Students, Parents, and Others Say...

"I strongly recommend having guidance to go through this difficult and utterly important decision process. Dr. Deb Felix is the perfect guide."

-Father of a D.C. public school student

(By voicemail) "Hi, Deb, I just got a letter in the mail from the [Ivy League] school that you really encouraged me to apply to. I was sure that I wasn't going to get in, and they just sent me a letter of acceptance. It's crazy! Thank you so much for helping me. You've been such a blessing, Deb, during this whole process, and I could not have done this without you. I love you." 

-Student at Richard Montgomery High School (MD)

"We are still reeling (along with a bit of jumping up and down) over [our son's] great news this past week.  Don’t know if he told you, but Wednesday night we had already gone to bed and turned out the lights when he woke us with the happy news....More importantly, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for guiding, coaching, mentoring, helping, advising and just plain being there for two of our kids now.  Along the way, [our son] said to us “I don’t know how people do this without ‘a Deb’”. We agree! We heard about the very very long calls you took with him and the hours it took to help him create strong applications. And as you know, all of that hard work added up to both [our kids] getting in to their top choice school (where [our daughter] is killing it, I should add,)"

"At first we weren’t sure we really needed an educational consultant. The college counselor at my son’s school was excellent and I had an education background myself, which included some admissions work, so why would we need this? But I am so glad we signed up.! Dr. Felix’s years of professional experience and incredible knowledge of schools was simply invaluable."

-Parents of a Wilson High School (DC) student

"Our daughter} has received admission to [her first choice college] today and we want to personally thank you for being a part of this journey with her and our family. Your professional advice, constructive encouragement and valuable input were instrumental in achieving this positive result."

-Parents of student at Hong Kong International School

"Hi Deb, [Your client Josh] just wrote to tell me that you are a "brilliant genius" and I am laughing at the redundancy!"

- Relative of Applicant (New York, NY)

I got in!!!!!!! Thank you!!! I am so unbelievably happy. Thank you so much!!!

"This whole process has been awesome! I know I would be so overwhelmed and anxious if I were doing this alone. Trying to figure out what type of school would be a good fit and then finding the schools that meet the criteria, then getting through the applications and the dreaded essays would have been so stressful if I did it by myself. I actually haven't even seen [my son's] essay. He won't let me see it until he has been accepted! But I'm okay with that because I know he's in good hands! Long story short, this was so worth it! No stress for me and no stress on [my son] from me nagging! I'm actually looking forward to when it's [my younger son's] turn!

-Mother of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School student (MA)

“When we first consulted with Deb, my son was anxious and uncertain about the college application process. He came away with confidence, a clear idea of what he needed to do, and a very strong essay. He's now a math major at Swarthmore and couldn't be happier.”

-Parent of a Belmont High School student (MA)

"I was blown away by [your first choice for my son] which I hadn't even heard of before. Thanks so much for putting that at the top of the list. It was a campus that I could really see [him] enjoying. Fabulous facilities. And practical learning - the kind he is good at."

-Mother of applicant from India

Dr. Felix is extremely knowledgeable about different colleges, and her advice was practical and valuable throughout the application process. She is also an effective listener, and comfortably down-to-earth in her approach. I would wholeheartedly recommend her - she is wonderful to work with and a terrific coach!

-Parent of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology student (VA)

"YOU ARE AMAZING! [My son] seems so much happier since his acceptance. He is actually going out with friends and enjoying the holiday. So that is a huge relief. Just getting the college admissions process over with has been like releasing binding chains from him. Before he started working with you, he was always tied to thinking about what he had to do next to get into college. It was relentless. You made it so easy, and now he seems so free.

--Parent of Naples High School student (FL)

"Thank you a million times over. This is something I never could have done without your help. I am so thankful for your guidance and support in my life for the past year and a half!"

-Student at Richard Montgomery High School (MD)

"Dr. Felix has an uncanny ability to read a student’s strengths, weaknesses, interests, styles – all the stuff that’s not in a test score or report card – and then

suggest colleges that really fit that individual student."

Parents of a Wilson High School (DC) student

"I chose Deb because of her admissions experience at Columbia. What I didn’t expect, and what makes her particularly stand out, are her interpersonal skills. I enjoyed watching the easy-going way she had with my daughter; it was very effective. My wife was out of the country for six months and did not have to get involved in the process at all. Our daughter was accepted or waitlisted everywhere she applied, and received large merit scholarships. Deb is uniquely competent in everything she does, and always went the extra mile for us. I would recommend her to anyone."

 -Father of Walter Johnson High School student (MD)

"Thanks so much for all your help, Deb; you made everything so much easier."

-Student at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School upon submitting his Early Decision application (he got in)

"Hi Deb, Thanks so much for all your help on my article [about "Sleeper Schools" - excellent up-and-coming or lesser-known colleges], which is now live online and in print."

