bethanygoldszer.com

What It Is

Bethany Goldszer’s website, associated with Stand Out College Prep, is a consulting and course platform focused on U.S. undergraduate college admissions. It is not traditional subject tutoring or a degree-granting program; instead, it provides application planning, essay writing, scholarship, and financial aid guidance for students in grades 9–12 and their parents. The site emphasizes “clarity, confidence, results” and offers free strategy consultations, downloadable resources, one-on-one consulting, and self-paced courses.

Core Content and Formats

In terms of coverage, the services span four-year high school planning, course selection, extracurricular activities, standardized testing timelines, college lists, Common App/Coalition applications, personal statements, supplemental essays, scholarship searches, FAFSA, and financial aid comparisons. The delivery formats are varied: free guides and templates, podcasts, blog posts, live or on-demand workshops, self-paced toolkits, and one-on-one consulting. Consulting can be conducted via email, Skype, and Google Docs, while local families may also arrange an initial in-person consultation near Long Island.

Instructor and Organization Background

Founder Bethany Goldszer says she has over 18 years of experience in college consulting, is a first-generation graduate of the University of Chicago, and holds master’s degrees in education and nonprofit management. The organization says it was founded in 2012, has advised 2500+ students, helped secure more than $25 million in scholarships and aid, and maintains connections with many school counselors. The site also notes that she is a member of NACAC and NYSACAC, and that her views have appeared in media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and HuffPost.

Pricing

Pricing transparency is only moderate. The site states that users can book a free 30-minute strategy consultation and access multiple free resource bundles. Paid offerings include 9th-grade and 10th-grade planning packages, Standard and Comprehensive consulting packages for 11th/12th graders, and courses such as College Application Toolkit, Scholarship Accelerator Mini-Course, and College Essay Writer’s Lab. The site mentions secure checkout, instant digital access, and a 30-day guarantee, but does not disclose specific prices.

Pros and Cons

The main strength is that the service path is highly structured, covering key stages before, during, and after the application process. It is especially suitable for families that need help with essays and timeline management. The site also offers abundant free resources, lowering the barrier to initial exploration. The drawbacks are that pricing is missing, making budget assessment difficult; the courses do not appear to provide a clear certificate; and the content is highly focused on U.S. college admissions, offering limited value for applications to other countries. In addition, some outcome data is self-reported and lacks itemized, independently verifiable admissions results.

Who It’s For and Access from China

This is best suited for high school students and parents planning to apply to U.S. undergraduate programs, especially families with limited access to school counseling resources or parents who are unfamiliar with the U.S. admissions and financial aid process. Access from China cannot be determined from the site content. Users in China should note that the service primarily relies on English-language materials, and tools such as Skype and Google Docs may be unstable or restricted in mainland China.