Why We Built Pathways Consulting: College Admissions Has a Broken Advice System

Why We Built Pathways: College Admissions Has a Broken Advice System

When we set out to build Pathways, we weren’t trying to disrupt college counseling just for the sake of it. We were trying to solve a very real, very personal problem: the college advice system is fundamentally broken—for the vast majority of students.

If you're a high schooler applying to college today, here’s the reality: you’re expected to make the most important decision of your academic life with limited, outdated, or contradictory information. You’re supposed to figure out what schools to apply to, how to stand out, how to write, how to plan your time, how to showcase your personality, and what ‘strategy’ even means—largely on your own.

The guidance gap isn't just frustrating. It's unfair.

The Flawed System We Found

In building Pathways, we talked to hundreds of students—some in the U.S., some abroad. What we heard, over and over, was this:

“I had a counselor, but they barely had time to know me.”

“Reddit is a mess. Everyone sounds confident, but I have no idea what applies to me.”

“My parents wanted to help, but they didn’t know how.”

“I paid thousands for a counselor, but they didn’t get my background—or what I wanted.”

None of these stories are outliers. They're the norm.

Let’s look at some numbers. According to NACAC, the average student-to-counselor ratio in U.S. public high schools is 424:1. That’s not a typo. In California, it’s 572:1. That means the average student gets fewer than 40 minutes per year of one-on-one guidance.

Now add in international students, first-generation students, children of immigrants, low-income families, students in rural or under-resourced schools—people for whom context matters. The traditional model doesn’t just underserve them. It often ignores them entirely.

So We Built a New Model—Pathways

Pathways is not a replacement for school counselors or essay editors. It’s a correction to the gap that exists between what students need and what they get.

We asked a simple question:
What if every student could talk to someone who’s actually been through this process—and won?

Pathways is a system where students can browse profiles of peer advisors—real college students who've recently been through the admissions process—and book 1:1 conversations. It’s flexible, modular, and highly contextual.

You tell us what kind of advisor you're looking for—schools they applied to, schools they attend, cultural background, languages they speak, scores, career path.
We show you matches. You pick. You pay per consult. No bloated packages, no annual retainers.
You have a real conversation—ask your questions, understand the game.
Like them? Book another. Want to switch? Browse new profiles.
It’s a living, breathing network—not a one-size-fits-all spreadsheet.

We designed it to be accessible. Consults can be as low as $30–$40. Students don’t need to commit to a multi-thousand-dollar contract to talk to someone who gets it.

Peer Advisors Are the Missing Link

Why peers? Because the most useful advice doesn't come from a distant expert—it comes from someone who just beat the boss level you’re trying to beat. Someone who applied test-optional, who chose between Brown and UChicago, who got off the Stanford waitlist, who built a spike in esports, who overcame a weak GPA with incredible essays.

They don’t just tell you what worked. They show you how it worked for them.

And because these are paid engagements, students show up prepared. Advisors show up committed. It's mutual respect, at scale.

This Isn't a Shortcut. It's the System That Should Exist.

Pathways doesn’t promise miracles. It doesn’t guarantee Ivy League admits. What it guarantees is access to relevant insight, strategic direction, and real clarity—delivered in a way that scales, adapts, and respects each student’s context.

We built Pathways because we believe:

Great advice shouldn’t be a luxury good.
Cultural and academic context matter.
Every student deserves to be more than a number on a waitlist.

And if we can help just one student feel a little less lost, a little more focused, and a lot more empowered—we’re on the right path.