College Admissions Consulting
Our Philosophy on College Admissions
At 17, I had my heart set on attending Cornell, convinced that getting in would make everything in my life perfect. Despite my rocky academic start with Cs until halfway through 10th grade, I realized the importance of my grades, worked tirelessly to improve, and took AP classes.
However, it wasn’t enough for Cornell. I wasn’t accepted. But I did receive an offer of guaranteed acceptance if I maintained a 3.2 GPA at any other college for my first year. I ended up choosing Ursinus College, far from a name brand school, but the school that offered the most financial aid.
But then, something unexpected happened. By the time I was eligible to transfer to Cornell, I had fallen in love with Ursinus, the friends I made, and the sense of community I found.
Looking back, I realize Cornell might not have been the best fit for me. In fact, at Ursinus, I met a professor who encouraged me to become a Chemistry tutor, which eventually led to test prep tutoring and the creation of Critical Point, which is now the highest-rated test prep, tutoring, and college admissions company on the Main Line.
My journey taught me that the most important aspect of college isn’t the prestige but finding the right fit. That’s our philosophy at Critical Point. We’re dedicated to helping students find the best fit college through Test Prep, Academic Tutoring, and College Consulting, ensuring they thrive in the right environment and achieve their full potential.
Andre Kiss
President & Founder
How we can help
Course Selection
(8th grade to 11th grade)
Book your free consultation where we’ll discuss your child’s path forward, how we can help, and whether we’re a good fit to partner together. It’s ideal to start this process around 8th grade, but it’s never too late to get started!
College List Building
(Ideally Junior Year)
We’ll start by getting to know your child, what college factors are most important to them, and which of their unique characteristics will help us develop a college list together. College is not a prize to be won, but a match to be made!
Application Support
(Junior to Senior Year)
We will be thrilled to have the job of helping your child put their best foot forward. Which activities should they include? What order should they be in? What essay prompt should they write about? We’ll be here supporting them up until their last deadline.
What makes for the perfect essay?
Quality #1
The Perfect Topic
This is an essay’s foundation. You can write the most well-written narrative ever, but if you land on the wrong topic, it will fall flat. Students should write about themselves (not grandma, their best friend, or their hero) and present themselves as likable and interesting. Want to know some of the biggest mistakes and bad topics students choose? We wrote a nice blog article for you.
Spoiler Alert: you probably want to avoid sports essays!
Quality #2
Painting a Picture
We weren’t there for your horrible experience at summer camp. What was the temperature like? Was it cloudy or sunny? Was there an earthy smell from the damp soil that hovered in the air?
Painting a picture for the reader is one of the the things that all great writers do. We’ll help your child write in a way that paints a picture in the mind’s eye of the reader, while maintaining their unique voice.
Quality #3
Demonstrate Growth
Remember when you were 17 and thought you had life all figured out? We do too.
By showing admissions counselors that you’ve grown as a person and that you’re open to your continued growth, you show them that you’ll bring maturity and humility to their campus come fall.
Do you write students’ essays for them?
We do not. Not only would that be unethical, but it would rob from students the satisfaction and introspection that they would gain from going through the essay process themselves.
However, what we do provide is a process, from brainstorming to putting on the final touches of the essay, that helps students craft a captivating essay that complements the other aspects of their application.
We do this by asking the right questions to discover the perfect topic, guiding students to write with detail and intrigue, organizing that story, and proofreading and providing grammatical edits.
Our Students Get Accepted
Our students rock! Here is just a small sampling of the schools they’ve been accepted to.
See What All the Buzz is About!
Frequently Asked Questions
Critical Point offers comprehensive college consulting services. We specialize in college list building, essay writing guidance, and assistance with filling out the Common App. Our goal is to ensure every student we work with is well-prepared and confident throughout the college application process.
At Critical Point, we adopt a personalized approach. We assess your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, interests, and career goals. With this information, we help you curate a list of colleges that not only align with your aspirations but also enhance your chances of admission.
Our team of experienced consultants will guide you through brainstorming topics, outlining your essay, and refining your drafts. We ensure your essay is compelling, authentic, and showcases your unique story, increasing your chances of standing out in the application pool.
The Common Application (Common App) is a widely used college application platform accepted by over 900 colleges and universities. At Critical Point, we offer step-by-step guidance to navigate the Common App, ensuring all sections are accurately completed and presenting you in the best possible light.
Critical Point is committed to a personalized and holistic approach. We understand that every student’s journey is unique, and our services are tailored to individual needs. Our team is dedicated to providing the best possible guidance, ensuring that each student feels supported and confident in their college application journey.
The earlier, the better! While we can assist students at any stage of their high school career, starting early allows us to guide you through course selections, extracurricular choices, and other preparatory steps, ensuring a strong foundation for your college applications.
How else can we support your child?
Many of our students attend…
Conestoga High School
Radnor High School
Great Valley High School
Malvern Prep
St. Joe’s Prep
The Haverford School
Lower Merion High School
Marple Newtown High School
Upper Merion High School
Princeton High School
The Agnes Irwin School
The Shipley School
Baldwin School for Girls
Moorestown Friends School
Villa Maria Academy
