Testimonials

"We love the essay that Sara and her team edited! I love how you all brought out all of the messages my child wanted to convey. We really appreciate your patience as we navigated through essay topics. We are so grateful to be part of the Application Nation group and can't thank you enough for all of the guidance and support."

“Working with Sara and her team helped my daughter feel comfortable in her own uniqueness. She was able to utilize the advice from the Application Nation sessions and handouts to highlight her strengths and gain the assurance that you don’t need to start a company or travel to Timbuktu to stand out. You just need to tap into your own story.

We also learned that there are SO MANY worthy paths to so many colleges, and not just one, “perfect” school to shoot for. My daughter ended up identifying a target school that inspired her, and was able to gain an Early Decision acceptance with abundant aid offers. She is so excited for what the future holds. Thank you, Sara and team!”

"For anyone considering Sara Harberson and her Application Nation services, here are some key points to help you with your decision.

1. Knowledge: Sara and her team will give you a straightforward answer that is based on experience. There are several college consulting companies out there (believe me, I've done my research), but very few have actual experience as an admission officer. They offer validated information and will guide you the correct way through this harrowing process.
2. Dedication: Nowhere else will you find a team that is as dedicated to helping your child be the best candidate as Sara's. The long hours and the timely responses to the endless stream of questions are just parts of what they invest in for the success of your child. From my time with them, I can tell they truly care and believe in what they do!
3. The Application Nation Support Group: The fellow parents in your group will be holding your hand through this process and will also be a wonderful sounding board. I really appreciated the information they shared from their own experiences with older siblings and the support everyone gave.

Thank you very much, Application Nation!"

"Before I joined Application Nation, my household was experiencing high levels of anxiety and uncertainty about the college application process and how to succeed in it. With Sara Harberson's sage and timely advice, her video call "how to's," and her team, who each have their own specialties, we are feeling much more in control of this process. I would recommend Application Nation to anyone who is applying to college in the next four years—the sooner, the better. Good choices start in high school, and my only wish is that we had known about Application Nation sooner.

No one can guarantee the results you want in this process, but I know if we need more assistance, with deferrals or last-minute questions, we have Sara and her crew, plus all the parents in Application Nation, who have been wonderfully collaborative."

"Joining Application Nation was the best decision we made during the college process. We learned invaluable information from the video calls and loved being part of the supportive Facebook group. In addition to the guidance we received, the essay editing exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend Application Nation to every high school family!"

"Working with Sara Harberson has been amazing for my daughter! We have been fortunate to use many of the add-on offers and from her very first meeting my daughter felt so comfortable with Sara. Sara’s deep knowledge of this complicated college admissions process was incredible and helped us feel like things were under control. My daughter’s live activity list review and interview prep with Sara were highlights of the process. And being able to ask questions and get quick answers in the Application Nation group has been invaluable!"

"I joined Application Nation at the suggestion of a friend and it was one of the best decisions we've made in the whole college application process! Sara Harberson and her amazing team are wonderful and always willing to answer questions. And if they don’t know the answer they will find out. In addition to the amazing Application Nation team, families have access to other families going through the same process. Application Nation is a great resource on so many levels. My family and I highly recommend joining Application Nation!"

"Since registering over the summer, Application Nation has offered immense learning, specific and reliable information, actionable insights, and invaluable ongoing support and guidance. The professionalism, competence, and care run in the “genetic code” of Application Nation. It’s not just a resource. It's a family-like support structure that helps you navigate the trials and tribulations of the college application process. We are grateful for being part of the Application Nation family. Thank you, Sara, Genevieve, Sarah, and everyone else on the Application Nation team for what you do every single day!"

"Application Nation provided the structure, information, and guidance our family (twins) needed to tackle the application process. Sara and team guided—and in many cases refocused—parents and students by equipping them with the tools to succeed. Most importantly, our kids saw the value in her guidance. I have lost count of how many times I’ve heard them say, “But Mrs. Sara said layer not hammer,” or “Well, does it match my Soundbite?” No matter where our kids land, I know they put their best feet forward in this process and I’ll forever be grateful to Sara and the entire Application Nation group!"

"Application Nation is a community of parents, students, and professionals like Sara Harberson and Genevieve Munson. Everyone supports each other and gives amazing advice and words of encouragement throughout the process. I feel like Application Nation is our new family. I don't know how we would have made it through the college application process without it!

During the one-on-one session we purchased, Sara helped my son develop his "Soundbite," an extremely clear vision of who he is and what direction his application would take. Over time we found that his application organically became his Soundbite without him even realizing.

