Hi, I'm Danny Ruderman. For 20 years, I've helped hundreds of students worldwide get into Ivy and Ivy-Plus universities (Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Rice, Wash U, Cal Tech, & MIT). I love my work because it's more than just college admissions. Yes, it's amazing to see students get into great schools, but what really brings me joy is helping them discover their passions, conquer anxiety, and learn how to succeed.
In fact, the reason I do this isn't just about college admissions—it's about inspiring students to achieve things they never thought possible.
If this sounds like the kind of approach your family believes in, let me show you that high school and the college admissions process can be one where your child feels empowered, motivated, and inspired while also keeping balanced and actually enjoying themselves.
Thanks to Danny's encouragement, I was able to get my novel Dear Killer published by Harper Collins when I was a senior in high school!"
- Katherine Ewell, author of Dear Killer
"Without Danny getting me to think big in high school, I would have never gotten the internship with Benny Blanco, which helped me get to where I am today."
- Blake Slatkin, recent winner of 3 Grammys
Step 1: Think Big and Go For It
Essentials
1. Start early.
2. Figure out authentic interests.
3. Create a very detailed plan for accomplishing big goals.
4. Take advantage of holiday breaks.
Think about this: Stanford University gets 65,000 applications every year but only accepts around 3.5 % of them. How can a student stand out when there are so many others with great grades, test scores, and plentiful extracurriculars?
The answer?
Be authentic and go big.
After helping students discover and develop passions for years, I've seen how teenagers have an underdeveloped SUPERPOWER—adults want to support them and see them succeed. Once students understand this, they can reach out to mentors, launch their own organizations, conduct research with professors, and get opportunities that no adult can
It's all about helping students realize they simply have to ask for help and then guiding them to come up with projects they are truly excited about. In our Zoom calls and through assignments, I help high-achieving students do just that. This allows them to not only stand out but also learn incredible life lessons.
My Approach
Thank you for being who you are! Your unique gift is being able to understand young people and help parents like us better understand our children.
Dori and Rob Kenneally
Danny totally had my back and helped me express who I really was–no easy task in such a high-growth phase of life. I am forever grateful for Danny’s guidance.
Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snapchat & Stanford Grad
It's wonderful people like you who keep the integrity and build the character of future generations. Thank you for giving us direction that has helped both of our kids.
Dr. Ivan Brooks
Step 2: Master School and Tests
Essentials
5. Rock school by learning how to get top grades in less time and creating great relationships with teachers.
6. Master the SAT or ACT in order to score in the top 1%.
When researcher Cal Newport interviewed top students who got into Ivy League schools, he found almost all of them had developed the ability to maximize their time in high school.
That's something I've taught my students for 20 years. It's not about taking the most AP classes—it's about taking the right ones, developing relationships with teachers, prioritizing the most important activities, learning how to time block a schedule, and making sure to get enough sleep.
One of my favorite things to do is teach students how to rock high school because, honestly, schools don't teach things like how to study, stay organized, or actually become a good student.
Also, students don't get taught strategies for how to take tests, especially those like the SAT and ACT.
In my Guaranteed Ivy program, I not only teach these skills to students, but I also include a full ACT prep course that has helped thousands of kids dramatically increase their scores.
"Danny's strategies on how to maximize my time and keep balanced allowed me to write my children's book while still getting As in all my AP classes."
- Brynn Hochman, student at Stanford
"Not only did I get a 35 on the ACT, but Danny gave me both the skills and confidence to make the most of school and create opportunities based on my real interests."
- Slade Jindal, student at Princeton
My student Zach
Just accepted to class of 2029 to Harvard, Stanford, Yale
My student Audrey
Just accepted to class of 2029 to Stanford, Penn, Columbia, Brown
Step 3: Standout in Admissions
Essentials
7. Make connections with professors and admissions officers over time.
8. Research colleges to find true matches between a student's interests and a school's unique offerings.
9. Write standout applications, including essays that showcase a student's voice and personality.
Applying to college doesn't have to be super hard, but that doesn't mean it's easy for high school students. A lot of stress comes from students not knowing what to do. Sometimes, parents who aren't familiar with college admissions can add to the confusion, especially when their child is becoming more independent.
However, there are steps that have been proven to reduce stress and increase acceptances. These steps not only help students impress college admissions officers but also help them figure out which colleges are the best fit for their interests and personality.
I help students find their own unique voice. This means they can show their personality, including their quirks and their vulnerabilities. Many top applicants end up looking and sounding alike, so the key isn't to try to be the most accomplished applicant. It's about showing a real person that others can relate to. And this can be done through telling stories that only your child can tell.
Without Danny's advice, I wouldn’t be at my dream school, simple as that! Because of what I learned from him, I was able to find a program that revolves around my passion. Most importantly, my mental health and stress were much better than that of most of my friends.
Anna Sophia-Lotman, graduate of the University of Pennsylvania
Why should we trust you?
I feel fortunate to be nationally recognized as one of America’s premier college counselors. After being the first in my family to attend college and the third student to be accepted into Stanford University from my public high school, my mission is to help as many young people think BIG and realize their abilities.
I have helped thousands of students around the world get into top colleges and currently have students at every Ivy and Ivy-Plus School in America.
I have also been blessed to have helped the children of celebrities and CEOs and have created coaching programs used by nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies.
I'm the author of The Ultimate College Acceptance System (St. Martin’s Press) and How to Get Accepted to America's Top Colleges.
"Danny really encouraged me to go for it. He helped so much with my essays, and no one thought I would ever get into Harvard!"
- Nicholas Hutchison, student at Harvard
“Danny gave outstanding advice and was patient and kind with my daughter. If you’re looking to help your child, Danny would be your first choice.”
- Dylan McDermott, parent
Here's just a few of the hundreds of students I've helped get into Ivy and Ivy-plus universities:
"To the incredible Danny Ruderman—thank you so much for all your guidance and support. You are so good at what you do.
- Jennifer Lechter, parent
"I don't know what I would have done without Danny's help. While all my friends were stressed, I actually enjoyed the process."
- Miranda Chao Hwang, student at Harvard
"What I would recommend to others about Danny is how he really gets teenagers. He understood how to motivate and support me."
- Shaan Jindal, student at Princeton
"Danny is awesome. Not only does he know what he is doing, but he is hilarious, which really helped me connect and trust him."
- Colin Browne, student at Penn
"Danny helped me refine my voice in my essays and encouraged me to fully be myself. I know this made a huge difference in my applications."
- Caroline Sasso, student at Stanford
"We got to know our son better, and he got to know himself better. Thank you doesn’t come close to what Danny did for our family!"
- Amie Steir, parent
"Going to an elite boarding school was often incredibly stressful. Danny at least made the admissions process easy."
- Erin Li, student at Penn
"Danny's help with my company allowed me to create something I was proud of and was able to discuss in my applications."
- Richter Brzeski, student at MIT
"Danny's advice about cutting out some of my activities made all the difference. Being able to focus on what I enjoyed helped me stand out."
- Rachel Carlson, student at Brown
"Danny's the best. He totally got who I am and helped me to go big when others told me to play it safe. I owe him so much."
- Eitan Prins-Trachenberg, student at Dartmouth
"I recommend Danny to everyone! He not only made the application process easier, but he also taught me how to be a better student."
- Georgia Young, student at Columbia
"I honestly had no idea where I wanted to go or how to present myself. Danny helped me believe in myself and figure out my strengths."
- Devon Meenaghan, student at Cornell