- Matt Schifrin, Forbes Magazine

"Thank you so much for all of your help along the way! Just having your input gave [our son] extra confidence in his decisions, especially when they were in opposition to [his father’s and my] judgement. He really needed your expert opinion to get the right perspective and to chart his own course. You were great at helping us to understand and go along with his decisions, too.  You guys played a risky hand, but I must say, it all worked out!! We appreciate how you always offered all sides of each option, but in the end you explained and supported the rationale behind your and his decisions. What frankly still surprises me is that you came to know [him] so well! Thank you!"

"If you've applied to college, or seen your child apply, you may think you know the score. I'm here to tell you, you don't. Who knew, for instance, there were so many moving parts to the process?"  

- Katharine Whittemore, reporter who spent a year shadowing the Admissions Committee at a well-known college

"My nephew [Huang Fu] had an ambition to apply to top colleges, but we worried about how to identify the right colleges or universities and how to convey his strengths and his fit properly to his dream schools. Then we came to Dr. Deb who was recommended by our friends with previous experience. Both [Huang Fu] and I believe his applications benefited a lot from her guidance, suggestions and essay improvement. And most importantly, she helped correct his expectations and let him prepare more practically and efficiently for the entire application process. Now, he has been admitted by [one top school] and is looking forward to hearing from other schools to which he applied. Thanks for your timely and insightful help with [Huang Fu]'s college application!"

- Uncle of international student at Glenelg Country Day School (MD)

"Firstly, thanks so much for your recommendation to change our travel plan and see the colleges in DC and Virginia. We did just that and it was really fruitful.

Also, thanks for putting in so much thought into the college recommendations, because I could see all of them being great fits for [my son]. Thanks again for creating his college list - I thought I must share my visit experience with you, especially since my initial approach before working with you was just to look at rankings. :)"

-Mother of applicant from India

This past year Deb has been working with my daughter and helping her (and me!) through the college application process. She has been AMAZING! There were several "emergency" meetings when my daughter got into a panic about her essay. Phew - Deb came to the rescue. My daughter did get into her first choice college and that wouldn't have happened without Deb.

Mother of a Walter Johnson High School student (MD)

"What I liked best with Dr. Felix was that no question was too dumb; she was willing to listen to my panic episodes along with our rational needs for advice. It was so reassuring to know that Dr. Felix was always just a phone call away."

-Mother of a student in Washington, D.C.

"With all the crazy news about college admissions swirling around in the last few days, we want to say unequivocally how impressed we are with the service you have been providing. Your high ethics, integrity, level-headedness, and professionalism are outstanding. We particularly appreciate your ability to tailor your advice to [our son's] unique situation. One should not have to reiterate these points, but in what appears to be a wild game of college admissions they are worth reinforcing. Thank you!"

-Parents of a 2020 graduate

"You are brilliant at your craft! Clear-visioned, encouraging, supportive - not just to [our son] but to us as well - throughout the process. And the experience and passion you bring to the task is unparalleled. My husband and I knew right away [when we met you] that you were what we were looking for. Thank you so much again for your part in making [our son's] college dreams come true."

-Parents of Wootton HS student (MD)

“You made an overwhelming process seem simple, [our son] is ecstatic about the wonderful school he’ll be attending, and we are happy knowing he will thrive there! The four merit scholarships were completely unexpected and would not have happened without you. Your insider information and organizational help were priceless! Thank you so much!"

-Parents of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School student (MD)

"Dr. Felix is not about traditional rankings and ratings – anyone can read that stuff – but she knows what really goes on in schools and how they’re going to work for an individual student."

-Parent of a Wilson High School (DC) student

“I have known Debra Felix for almost 30 years, beginning when she was the Director of MBA admissions at Columbia University’s Business School and I was in admissions at Wharton. I can say with confidence that Deb is one of the most conscientious, fair, kind-hearted people I know. She is testament to the philosophy that giving the best of yourself can be the most effective way to help others be their best, too. Deb’s client-centered approach serves applicants extraordinarily well.”

-Former Admissions Officer at Wharton (University of Pennsylvania)

"Deb’s candid and straightforward approach was essential to my success in the admissions process. She recalibrated my expectations, gave razor sharp insights, and was a valuable resource for all my application dilemmas. Consulting with Deb increased the strength of my application by an order of magnitude. Thank you Deb!!"

-Graduate School applicant

“In my work as Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at the Westtown School and the Baldwin School, I have spent decades engaging with educational consultants from across the country. I have known Debra Felix for decades, and can say that her skills, experience, and commitment are on par with the very best consultants with whom I have worked." 

-Former Director of Admissions at the Westtown and Baldwin Schools (PA)

"Having known and worked with Debra Felix for over 25 years, I can state with assurance that her substantive knowledge of educational options, her gift in counseling students and parents, and her ethical professionalism are what allow her to serve her clients so well.”

-Ivy League Admissions Officer (undergraduate and graduate)