And I don't know how we would have ever lived without Sara's essay editing service! My son settled on a really strong essay topic with help from Sara, and then it was beautifully edited by her to come together in a way that just made it absolutely perfect! I only wish we had purchased more of the add-on services in Application Nation. It truly does make the process so much easier."

"Thank you SO much to Sara for working with my son. She helped crystalize his ideas and thoughts and make them come alive in his essays. The most valuable services for us were the one-on-one session, where Sara helped my son brainstorm essay topics, and the activities list review. I would highly recommend working with Sara, especially after having spent thousands of dollars working with other counselors. I can verify that you get the most bang for your buck with Sara and her team."

"Sara Harberson and the Application Nation team are truly a godsend. They guided my child into getting into a great school really early in the process so we could approach the college application with much more sanity."

"We could not have done this process without Sara and her team. Our daughter followed all of Sara’s advice and stuck to her Soundbite throughout her interview process. I am certain that the essay editing and feedback Sara provided made my daughter’s application stand out. And I am not even sure she would have applied to some of the colleges on her list without Sara’s input and recommendations for selecting schools. My family cannot thank Sara and her team enough. My daughter has been accepted to Harvard and we are still waiting on a few other colleges. Application Nation is by far the best decision any parent can make to support their child through the college application process. Sara and her team are amazing!!"

"I have friends that paid thousands for college counselors. We didn’t want to spend that money. My daughter applied to 10 schools and got into almost all of them. We used all of Sara’s knowledge and we will be back for my 2026 child."

"Sara Harberson is truly a champion and the best college counselor out there! Even the smallest details and personalization matter a lot to make an application stand out, and Sara lets no stone go unturned. We feel blessed that we learned about Sara a year before the college application season started for our daughter, and it’s unlikely that our daughter would have gotten into her dream college without Sara’s unparalleled guidance.

Sara and her team take Application Nation members through the college admissions process step-by-step, from course selection, to making a college list, to creating a Soundbite, to brainstorming and writing essays, to perfecting the activities list, and more. We felt strongly supported every step of the way, and Sara and her team were always available to answer each and every question we had. Additionally, Sara provided a wonderful, in-depth review of my daughter’s college list. We followed all of Sara’s tips and guidance throughout the process and my daughter ended up getting into her first-choice school. Thank you, Sara!

Sara Harberson isn’t just America’s College Counselor—she’s the world’s best college counselor!"

“My daughter was accepted to her Early Decision choice! I have tears in my eyes. I am so excited and want to thank Sara Harberson from the bottom of my heart. We couldn’t have done it without Application Nation and are so incredibly grateful! We’ve learned so much about this process and the Application Nation team support has been absolutely amazing. 

The timing of the calls over the summer and fall was perfect. I knew completing my daughter’s main essay in the summer was huge and that everything else would fall together. We felt confident about the application, and all of Sara’s tips made it even more perfect. I never wanted to feel last-minute pressure and we NEVER did due to all of the amazing guidance and cadence of Application Nation.”

“We didn’t know how to approach our daughter's applications in a way that is authentic to her and yet would also maximize her chances of admission. Being a part of Application Nation - Class of 2023 turned out to be so much more than I expected, from the advice on creating a balanced list to the last-minute grammar help and eyeballing an essay. We are both feeling calm and peaceful because we know our daughter put her best foot forward in all of her applications. It’s a very different feeling than the panic and stress when I went through this with my older daughter. The peace of mind that Application Nation has given this frazzled working mom is beyond words. Thank you and everyone in the group for making a real difference for my family.”

"I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the service Sara has provided to us during the admissions process. The kids at my son's large public high school get little to no access to college counseling. I lost sleep over it last year until I found Application Nation. I’m honestly not sure what we would have done. I’ve learned so, so much! Sara's knowledge and care shine through." 

"I’m so happy I joined Application Nation for my junior, so I could pace myself with new and, seemingly, ever changing information. I didn’t want to be overwhelmed going into senior fall. There’s always a wealth of knowledge from new parents, veteran parents, and of course Sara!"

“As a first gen parent in the U.S. I felt a bit clueless, but with Sara’s help I was able to help my child in ways I never thought possible. We didn’t hire expensive college counselors, we only did an Application Nation subscription for a year and my daughter was accepted to all 12 colleges she applied to, and got scholarships from ten of them. Thanks to Sara for insights on interviews, essays, the activity list, college list, and much more. The Zoom video calls were a lifesaver. Sara’s hard work shows through in her passion to help. We are truly grateful to Sara for her knowledge and support.”

