I dedicated over a year to preparing for my college application. Although I had long-term plans to study in the US, it wasn't until high school that I began actively pursuing this goal.

With the meticulous guidance from Spark Prep’s instructors, my application process unfolded smoothly. Their targeted, personalized programs allowed me to concentrate fully on my personal growth from the start.

Selecting schools consumed a significant amount of time. With my desired major being Biochemistry, my coach, An, assisted me in identifying colleges with strength in that field. I evaluated options based on advice, official websites, and US News rankings, ultimately compiling a list of 16 schools.

Crafting my essay proved to be a lengthy process, with nights spent contemplating the best idea for my personal statement. I carefully selected words and refined the flow to ensure my essay was both coherent and compelling. Supplemental essays, requiring shorter answers with specific prompts, were surprisingly smooth, with ideas flowing readily. About 40% of the schools on my list required these essays, and the support from the Spark Prep team made the writing process seamless.

Standardized tests posed the greatest challenge for me, demanding extensive preparation. Thanks to my teacher's patience and guidance, I navigated this process and achieved a commendable test score for my applications.

While I rarely feel proud of my grades due to the talented individuals around me, a moment of joy occurred during the application process. When I went to school for my transcript and a letter of recommendation, my friends, aware of my study abroad plans, expressed a mix of sadness and happiness. Their love for me, evident in their reactions, touched me deeply. Getting accepted into college just one week after submitting my application brought genuine happiness.

My advice for applicants is to focus on GPA, SAT, and IELTS tests, as they reflect academic abilities and can enhance acceptance chances.

I made the decision to study abroad early in high school, which gave me ample time to prepare. During this period, I familiarized myself with the common application requirements. Most of my preparation involved studying for standardized tests and engaging in extracurricular activities.

A college application includes transcripts, an IELTS certificate, a list of extracurricular activities, and essays. Other elements may include SAT scores, extra essays for specific schools, letters of recommendation, and financial documents.

I applied to a total of 20 schools to ensure I had plenty of options. Despite the daunting number, I wanted to have the widest choice possible. Throughout this process, I received invaluable support from Ms. An and Ms. Tran at Spark Prep. Their guidance and advice were instrumental in helping me make informed decisions. Scholarships and Financial Aid policy as well as program quality were key factors in my decision-making process.

When it came to writing my essay, I initially found it challenging. Starting around August and September, I mapped out a timeline to ensure I met early submission deadlines. Despite feeling unsure about my writing abilities, the team at Spark Prep helped me persevere. Their support enabled me to overcome obstacles and craft essays that truly reflected my experiences and personality.

Building a coherent essay was particularly challenging at first. However, with each draft, I gained clarity and confidence. Every milestone in the application process, from submitting documents to receiving acceptance letters, filled me with pride and gratitude.

My experience taught me the importance of being proactive and starting early. From language certifications to extracurricular activities, each aspect of my profile required careful attention. Ms. An and Ms. Tran played a crucial role throughout, providing timely assistance and ensuring I met important deadlines. Without their support, I wouldn't have achieved the results I'm proud of today!

Khoảng thời gian lớp 11 là lúc em gặp rất nhiều khó khăn trong việc làm hồ sơ và đó cũng là lúc em bắt đầu làm việc với Spark Prep.

Em được làm việc với thầy Joon, chị Trân và cực kỳ trân trọng quãng thời gian đó dù nó rất áp lực. Em học được cách quản lý thời gian và sắp xếp công việc khi thầy Joon từ chối giúp em sửa luận học bổng trong thời gian rất gấp. Em cũng học được cách kiểm soát tâm lý của mình hơn qua nhiều buổi nói chuyện với chị Trân trong giai đoạn căng thẳng nhất.

Nhờ có Spark Prep, em đã hiểu thêm về quá trình làm hồ sơ và luôn tự tin rằng bản thân đã trưởng thành hơn rất nhiều qua chặng đường đó. Em học được nhiều thứ hơn và tự tin hơn về chính mình. Bài học lớn nhất trong năm vừa qua của em với Spark Prep là đừng rush kết quả, đừng overthink và hãy tin tưởng chính mình. Em rất tự hào vì được làm việc với Spark Prep!!! 

In my experience, Spark Prep has been comprehensive. Their program covers all aspects of college admissions, from test prep to essay writing. The team provides expert guidance and mental support that equip students for success.

Spark Prep helped me a lot with my essays. I really like how Jarrod meticulously offered me guidance so I could improve my work. Despite having to complete a lot of essays in a short time, Spark Prep did not rush their support for me at all. I had to write a personal statement, and a few supplement essays for four other schools: Tufts, Northwestern, UNC Chapel Hill, UVA. I felt like I rushed through the process a bit due to lack of time but I was very lucky to have Joon’s support as well. (Joon is another instructor at Spark Prep).

Among Spark Prep’s instructors, I’m most grateful to Jarrod. He helped me with my essays, built my school list, and gave me guidance on my activities as well. I feel most proud of having participated in various extracurricular activities at school, such as working in a lab or being a dorm leader. These jobs were really beneficial to my learning experience as well as for my college application.

