top of page
Ethics & Philosophy
#1. The college admissions process is not a game to be played.
Having helped hundreds of students get into top colleges (and having attended Stanford myself), I know what amazing experiences await future freshmen. However, I also have seen how authenticity is the #1 quality admissions offices look for in applicants. There are many voices out there advocating that students find their "hook" or become "pointy" (singularly focused on an activity) in order to "stand out". And while I understand why these opinions exist, I think they miss the point.
For me, helping students get accepted into an Ivy League or Ivy-Plus school isn't about getting to a destination. It's about helping students discover and develop true interests while teaching them the skills and mindset that will enable them to be successful (and happy) well beyond college.
In other words, I believe college admissions presents a great opportunity for students to grow into the best versions of themselves. When someone asks me, "Does this look good for college?" my response is "Well, is it good for the student's development?
When I was a sophomore in high school, I asked my teacher what the "best" college was in California. When he told me it was Stanford, I made up my mind right then and there that I was going to go to Stanford. I then proceeded to take every AP class, drive myself to get all As, play two varsity sports, become Senior Class President, and start a Mock Trial team...all while procrastinating and getting 4-5 hours of sleep per night. When I broke down crying on my parents' bedroom floor, feeling overwhelmed by my undiagnosed anxiety and OCD, my parents realized that my approach might need some tweaking.
My point is that I fully understand the drive that many students have to get to their dream school. And while I did love Stanford, I have since realized two things:
1. I stressed way too much in high school, and I worried about the wrong things.
2. It's only college.
In other words, I absolutely love helping students get into Harvard, Stanford, Yale, etc. However, if I can also teach them some new perspectives along the way—ones that allow them to actually enjoy their lives instead of basing their worth on the name of a college, I feel I really have done my job.
The truth is that I would have been just as successful had I not gone to Stanford, for while it's a great institution, my success has been more about what I have developed on the inside. I also have hundreds of incredible success stories of my students who didn't go to Ivies. So, while my program is called "Guaranteed Ivy," it's not about the Ivy for me; it's about helping students take their drive and use it to create amazing opportunities while also staying balanced.
#2. It's only college.
For many years, I have railed against any college counselor who offers any kind of guarantee (especially after the college admissions scandal). However, after seeing so much success with my students over the years, I realized that I could use a guarantee to do something different: raise the bar for my students.
Let me explain.
As you will see on my homepage, students who join my program have to meet certain conditions. I do this not because I don't want to work with B or C students or because I believe a B or C student is any less capable of achieving success in the world (I have helped thousands over the years). I set the requirements because I absolutely love working with high-achieving 14-18-year-olds who want the very best for themselves. Additionally, I have found that these types of students are the ones who best take my advice and apply it immediately.
You will also see on the homepage that in order for me to honor the guarantee, both students and parents must meet certain requirements. These allow me to raise the bar in terms of what I can get out of students. My best teachers always expected more from me than I initially thought I was capable of and, as a result, I ended up achieving a lot more. This is what I want for your child. The truth is that students can still stay in the program and often still see great results if they don't end up meeting all the requirements. However, by using the guarantee of admission as a carrot, I have been able to help students achieve truly incredible things.
So yes, if a family meets all the conditions and requirements and doesn't get into an Ivy or Ivy-plus university, I will refund all the money paid. The truth is that before I ever made this guarantee, I always told families I would refund their money if they were unhappy for any reason...and I never had to give back what I was paid. So, this is a similar (but just a better) value proposition for your family because I am just as motivated as you to help your child think bigger and grow more confident throughout high school.
I look forward to helping in any way I can.
If you have any questions about anything I have written here, I encourage you to email me directly at danny@guranteedivy.com
#3. The guarantee I offer is really about raising the bar.
bottom of page