"When we entered this process, my son had no idea what type of college or university he wanted to attend so he cast a wide net. Thanks to all of Sara’s advice and input on his applications, he is now in the very fortunate situation of having 18 acceptances with $800,000 in merit aid combined! After a lot of thought, my son has decided that the best match for him, his personality and learning style, and where he will flourish is a small liberal arts school. Thank you for your support through this very long and stressful process and its ups and downs. I know we are in this position because my son’s Soundbite made him stand out in this admissions cycle. He received several personal notes along with his acceptances that spelled out his Soundbite as the reason they felt he was a perfect match for their school!"

"The Application Nation 'network' is invaluable. A parent from a previous Application Nation group gave me the confidence and reassurance that my DD will have a positive college experience ahead. Kudos to Sara and Sarah and the entire Application Nation team. You all have built an incredible community! Together, we share our vulnerabilities and lift each other up through this bewildering journey. Truly, thank you. I will miss this group!"

"I loved being a part of Application Nation. Many thanks to Sara Harberson and Sarah Massari for creating such a great resource. Even though this was my second time through the process (back-to-back!!), I still found that I had many, many questions (perhaps even more because I had observed all the various experiences that friends went through last year, and it's almost like, the more you know, the more you are trying to figure out how to avoid pitfalls!!)."

"I initially reached out to Sarah Massari almost a year ago asking about Application Nation. I didn't want to hire a private college counselor, so I was interested in Application Nation but very uncertain that the group would be the right fit. My daughter was not aiming to apply to selective colleges. In fact, with a diagnosed learning disability, the academics of school have always been a challenge. Sarah assured me that the advice would be applicable to everyone, and so I joined. I figured I could always cancel after a month if I wasn't happy. Now I am SO glad that I took the chance!! My daughter has received four Early Action acceptances including her top choice, University of Delaware. Thank you Sara and Sarah for everything!"

"When my best friend told me I needed to join Application Nation, I told her I didn’t think it was for me. I’m a private person and the thought of sharing information about my child and asking all of my crazy questions in a group with hundreds of “strangers” made me very nervous. I figured I’d try it for a month and just watch…. maybe I’d learn something and never have to post. Boy was I WRONG. Sara Harberson and Sarah Massari are two of the smartest, most hard working people I’ve ever seen. The Application Nation community is anything but a group of strangers. Without Sara's guidance, my daughter would have submitted an application with tons of hammering of the same themes, dry activities, and possibly weaker letters of recommendations. Sara and my fellow members helped make our college acceptance excitement possible!"

"I sincerely do not know what we would have done without Application Nation. My daughter’s applications are SIGNIFICANTLY stronger due to Sara Harberson in every area—recommendations on colleges, activities, honors, supplemental essays, her main essay topic, and actual essay. There is not a section of the application that hasn’t been materially strengthened (aside from grades and test scores), and I think if we had joined Application Nation when my daughter was a freshman, those would have improved as well!

The Soundbite exercise, while not easy, is simply brilliant. It forces a focus that my daughter returned to time and time again. The Application Nation team is a great example of what happens when you combine passion, intelligence, knowledge, kindness, and empathy, while wanting to do the right thing for our kids. Sara puts SANITY into an INSANE process.

The best part for my daughter: She has more insight and confidence in her abilities, what she has accomplished, and what she wants. The best part for me: Despite having a close relationship with my daughter to begin with, I now know her better and our relationship has grown with every conversation and connection. I don’t think I can ask for more.

As we wait for admissions decisions, we both feel that my daughter did her best—a best that would not have been achieved without Sara’s insight and high expectations. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

“I’m so grateful for Application Nation and the support we all receive. Thinking back to over a year ago, when I was trying to best decide where to spend money on this process—whether it be test prep, essay prep, a private consultant, etc.—and knowing we don't have limitless resources, I am so glad to have chosen Application Nation. It is such a plethora of information. My daughter and I have learned so much and her friends come to her with questions because they know she can likely help!”

"I'm so thankful for all Sara Harberson has done with Application Nation. Personally, as a first timer, the information, expert perspective, and advice was invaluable. The advice on schools to target, the essay, and the application and the interview process brought my child several college acceptances. In such a crazy year, with so many unknowns for next year, Sara brought a lot of relief to an already tough process. I also really enjoyed the parents and kids in Application Nation. Sara has created an environment in which parents can be proud of their kids AND cheer on other families. I learned so much from other parents and I was relieved to not find the competition I see in other groups. Thank you!!!! I will certainly recommend Application Nation to everyone I know."