The process of writing my essay was quite difficult at the beginning. Particularly, the writing style I learned at school is not applicable to essay writing. Normally, I often used complex structures and outlines for what I have been writing at school, but college essays required me to go straight to the point, keep it short but still informative. So I had to change my writing style accordingly. However, the more I wrote, the more I felt my skills improved. With the help of Jarrod and Luke, my essay writing process has become much easier.

My coaches always encouraged me to create the best ‘product’ possible. They frankly pointed out my strengths and weaknesses, what I did not do well, and gave me advice on how to overcome my limitations. My application could not have been perfect without their support.

What I appreciated most during the application process is that I have learned a lot of new skills, including both hard and soft ones, while working with Spark Prep. Learning writing with Charles, Jarrod and Luke has enhanced my writing skills, as well as my ability to think creatively as I really had to rack my brains to come up with ideas for my college essays. Working with Sa helped me learn to be meticulous, as she always cared about every detail in the process of preparing my application. Sa always reminded me to double-check and review many times for important documents such as financial records or Common App profile.

If you intend to study abroad, you should start preparing everything early so that you do not need to rush. In addition, you should also ask for support from such an admissions consulting team as Spark Prep to make the process easier and avoid unnecessary stress.

Luke helped me a lot with my essay writing. I really appreciated the way he edited and helped me build my essay based on the materials taken from myself, my experience, etc and also showed me how to highlight my personality in each essay. He was also very enthusiastic to give me advice on my future plans. I am satisfied with the quality of service at Spark Prep. Thank you very much, Luke, and all the Spark Prep team!

I have been planning to study in the US for a long time and have a sister who studied in the US, so I knew quite a lot about the application process before. I've been a student at Spark Prep since 11th grade but started looking for schools, preparing documents and writing essays very late - less than 2 months before the ED/EA deadline. Before that, I focused on academics and building extracurricular activities.

I was just allowed to apply to a maximum of 8 schools in the US, so I have to be selective. One mistake I made was to wait until the new application period to find schools, when I could have done it a long time ago. I just completed the school list around mid December, and as a result, the essay writing process was very rushed. Since I had a lot to do at my high school at the same time, I appreciated the support of my coach (Luke) and my coordinator (Tran) a lot. I shared with Luke my preference and he recommended some schools, then I did some research accordingly and let him know what I thought.

I used Cialfo to summarize basic school information. The school website, especially the curriculum and student life sections, was the most important resource for deciding if the school is right for me. In addition, I went to Youtube and Reddit or talked to my friends who were currently abroad to see what people would say about the school. After changing the list of schools and priorities a few times, I realized that my initial feelings about the schools were very subjective. The more information I collected, the more precise I would be and this really helped me avoid living with regret later. Looking back, I am very grateful to the coach and coordinator for helping me manage risks and expectations during the process.

During the whole application season, I wrote about 20 essays of varying lengths (50-300 words for supplemental college essays). My main essay took about 1 month to build from the first draft version. The essay for EA took about 3 weeks since the school required a lot of things to write and I was still not very confident at that time. After this one, I just needed a few days to finish the other essays.

Regarding my essay, I brainstormed some ideas first, then completed a draft version and started discussing it with Luke. I'm a perfectionist, so I often rewrote and corrected my essay until I found it totally alright. Luke helped me make the most of good ideas in my flow that I could not find a way to express clearly. Thanks to that, I was able to complete all the essays on time.

The biggest problem in my essay writing process was mental health. When being stressed, I overthought a lot, got stuck in writer's block and felt discouraged. Listening to the advice of Luke, when I didn’t feel good, I spent time doing something different, such as reading, going out, gardening and so on. There were times when it took me a whole week to find inspiration and spark creativity again.

My advice for you: “Do what you enjoy; don’t just do things for the sake of college application. As you develop yourself originally, it will shine through your application.
Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t be too self-conscious about certain flaws you might have. Focus on what value you can add to your application, like what that dietician on TikTok sez.
Take care!”

One thing I like about the way SP works is that I have full freedom to decide on my application. The coach is not a dictator who forces you to do things to improve your profile, but a person who provides information and advice, gives constructive criticism and helps you to be more confident about each of your decisions. Luke for me is not only a coach, but also a friend and a counsellor by my side to help me overcome the most stressful periods. I can't express how grateful I am for his support.

Dear Zach, Ostin, Sa, Zoey, Luke, and Cori,

I'm writing to notify you that I've been admitted to my ED school today. However sad it might seem, I'm afraid this means the end of the journey we've had together.

It has really been an amazing journey together! I can see myself changing so much just after 10 months. On day 1, I was just a shy boy with no impressive remarks. I was reluctant to even reach out to anyone. However, the friendly and supportive people of Spark Prep helped me in any way they could, making me soon feel like a part of the big family.

Big brother Ostin, big sister Sa and big sister Zoey provided extremely helpful support with various technical difficulties - from getting used to the process to setting up the application and preparing the necessary materials. Although I ask countless questions about everything, even trivial ones, you guys provided very detailed information to every single question.

For big brother Zach, I cannot express my gratitude and appreciation enough for your work and commitment. I’ve definitely grown up a lot after this application season under your guidance. I can say with utmost certainty that I would not have made it to such a selective school as UChicago without your support and instructions throughout the process.

