Reviews
Here's what some of my clients have to say
Alexandra R.
University of Miami '30
“Saying we are grateful for Eliana is truly an understatement. She was transformational in Sofia’s college journey. From day one, Eliana didn’t just guide Sofia, she connected with her. She became a trusted confidant and someone Sofia genuinely looked forward to speaking with. She has an incredible gift for turning what can feel overwhelming into a process that is exciting, manageable, and even fun. Eliana’s empathy and understanding set her apart. Sofia has an IEP for ADD and has faced learning challenges, but Eliana embraced that, supported her fully, and brought out her confidence and strengths in the most meaningful way. Her knowledge, organization, and strategy are unmatched. she kept us on track every step of the way, and her essay guidance was exceptional. And when our own parental anxiety kicked in, she handled us with patience, positivity, and grace. The results speak for themselves. Sofia was accepted into her dream school, the University of Miami, along with several other schools we once thought were out of reach, including NYU. We wholeheartedly credit Eliana for helping our daughter not just succeed, but truly thrive. She is an absolute gift to any family lucky enough to work with her."
Dylan B.
University of Wisconsin-Madison '29
"When I first started the college application process, I was overwhelmed and had no idea where to begin. I used to avoid talking about college altogether because it made me so anxious. That all changed when I started working with Eliana. She explained everything in such a clear and reassuring way, helping me create a personalized plan to finish my applications on time, without the stress. Eliana made the entire process feel manageable and even enjoyable. Our sessions felt more like conversations with a friend than formal advising. She truly took the time to get to know me, which made every part of my application feel authentic and tailored to who I am. Thanks to her support, I not only got through the process, I ended up loving it. I genuinely don’t think I could’ve done it without her. Now, I’m heading to my dream school, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and I’m so grateful to Eliana for helping make that happen."
Taryn T.
Cornell University '29 & Binghamton University '29
"Eliana served as the college advisor for my twin sons. She was nothing short of extraordinary throughout the entire college admissions process. Her warmth, dedication, and deep understanding of both the emotional and practical aspects of this journey made an incredible difference for our family.​ From the very beginning, Eliana made herself available and approachable, always keeping the lines of communication open with both students and parents. Her guidance was consistently informative, thoughtful, and rooted in a genuine desire to see each student succeed. She supported my sons through every step of the process- from brainstorming and refining essays that truly captured who they are, to reviewing applications with a careful and encouraging eye.​ What sets Eliana apart is her heart. When my sons faced the inevitable disappointment of rejections from some of their reach schools, she reached out personally to help them navigate those difficult emotions. Her empathy and compassion were deeply felt, and she never let them lose sight of their worth or potential. She cheered them on with unwavering enthusiasm and reminded them that their college journey was about finding the right fit- not just the most selective school.​ Eliana brought energy and positivity into what can often be a stressful experience. She helped my sons feel excited about their futures and confident in their choices. She is, without a doubt, a gem- a passionate advocate for her students, a tireless guide, and someone who truly leads with heart."
Jamie S.
Indiana University '30
"Words cannot express how grateful we are to Eliana for the support and guidance she provided during the whole college application process. From minute one, my daughter and I knew she would be a great fit for us. My daughter needed someone who was warm and friendly but would also give her a structured plan of attack and keep her organized and accountable. I needed someone who would lead the way with the knowledge and confidence I was unable to provide. Eliana took the time to understand my daughter’s strengths, interests, and goals, and provided thoughtful advice accordingly. It was evident that Eliana knew all the ins and outs of each school and their requirements, helping to expand my daughter’s list of target schools based on her personal and academic interests. Eliana was always available to answer questions, offer reassurance, and celebrate milestones along the way. Her patience and kindness made this entire process less stressful for us both. As a parent, I could not have done this without her! My daughter is heading to her dream school and we already miss working with Eliana!"
Faraz A.
Colgate University '29
"We are beyond grateful to Eliana for her incredible support and guidance to Ayla in her college application process. Because of Eliana's encouragement and advice over the last few years, Ayla accomplished her goal of getting accepted at Colgate University. From day one, Eliana encouraged Ayla on some many fronts. She took time to truly get to know her—her strengths, interests, and goals—and helped her craft a compelling and authentic application that truly reflected who she is! We would highly recommend Eliana as a college counselor."
Talia S.
Binghamton University '25, Touro University CMHC 27'
"I started working with Eliana in high school for my college applications and ended up getting into my dream school, along with several reach schools on my list. When it came time to apply to graduate school, I knew I wanted to work with her again. Eliana was amazing throughout the whole graduate school process. Every school had different essay prompts and supplements, and she helped me tailor each one to what the school was looking for. She even took the time to do her own research on the field and programs I was applying to, which made a big difference. She also helped me come up with a strong school list, gave great feedback, helped improve my writing, and prepped me for interviews (an important part of the process). As someone with a learning disability, I really needed that 1-on-1 support, and Eliana made the whole process so much less stressful. She was always patient, helpful, and honest. I’d definitely recommend her to anyone applying to college or grad school."
Sarah G.
Penn State University '29
"We are so grateful for the incredible support and guidance we received from Eliana. She is extremely knowledgeable- she truly knows colleges inside and out, from academic programs to campus culture to the types of students who thrive at each school. Her ability to connect our son’s unique needs, strengths, and aspirations to the right college environment was remarkable. She was highly efficient and organized throughout the process, while also taking the time to integrate both our son’s goals and our family’s priorities. Beyond the logistics of college admissions, she served as a thoughtful mentor- encouraging our son to reflect on his broader life goals and what kind of future he wants to create. Her approach was both strategic and deeply personal, and we can confidently say she made a real difference in this journey. We highly recommend her to any family navigating the college admissions process."
