TESTIMONIALS

Accepted to Brown, Columbia, Tufts & others

As a parent who found Ivy Essay Gurus with limited time for our son to turn in his essays, I was absolutely blown away by the literary genius of Sam & Zak. Not only did they both attend Columbia University, but they helped our son get accepted into 5-7 high calibur universities. Two of them are Ivy League universities, and others at the top of the spectrum. When we approached IEG, I specifically selected them because they had already produced the result in their own lives - both Zak and Sam graduated Columbia University. Because they achieved this result recently, I trusted them to help my son navigate the proverbial tightrope walk during this crucial stage of the admissions process. I will use them again when our youngest is preparing for college. Their level of strength in essay composition and literary word mastery is incredible. I would recommend them to any parent or student who needs an Ace in their corner during this stage in the admissions process. They are masters of their craft.

Steve, parent

Harvard University '24

When I started the college application process, I was intimidated by the enormity of it all. I felt like I had to defend myself and my academic choices up ‘til then, to find my essence in a matter of weeks and then lay it bare for admissions officers to disparage. Working with Zak alleviated a lot of the stress of the process. Breaking it up into consistent sessions of writing and revision, he taught me to use the process as an opportunity to develop my skill, to feel pride in what I had done in my life, and to gain a heightened understanding of myself as a student and as a young person. His responsiveness and availability were reassuring in a personal way which made me feel comfortable sharing my writing, which, especially for the Common App, becomes a deeply personal thing. His editing reached further than grammatical errors, and helped build on thematic ideas and the structural strength of the essays. Ultimately, working with him played an important role in me being accepted to Harvard College, and, equally important, being able to move through this process without being weighed down by it.

Aarya

I was accepted to a number of my top choices like Penn, Dartmouth, and Duke. Thank you so much for helping me with my Common App essay - it helped showcase a large part of who I am and who I hope to be.

Margaret

Wharton School of UPenn '26

Accepted to Columbia Law School & NYU School of Law

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the Ivy Essays Gurus, in particular with Zak. Firstly, Zak provided me with the emotional support I needed to write my essays. He broke down the writing process into easy and manageable tasks that made the overall application experience less overwhelming. He was empathetic and could always lift me up when I felt down about my writing.

Secondly, Zak is excellent at helping one dig deep. He pushed me to bring out the illustrious details from my stories and really ensure that my writing was intentional and touched the reader (in this case, the admissions office).

Thirdly, Zak is incredible at proofreading. He provided extremely detailed in-line comments with fast turnarounds and he was highly responsive to my messages and emails. It was a pleasure to work with him.

In all, I highly recommend Zak and the Ivy Essay Gurus for assistance in writing one’s Personal Statements. In addition to providing great grammatical and storytelling feedback, they make you feel supported. This support then translates into a self-confidence in one’s own story and writing abilities which make the writing process much easier.

Thank you Ivy Essay Gurus, once again. I am grateful for your help in this application process and the additional life wisdom nuggets that you gave me on the side at no-extra charge. :)

Carlos

Zak is phenomenal! I came to Zak with a few bullet points and with his help and guidance finished with an essay I’m extremely proud of. I felt quite anxious about writing my essay but Zak made the process enjoyable. He will take your ideas and help you pull out the best version of them!

Isabella

University of Rochester '26

Sam is a 5-star chef for writing. He is going to concoct THE most succulent essay that will take your ideas where you want them to go.

Taha

Accepted to NYU

Columbia University '19

Having studied with Sam and Zak at Columbia University for four years, and taken a number of classes with them, I can honestly claim that they are two of the most eloquent and articulate people you'll ever meet; they will turn your essays into works of art.

Before their acceptance into Columbia, only two other students from their rural public high school in upstate New York had graduated to Ivy League universities in the school's entire history. That alone should be testimony to their talent. Their words flow effortlessly, with a grace that makes your own voice come to life. Their confidence in their writing makes you fearless of your own. Each can recount his day to make you feel like you lived it, and will inevitably season it with his own signature witty humor. All that is not to mention their caring, Guru attitudes that keep your best interests at heart.

I highly recommend the twins for ANY written or spoken work you may need help with. Even if you think you don't need help — you could probably still use theirs.

Nivita

Columbia University '18

When first meeting Zak in 2016, I never thought that he would be one of my best friends and an editor of my papers. Since coming from a non-English background, I struggled a lot with English texts in the social sciences. When starting at Columbia for an MA in Religious Studies, I thought I wouldn’t be able to complete my degree. However, Zak showed up as a saint, correcting my term papers and graduation thesis. He taught me how to write in ways that earned good grades. With his contributions, I graduated with a top GPA. Truth be told, I might not have completed my degree if Zak had not been there to help.

As a suggestion for you: regardless of your background, Zak will illuminate your path as a writer and help you shine. Please think of Zak not as a vulture-capitalist editor working for money, but as a generous person trying to share his knowledge and refined skills with you. Most importantly, know that he wants the very best for you wherever your path as a writer, scholar and human being takes you.