For thầy Luke and cô Cori, thank you so much for your support behind the scenes! I’m sure my application could go smoothly due to your meticulous examination of my materials. Thank you Luke for also helping me with the college selection process!

I've successfully fulfilled the promise I made on day 1 - to try 200% hard and have a successful college application season. I see myself as way more mature since I first got here, as is evident through the way I view life now and the marks I hope to leave on the world in the future. I've realized what I'm capable of, and I will still move forward in the process of completing myself.

If I had to do it again, I would go with Spark Prep all the way. I'm sure that nowhere else could have provided me with the same memorable experiences.

I came, and now I will go - just a passenger along the way. Please keep on what you are doing right now and inspire future students the same way you did with me!

I worked on the essay of my application with Luke.

Before entering the process, I had already anticipated the hard work it was going to require. However, despite this, it still did not make the process any easier and I sometimes found myself falling behind and working slower at the start than I would have wanted. Regardless, once I found my momentum though and with the help of Luke, I was able to push through and start to pick up my pace to reach some of my own internal deadlines I had set for myself.

I think as I continued to reflect on some of my experiences during the writing process, I grew in confidence along the way.

One of the skills I required was trying to understand what the audience (the admission officers) were looking for in my writing and how to incorporate that.
For some questions, I was also able to develop my creative writing skills. Furthermore, with Luke’s guidance, I was able to practice how to be more concise and effective in delivering my message whilst keeping my style of writing.
I was also able to develop my critical thinking skills because throughout the writing process I was also challenged by Luke through the questions he asked that prompted me to think further on a topic or to evaluate my beliefs and opinions.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to pursue some of my intellectual interests and learn more about topics like feminist theories and philosophy. I also had the chance to learn of different topics that I had not heard of before and read more about them.

Overall, I had a positive experience working with Spark Prep.
I personally liked the balance Luke found between staying focused on the goal of applications but also giving me room to explore myself and the things that I am interested in.

Spark Prep was not just an admission support company to me, but was a guide that helped me figure out who I am and be my best self.

Everyone at Spark Prep was helpful, supportive, and warm, which made me feel at ease and much more confident. Sam’s workshop improved my writing greatly. Ostin, who is always so fun to be around, meticulously proofread my paperwork and answered all of my questions. Miss Ha was my mom’s best companion, she explained the process thoroughly to my mom. Cori tutored me on my SAT and her methods boosted my scores. Everyone at Spark Prep played a different, important role in my application process. It would be a mistake if I did not mention Luke, who helped me explore my potential, my goals and how to make them come true.

Luke showed me that writing was not simply.. writing, but was a process of building self-awareness, contemplating, and finessing. The personal statement was not just for colleges, but was a chance for me to reflect on my interests, and my values in life. I loved it when Luke asked me a lot of questions, which made me think deeply and helped me explore new angles for my essays. He never imposed, and always respected my opinions, which made my personal essay really mine, and my personality shown through each and every word.

Luke took my academic interests and caliber into consideration to encourage me to find the right activities. These experiences were invaluable in my various essays.

I am very grateful to Luke, and everyone else at Spark Prep, for not only supporting me to get accepted at the right colleges, but also pushing me to be a better version of myself after the application process.

I'm extremely grateful to have met Luke Taylor and Spark Prep. I worked with Luke on both of my college and graduate application processes. Besides being the most exemplary mentor I've had, Luke is also one of my closest friends and real fams. He is a patient, thoughtful and attentive listener who always makes sure I got the opportunity to express all the ideas I had. Throughout the application process, he has helped me a lot with integrating, organizing, and developing my thoughts and ideas. As I pursued my personal, intellectual, and professional ambitions, he was always there to encourage and anchor me.

When it came time to submit my college application, I was not yet ready. Luke and Spark Prep were always there to support me. I decided to take a gap year at that time. It was a big challenge for my family to support that decision. First and foremost, Luke acknowledged and supported my choice. He was at my side the whole time, helping me discover who I was and getting me ready for the college application process.

When it came time to apply for graduate school, I came to Luke and Spark Prep once again. This time, I was panicked because, from the time I decided to pursue a Ph.D. to preparing the application to submit the application, it only took one month and a half. Everything came so quickly, and the first one I thought about was Luke. Luke, once again, was there and tried his best to help me. He read a bunch of Chemical Engineering articles to catch up with me. He reminded me to be myself and to always check myself whether I really wanted to do this.

It is because of Luke that I am who I am now, and I can't thank you enough for that. When I first started applying, he gave me a lot of encouragement and helped me learn how to ask smart questions, think clearly, express myself eloquently, and trust in myself. Thank you, Luke, for always supporting me and being the best mentor. And thank you, Spark Prep, for always being there, ready to help me, and ready to share every moment with me.

My time working with Spark Prep was very beneficial to my personal growth. The application process stressed me out a lot, but everyone at Spark Prep helped make it all easier.

Miss Oanh answered all of my questions, from each step of the process to connecting me with people who finished applying. We had to navigate through Korean universities websites and worked together on very challenging paperwork. Miss Thuy supported me with my English, which made me so much more confident. She did not only teach me how to take standardized tests, but also gave me tools and knowledge to use in my study in college. Tim was my essay coach and companion. He taught me how to ask questions to write coherent essays, and to understand myself better. Throughout the writing process, he shared with me his experiences and wisdom.

