Here's exactly what happens when you book a session with a TalkColleges advisor.
Find someone whose path mirrors where you want to go — by school and major.
Looking for advice on a specific university? Browse advisors who actually go there right now — not an alumni from five years ago.
Getting into CS at a tech-focused school is a different process than getting into a music conservatory. Find someone who studied what you want to study.
Every advisor's card tells you if they were a recruited athlete or not. Most aren't, but we have a few.
Each profile notes whether an advisor had legacy status at their school — we commit to honesty and transparency.
The advisor who got into Harvard might not give you the most useful advice. The most useful perspective usually comes from someone who got into your actual target school.
One session. One student. One advisor. One hour.
We use Cal.com to manage booking and payment. Choose a time that works for both you and the advisor.
Sessions are approximately one hour — enough time to go deep on essays, strategy, or whatever's on your mind.
$60–$125 per session — pricing varies by advisor. Refundable up to 24 hours before your session starts.
The more focused you are going in, the more you'll get out. Here's how to make the most of your hour.
Don't wing it. Jot down your top 5–7 questions before the meeting. Prioritize the ones that Google or ChatGPT can't answer.
If you want essay feedback, paste your draft into a Google Doc beforehand and share the file at the start of the call.
Essays? School list strategy? Interview prep? Activity list review? The more specific your goal, the more useful the session will be.
Great things to bring up in your session:
All sessions are strictly confidential. You agree not to record, screenshot, or distribute anything said during the session. This protects our advisors so they can speak openly and honestly with you, including sharing sections from their Common App.
Your advisor will give you honest, firsthand perspective. It's your job to take it seriously.
Our advisors won't tell you what you want to hear. If your essay isn't working, they'll say so — and help you figure out why.
No advisor — ours or anyone else's — can guarantee admission. What they can give you is better strategy, a clearer story, and more confidence.
If you want a second session with the same advisor or a different one, you can book again at any point — no package required.
As a thank-you for trusting us with your process, every advisor shares a copy of their own Common App advisor portfolio after your session. This is the template that each advisor will fill out with their own Common App Information, for your personal use.
The activities section shared with you is for your personal reference only. You agree not to distribute, post, or share it with anyone else — this is how we keep our advisors comfortable being generous with you.
Follow this suggested session structure to get the most out of your hour.
| Time | What to focus on |
|---|---|
| 0–5 min | Introductions — Briefly introduce yourself, your grade, and where you're applying. Let your advisor know what you're most stressed about so they know where to focus. |
| 5–15 min | Application Overview — Share your GPA, test scores, course load, and extracurriculars. Give your advisor the full picture so they can give you informed, personalized advice for the rest of the session. |
| 15–45 min | Deep Dive — This is the core of your session. Focus on one or two areas: your personal statement, activities list, school list balance, or interview prep. The more specific you are, the more useful the feedback. |
| 45–55 min | Action Plan — Your advisor gives you a clear, specific list of next steps to tackle before your next deadline. Write these down — this is what turns the session into real progress. |
| 55–60 min | Wrap Up — Recap what was covered, ask any final questions, and confirm next steps. Your advisor will send over their Common App advisor portfolio right before the session ends. |
This is just a suggested structure — if you want to spend the whole hour on your essay, do that. Your advisor will follow your lead.