Smart College Selection

What Smart College Selection does

Smart College Selection is a private independent college consulting firm founded in 2014 by Amy McVeigh and headquartered in the Indiana/Michigan region. The firm employs six full-time consultants and a Client Services Specialist, collectively offering 149 years of combined experience in higher education admissions, counseling, teaching, instructional design, and social work. It serves high school students (typically beginning in sophomore year or earlier) and their families through a direct-to-consumer model, guiding them from course selection and extracurricular planning through essay development, applications, and final college choice.

The core offering comprises grade-level consulting tiers (8th/9th/10th, 11th, and 12th grade programs) augmented by a proprietary "Smart Approach" methodology built around an eight-step essay development process and customized planning tools derived from the founder's instructional design background. An online college selection planning platform supports deadline tracking and progress management, and the firm runs signature five-day Application Workshops in Indianapolis, Detroit, and virtually. Consultants visit 80+ colleges annually and maintain direct relationships with admissions officers across 170+ institutions.

The business model is professional services billed hourly — explicitly differentiated from the $6,000–$10,000 flat-fee comprehensive consulting typical in the Midwest — with pricing discretion retained per family situation. The firm intentionally caps annual enrollment, generates demand almost entirely through word-of-mouth referrals, school counselor recommendations, and test prep specialist partnerships, and serves clients both in-person across Michigan, Indiana, and select other markets and virtually nationwide. Amy McVeigh additionally designs and teaches college counseling curriculum for UC Berkeley Extension, and serves as Vice President of Education & Training on the IECA Board of Directors.

Name

Smart College Selection

Legal name

Smart College Selection

Website

https://smartcollegeselection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Consulting

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College & Program Discovery, Matching & Fit Tools (EDAFAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Test Strategy & Prep Integrated with Admissions (EDAFAMAE)

Keywords

• College admissions consulting
• Education consulting services
• College selection guidance
• High school counseling
• College application services

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Hourly Consulting Services: Smart College Selection consultants charge hourly for their services, providing families with control over costs and allowing customized approaches to specific situations. The hourly model differs from typical flat-fee comprehensive consulting services in the Midwest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Smart College Selection is a college admissions consulting firm that provides individualized guidance to high school students and families through the college search, selection, and application process. Services are delivered one-on-one by full-time consultants, supported by an online planning platform, and supplemented with group workshops. The firm operates primarily in the Midwest (Indiana and Michigan) while serving families nationwide via remote technologies.

Product overview

Smart College Selection is a comprehensive college selection consulting service offering a multi-year, structured approach to the college application process. The core offering consists of grade-level consulting programs (8th/9th/10th, 11th, and 12th grade services) that provide age-appropriate guidance on course selection, extracurricular activities, testing strategies, and college research. The company also delivers its signature Application Workshops—intensive five-day programs for rising seniors—alongside its proprietary Smart Approach Methodology featuring an eight-step essay development process. Students and families receive personalized support from dedicated consultants (Amy, Bonnie, Christy, Ellen, Kate, and Susan) who guide them through the entire journey from initial exploration to final college selection, supported by an online college selection planning platform for tracking and organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual College Admissions Consulting
• College Application Workshops and Group Programs

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.

• National Association for College Counseling (NACAC)moderateOthersActive membership organization. NACAC has codified ethical guidelines that Smart College Selection believes in deeply. Amy McVeigh is a member of NACAC's Michigan chapter (MACAC).
• Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)coreOthersAmy McVeigh is one of the few members of IECA in Indiana and Michigan named as a Professional Member and serves on IECA's Board of Directors as Vice President of Education & Training. Consultants Kate, Susan, Ellen, Christy, and Bonnie are also members. The company regularly attends IECA conferences.
• Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)moderateOthersActive membership organization with codified ethical guidelines. Company regularly attends HECA conferences and webinars.
• Indiana Association for College Admission Counseling (INACAC)moderateOthersRegional professional association. Kate Brazzale and Bonnie Stewart are members.
• Michigan Association for College Admissions Counseling (MACAC)moderateOthersRegional professional association. Amy McVeigh is a member.
• Rocky Mountain Association for College Admissions CounselingminorOthersRegional professional association. Christy Statema Mattice is a member.
• College Consultants of ColoradominorOthersRegional professional association. Christy Statema Mattice is a member.
• Illinois Association of College Admissions CounselorsminorOthersRegional professional association. Susan Parker is a member.
• Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC)minorOthersRegional professional association. Ellen Tener is an active member.
• University of California – Berkeley ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmy McVeigh works with UC Berkeley creating its college counseling curriculum, writing its courses, and teaching courses in college counseling through its Extension program. She also serves on Berkeley's Advisory Board for its college counseling program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Empowerly: College admissions coaching platform combining AI-driven college matching with human counselor support. Comparable to Smart College Selection in serving the college admissions counseling market but with a stronger technology/digital delivery layer.

Others

• College Confidential: Largest online community and information resource for college admissions, also offering paid counseling and admissions services. Comparable to Smart College Selection in targeting the same student/family segment, but as an enabling resource rather than a pure-play consulting competitor.

Direct peers

• Ivy Coach: Premium college admissions consulting firm offering 1:1 advising on applications, essays, and strategy to selective college aspirants. Comparable to Smart College Selection in delivering personalized, consultant-led college admissions services to affluent families.
• Admissionado: College admissions consulting firm providing application strategy, essay coaching, and interview prep with a team of consultants from top-tier schools. Comparable to Smart College Selection in offering premium personalized admissions guidance for selective college applicants.
• Top Tier Admissions: Boutique college admissions consultancy offering 1:1 counseling on applications, essays, and extracurricular strategy. Comparable to Smart College Selection in consultant-led premium positioning targeting selective college aspirants.
• Collegewise: Largest independent college admissions counseling firm in the U.S., offering 1:1 consulting and college application support. Directly comparable to Smart College Selection in service model, target market (high school students and families), and premium positioning.
• Stratus Admissions Counseling: Independent college admissions counseling firm with a team of former admissions officers providing 1:1 advising. Comparable to Smart College Selection in consultant credentialing, premium positioning, and individualized service delivery.
• Cardinal Education: College admissions consulting firm offering comprehensive 1:1 advising, test prep, and tutoring. Comparable to Smart College Selection in serving college-bound students with personalized, full-service college application support.
• Solomon Admissions: Boutique college admissions consulting practice offering personalized application strategy and essay coaching. Comparable to Smart College Selection in serving selective college applicants with high-touch, consultant-driven admissions support.

Broad incumbents

• PrepScholar: Large-scale test prep and college admissions platform combining online courses with personalized admissions consulting. Comparable in serving the same student/family segment, but with a broader technology-enabled offering spanning test prep, admissions strategy, and AI-driven personalization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-college-selection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart College Selection