I would like to thank everyone at Spark Prep for supporting me. After the process, I realized what I had gained was not only how to write an essay or to apply to colleges, but above all, I learned a lot about myself.

My first memory with SparkPrep is the intake phone call with Zoey in grade 10. I am intimidated to talk on the phone, so I was extremely nervous at the time, but Zoey was extremely kind and gentle, which eased my nerves. I was so looking forward to my first meeting with her at Spark Prep's office. After that, I felt as if fate had brought me and Spark Prep together. 2020 might have been a pretty bad year for everyone, but for me it's been a very good one, because I got to spend most of it working with lovely, sweet and smart people at Spark Prep. My house is very far from the office, so I have not come to the office very often. But that doesn't mean I don't feel the sense of belonging that Spark Prep staff works so hard to cultivate for their students. Every time I’m at Spark Prep, I can curl up on the sofa with the blanket wrapped around me, or spend hours studying in the library. Their place is always comfy and quiet, and the library has a wide variety of interesting books. In addition, Spark Prep team’s warmth and helpfulness transcends the geographical distance. Ostin and Sa were very close to me during the application process, and were there to support me whenever I felt stressed out. I was even invited to Spark Prep’s Christmas party before working with them. I always knew that I was very cared for and respected.

The most memorable memory I have with Spark Prep is the day when I, Sa, Sam and Thai Vu went to the Temple of Literature to pray that the students, who had applied in 2020, got their ED results as desired. I was very moved by this gesture. But it was more touching when Sa and Sam talked about some grade 11 students, who were pressured by their parents to attend more international tournaments or extracurricular activities, despite having solid scores and activities lists. Sam and Sa were worried that those students would be stressed out, and discussed a plan to help alleviate the weight of their parents’ expectation. Spark Prep students are obviously regarded more than just work concerns to Spark Prep team. They really do care about their students. I was so grateful and happy.

Since most of my interactions with Spark Prep have been online, it would be a mistake without mentioning my wonderful coach. He has been the one who guided me both in the application process and in the personal development journey. He was the one who suggested me to start my poetry translation project as well as my personal blog - both of which are significant parts of my resume. He is also the first person I thought of when I wanted to discover new books to read - from meditation introduction to Western poetry. Not only did he help me explore and deepen my intellectual interests, he introduced me to many other topics such as racism and ethnicity. I used to fear that when I actually start working on the application and the essays, the process wouldn't be as fun as the first few days of exploring the world of philosophy, reading books and writing poetry, but thanks to the teacher's guidance, everything has passed quite smoothly, and more easily than I imagined.

During the essay writing process, the teacher always gave me feedback on how to make my essays better - concise and eloquent. It never felt like he was writing my essays for me though - it was all my work. My writing skill has improved a lot throughout the time I spent working with him. More to that, I am especially grateful that he was very patient when I suddenly changed my personal statement a month and a half before the deadline. If I were in his shoes, I would not have been as calm and understanding as he was. He comforted me, and advised me to choose the idea that I was most confident about. He took a personal interest in his students’ well-being and . When I was in 11th grade, I had the opportunity to talk to his past students, and they would tell me about how he had talked to them about fanfic or worries about school. After that, I also shared many interesting conversations with him about Buddhism, or about Vietnamese grammar and structure. He has always given us care, support and above all is extremely precious friendship.

After a long journey (and a long passage), I still find myself unable to fully express my deep gratitude to him and to the Spark Prep team. I sincerely hope everyone at Spark Prep will "keep the fire" - keep the passion of guiding students and giving them care and love. Send everyone my best wishes!

I’m most impressed by the professionalism of Spark Prep team! They organise clear, specific, and detailed plans to work with students and parents. My daughter always has her work reviewed in time, thus she makes the best preparation for each stage. It never takes too much time for my daughter to receive feedback from her mentors.

When unexpected things come, all team members share responsibility for solving problems. This makes me feel very supported and satisfied. They explain everything, including such sensitive issues as finance. Besides, we also get extra support from Spark Prep during the pandemic time.

The team also shows us how to prepare financial aid applications in a simple way. Since they do not hide or complicate matters, we really enjoy working with the team.

Before starting my journey with Spark Prep, I was very intimidated by the college essay process, struggling to craft the “perfect” essay. Spark Prep’s essay coaches had enabled me to develop myself personally and deepen my values while guiding me on how to express those values through essay writing. They didn’t position me into following the “perfect” formula but allowed me to freely discover myself and led me towards my desired destination. Spark Prep gave me all the guidance and advice I need, which I could confidently carry on to creative writing in the future. I’m extremely grateful to have worked with Spark Prep throughout the application process. Highly recommended to anyone walking into the college admissions journey!!!

I started working on my application since the beginning of grade 11. I took a huge interest in the US for its culture, diversity, people, and especially food :3. I knew I had to prepare early, but I still felt like a fish out of water. I went to many centers to consult, but they all gave me the cold shoulder. I was quite intimidated.
One fine day, I learned about Spark Prep through a friend and how reputable Spark Prep is in Hanoi, but not really in Ho Chi Minh City. I was like OK, it doesn’t hurt to ask. And Zoey was very friendly and kind!!! She gave me very helpful guidance, and I wanted persuade my mom to sign with Spark Prep right away. Later on, my mom met Zoey, and mom agreed that Spark Prep would be a good fit for me.

