Students who are looking for the next level of challenge in college and take "reaches" find a tremendous success rate, sometimes even in the face of hearing discouraging remarks like "you have no chance there" from school and private counselors. It is somewhat misleading to say "Jane got accepted to Wellesley with a 3.4 GPA," or "Mark is at Harvard despite 1310 SAT scores (math + verbal)," because, although those facts are true, grades and scores are only two factors in a holistic process in which what you write is as important as what you have accomplished in high school. For Jane and Mark, OFC just made sure that the admissions office got the decision right. We help you know what to expect, as opposed to just saying 'yes' or 'no' to your hopes for this process. One of our students may have said it best:

"I don’t think I could have encountered a better college guidance counselor to give me that extra hand that makes the difference between a good candidate and a great one," -- University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2012.

OFC does not push students to reach, but many students and families decide they are ready for the next level of challenge after understanding the process -- working with Options for College helps you develop your voice, and take that important self-inventory before leaving for college -- this is not just a matter of marketing, but a vital chance for self-discovery.

Most students apply to about 10-12 schools, with early action or early decision schools on the list, but some find that perfect program from our list, and aim their process at that school -- this type of discovery is encouraged, but not forced upon you -- for many, it is simply unrealistic to visit a school for at most 48 hours, and then know you want to be there for four years. Our college and university system is an embarassment of riches, in other words, so we don't simply say "you should go to Syracuse," or "Brown's the school for you," and stop advising. Schools we visit continue to amaze us, as you will see by the list of acceptances below.

Individual statistics are available based on particular schools and student profiles, and are often shared at Initial Consultations. OFC students have, to date, been accepted to:

Alfred University, Allegheny College, American University, Babson College, Bard College, Bennington College, Bentley College, Boston College, Boston University (including the College of Communication and the Honors Program), Cambridge University (UK), Carnegie Mellon University, Catholic University, Cazenoiva College, Chapman University (including the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts), Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Drew University, Drexel University (A.J. Drexel Scholars), Emerson College, Eugene Lang College (The New School), Fordham University, Franklin and Marshall College, Georgetown University, Goucher College, Hampshire College, Harvard University, Hiram College, Hofstra University, Howard University, Ithaca College, Juniata College, Lehigh University, London School of Economics, Loyola College (New Orleans), Manhattanville College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Marlboro College, Maryland Institute College of Art, McGill University, Middlebury College, Muhlenberg College, New York University (including the Tisch School of the Arts and the Presidential Scholars), Northeastern University, Pratt Institute, Princeton University, Quinnipiac University, Radford College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Roger Williams University, Rutgers University, Sarah Lawrence College, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, School of Visual Art, Stanford University, St. Joseph's University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Susquehanna University, Swarthmore College, Syracuse University (including the Renée Crown Honors Program), University of British Columbia, University of California – Berkeley, University of California – Los Angeles, University of California – San Diego, University of Chicago, University of Connecticut, University of Delaware (Honors), University of Massachusetts – Amherst, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Rhode Island, University of Rochester, University of Pennsylvania (including the Huntsman Program and the Jerome Fisher Program), University of Pittsburgh, University of Richmond, Skidmore College, University of Southern California, Trinity College, Ursinus College, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, Williams College, University of Wisconsin, Yale University, York College of Pennsylvania

Options for College students get accepted not because of tricks or gimmicks, but because OFC students actually are more prepared for college, and admissions offices find them unignorable candidates, each deeply defining his/her individuality within an otherwise impersonal admissions process. Options for College endeavors to create strong relationships with students so that we are adovcating for students we believe in -- we feel colleges are lucky to have our students, not that our students are lucky to get in.