“I want to send along this note of praise and gratitude that Sara popped up on my Facebook during my son's junior year. Navigating this process this year has been really challenging. Sara has been spot on with all of her advice and was way out in front with information that seemed to be coming in waves for parents to process. My son used Sara’s resources such as her activities ranking and essay topic assistance to really help highlight his accomplishments and come up with meaningful (and sometimes vulnerable) essays. I sat in on Sara’s Instagram chats whenever I could and she gave me great advice about how to write up the tutoring that my son gave to his autistic brother. We are so grateful!!! Sara should know the impact that she has. Thanks for being our support from far away!!”

"Thank you to Sara Harberson for helping our son with his college essays! We are so thankful and happy with Sara’s editing. My son said that Sara's suggestions transformed his essays and made them exactly what he wanted to express. So glad we have Sara by our side supporting us through this journey. Thank you very much."

"Thank you, Sara Harberson, for creating Application Nation. Prior to finding it, I was getting bad advice and bad tips on my son's essays. I found you and have never looked back. What you have set up is a blessing for parents and students. I have been so stressed this entire year, but Application Nation made this more than survivable. Thank you so much."

"I would highly recommend Application Nation to any and all college bound families!! Sara and her team have a wealth of knowledge and experience that is unparalleled. Her dedication to the students and sincere concern for them is beyond expectation. Her attention to detail and attentiveness to the students and families’ needs is more than I could have ever imagined—especially in an “online” environment. All of our questions were answered promptly, thoroughly and sincerely. The culture of the group is supportive and collegial and that tone is set by Sara herself. There are so many benefits to being a part of Application Nation, first and foremost knowing you are not alone in this crazy college application process!! Thank you to Sara Harberson and her amazing team."

"I found Application Nation because I was just starting the process with my oldest child and I was overwhelmed by all of it. I was searching for a resource where I could ask questions and learn, and a friend of mine suggested Sara Harberson. My expectations could not have been better met; this group gave me exactly what I was looking for and more. I learned so much about the application process, and even though I know my daughter has worked hard her entire school career, I am certain that her applications reflected her in the best possible light because of the advice shared in the group. Sara certainly has a gift! Her ability to provide such clear and concise advice, so timely, with zero hint of judgement is a skill that exemplifies her well deserved success with Application Nation."

"Our daughter’s application was dramatically improved as a result of all the help from Sara and also learning from other posts in Application Nation. We honestly felt when she submitted it that she had put her best foot forward and there was nothing else we could have done. As someone commented, “We were playing a game and didn’t know the rules.” From Sara, we learned the rules. Most important of all, we felt support throughout the entire process."

"I think Application Nation is an amazing resource. I wish we'd understood how the program worked earlier. We would have joined a year ago and gone through all the carefully designed application development steps according to the timeline. I was so impressed with everything, including the caliber of students participating and the camaraderie I could sense in the group from those who had been a part of it from the beginning of the process. I would highly recommend Application Nation to others!!"

"One day I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and I saw a free video from Sara Harberson, whose credentials were impressive. I had seen lots of college videos, as this was my 3rd child going to college. As I watched, I was impressed with Sara’s approach. I looked into joining Application Nation. I really thought I’d be in this group for a month and leave. But from the very start I was pleasantly surprised. Sara, herself, responded to every post—I wasn’t expecting that. The group was supportive and kind, not cutthroat and competitive.

I was amazed to learn how little I knew about the college application process. I loved how this group of parents worked together to support our children and with Sara at the helm, presented each application in the best light possible. My daughter was, as they say in poker, aces and spaces. Sara found a way to guide us and bridge those spaces.

I HIGHLY recommend Application Nation. The information and guidance I received from Sara Harberson was invaluable and much appreciated. My daughter ended up at the perfect school for her, which as a parent, is all I need."

"Nothing I’m going to say right now will express the depth of my gratitude for everything Sara has done for us. From reviewing college lists, activities, and essay drafts to cheering us on when my daughter was deferred from a top choice school to celebrating with us when she got accepted into many amazing schools.

We will always be indebted to this incredible Application Nation family for their support and guidance through the ups and downs. Thank you so much, Sara, for creating a community of aunts and uncles for our children. Thank you for guiding them through this insanely competitive and crazy process. I’m positive that my daughter would not have the choices she currently has without the support of this family."