I worked with Spark Prep on test prep (IELTS, ACT, SAT), essays, and my activity list. At first, I only chose schools that were safe for me because I did not have any self-confidence. However, Joon - my coach - supported me to apply to all the schools that I liked, even the ones that are a bit of a reach. And ta-dah, I got into schools that I had never though I could!

I’m such a procrastinator, and having a lot of deadlines really stresses me out. Everyone at Spark Prep knew that about me, and helped me get started since grade 1, which made grade 12 relatively easy for me. Joon is very strict, but he really cares for me. He helped me brainstorm ideas and finish all of my essays - from UC ones to common app’s to the best of my ability. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know how my essays would be.

During my process, Ostin was very helpful too. He would text me days and nights to check-in on me, remind me of important milestones and meetings with my coach. If he hadn’t pushed me like that, I would not have been accepted to so many schools. Ostin is super nice y’all, 10/10. I would like to recommend Ostin! I was also taken out to eat by Ostin and Zoey many times. The other students at Spark Prep were also lovely.
From someone with such abysmal English writing skill, I have improved a lot, and I’ve become more creative in my writing too. Working with Spark Prep made the application process 100% stress-free for me.

I would like to send a big thank you to Ostin, Joon, Zoey, and Sa. 10/10 and never a moment of regrets when working with Spark Prep. Just come to Spark Prep if you want to be cared for during the application process.

Before Spark Prep, I was mentally a child – all my thoughts consisted of what games I should play, what movies I should watch, etc. Therefore, embarking on my journey of college application was really daunting and one thing that stood out was I found it really bizarre that I would need to write a bunch of supplements on various prompts. In retrospect though, I think I got more out of the entire process than just a handful of rejection and acceptance letters, it was a journey of really diving into oneself and I guess, try to make sense of who you are through all those hours spent working on essays – and SparkPrep could not have been a better companion.

Being an adolescent, in my opinion, means you start to develop meaningful thought processes yet still being surrounded and sidetracked by childish distractions and minor setbacks. Therefore, having chị Sa to consult with technical difficulties when applying, chị Zoey to ask questions about schools and life in college, anh Ostin to discuss about life abroad and the perspectives one may get, thầy Zach to explore essay prompts which ultimately means my very own self exploration, and thầy Luke to draw the path and always help guide me when I’m lost, have all prevented me from saying “Screw it!” and turn on YouTube when I couldn’t be bothered to care about my very own future.

Spark Prep has transformed one of the most confusing and tiring times of my life so far into a very wholesome experience, and that I will forever be grateful of.

I first knew of Spark Prep in grade 11, through Hamit’s SAT class at Spark Prep. I only knew I wanted to study abroad, but I didn’t have any plans. All the Anh 1 Ams kids would tell me how competitive the application process was. Halfway through that SAT class, I decided to sign with Spark Prep, partly because I was worried I started rather late and would not be able to prepare a stellar application, but mainly because of my positive experience with their SAT prep program. After talking with Spark Prep team, I was assured that this was a worthwhile investment.

The thing I like most about Spark Prep is that everyone here was rooting for my personal development. Before the application cycle in grade 12, Luke advised me to take a gap year to really figure out my interests, although my SAT score was solid to apply that cycle. After agreeing with Luke’s suggestion, instead of trying to craft a personal statement with no substance, I had a chance to explore political science major (my intended major then) by taking online classes and reading. Spark Prep let me study with Jeff - a political science PhD candidate - to go through the process more easily and thoroughly. Thanks to working with such an expert, I understood the subject and even myself more clearly, enough for me to quote Rousseu in my personal statement.

I worked on my essay with a handful of instructors at Spark Prep - Luke, Gwen, Andrew, and Kevin. Each of them has a distinctive working style and way of thinking, but one common thing is that they all tried to help me deepen my own ideas and express them as eloquently as possible. The instructor that I spent most time with has a PhD in philosophy, so he was a good fit to help me organize my essay flow, especially when I wrote about developing a thesis in almost all of my essays. Working with Spark Prep instructors showed me the true meaning of essay training, it’s not about editing my work with flowery language, but more importantly, they taught me how to enhance my ideas and how I expressed them through writing.

Additionally, the friendly vibe at Spark Prep was something that got me through the stress of the process. While prepping for SAT, there were weeks that I stayed in the office even more than I did in my dorm room. Spark Prep staff would buy me boba or food, which made me really happy. Whenever I got overwhelmed with stress, I could always text Sam, Zoey, or talk to Trang, Luat, Sa, Ngoc to ask for advices, so I was assured that someone was willing to listen to my ranting lol.
I’m very grateful for Spark Prep team for helping me prepare for my educational journey, starting at Wesleyan.

Before that, I consulted a lot of centers. Writing essays is the element that I feel most in need of help in the process of completing the application. The first time my mother and I met with Luke and Zoey for consultation, Luke surprised me because only through a brief conversation with the abstract stories that she constantly kept and explained to me about the problem I was having, and it was true. At that time, I felt I would work best with Luke, because I was the one who found expressing my abstract thoughts sometimes difficult. Looking for a companion that can understand my wishes and help me find a way to convey is something I am always grateful for.

