College Admissions Consultant Reviews
Sondra and Jim Wojewodka
Mount Pleasant, SC
United States Military Academy Class of 2017
United States Air Force Academy Class of 2021
“Trust is the most important reason a referral is made.” We trusted your judgment, trusted your guidance, and trusted your mentorship with both sons. You listened and developed a plan that involved their thoughts and objectives. This mentoring allowed them to improve their SAT’s, essay writing, and interviewing skills significantly. You provided a path for them to achieve their “dream” schools.”
Lisa Thomas
Owner, Ooh! Events and Out of Hand
“Amy was invaluable in working with my daughter to help find her passion, direction, and the school where she has flourished. As a parent, it can be difficult to give advice and guidance, so it was great to provide her with a conduit to find her way in the world. I’ll always be grateful to Amy.”
Commander Robert R. Pinckney, US Navy
US Naval Academy Class of 2004
“There is no one you can trust more to do everything she can to help you fulfill your higher education dreams than Ms. B. She invested time in understanding my goals, instilled confidence by reassuring me what is realistically achievable, and diligently saw me through my admissions process. She gets results because she cares for each student and family. The achievement of my dreams is the fruit of her labor.”
Rory O’Toole McPhillips
University of Miami Class of 2022
“I started to see Ms. Bennington the summer after my sophomore year of high school. She helped my older sister get into her dream school, NYU, and I was confident that she could do the same for me. I had absolutely no idea what school was the right fit for me, and Ms. Bennington pointed me in the right direction. She took into account my desire to go to a school with strong academics, a bustling city, and the opportunity for scholarships. I ended up at the University of Miami, a school I did not even consider applying to until Ms. Bennington suggested it to me. She helped me build a strong application that earned me a scholarship, which she knew was very important to me in my college decision. I can’t begin to say how thankful I am for Ms. Bennington and all she did for me during my college application process. I love where I go to school and I truly could not see myself anywhere else. Although I am now a junior in college, Ms. Bennington continues to keep up with me and is eager to help me in whatever way she can throughout my college career. Her kind heart and genuine desire to see each and every one of her students thrive truly sets her apart from the rest. Having Ms. Bennington on my team during the college admission process was the best decision I could have made for myself.”
Ann Sheridan, Tufts University, Class of 2022
“Ms. Bennington Buist offered me the extra support I needed in the college application process with in-depth, personalized guidance and direction. Following her detailed assessments, she presented me with customized college, major, and future career options that facilitated my college selection. Her advice did not end with my college acceptance. Ms. Bennington Buist checks in on her students even after they are enrolled in college to make sure that they liked their college decision and are still happy with their path. At a time between my sophomore and junior year of college, when I was rethinking my intended career choice, Ms. Bennington Buist called me. She initiated a conversation reviewing my past assessment results and what my next step should be. I am so grateful for Ms. Bennington Buist’s continued support over the years, and I truly believe that I could not have gotten to where I am without her.”
Gene Poulnot Carpenter
Cornerstone on King Realty
“Amy Bennington Buist helped my son look at all possibilities for colleges. I wanted my son to examine each and every opportunity available to him and not be swayed by football teams. At the very beginning, Amy talked with my son and examined his interests to find his passion. Amy administered several tests to evaluate strengths and weaknesses, helped him identify schools that would have majors he would be interested in, and then helped with the application process. She even called admission counselors at the schools he was interested in. And the best part was that my son did the work-not me! After all, college is his experience-I have already had mine.”
Robin, Mount Pleasant, SC
“The process of applying for college can be a daunting and overwhelming task. When my husband and I began to consider the college application process that our daughter would be facing, we decided it would be prudent to find a service to help us navigate the waters.
I began making phone calls to services that provided guidance and counseling for college-bound students and families. Once I received the call from Amy Bennington Buist, I knew within 10 minutes into our conversation that she was an excellent fit for our family. I made an appointment with her immediately.
We all met at Amy’s office to get to know one another and for Amy to learn what was important to each of us in a college experience. In our initial meeting, Amy immediately made our daughter feel welcomed and engaged. She clearly explained things in a way that was not condescending to a young adult and followed up quickly with questions or concerns. Her questions were comprehensive and thoughtful. She expanded our scope of potential schools based on our daughter’s interests and intended major. Our daughter had some ideas of where she thought she should go, but her academic class standing and other people’s expectations created self-doubt and pressure on our daughter. This is where Amy stepped in and became invaluable! She refocused our daughter to concentrate on colleges that would be the best fit for her based on an assortment of aspects, not just academics.
Amy is the consummate professional, detail-oriented, thoughtful, and extremely thorough. In working with our daughter, she preceded each meeting with an email or phone call reminder of what she expected to accomplish at the upcoming session and a follow-up list for the next scheduled meeting.
We were cc’d on all communications and were always aware of where they were in the process. Amy’s extensive expertise as a college and career counselor provided our daughter with the tools she needed from the beginning of the college search to the end of the application process. She took the time to learn about our daughter’s goals, interests, and personality to determine the colleges that best fit and which she should apply to.
After careful consideration, our daughter applied and was accepted into the College of Charleston for their Fall 2020 enrollment. She recently began classes and couldn’t be more excited and confident about her decision. We feel very fortunate to have found such a knowledgeable, insightful, and caring individual. Amy does not try to sway; she confidently offers suggestions and options and works with your family to achieve your personal goals.
We highly recommend Amy Buist to anyone who needs help navigating the college search and decision-making process. Saying thank you is not enough for the impact and change she has made in our lives and our daughter’s future. We remain very grateful for Amy.”