Harvard
VS.
3%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
30%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
UPenn
VS.
6.5%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
67%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
Columbia
VS.
3.5%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
25%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
UChicago
VS.
5.4%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
83%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
USC
VS.
12%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
50%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
NYU
VS.
8%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
50%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
Wesleyan
VS.
14.4%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
100%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
UC Berkeley
VS.
11.3%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
75%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
UCLA
VS.
9%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
58%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
Emory
VS.
11.4%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
100%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
Tulane
VS.
11.5%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
67%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
Barnard
VS.
7%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
100%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
MIT
VS.
4%
NATIONAL ACCEPTANCE RATE
30%
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATE
VISIONARY ACCEPTANCE RATES BEAT THE ODDS AT TOP COLLEGES
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OUR PROCESS:
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Identify the essential building blocks of students' applications.
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Determine the most powerful steps visionary students can take to increase their competitiveness.
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Create a sense of clarity around what students are looking for in a school.
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Develop independent projects that lead to personal and intellectual growth and help students stand out in the admissions process.
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Devise a customized application strategy that includes academic and extracurricular guidance.
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Build a well-balanced school list that gets students excited for the future.
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Brainstorm, outline, and revise all essays.
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Craft unforgettable personal statements.
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Ensure your students enroll where they belong.
IT'S NOT ABOUT RÉSUME PADDING. IT'S ABOUT
SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
VISIONARY STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE
PASSION,
PERSONALITY,
& PURPOSE.
We only work with a limited number of students each year and have a rigorous selection process.
Our visionary students take the initiative, value critical thinking, have wild imaginations, are leaders in their communities, and dare to pave their own paths.
We support students every step of the way to ensure their applications reflect the brilliant, creative, and multifaceted people they are.
WE SPECIALIZE IN SUPPORTING
Artists, Musicians, Writers, Filmmakers, Performers
LGBTQ+, BIPOC, First-Gen
Entrepreneurs, Mad Scientists, Polymaths, Intrepid Weirdos
Hi! I'm Lianne, a Yale (BA) and CalArts (MFA) alum with over a decade of experience in college counseling. I've helped hundreds of students gain admission to their top choice schools. An artist myself, I specialize in helping students hone their craft, develop their voices, and expand their impact throughout the college application process.
I studied theater and political science at Yale, where I honed my talent for writing personal statements and won nearly a third of my tuition back in the form of fellowships and grants as a result. Thanks to this skill, I was able to secure funding and support for various creative research projects and theater productions in the Middle East, West Africa, and Latin America, where I lived for several years. During this time, I worked as a writing coach for business executives, an English tutor, and an academic translator. These roles trained me to be rigorous, intentional, and precise in my use of language.
Maddie (UPENN) published her writing & founded a big sister program!
Maddie, a writer and aspiring pediatrician, published her original science research AND won the Cabrini Literary Gold Award for her creative writing. She also founded "Big Sister", a mentorship program for student athletes, for which she also coordinated speaker panels and community bonding activities.
Elowyn (Bryn Mawr) wrote a children's book!
Elowyn, a queer student who taught dance to kids, wanted to challenge the gender normativity and body image issues she encountered in the dance community, so she wrote and self-published a children's book about a boy ballerina and organized children's reading groups at local libraries.
Clyde (UChicago) developed a music program for kids!
A mathematician, entrepreneur, and musician, Clyde developed Music Mentors and coordinated benefit concerts to provide instruments to low-income families.
Alex (USC) shot a documentary film!
Alex, an aspiring filmmaker, shot a documentary about his Vietnamese family's immigration to the States, capturing the complexity of preserving tradition and ancestral memory across generations, including his family's annual celebration of Ancestors Day.
Samantha (NYU) curated a photojournalism exhibition!
For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Samantha, an aspiring photojournalist, documented income inequality in LA for an exhibition she coordinated in partnership with the LA Mission. She also organized photojournalism & activism workshops for her peers.
Jordan (UCLA) launched an engineering podcast!
Jordan, a thespian and aspiring engineer, launched a podcast to interview professional architects, designers, and engineers about their jobs to learn about various career paths and share that info with other students. Jordan was accepted to the top engineering programs in the country!
Mia (Wesleyan) designed an interactive booklet for the Guggenheim!
Mia, an artist and mathematician, led her fellow interns at the Guggenheim in designing a booklet to guide teens through the collection and catalyze youth engagement at the museum. She also designed original wildlife stickers to fundraise for the World Wildlife Fund.
Rafae (Emory) combined research with empathy!
An aspiring psychologist, Rafaela led the Big Brain Club at her school in discussing neuroscience research. She also launched the "Junior Profiles" campaign to foster community at her large urban high school, interned at Maimonides, & coached soccer through South Bronx United, demonstrating her ability to meaningfully connect with all kinds of people.
Julien (Scholarship to UWisconsin) mentored male ballerinas!
Julien, a competitive soccer player AND ballerina, mentored younger male ballerinas and worked to confront the stigma surrounding male dancers. He made out like a bandit with scholarships to multiple institutions!
Lila (BU) founded her school's Women of Color collective!
Lila, an actor and political activist, was one of 14 national student leaders of Girls, Inc. She lobbied with congress members advocating for the REAHYA bill, spoke at pro-choice rallies, founded the Women of Color collective at her school, and successfully campaigned to improve her school's support services for survivors of assault.
GET INSPIRED BY OUR VISIONARY STUDENTS
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AS VISIONARIES OURSELVES, WE PROVIDE
CREATIVE MENTORSHIP
THE VISIONARY ADVANTAGE
Visionary students consistently outperform other applicants by distinguishing themselves through meaningful extracurriculars, writing award-winning essays, and avoiding common mistakes that lead to rejection.