What I like the most is that Luke helps me explore myself a lot through the essay writing process. Before that, I had difficulty in the idea process in my main essay because I didn't know which story to choose to express the aspects of myself most. However, after each conversation with Luke, I realize a lot about myself, many new inspirations and details were clarified my personality in the essay. by digging so deeply, after finishing the main essay, I understand more about what I love and want to pursue a lot.

The most memorable skill I learned is the importance of detail to a compelling essay. The smallest stories, if noticed and cared for, will connect together into a big story that can show the admissions committee our personalities in every way.

To me, Spark Prep is a close and intimate community that always creates conditions for me to be proactive in learning and improving myself. At Spark Prep, I don't feel constrained or pressured, so I can focus on what I need to get the best done.

I've also finished the circle apply just now and got my winning results since March, but now it’s ok to sit down and reflect on the process. I consider this as a pay-it-forward, making up for my laziness. (I entered Oberlin in the spring 2021, so you can ask). I was labeled an early bloomer, so I often got delusions about my own strength. During the process of applying, I kept thinking about the top of high schools. However, my score is not very high, activities are not outstanding.

Until now, after finishing the whole process and looking back, and meeting with Vietnamese siblings at the school, I feel "sense of belonging" - the feeling of belonging is the most important thing. I am going to be there for 4 years, and will be a part of it forever, like it or not. During the application process, Luke also emphasized this many times, and never - absolutely never - Luke mentioned the ranking of the school while listing the schools (Although it is true that Luke chooses the appropriate rank fields with my profile, not too low), or said that I should apply this school more than this school because of the higher rank.

In the process of writing essays and extracurricular activities list, I really appreciate Luke and Spark Prep because everyone respects the truth and doesn't force me to "polish" anything. If Spark Prep does not respect the truth and “wash” the records, I will (100%) not choose Spark Prep. Everyone who applies to school will also understand this situation, I do not need to say any more. What's the point of going to a good school but not respecting the truth Because everywhere they go, they don't have the equipment of honesty. And even when I decided to gap year, I also received Luke's support and my profile was left there, so that I would come back one year later. I also want to thank Cori for supporting me during the prepẩtion test. I really had a hard time to take the stressful test, but the results weren't too bad and I received a lot of mental support.

I would like to thank Sa, Trang, Zoey, and Luat for enthusiastically supporting me in one way or another in the process of preparing financial or legal papers, including a certificate for me to successfully go to Europe (to keep them from wondering about my gap year). Especially Ms. Sa is very responsive to me. Thank you Sam for mentoring me in the process too. I remember she told me that I had Obie vibes. In addition to doing my application, I also attended Andrew's Queer theory class last summer. In fact, this course opened me a lot about how I have a look at and perceive literature, and thereby opened me knowledge about gender studies. It's been over a year now, and the more I learn about the subject, the more I find myself smaller but more liberal, separating myself from the usual norm of gender identity and gender expressions. However, there are times when I have to pay the price for that freedom (hehe) so, it's okay.

And thank you very much Spark Prep for taking care of many youth-led events. I observe and appreciate Spark Prep very much for this. I think I also have a lot of restrictions because I can't go to the office offline (because I'm not based in Hanoi). And my time is pretty short. If there's a suggestion, I think Spark Prep should increase exposure for people who are not based at HN/SG (or nearby) like me. In my opinion the feeling of bonding is also important also to have a good profile. Thank you very much SPVN.

In the process of working, I like the comfort of Spark Prep, the type of people who are very open-minded, the staff are very enthusiastic. Mr. Xander (the coach supporting me) is quite funny. I'm someone who likes to listen to stories, and Mr. Xander keeps talking, which is the kind of person I need to meet. Besides, Mr. Xander is very good at criticizing and he always asked critical questions.
After spending time writing something-while-mind-empty, with the support of Mr. Xander, it must be acknowledged that my writing ability is quite up. Although he did not pay particular attention to improving my writing skills, I felt under pressure that he often asked questions that made me realize that I was not clear/writing, I better write better to avoid wasting precious time. If you are off-topic / have unclear ideas, then the better way is to write more optimally to avoid wasting valuable time.
I am most impressed with the enthusiasm of everyone here. I get answers to questions 24/24 no matter how weird I text. Everyone knows everything in the application process (or google is good, I don't know but whatever is good because google is a divine skill)

Most of you may be going through what I went through when I was in grade 11, which is picking a center to work with on my application. I tried so many of them, and many of them tried to fit me into a “mould”. Back then, I always sort of knew that I wanted to study linguistics, and there was this one time when I found Spark Prep for a free consultation session. I told my coach about the languages that I was studying and that I wanted to try studying linguistics in college. He advised me to go try out classes at a university level. It was the best advice I’ve ever had.

And I tried, and it made me realize my passion for linguistics and helped me understand the major that I intended to go with. I think that’s the reason why I decided to work with Spark Prep, and that’s what I also love the most about Spark Prep. I feel like Spark Prep acknowledges and appreciates what I want to do, my passion. They don’t try to change me or fit me into any standard. They support me and help me develop and pursue what I say I want to do. That is such an amazing thing about Spark Prep and my whole application process. Working with Spark Prep - it wasn’t just application but for me, it’s also about self-transformation, self-awareness, and development. That’s all for me.

