Marks Education Review: Customized College Admissions Counseling

The college admissions process can feel overwhelming, especially if you aren’t sure where to get started. Hiring a helping hand can give you special insight into the many different factors impacting your acceptance chances.

Marks Education provides guidance for students navigating the college admissions process. You can get help with every aspect of your journey toward being accepted into the college of your dreams.

In this review, we will explore what Marks Education offers and if it’s the right fit for you.

What Is Marks Education?

Marks Education is a company that offers test preparation, academic tutoring, and college admissions support. It strives to provide each of its clients with a tailored process that focuses on the individual strengths and goals of each student.

What Does It Offer?

Marks Education guides students through the most critical aspects of the college admissions process. Below is a closer look at the key services that Marks offers. 

Admissions Guidance

Marks Education offers one-on-one college admission counseling. If you work with the company, it starts with a consultation session. Your counselor will then advise you as you choose between a comprehensive and a fundamentals package.

The comprehensive package offers more support throughout the admissions process. In contrast, a fundamentals package will help you accomplish the essential tasks you need to complete, like help with your college essay.

Depending on your needs, you can choose virtual help or meet counselors in person at one of Marks Education’s three locations in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. 

Standardized Test Prep And Academic Tutoring

Students can access tutoring through Marks Education to help them maximize their scores on college entrance exams and improve their overall academic performance.

Marks Education’s approach to test prep helps students achieve competitive scores on both the SAT and ACT. For the class of 2023, Marks Education clients saw an average increase of 150 points in their SAT scores and 5.8 points in their ACT scores. And students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses can also get help from Marks Education tutors to improve their AP test scores.

In terms of academic tutoring, students can get one-on-one help in a wide range of subjects. If your student is struggling with a particular subject in high school, one-on-one tutoring can dramatically improve their grades in that subject and raise their overall GPA.

Graduate And Professional School Guidance

In addition to college guidance for undergraduates, Marks Education also offers guidance for graduate and professional school admissions. The approach is individualized, in which students meet one-on-one with a professional admissions counselor, like Nisha Sardella, a Harvard-trained admissions expert. She can help you make an effective plan for medical school, law school, or business school applications.

You can choose hourly sessions or a year-long package, depending on your needs.

Are There Any Fees?

The cost of working with Marks Education varies based on your specific needs and whom you choose to work with. For example, you can tap into college admissions guidance at an hourly rate of $450. But if you want to work with Marks Education’s founder, Nina Marks, the cost jumps to $1,000 per hour. If you are only looking for help with your college admissions essay, then you would pay $300 per hour or $1,500 for a package.

Academic tutoring and test prep costs vary depending on the tutor you choose to work with, ranging from $185 to $475 per hour.

How Does Marks Education Compare?

Marks Education stands out because of its impressive track record of improving its students’ standardized test scores as well as its graduate school preparation package. But if your needs fall outside of those two specializations, you might consider other companies that offer college admissions support, test prep, and/or academic tutoring.

PrepScholar offers test prep and admissions counseling. According to PrepScholar, their students have a 99% chance to get into one of their top-choice schools. Their prices are reasonable, with their highest package being $3,153, which includes applications to 12 schools and their test prep comes with score improvement guarantees.

Prepory is somewhat unusual in that it offers both college admissions consulting for high school students and career coaching for those who are nearing graduation or who are already workforce veterans. Its college admissions counseling rates are fairly standard when compared with the average cost of college admissions consultants; comprehensive annual packages start at $4,900 and hourly plans at $325 per hour. Its career coaching rates are undisclosed.

How Do I Open An Account?

The process of working with Marks Education starts with a consultation. Within that session, a consultant will ask you about your goals and help you find a plan that suits your needs. From there, you can start working with Marks Education on your admissions journey, test preparation, or academic tutoring needs.

Is It Safe And Secure?

Both the authorized employees and independent contractors that Marks Education works with have access to students’ personal identifiable information. But Marks Education insists that it is careful to maintain its clients’ privacy and does not sell the information it collects from its clients or potential clients.

Marks is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, which provides college admissions counselors with guidelines for maintaining their clients’ confidentiality.

How Do I Contact Marks Education?

If you need to get in touch with Marks Education, you can call 301-907-7604 for college counseling and 301-907-7605 for academic tutoring. If you prefer to avoid a phone call, you can fill out a contact form and receive a response within two days.

Is It Worth It?

Marks Education offers students a range of support throughout their journey to college. Of course, that support comes at a price. But the price tag is on par with other similar options. If you want admissions support, this company might be the right fit.

If you’re on the fence about working with Marks Education, consider booking a free consultation session. A consultant can help you explore your options and decide if Marks Education is worth it for you.

Marks Education Features