Alan L.
Binghamton University '27
"Eliana was simply amazing in her approach to our child's college application process. She is high-energy and very approachable and that brought out the very best in the student. She was very helpful in identifying schools that matched our students' goals/areas of interest and helped him segment his college list into reach/target and safety schools. I think Eliana's added value is the essay process. This is a bear of a task, and she was instrumental in helping our child dig deep for ideas and helping him develop his unique voice. She provided excellent guidance when it came to structuring the essays. We could not have been happier as he was accepted to 10 schools and is on the waiting list for three more at the time of writing."
Dina K.
University of Florida '29
"Eliana was truly a blessing in helping my daughter through the application process and ultimately getting her into her dream school. During an especially competitive year in college admissions, Eliana helped guide us through every step of the process. My daughter was one of four students in her grade who got accepted to UF this year. She also received acceptances to the business schools at UT-Austin, UW Madison, Northeastern, and University of Southern California. We cannot recommend her enough!"
Lauren S.
Ohio State University '30
"Eliana Smooha of Step Ahead Advising was an invaluable partner throughout my daughter’s college application process. She provided thoughtful guidance on building a well-balanced college list, helped my daughter explore and refine meaningful essay topics, and supported her through a clear, step-by-step writing process. Eliana carefully reviewed and strengthened every essay and provided detailed guidance on all application components. As a result, my daughter was accepted to the majority of schools she applied to, including her top two choices, and received significant scholarship offers from multiple institutions. Eliana was patient, resourceful, and highly responsive throughout the entire process. She brought both expertise and a calm, supportive presence that made what can be a stressful experience feel manageable and even empowering. I plan to work with her again next year when my middle daughter begins the process, and I highly recommend her services to any family navigating college admissions."
Vanessa T.
Indiana University '28
"I am forever grateful for the assistance Eliana provided to my son Ethan in the process of applying for college admission. Her guidance, support, and encouragement were invaluable. From our first phone conference, Eliana showed genuine care about Ethan's success even before she was retained. She spoke to me and then to him to get to know both of us better. She and Ethan brainstormed ideas for his college essay which he wrote on his own. He then showed her his work and she gave thoughtful suggestions and helped him edit. She reviewed all of Ethan's community service, clubs, extracurriculars, and sports to ensure everything would be documented for the colleges to review. She went over Ethan's list of schools that were suggested by his high school guidance counselor and suggested a few additional schools. It turns out that Ethan will be attending one of the schools that Eliana suggested! Overall, I can't speak highly enough about Eliana. There's no question that she made the college application process a pleasant experience with a successful outcome. I fully intend to have Eliana work with my younger son when he is going through the college application process. "
Dhruv B.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute '28
"We had a great experience with Eliana and would highly recommend her guidance. She is well-informed about the college application process. As we were new to it, she answered all our open questions and ensured that we felt comfortable with the process and had her confidence. She has great energy and was quickly able to connect with my son. She was very flexible with schedule and had an open door policy for any questions. She was on top of deadlines and ensured that the student has enough time to finish the work. She is passionate about her work and has a personal touch to it. She follows through on the outcomes. We wish Eliana only the best and look forward to working with her for our second one!"
Ethan E.
Stony Brook University '29
"At the beginning of my senior year, I felt overwhelmed by the college application process. I didn’t know how to start my college essay or even how to find schools that were the right fit for me. But after I connected with Eliana, everything became much clearer. She helped me research and narrow down colleges based on my interests, goals, and values. On top of that, she guided me through the college essay I had been struggling with for months, helping me shape it into something strong and personal in just a few weeks. Her support made the entire process far less stressful and much more manageable. Ultimately helping me getting me into my target and reach schools."
Ellen N.
University of Texas, Austin '27
"I highly recommend Eliana as a college advisor for anyone looking for guidance with the college application process. She worked with my daughter Jessica from beginning to end- from selecting schools to helping her brainstorm, organize, and write her personal statement and supplements. Eliana made the process much smoother and less daunting for the whole family, and my daughter really enjoyed working with her!"
Julia K.
University of Florida '26
"I am so grateful for Eliana! When I first reached out to her, I was really anxious about the college application process and I didn't think I would be able to get my applications in on time. But Eliana helped me every step of the way and made sure that everything was on track to be submitted before the early action deadline. She really made me feel confident and prepared, and I couldn't have done it without her."
Emma H.
Master of Speech Language Pathology, CUNY Hunter College '23
"Eliana was truly the reason I got into my dream graduate program. When it came time to apply to graduate school programs I found myself so stressed out and Eliana just made the process a breeze. She started off by helping me organize which schools I wanted to apply to, what each school required, and made sure I was prepared to meet each deadline. She then met with me weekly to make sure that all my personal statements were in line and appropriate for each school. I genuinely loved meeting with her every week and felt so relieved after each meeting. I am beyond grateful to have had her during this time."
Jamie A.
Binghamton University '27, Nova Southeastern University '29
"The college application process is very daunting, especially when it’s your first child. Eliana made this ordeal easy. She was there to guide my daughter when choosing colleges, applying for them, and perfecting her essays. We were so happy with the experience that we came back to Eliana for our second child, who will be attending Nova Southeastern this fall. I highly recommend Eliana as a college advisor."
Jack K.
New York University '26
"Eliana spent countless hours helping me with my college applications. I really had no idea where to start when my senior year started, but her knowledge, expertise, and guidance helped me navigate the process and end up at my dream school."