"I am a parent of a 2018 daughter at UPENN and a 2020 son who just got admitted ED to University of Richmond. I found Sara late in our process, but she is hands down the most impressive in the space. She is articulate, she is metered, she is believable and patient, and super darling and put together. I so wish I knew her in real life as she is the kind of person this space and process needs way more of. Sara is a teacher and not a promiser. I have a 2027 down the road and will be sure to plug in when his time comes."

"I belong to several Facebook groups for different interests and purposes, but by far Application Nation is the most supportive, positive group I’ve ever belonged to. Credit must be given to Sara Harberson and Sarah Massari for their expertise and guidance. I am forever grateful to them and everyone else in the group who have shared advice and provided much needed support. Application Nation has helped make this whole college application process a little less daunting. Thank you!!!"

"Thank you to Sara for her very insightful advice on my son’s soundbite. Sara had commented several months ago that she found a special talent of his even more noteworthy than his accolades in STEM, and wanted him to pursue that interest. Until that point I really hadn’t seen my son's interest as more than a hobby or unremarkable pastime, but since I told him about Sara's advice, he has thoroughly enjoyed developing this interest. Sometimes we overlook our own children’s hidden talents in trying to do what seems the more obvious and traditional approach. I’m glad we listened to Sara on this one!"

"It's been so comforting and empowering having a community like Application Nation to commiserate and celebrate with. Strangers unified by the college admissions struggle. Sara makes it so easy for worrywart parents such as myself to feel that there are no dumb questions and to assuage concerns. Despite being an international applicant, Application Nation was still the perfect platform for us to immerse ourselves in the thick of it all and to receive real, practical advice."

"Before I became an official member of Application Nation, Sara saved the day during her free Facebook Live calls with her recommendation to take all core subjects for all 4 years (my son was going to drop science and foreign language and load up on history classes his senior year) as well as her advice on keeping pay-to-play programs in double secret hiding. After becoming a member, I discovered a community I never knew I needed. The members of Application Nation have all been so positive, kind and generous with their knowledge, advice and support, and it’s great to know that such awesome parents are sending their wonderful kids out into this world. Thank you Sara and Sarah for putting together such an incredible resource."

"So many things I am thankful for regarding Application Nation, Sara Harberson, and Sarah Massari. Like others have mentioned, I was skeptical joining at first because I didn't have a kid applying to Ivies and other highly selective schools. I quickly learned that this Application Nation community is for ALL college-bound families needing support, advice, encouragement, and a safe space to vent from time to time. We can't get that from anywhere else!"

"As a new member, I just want to say how incredibly thankful I am that Sara Harberson and Sarah Massari are both "in this business!" I have been following Sara since last spring and soaking up all that I could from her website and blog posts. But I had never done Facebook and I hesitated to join Application Nation for that reason. Sarah Massari had the willingness to personally call me and walk me through Facebook because I was illiterate! Her generosity and our fun, candid conversation about this whole application process was a HUGE turn around for me.

My daughter and I had been working with a local private counselor and it was not going well at all. It actually ended up adding an extreme amount of stress, when the purpose was to relieve it. And my daughter was super cynical about the whole college process. But fast forward a few weeks and we are SO happy to have this amazing group!!! And my daughter is actually now enjoying working on her applications and is always eager to “hear what Application Nation says.” The information in Application Nation has been so helpful. I see how close everyone in the group has gotten and how kind everyone is to one another (which is the opposite of how the local parents have behaved) and I just want to say a huge THANK YOU!"

"I started following Sara Harberson last year. Prior to that, we had several presentations and invitations to procure help with the Common App and supplemental essays. But Sara was the first college counselor who made sense, and who offered tools to help my child create a soundbite, draft a realistic college list, pen a creative activities list (by far my favorite part of application process), and perfect college essays.

I am thankful and impressed with the knowledgeable and positive tone of the Application Nation group. As we prepare to hit "send" on the first few applications, I’m not sure if my daughter will be accepted. But I do know we did everything we could. Sara and the members of Application Nation helped our family every step of the way.

Thank you for taking the anxiety out of this process. We are truly confident that there is a school where our daughter will be happy and enjoy the next four years."

"I just joined Application Nation at the end of September—so disappointed I didn't do so earlier. Won't make the same mistake with my younger son. I have spent the week watching video calls and reading as much content from the site as possible. I have really enjoyed reading members' comments and have been impressed and heartened by how much everyone is trying to help each other."

"People think they need face time with a college counselor, but a true counselor like Sara Harberson makes you feel like you are the only client in the world! We would be lost on this bumpy road without Sara! That, coupled with the support of many, many supportive members, makes Application Nation a special, essential place."

