3x Acceptance Rates to T10 Schools
Cohort helps students and parents understand what matters, when to act, and how to build an authentic college application over time.
Join the hundreds of families who've navigated college admissions with Cohort to learn what really works
The problem
College admissions has become unnecessarily overwhelming.
The process is more competitive than ever, but most stress comes from not knowing what actually matters, when to act, or how to prioritize.
Most families react. The best ones plan early.
Waiting until senior year turns admissions into damage control.
Early planning creates calm, confidence, and better outcomes.
The strongest applications are built on authenticity.
Colleges are not looking for perfect resumes.
They are looking for students with direction, curiosity, and a real point of view.
Our approach
A complete admissions system, not just advice.
Cohort combines mentorship, strategy, and technology to guide students from early planning through final decisions without overwhelm.
Timeline
What we cover
9th grade
Build direction and confidence early.
10th grade
Turn interests into meaningful involvement.
11th grade
Build the core of the application with confidence.
12th grade
Navigate deadlines calmly and decisively.
Mentorship
Mentors who have done it before.
- Mentors are graduates from top schools (Harvard, Yale, Duke, etc.)
- Mentors are real, accomplished professionals, working full-time across in-demand careers (finance, engineering, research, etc.)
- Mentors are vetted for their 1) writing ability and 2) passion for helping students excel
Platform
A platform with answers to every question.
Reduce stress with our custom AI platform, where every student always knows what to focus on next (and how to get it done).
Comparison
Why Cohort is different
Traditional counseling
- Extracurricular planning
- Live 1:1 essay editing
- College list support
- Interview prep
- Financial aid support
- Proactive nudges on students' priorities
- Access to 25+ high-achieving mentors from top schools
- 50 hours of video content
- Ethical AI tools
- Library of past applications
- $10,000+
Cohort
- Extracurricular planning
- Live 1:1 essay editing
- College list support
- Interview prep
- Financial aid support
- Proactive nudges on students' priorities
- Access to 25+ high-achieving mentors from top schools
- 50 hours of video content
- Ethical AI tools
- Library of past applications
- $700/school year (<$60/month)
Testimonials
Results without burnout
86%
of our 2025 grads got into Top 50s
3x
admissions odds at T10s
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
After finishing the cohort college mentorship program, I am proud to have been a part of this program. Cohort provides an unparalleled blend of advice and mentorship in the college application process, which allows students to attain extraordinary outcomes. I highly suggest any high school student to go through this program, as this program will also put students in small groups for additional support and cooperative application activities. 5/5
- Jim, Student
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I would definitely recommend cohort to somebody else. Once word got out that I got into Berkeley, I had a bunch of juniors reach out to me actually. And a lot of them asked me just like tips and random stuff. And one specific junior, you might see her next year actually, because she asked me who I went to for essays and I told her you guys. I said it was great. I think my essays turned out way better because I came here.
- Mary, Student
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Cohort is a 5/5. It’s amazing because I get no help at school, and I was really lost before Cohort about a lot of things, and really just overwhelmed all the time. I was surprised by how invested the mentors were. You hear that a lot of college counseling mentors aren’t really that invested. I love the monthly sessions where we go through what needs to happen each month, as it feels less overwhelming and I can focus. Cohort does a great job at breaking down the college application process into smaller, more manageable tasks, and reducing the stress & anxiety that come with college applications.
- Shanoya, Student
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I would definitely recommend to Cohort to anyone who is intimidated by the college application process. Not only do they have great group support, but they also have amazing office hours where you can get one-on-one help. The feedback on my essays I received through this program definitely helped me view the application process as more approachable, especially as a FGLI student. I definitely wouldn't miss this opportunity as a rising senior on their first steps towards higher education.
- Jaehee, Student
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if you want any kind of support, this program is amazing! The mentors are so experienced, not just in their own experience but also working with Cohort as a whole community. Cohort support really differentiates itself from the support you get elsewhere. A big thing I heard everyone throw out is show not tell, but I found that incredibly hard to do. Guidance from my mentor really helped me execute this, and it made a big difference in my essays.
- Anika, Student
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I would definitely recommend cohort to a rising junior because it's never really too early to start on the college admissions process. It was super stressful because you're crammed with these tight deadlines on top of like schoolwork like APs or IBs that you might be taking. It's just a lot to handle all at once. So if you want to make sure that your senior year goes smoothly in addition to college applications, I would recommend you start as soon as possible.
- SHIRLEY, Student
Our story
Founded by people who have been through it.
Kian Simpson prepared for the college process with authentic pursuit if his passions—ultimately earning admission to Harvard and Yale. At Harvard, he studied neurobiology and economics and began working in education technology. He later joined Bain & Company, advising enterprise clients while supporting school districts and nonprofits, before helping build the knowledge systems at New York’s fastest-growing charter network. Today, Kian has built a following of over 10,000 where he discusses college admissions topics. He is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and holds a certificate in college counseling from UC San Diego.
Caden Mackenzie brings a complementary skill set: turning insights into action. He began his career teaching coding to learners around the world, after which he built and sold a national technology platform from scratch. He now develops Cohort's platform and data-driven insights, so students can confidently build their admissions strategy.
Together, they built Cohort to deliver what most students never get: expert guidance, thoughtfully designed systems, and a learning experience built to work at scale—while keeping human connection at the center.
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