The Authenic Application Colleges Can’t Ignore

Our proprietary Skills + Purpose Alignment™ process helps students uncover what truly drives them—and turns that discovery into an application story that stands out to admissions officers.

Why Parents Worry (and Why They’re Right)

Peace-of-mind payoff:

When your teen can align their skills + purpose with conviction, every choice—classes, essays, activities—suddenly makes sense.

Our Solution: Signature Admissions Method™

Discover Your Why

Our proprietary assessment suite uncovers what truly drives your student—because passion can't be manufactured, only discovered and developed.

Map Skills & Purpose

We identify where your student's abilities intersect with authentic interests, creating a foundation for meaningful engagement rather than strategic positioning.

Craft a Narrative

We design a focused pathway that allows your student to go deep into what genuinely excites them—through courses and activities that feel natural and energizing

Deliver Genuine Proof

All applicant elements align around authentic themes,which results in a genuine window into who your student actually is, not who they think colleges want them to be.

Testive Students Acceptances Include (2024-2025):

Kate Manire, Director of College Advising

Piano With a Purpose: How Jay Turned Solo Practice Into a “Beautiful” Story That Won WashU’s Heart

The Challenge: Jay came to us as a dedicated pianist spending 10+ hours per week practicing alone. He was worried that his solitary musical pursuit “wouldn’t look good to admissions officers”—focused on what colleges wanted rather than what genuinely mattered to him.

The Skills + Purpose Discovery: Through our assessment, we discovered Jay’s true driving force: his deep connection to his sister with nonverbal autism and his passion for supporting marginalized neurodivergent individuals. His musical skills weren’t just technical ability—they were his natural language for nonverbal communication.

The Authentic Alignment: We coached Jay to volunteer at an inpatient mental health program where patients create paintings and Jay improvises musical pieces inspired by their artwork. This wasn’t resume-building—it was Jay using his genuine skills to serve his authentic purpose.

The Result: Jay was accepted to Washington University in St. Louis. He wrote his personal statement about this experience, including photographs of the collaborative sessions. The admissions officer sent a personal note about how “beautiful” his story was—because it was authentically him. More importantly, he found his calling: using music to connect with and advocate for neurodivergent individuals.

What Our Clients Say

Why Choose Testive's Signature Admissions Method™?

With Rachel's support, Ellison was accepted to 11 of the 14 schools she applied to including Columbia, USC, Northwestern, and Wesleyan

"Dasha was the SAT tutor for both of my sons. Not only was she patient, but she pushed them both to achieve their goals in a firm but very kind way. One son increased his score 300 points and the other achieved close to a perfect score. I cannot recommend her highly enough and will most definitely utilize her services for my daughter. Dasha is truly the best!"

David M.

With Testive's help, Maya was accepted to 9 out of 12 schools, including Johns Hopkins, Emory, and Boston University.

"Her advisor helped Maya find the thread that connected all her experiences—from organizing neighborhood cleanups to tutoring math. Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, Maya's applications told one clear, authentic story. The difference was night and day—colleges weren't just checking a box, they were genuinely interested in who she was."

Jennifer L.

With Testive’s help, Sanjay was admitted to 7 of the 9 colleges he applied to—including Harvard, Tufts, and the University of Virginia

"As Sanjay's dad, I watched Testive turn chaotic lists into purpose. His counselor wove volunteer work at our animal shelter with his bio-lab internship into a powerful “care for life” theme. Drafts stopped feeling forced; Sanjay's confidence soared. Admissions officers didn’t see statistics—they saw the compassionate researcher my son already is inside."

Gokul T.

Meet Your College Advisors

Anna B. assesses the way a student learns and tailors her approach to meet their particular learning style.

Dasha J. "You can achieve anything you put your mind to!"

As a tutor, classroom instructor, and advisor for over a decade, Jon M. has taught thousands of students in classrooms and hundreds privately.

Jose G.'s teaching philosophy focuses on building confidence and healthy habits..

Justin C.'s ability to connect with students and his expertise in both ELA and STEM subjects make him a well-rounded educator.

Kaitlyn K. Kate's subjects - SAT, ACT, SHSAT, College Advising

Kate M. considers college advising a perfect synthesis of her passions: mentorship and writing.

Keshini C. enjoys tackling challenges from multiple perspectives, and is dedicated to cultivating personalized plans to meet the needs of each student.

Kevin P. is committed to helping each student on their unique journey to higher education.

Myla D. centers human connection in all of her advising relationships and believes that successful mentorships must be built on a foundation of trust and understanding

Nick M.'s philosophy is that, like any puzzle, the SAT and ACT can be cracked with the right strategies and with a knowledge of how they are put together.

Rachel F. has worked with hundreds of students over 13 years of teaching in NYC.

Since 2007, Scott S. has been the go-to guru for ACT, SAT, PSAT, LSAT, GMAT, and GRE, whether in one-on-one sessions or leading the charge in classrooms.

There’s nothing Selene K. loves more than learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens during the free consultation?

In a 15-minute phone or Zoom chat, we learn about your student’s goals, explain the Skills + Purpose Alignment™ approach, and confirm whether a full Admissions Strategy Call would add value. No prep or paperwork needed—just a relaxed conversation.

How is the Admissions Strategy Call different from the consultation?

The consultation is an overview; the Strategy Call is hands-on. During the Strategy Call your student completes a condensed Alignment exercise, identifies two authentic passions, and leaves with a written brief they can share with any counselor.

What does the Strategy Call cost?

For current Testive / Hampton Tutors families, the $250 fee is waived—your tutoring package includes a credit that covers it completely. New families can decide after the consultation whether to book the call at the published rate.

Am I obligated to purchase additional coaching after the Strategy Call?

Absolutely not. The brief you receive is yours to keep and use with your own counselor or on your own. Further coaching is optional and available only if you ask for it.

We already work with a college counselor—will this duplicate their efforts?

Think of us as a specialist layer. The Strategy Call produces a concise Skills + Purpose Brief your counselor can plug directly into timelines, essay prompts, and college lists—saving them (and you) hours of brainstorming.

Which grades benefit most—and is it too late for seniors?

Grades 9-11 gain the longest runway to build depth, but seniors still benefit: our “Application Sprint” condenses the method into 8–12 weeks, turning existing experiences into a compelling story before deadlines hit.