"We are so thankful for Sara's advice and encouragement throughout this process. I don't know where we would be without her!"

"Sara Harberson creates a really warm, supportive vibe."

"Application Nation has been an invaluable tool as we've navigated the college application process, and I will most definitely recommend this group to others."

"Application Nation is so incredibly diverse and, having been a member for many months, I’ve seen all types of students and parents posting about their struggles and uncertainty. I joined this group to help my daughter (whose reach and target schools are other students’ likely schools). I am so grateful to be a member of Application Nation!"

"I can’t express enough what a great resource Application Nation has been for my family—it’s like our security blanket. Applying to college is daunting and most definitely requires a village to pull it all together."

“We were on vacation and had dinner with friends who have a rising junior. They asked me advice about the college admissions process and I replied “Two words...Sara Harberson.” “Two more words,” I added, “Application Nation.”

“Everything Sara has taught us was echoed by the admissions officers. Everything! This group and her advice are beyond valuable and beyond accurate! Plus, Sara’s edit of our son’s essay was simply superb—worth every penny!”

“On Sundays I get an update from Apple of how much time I have spent on my iPhone for the week. My screen time has drastically increased since I joined Application Nation. I will add that this community has positively impacted my relationship with my daughter during junior and now senior year as every time I have a question or get overwhelmed, I log on to Application Nation instead of engaging my high schooler with my questions or my own anxieties about the college admissions process.

Now on Sundays when I look at the time spent on my phone I think, “This is the amount of time I have saved my daughter from me unloading on her about the college admissions process.” It makes me grateful that I can have more intentional, thoughtful, and focused conversations with her. That leaves us much more time to talk about more meaningful things in this last year she is in my nest.

So thank you to Sara Harberson and Sarah Massari for providing a sounding board during a time when parents need a place to obsess, learn, and vent about the complicated process of applying to college. The relational results might be as important as the acceptance results we will likely enjoy because it.”

“We are so thankful for this group. The whole extended family knows about Sara and I talk about her as though she is family; Sara is a very important guardian angel to us this year!!”

“Thank you again for supporting the Class of 2020, and if I could give Sara a soundbite it would be, America's Ethical College Counselor!!”

"Last year watching the inaugural Application Nation group have all the support from the community, I no longer dreaded this year. I know your original model, Sara Harberson, was to provide a place for answers in a private group setting, but what you and Sarah Massari have created goes so far beyond that in terms of a corner of the world we (parents) can be real with our kids triumphs and struggles and work through finding the best fit. All without doing so on the battlefield that is our "real world" of the school and social communities we are in where it is all about parents putting their kids on top and stomping on yours in the process.

Thank you for giving us a place to learn, recharge, vent, fret, brag, comfort, and get comforted so we can fill our oxygen tanks and give our kids all they need."

"A huge thanks to Sara for her incredible dedication and professionalism. I don't know where we would be without Sara and Application Nation!” 

"Thank you so much for your help, Sara Harberson. Essay looks awesome...amazingly edited!!! We have no experience in college admissions as our daughter is the first one going to college in our family, so she just takes care of everything on her own. Your guidance is so, so helpful, and we truly appreciate it. We are glad to have your help going through this college admissions process."

"For anyone with serious interest in the college application process and are stuck in its changing and confusing landscape, it would almost be reckless to not take advantage of Sara’s help! She is truly our beacon of light for college applications."

"We truly appreciate that Sara maintained the integrity of our son's essay while thoughtfully bringing it all together in a way that made sense and was true to his "soundbite." I’m so glad we opted for her essay review service."

"I wanted to thank Sara so very much for her timely and sage advice. As a Learning Specialist and as a mom with a rising senior, I really thought I knew how to navigate the process of college admissions. I learn something new every time I read Sara's blog posts. I have told all of my families to start following her. Thank you, Sara, for your candor and for your caring."

"I want to thank Sara for all of her AWESOME emails that I subscribed to last fall. We are finally, finally out of the college admissions process and EVERY single email I got from Sara helped get me through it all. It has been an unbelievable journey - humbling, disappointing, ultimately joyful. With my whole heart I believe we needed to go through this journey for my son to really, really appreciate his final acceptance. He is a top performer so I think there was room (for all of us) to gain some humility in this process. I say we have and I've never seen anyone so appreciative for where he is now. Sara is the WOMAN and she nailed every single thing we've faced."