Our visionary strategies skyrocket students to the top of the admissions pile.
Upon returning to the States, I began tutoring high school students for the SAT while also pursuing creative writing as part of an MFA program at CalArts. Beyond academics, I loved guiding young people's creative and personal development, which is why I ultimately became a college counselor. I want to help students reach their full potential. Before launching Visionary Prep, I worked for several prestigious college-prep agencies in NYC and San Francisco, where I received comprehensive training as a counselor and application strategist. In the many years since, I've developed my own methodology that guides students through a step-by-step process to help them identify and cultivate their passions and their voices through the college application process. My background as professional writer and director makes me uniquely equipped to coach students on their paths while providing generous, actionable, and meticulous feedback on their writing. I demystify the writing process so that it is energizing and fun rather than tedious and painful, drawing on my extensive experience as a storyteller to help students tell theirs.
VISIONARY PHILANTHROPY
At Visionary Grads, we walk the talk! We strive to cultivate global social and environmental consciousness in our students, which we model ourselves by donating 1% of our profits to Amazon Watch, an organization that protects the Amazon (the lungs of the Earth!) and its indigenous stewards.
We also have a sponsorship program, inviting families to support our work providing college resources to low-income students who are the first in their family to apply to college.
"Lianne is a gem. She really connected with both our children and helped them develop a personal relationship with writing. They received more guidance, instruction, and most importantly, inspiration than was ever provided to them in school. They are better speakers and critical thinkers because of it."
— Yasmine, Parent, UC Berkeley & Tulane
“I cannot say enough about Lianne as a teacher and person. My son loved working with her, and we could sleep at night knowing his applications were in expert hands."
— Delilah, Parent, Columbia
"Lianne profoundly helped my college admissions process. Her empathy and wisdom transformed a stressful and overwhelming experience into an opportunity for deep reflection and thought. I'm off to college with much better writing skills and a clearer understanding of my own goals.
— Axel, Student, UCLA
"Lianne was amazing! She taught me so much about writing and helped me express myself authentically. We worked together to plan and revise my college essays and supplements, and I got accepted to my first choice school!"
— Leah, Student, Trinity Dublin
"I had 14 college transfer applications to finish in under five weeks, and Visionary Prep somehow made the process feel stress-free. She was rigorous, efficient, and encouraging, and I felt understood and supported. Now I'm headed to Cornell!"
— Darren, Student, Vassar
“Working with Lianne was an extremely empowering experience. She helped me dive deep into my life experiences, express my personality, and articulate my thoughts. Her support was invaluable, and I was accepted to ALL my top schools! I am so glad my parents hired her, and so grateful to have had her guidance.”
— Elowyn, Student, Bryn Mawr
"Visionary Prep taught our daughters how to structure their essays and effectively express their ideas. Beyond writing, she taught them how to think, and her approach helped build their confidence. She was always positive, insightful, and encouraging. Our daughters both got accepted into their top choice schools - Carnegie Mellon and UChicago!"
— Shira, Parent, UChicago & Carnegie Mellon
“Over the past 15 years, we have hired dozens of tutors for our three now college age daughters. No one even comes close to Lianne. Her dedication and expertise are remarkable. Our youngest is off to her first choice university, and we are forever grateful."
— Lisa, Parent, St. Andrews
"Our son found more than a coach in Visionary Prep; he found an intellectual mentor. She infused the process with humor and humility, for which we thank her. Now he's off to Stanford!"
— Francoise, Parent, Stanford
"Book her ASAP. You won't believe what a difference it makes. You'll be lucky to have her on your team, and your child will thank you. "
— Jonathan, Parent, U Michigan
"Lianne offers compassionate and intelligent guidance. Her insight into her students needs and desires, in all their complexity, is remarkable. She helped my child express what was important to him in his college essay, and he reached his potential because of her support and dedication."
— Cassandra, Parent, U Chicago
"Lianne helped me get into MIT, my top choice school. I used to hate writing, but her techniques made it accessible and even enjoyable. I learned a lot throughout the entire process and am a better writer because of her."
— Cameron, Student, MIT
"Working with Visionary Prep was a highly productive, efficient, and overall enjoyable experience for our family. In the end, my son was accepted to almost all (deferred at just one) of his colleges, including his first choice–which was a reach! He also received very significant scholarships, and we are quite certain with his grades alone this would not have happened. His essays clearly made a difference. We're thrilled with the results and highly recommend working with Lianne for the best possible outcomes!"
— Janet, Parent, U Wisconsin
"Wow. We couldn't have asked for a better college consultant than Lianne. She held our hand through the entire process, providing expert guidance and empathetic insight."
— Camila, Parent, UCLA
"If you need help with your personal statement or are feeling overwhelmed by the application process, Visionary Prep is the answer to your prayers. I was freaking out, and Lianne came to my rescue. Now I'm at NYU, my dream school!"
— Eliza, Student, NYU
“Your child will love working with Visionary Prep. She inspires students to work hard while helping them maintain a healthy perspective. Our daughter was accepted early to her first choice and we are over the moon! Thank you a million times over, Visionary Prep!”
— Teresa, Parent, USC
"We were extremely happy with the entire process, and in the end, our daughter had seven excellent colleges to choose from! We couldn’t have asked for better results. Visionary Prep offered excellent guidance – especially since we are located outside of the U.S. and our daughter had to navigate the added complications of applying as an international student. Thanks for all your support!
— Rohit, Parent, Occidental
WHY STUDENTS & PARENTS LOVE US
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THE VISIONARY APPROACH
We believe college prep should entail self-discovery, skill-building, and intellectual growth, so we invest in students' personal development as a pathway to success.
We bring humor, empathy, and authenticity to a process that can feel demoralizing.
And we have a damn good track record.
VISIONARY