For Parents

LargeEnvelope was created as an alternative to costly admissions consulting. As more and more students and anxious parents turn to professionals to help them polish their personal essays, college admissions officers are becoming increasingly critical of these services and skeptical of their results. LargeEnvelope is one answer to this questionable trend.

LargeEnvelope participants realize many benefits:

• Essays reflect a more honest picture of the student's personality and goals and ultimately result in a better matching of students to university or college.
• Admissions officers are more receptive to essays because the essays sound like they were written by a high school student rather than a 45-year-old consultant.
• Students learn about the culture and expectations of various universities by working with enrolled students.
• Students are genuinely engaged in writing their personal essay; they feel less stressed by the process and more ownership of the outcome.
• Parents save money in the increasingly expensive college admissions process.

LargeEnvelope philosophy:

LargeEnvelope levels the playing field when it comes to access to college admissions advice: its mentoring services cost a fraction of the cost of traditional admissions consulting services.

LargeEnvelope’s approach is more consistent with admissions officers’ desire to hear an applicant’s true story, interests, and passions through the applicant’s essay and short answers.

LargeEnvelope students learn first-hand what admissions officers are looking for by interacting directly with mentors at the college of their choice. With LargeEnvelope, high school students interact directly with students at Yale, Harvard, Stanford, USC, Northwestern, Wellesley, Bowdoin, and 73 of the other most selective colleges and universities of their choice.

LargeEnvelope is a supporter and sponsor of the Educational Conservancy. Principles we share with the Educational Conservancy:

• Education is a process, not a product. Students are learners, not customers.
• College admission should be part of an educational process directed toward student autonomy and intellectual maturity.
• Students’ thoughts, ideas and passions are worthy to be engaged and handled with utmost care.