"Joining Application Nation helped us get through every step of the application process, making the overwhelming actually doable! What we would like to know is how Sara manages to have private clients, answer every Facebook post, host Zoom calls 2 times a month, have 3 children and still find time to look so beautiful on each call?? We do have one regret, that we didn’t learn of Sara until May…. SUPER SARA!!"

"Sara Harberson is like no other. She has made every part of the college application process so much smoother, but her essay review was so unbelievably thoughtful and thorough that we knew we made an excellent choice. Sara put so much time, care and knowledge into crafting my daughter's essay into the very best piece of writing it could be while still maintaining the integrity of my daughter's own words. We both felt so incredibly grateful to have someone with her expertise giving us guidance on the very best way to highlight my daughter's strengths in this very important piece of the application. Sara is so positive, supportive and genuine in all her advice. She is the very best resource for everything involved in the college application process.”

"Our experience with Application Nation plus individual essay review has been fabulous and tremendously valuable. Sara's attention to detail and knowledge of issues large and small has provided critical guidance and reassurance for our family. As my daughter says whenever we have a question, 'Do what Sara says.'  As the parent and primary editor of all the application materials, I look forward to the Facebook discussion board as I learn something each day."

"Sara is magic! Her knowledge is invaluable. Her patience is infinite. Her kindness is immeasurable. As a parent, it is comforting to know (and hope) that the admissions officer reviewing my kid’s application will be as thoughtful, caring and genuine as Sara Harberson and Sarah Massari. I am sure in the end it will all work out for my son and know that because of Sara’s guidance and solid questions posted on Application Nation, he is presenting himself in the best light. The greatest part is watching him take charge of his future and have confidence that he has a good story to tell. Thank you!"

"Sara has been a superb asset in this challenging endeavor—the college admission process! Her candid and prompt feedback has been critical in this time of great stress and competing priorities. She always approaches a response to a question with a smile and positive spin even with difficult scenarios. Her thoughtfulness and genuine care for the students going through this process shines through with every interaction. Sara’s support with the main essay has been immensely helpful. Her attention to detail and insight to help craft a great story has been invaluable! With heartfelt thanks…thank you Sara!"

"Working with Sara, America’s College Counselor, has been a better experience than we could have ever expected. As a mother of twins I was feeling paralyzed and overwhelmed. I found Sara Harberson on Facebook and with some hesitation joined the Application Nation group. We have been educated on the college application process and gained valuable information and support from Sara and other members. I cannot believe I hesitated for a moment, a small investment for a very large return. We now feel informed and confident. "

"We found Sara's website, email address, and Facebook Live feeds about 10 months ago.  At the time, our son was moving into his junior year, and, because of my profession, moving into his third high school.  The area we were moving into did not have the same rigor as the area we were leaving and we had a ton of questions and concerns over his high school career, and ultimately, his opportunities to compete for a top tier university.

Through Sara's Facebook Live feeds and email correspondence, not only is our son competing for a top tier university acceptance this fall, but we felt that we had a strategy, ally, and confidant throughout the process.

We thoroughly appreciate everything Sara is doing to help young adults and parents overcome obstacles and stress in the college application process."

"Sara Harberson and Admissions Revolution gave my daughter first-class service. Sara is timely, responsive, knowledgeable, and insightful. On the Common App, we needed help especially with framing the narrative of my daughter’s extracurricular activities. Sara’s suggestions were perfect, such that my daughter herself was surprised to see how impactful she has been. If you have any concern about the strength of your child’s college application, I recommend Sara and Admissions Revolution enthusiastically. She should be your go-to source for help."

“Sara Harberson knows the dynamics of each college, far beyond just the published stats.  She is able to draw out the “type” of student – and person – that your high school senior is and hopes to be, and from this identifies a range of schools that will offer an environment in which they will thrive.

In today’s competitive landscape, we each come to the college selection process with pre-conceived ideas.  Sara helps keep the process in perspective, while remaining focused on the end-goal.  Sara gently prods both the student and parents to move outside of their comfort zones.  For example, she is a strong advocate for schools that don’t necessarily carry the same name recognition as the Ivies, but are certainly worth consideration given that they offer many more opportunities for undergraduate students to secure research positions (vs. having to compete with graduate students for these select spots), the classes are taught by professors (vs. TAs), and the inherent benefits of low student:faculty ratios."

On a personal level, Sara balances setting realistic goals with creative optimism.  The initial lengthy list of schools will be whittled down to a select few, each of which will meet the defined objectives.  At the end of the day, we all want our children to succeed in life – not just college.  And that is the importance of retaining – and listening to – Sara’s expertise and guidance.”

