The Secret Colleges Don’t Tell You About Bergen County Students’ Admission Odds

Jul 1

2 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Smiling graduate in navy cap and gown holds diploma between proud parents at university; banner reads Congratulations Class of 2024.

Selective universities receive tens of thousands of applications from students with perfect GPAs and test scores every year.

Bergen County students have a lot going for them: strong schools with plenty of AP offerings, committed teachers, and involved families. But that’s also the problem. What separates your student with straight A’s and ten AP courses from the next? What differentiates your child when everyone in their graduating class has a 1500 or better on the SAT?

Have you ever thought, "Is my child doing enough?" If so, you’re in good company. As a suburban feeder school, selective universities — especially Ivy League Plus schools and brand-name liberal arts colleges — see the same applicant from thousands of Bergen County students. And they’re only going to accept a handful.

Hard truth: your location is working against you. Colleges want “geographic diversity,” which doesn’t apply to your child. Admissions officers read applications holistically. They’re looking for a story: the extracurriculars, the projects, and everything your child does outside of the classroom. A perfect academic transcript earns you a second glance. It doesn’t earn you an acceptance.

✨ Have a Former Admissions Officer Review Your Child’s Admissions Profile ✨

Most students fire off the Common App to dozens of schools and hope for the best. What they need is someone who actually served on an admissions committee — a former admissions officer who read applications at the schools your child is targeting.

They find the gaps in your child’s application. Best of all, they tell you how to close them.

For a limited time, Empowerly is offering a free College Admissions Profile Review. Former admissions officers from Vanderbilt, Brown, and Johns Hopkins will read your student’s profile.

Your free review includes:

An honest read of your teen’s profile: academics, activities, and where they actually stand out
What you’re missing: the gaps and opportunities that make a real difference at selective schools
A customized plan for your child: specific next steps, not a generic checklist

How to get started?

Request a review, and our admissions officer calls you. We’ll walk through your child’s profile together and give our recommendations. Then, you hang up. No commitment. No cost.