Students need sufficient time, guidance, and expertise to find their best college fit and high school counselors are frequently too overburdened to provide this. Parents need to be confident that their son or daughter has chosen a college where they will be comfortable and can excel, increasing the likelihood that the enormous financial commitment college requires will be money well spent.

For some, meeting a few times during the student’s ninth and tenth grade years can help with understanding the college search and application process. For many others, the best time to begin is prior to or early in the student’s eleventh grade year. This allows the student to engage in the process without the stress of tight deadlines, schoolwork, and extracurricular activities. It will also allow plenty of time to prepare for the ACT/SAT, identify best fit schools, and plan college visits prior to senior year.

Yes, a free half-hour initial consultation is available to learn more about the services Ian provides.

Yes, Ian works with students throughout the United States and internationally. Meetings can take place in person at the Ariav office or remotely via Zoom.

Ariav founder Ian Friedman has more than thirty years of experience in education as a teacher, writer, and college admissions consultant. This background has given Ian unique abilities to communicate with students, to offer skilled guidance about crafting and editing personal statements, and to provide best practices, updated knowledge, and strong support for students and their families.

Ariav (pronounced: ah-ree-ahv) is the Hebrew word for “son of a lion.” It is a tribute to Ian’s dad, who is a wonderful father and a great man.