“We have three, very different kids (High School Graduations in ’16, ’19 and ‘22) — each working on their own unique paths.  We feel incredibly fortunate that Sara Harberson has been — and will continue to be — a truly helpful and invaluable resource for each of them.

We got to “know” Sara through a subscription to AdmissionsRevolution.com where Sara’s advice on understanding and leveraging the power of athletics was incredibly helpful to our oldest daughter who followed Sara’s counsel and used basketball as part of her strategy to help gain admission to CalTech. Blown away by Sara’s actionable insights that truly moved the needle, we engaged her directly to help our rising 10th grader make some choices about how best to construct his summer plans.  Sara connected with him via Skype and helped him parse through and prioritize the different options he had identified as well as bringing new options to the table. Sara helped him find that elusive balance — helping him structure a summer that allowed him to pursue his academic passions – while also enabling him to do some part-time work and as importantly, enjoy some much needed downtime after a full year of school.  Sara was well prepared, really bonded with him, and as a result, they accomplished more in an hour than we could ever have. As a result, our son is excited about continuing to work with Sara in the years to come. Finally, our youngest son has his sights set on attending a specific Northeastern prep school for high school, where he wants to play lacrosse. Sara has already been super helpful in sharing with him the types of things he needs to be doing now – in middle school – to best position himself for the competitive admissions process ahead.

Sara’s advice and approach was far different and far more comprehensive than what we – or our kids – expected. Our two oldest said that while they genuinely value their public high school college counselors – that working with Sara was a night-and-day experience.  Sara is the kind of college counselor — really coach — that every kid needs and will benefit from. She’s accessible, positive (but firm) and really invests the time and effort to truly connect with her students.  Sara’s style and skills, backed by her unparalleled experience will put every parent truly at ease – knowing that their student is in the hands of the best and brightest.”

“My daughter Eliza was fortunate to have Sara as a college guidance counselor at The Baldwin School, a prestigious all-girls private school in 2014/2015. Eliza was an early recruited lacrosse player, which accelerated her college application process. Since athletic recruitment does not guarantee admission, Sara was an extremely knowledgeable adviser throughout our entire process. Sara guided us expertly through the murky, often opaque admissions process. At times, when Eliza or myself were on edge with the academic side of the recruiting, along with the lack of communication from the coach and university, Sara was a calming, collected force that asked us to trust her with the process. She was always available, either on her cell, after hours from home, email or in person and worked tirelessly on our behalf. Sara made sure Eliza’s essay was the best to her ability and constantly pushed her to improve. Although her guidance was included in the Baldwin tuition, with the level of expertise Sara delivered and the peace of mind that Eliza was in the best care possible, I would have gladly paid extra for it.”

“My family has had the great good fortune of meeting, and then working with, Sara Harberson while both our daughters were in high school. We registered for Admissions Revolution and have not looked back!

Sara embodies the “6P’s” ~ Passionate…Professional…Personable…Positive…Pro-Active…Pragmatic…all at a stratospheric level!  Everything she has done, or of which she has been a part, shines through her every presentation: her managerial experience in admissions at Ivy League and other prestigious, highly selective, top-tiered schools; her experience guiding pre-college clientele through the labyrinth that has become the college admissions process; her ability to access information at record speed using a wide-netted network of colleagues and friends in the industry.

In what can easily become an anxiety-producing process, it is fascinating (and nerve-soothing) to watch Sara Harberson take the helm with very individualized care and advice.  One INSTANTLY knows one is in excellent hands! Her assessment of a student’s progress to that point is very much spot on.  She has the keenest and most discerning eye for how any one particular application will be received by any one particular institution, making it easier for the students in identifying where there is room for improvement and where they are right where they need to be. She offers helpful tips in abundance: how to get organized; the role of each element (grades, extracurriculars, awards and recognitions, community service, recommendations, etc.) and their weight in the real scheme of things...where to invest the precious time left before Early Decision.

She is genuine in her assessment, expertly luring out of each student what it is they REALLY want from their college experience. Most helpful to the student is what one should do to present oneself in one’s most authentic light, so that one’s true voice – in the college application essay as well as the application as a whole – shines through.  While doing so, she encourages students to be ever mindful of what THEY have to offer to a selective school.  Sara Harberson has the magic touch: she inspires without sugar-coating.  She encourages and empowers students to reach for their dreams, while gently guiding them to keep themselves tethered to planet Earth.

I am not surprised – AT ALL – that she is being heralded by the most well-respected news outlets in the country as the pre-eminent expert in the field!”