I started to learn about educational counseling centers when I returned home for the spring break in March of 10th grade. After contacting, I immediately decided to sign a contract with Spark Prep because I feel the educator's mind, which I think is the most important thing when it comes to choosing a partner with me during the three-year college admissions process.

Indeed, during my three years with Spark Prep, I have never once regretted my decision. I was thoroughly advised by Mr. Luke about extracurricular activities so that I have the most meaningful experiences for my cognitive, thinking, and compassionate development. In addition, I am very impressed and grateful to Spark Prep's essay review system. During the summer before grade 12, I diligently wrote essays to Ms. Lucy to get her wholehearted feedback on how to develop ideas and writing. After being reviewed by Ms. Lucy, my essays were once again reviewed and commented on by Luke.

I think Spark Prep's essay review system helps students have a multidimensional and holistic view of my essay. I am also very happy that the brothers and sisters at Spark Prep are always friendly and open to me. Although I mainly work with Spark Prep online because I study in the US, I always feel close to you! I am very thankful to Spark Prep for helping me to prepare the best for the pressure of the university application season and to improve myself.

Working with my counselor, I got the chance to acquire so much maturity throughout the process - learning to accept myself, my vulnerability, my sensitivity, my precious relationships, my introversion and so much more. Spark Prep is a place where I can heal, be gentle to my emotions and be the version of myself that I cannot be more proud of. The genuine care he has for his students cultivates our internal love and peace to get through the difficulties and spread it to others, resulting in a community of honest support. Whatever direction I want to pursue and build my own happiness, Spark Prep is there and supportive as always.
I used to be obsessed with the "perfect idea" for Personal Statement and forgot that my life is unique and resourceful as it has always been. After application, I realized writing is a process of thinking as well and have grown to love thinking even more. The writing skills, the advice given to me along the way will definitely be helpful to me in college and beyond.

Overall, I highly recommend Spark Prep - one of the most wholesome and close-knit communities I have had a chance of working with. Spark Prep has been such an amazing companion that constantly values me for who I am, encourages me to build my own sustainable values and helps me learn life-changing lessons about myself and others. But most importantly, I would (and I cannot stress this enough) forever *stay hydrated*.

As I’ve been a senior at Spark Prep for around a year and a half, the one thing that I love the most about working with them, along with many other great things is that they are so supportive, and they’re willing to listen to you, and they’re always willing to help you, and be there for you, not just as mentors or teachers, but also as friends. They always help you figure yourself out, and find the best version of yourself, and that’s the thing I love the most about Spark Prep. Even till this day, I still talk to a lot of people there, and they’ve just become such great friends to me that I can really count on. So I hope you guys are going to have the same experience, because choosing Spark Prep has been one of the most correct decisions that I’ve ever made in my life. And even till this day, I’m so grateful and appreciative of everything they’ve helped me with. College is fun, so good luck to you guys.

Spark Prep always had faith in me, and they made sure that I knew it. Even at my worst points or when I lost all faith in myself, they were always rooting for me. I feel like application can be a really long and painstaking process, which the people whom you normally talk to - maybe your best friends, maybe your family - they can be either busy with their work, or they just don’t have enough relevant experience to fully understand what you’re going through and what you’re supposed to feel like during the process. And so, having someone or some people who can understand what you’re going through and also can support you and make you understand that you’re not alone in this and that it happens in a lot other cases too, is really useful. And I felt that in a very genuine way at Spark Prep. That’s what I like most about Spark Prep.

When the critical time came to choose a companion to support Ha during the application process, it was difficult for us to make a decision. I knew a lot about “centers”, and many big names in this market, ready to guarantee very impressive results. However, their expensive tuition and questionable practices confused us even more. I learned about Spark Prep by coincidence, when I felt almost helpless. I gradually learned the difference in what Spark Prep had to offer students, compared to other centers.

We had a school list that fit Ha’s abilities and academic interests very well. Luke and Spark Prep had a very clear timeline for Ha and our family which was carried out as planned, with support during all unexpected challenges. I appreciated that Spark Prep always provided clear guidance to students, while encouraging them to be proactive and independent. The extracurricular support that Spark Prep provided allowed Ngan Ha to meet with exceptional people in many activities without affecting her concentration on her academic goals. Ha did well on the essays - the most important part of the application process - thanks to these enriching experiences and academic support. However, the most valuable experience Ha got from working with Spark Prep was discovering a whole new way of learning and observing the world.

At the moment, Ha is preparing to enroll in Williams College. I would like to thank Luke and Spark Prep for working with us and for our remarkable experience at Spark Prep.

If I had to use a word to describe Spark Prep, it would be “wonderful”, 2 words would be “very wonderful”, and 3 words would be “really very wonderful.”

Because we couldn’t afford 100% of university tuition, our family decided to find a school that fit our daughter’s academic background, and apply for financial aid. If we didn’t receive aid, she would study at a national university in Vietnam. When we became helpless working on our own, we met the Spark Prep team. After several meetings, our family knew Spark Prep was the right partner for us. They helped us adjust our plan, understood our daughter’s capacity, and mostly, they clarified all of our confusion about the process. Many people asked us “Was the application process easier or harder than you’d expected?” and I answered “It’s so simple, much simpler than we’d thought. Just let Spark Prep help you with what you can’t do alone.”

