Grace Butler
Educational Attainment Services
As college application deadlines head closer, the intimidating process of applying continues to grow increasingly complex. Between test scores, extracurriculars, GPA, and a confusing array of deadlines, many students are left feeling overwhelmed. Amid the checklists and timelines, certain elements within the college application process serve as the cornerstone of a successful application, yet many students lack the structured guidance and toolkit to navigate them effectively.
“Most people don’t realize it, but the subtle parts of the college application process, like college essays and matchmaking, are what pull everything together,” says Mark Lewis, founder of Educational Attainment Services, LLC (EAS). As a seasoned college admissions consultant and author of Affording and Surviving College, he has built a company to empower students with the right tools and resources they need to organize their college application process.
Lewis’ journey into the world of admissions wasn’t traditional. It was led by a personal necessity when he returned to college at the age of 33. However, his move wasn’t driven by academic ambition but by the disappointment of missing an employment opportunity that required a college degree. This led to a transformative experience in his life, including working in admissions at world-renowned universities. Through it all, Lewis developed not just a deep understanding of the admissions process but a mission to help students unlock the doors to schools and colleges they once thought were out of reach.
“My former employees were seeking my help to get their kids through their admission processes,” Lewis recounts. “I used to have a few sessions with them, and eventually, the kids were able to get into schools they weren’t even considering applying to because they thought they wouldn’t be accepted. It was then that I realized I had something meaningful to offer.”
Now, with more than a decade of experience running EAS, he’s turned his mission into a systematic approach that is centered on the best interest of the students. While starting the process as early as 8th grade is helpful and allows students to choose the right subjects and build a well-rounded profile, the summer before senior year is absolutely critical to fully engage in the college application process. This includes 25 to 35 unique college application essays.
He also notes that some parents can be a deterrent in the college application process and encourages a healthy level of parental involvement. “Sometimes, the parent is unintentionally the obstacle,” Lewis adds. “The student might want to go to a particular university, and the parent doesn’t believe that they can get in. But the reality is, they often can. They just don’t know the path.” This is where Lewis’ expertise at EAS becomes critical. As someone who has served both behind the scenes of the college admissions and selection committees as well as directly with students, he understands the intricacies of the admission process, how the decisions are made, and the facets of the process that students need to prioritize the most. He brings this expertise to his college counselling firm, EAS, which provides comprehensive and hands-on college application process solutions to guide students effortlessly.
Mark Lewis – Founder of Educational Attainment Services
“Admission committees have changed the way they select potential candidates, including the criteria to evaluate a student,” Lewis states. “They are looking for indicators of intellectual curiosity and genuine interest. They want to know if you love to learn and if you’re a good match for their institution. And the way to find that is through the college essay.”
A well-crafted essay’s impact is often underemphasized. It encompasses the student’s motivations, life experiences, and thought process, giving college recruiters the information they’re seeking. “It’s the jigsaw piece that helps admission officers make sense of the entire puzzle,” Lewis says. At EAS, students are given the direction to not only uncover their story but present it in a way that resonates with the evolving needs of colleges, ensuring they don’t waste their time making unnecessary drafts of their essay. “If you don’t understand how important the essay is, then you can’t possibly understand the entire application process,” Lewis adds.
Colleges today execute their selection process not on the basis of what the student wants, but what the institution needs. They have specific needs to fill, whether it’s a niche academic program, sports teams, or even a particular extracurricular. Lewis, who is well-versed in the changing needs of the colleges, helps students identify strategic ways to stand out. “Colleges only admit students for their needs. You must give them your story, and that can only happen through your essay and through precise matchmaking,” Lewis states. “We’re helping them through the matchmaking process by making a tailored list of suitable colleges that aligns with their needs as well as those of the college.”
Educational Attainment Services helps shape aspirations into a compelling application strategy. Through results-driven services catered towards effectively building a student’s candidate profile, Lewis remains committed to helping students find the schools where they can thrive. He doesn’t apply for them, and he doesn’t make promises, but he builds strategic partnerships with students to help them see the possibilities they may have overlooked.
“At EAS, everything we do,” Lewis says, “is about helping students find the right fit. And then, give them the tools to show why they belong there.”