sophomore year (Year 10 in the British system, final year of MYP in the IB system, 4º ESO in the Spanish system, and so on) so that they can choose courses that satisfy university requirements.