Ever since my daughter worked with Spark Prep and got accepted to Harvard with a full-ride scholarship, my daughter – Nguyen Dinh Ton Nu – has grown up tremendously. She understands herself better, became more confident and proactive in everything she does, and does everything with a clear purpose and intention. One of her most remarkable traits is how much she cares and devotes to the development of her community. This was instilled in her even more after her work with Spark Prep.

In this chaotic industry, there are many centers that cause more harm than good using unethical practices. Despite all that, Spark Prep continues to prove themselves as one of the most trustworthy and competent companies.

All the instructors at Spark Prep were dedicated, enthusiastic and professional, which helped Quang achieve his goals.

Once again, I want to sincerely thank Spark Prep and especially Luke Taylor. May Spark Prep grow to become a trustworthy center to attract more students and parents. I hope Luke will always be a teacher, a friend, and an inspiration to all Vietnamese students who want to study abroad.

With Spark Prep, the application progress is not just a time to impress admission committees, it is a time for personal growth and learning. My biggest worry when I started working with Spark Prep was that I’d have to give up the freedom over how I present myself to others. However, my instructor respected my freedom and my boundaries. For each of my essays, he would help me learn about a topic, asking questions and helping me clearly articulate myself to others. I said to him once that he's a good "word-putter", but what I really mean to say is that he's a great listener. I don't think I was a "safe" applicant. Other counselors were hesitant to work with me. I didn't know what to do with myself.

Spark Prep team took me in and allowed me to grow without judgement, only with kindness and sympathy. With their support, I learned how to ask good questions, think clearly, write coherently, believe in myself, be considerate towards others, and listen to understand others rather than to assert myself. I'm so glad that I had Spark Prep as a companion on my college application journey. I cannot recommend Spark Prep more to anyone seeking to find their own value and bring it to the college of their dreams. 

Spark Prep team is a reliable source of encouragement. My counselor at Spark Prep carefully orientated me towards strategic ways to do things, yet never forgot to respect my freedom and boundaries. He knew how to get me unstuck, and what to do with my messy thoughts whenever I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Unlike many other “education centers” or coaching services, Spark Prep took me in without looking for a blinking olympic medal in my fresh profile or insisting on my “promise of a superb SAT score”. And their support didn’t even end with my final submit deadlines or my acceptance letters to several colleges, either. The instructor I worked with continued to help me write updates to other schools, negotiate financial aid, and send waitlist letters (and I know for sure that the paid hours he spent for me had been used up). Thanks to his ample support, I now learn how to ask good questions, think clearly, articulate coherently, believe in myself, and finally get into one of the best universities that I truly loved right from the outset of my application process.

My instructor at Spark Prep is such a special presence in this incredible journey. He’s an exceptional person who has also connected me with other exceptional human beings. I would not hesitate to give Spark Prep my highest recommendation to anyone seeking to uncover their own value, bring it to their dream colleges and star in their own growth stories.

I was never an academically superlative student. Before working with Spark Prep, I would have been over the moon to be accepted by 1 US college. However, 6 out of 8 schools which I’d applied for accepted me, which shocked me a bit, to be honest. They were all good schools, too, and they all offered me generous financial aid.

What distinguishes Spark Prep is how instead of DIRECTING, they GUIDE you. That’s what I liked the most about them, because I was empowered and equipped with useful skills for my future life outside of school, like interviewing for jobs or creating a resume for myself.

When I decided to go to school in Switzerland instead of the US, I still had Spark Prep’s full support. Without Spark Prep, I would never have known how much I am capable of when I put forth my best effort.

I’m sincerely grateful for Spark Prep for not only preparing me to go to college, but also for giving me friends who always believe in me and my capacity.

Throughout the year the I spent with Spark Prep, I have grown tremendously both as a student and as a person. From someone who is extremely skeptical about the application process, the staff at Spark Prep has helped me to adapt my view and knowledge into my application. Regardless of the results, I believe Spark Prep has done great work in forging a perfect working atmosphere for me personally. And for that, I’m extremely grateful.

My experience with Spark Prep was beyond my satisfaction. I am glad that I worked with Spark Prep during my college application process. Among all the college counseling centers in Hanoi, Spark Prep stood out to me from the very beginning with their honesty, dedication and professionalism, which are some important qualities that many counseling centers lack. My counselor was the most dedicated counselor I had ever met. We made the most out of our time putting ideas together and polishing my essays to perfection. Somehow, my instructor managed to make this whole seemingly stressful process a very enjoyable and valuable experience. Not only did I stay happy the whole time but I also learned a lot about how to write a good essay (maybe even more than I did at my high school). My writing skills improved rapidly over a short amount of time and I managed to achieve A’s in my English class for the whole year. On top of it all, I am grateful to have had my counselor as a friend and a life advisor as well. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it through my senior year easily without depression. Surprisingly, I had become a lot more cheerful than ever before. Without his endless effort in guiding me through this application process, I would not have got into my dream school.

Thank you, Spark Prep!