TESTIMONIALS

“I had no idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I wanted to go to college. I applied to 9 different universities, and of the 9, I got accepted into all of them except one. I knew that if it weren’t for the help of Burnie, none of that would have been possible. Burnie met with me every weekend, helping me fill out applications, edit essays, and improve my SAT scores. She was very patient with me, understanding how the college application process can seem so overwhelming for a senior. I knew she had my best interests at heart and that she really wanted me to succeed and get into a university.

I am now a junior Biology major at Loyola Marymount University. I know that I would not be here at LMU if it weren’t for the help and countless hours Burnie devoted to me. I have never met a counselor who was so dedicated to a student and gave the personal attention and help that I needed.”

— Rubyann, Loyola Marymount University Graduate

“Burnie was an incredible resource for me during my college application process. She always communicated with me effectively and used our time together efficiently. Her help was invaluable to me and I appreciate her dedication and genuine care for her students. Now I am a proud member of Teach For America and I am pursuing my Masters in Education at The University of Pennsylvania.”

— Jennifer, George Washington University Graduate

“I had somewhat of an unorthodox high school experience, which inevitably made my college application process (whether it was testing, essays, or interviews) extremely unnerving. Through Burnie’s commitment as an advisor, and most importantly, friend, I gained the confidence I needed to believe in myself as a student. Her unwavering desire to watch me succeed materialized in my acceptance to my first choice school, the University of Pennsylvania.”

— Max, University of Pennsylvania Graduate

“I met my Smart Path counselor, Burnie, in the 8th grade and since that very moment, her consistency in a rigorous level of instruction helped me tremendously in preparing for college. I can candidly say that I not only still remember all she taught me, but now I also use her methods to help others in my community prepare for college as well.”

— Jesse, USC Graduate

“Burnie brought clarity to an otherwise confusing application process, offering critical questions and guidance that helped polish my candidacy and uncover hidden gems in my background that differentiated me in the applicant pool. Two years later, I'm a happy Wharton MBA graduate and frequently recommend Burnie and Smart Path College Counseling to friends applying to B-school.”

— Asla, Wharton School of Business Graduate

“I am pleased to unreservedly and wholeheartedly recommend Burnie Dyment and Smart Path College Counseling as an exceptional choice for the young scholars in your family. What sets Burnie apart is, she knows everything about the admissions process but also takes the time to learn everything about your child. You can count on Burnie for three qualities you need during this often difficult journey of college applications: expertise, empathy, and honesty. 

During my daughter's junior year of high school, we were looking for a college counselor and were very lucky to find Burnie. My daughter wanted to enroll in a fine arts program; she ended up admitted to the number one program in that field in the world. Two years later, I went to Burnie with my twin sons; one is now at an Ivy and the other at one of the United Kingdom's prestigious "ancient" universities. If I had yet another kid -- which would come as a big surprise -- I would take them straight to Burnie! The admissions process only becomes more complex and more nuanced as time goes by, and your child could not ask for a better guide through this maze. Hire Burnie and her team!”

— Proud Dad, Los Angeles, California

“I am so thankful my son and I had the opportunity to work with Burnie.  She provided us with so much information, everything from schools that participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange to information on college's access / student success centers for students who have an IEP or 504 Plan.  I was confident I knew a lot about the college application process but Burnie provided such important information on the "little details" that turned out to be very significant in this process.”  

— Rose, Parent of CSULB Student, Class of 2027

“Burnie is a triple threat that is so rare in creative spaces! She is extremely diligent and technically proficient. She is organized and effective in the presentation of actionable feedback and useful edits. But what really sets Burnie apart is something that is so hard to find in an editor, coach, or teacher: her insightful compassion. Burnie has a way of making every project feel like it's the most important work on her desk. I truly believe that she gives her all to every project, and that thoughtful care backed up by her technical skills and insights on the organization, structure, and execution of a work make her a truly exceptional counselor, editor, and educator. I highly recommend Burnie and would work with her again and again without hesitation!”

— Jeanne De Vita (Author, Editor, UCLA Instructor)

“We've had the pleasure of working with Burnie at Smart Path College Counseling twice and both times have been wonderful experiences. She opened doors for our sons (Class of 2022 & 2024) that enabled them to submit complete, thorough and precise applications to in-state & out-of-state public and private universities with a very high acceptance outcome. She is not only professional and very knowledgeable but she is also patient and kind. She offers guidance and a different perspective to the student. She alleviates much of the pressure that the student (and family) undergoes through the entire college application process. She does an AMAZING job at keeping the student on track with the various deadlines and successfully guides them in writing excellent essays. She even offers Zoom presentations on how to apply for FAFSA accurately and where to find available scholarships.”

— Proud Parents, Los Angeles, California; Students, Class of 2026 and 2028

“Using Burnie as a college counselor was one of the best financial decisions I could make for my daughter. Even during a family tragedy, Burnie was able to carefully guide my child and help her achieve acceptance into her top university choice. College admissions have become very complicated and I just don’t know what we would have done without guidance. My daughter is thrilled to be accepted into UC Santa Barbara and I can not thank Burnie enough for her hard work and consistency. I would enthusiastically recommend this college counseling service to any family that has a child who hopes to go to college and continue their education. Thank you Burnie!”

— Randy, Parent of University of California, Santa Barbara Student, Class of 2028

“I would like to offer my unqualified recommendation for Burnie Dyment and her company, Smart Path College Counseling. Burnie expertly guided my son through a very challenging college application process that involved both the traditional materials as well as a detailed artistic portfolio. She not only kept him on track to complete his applications early, but gave us much needed insightful advice with regard to the universities we were looking at, the interviews and auditions my son had to complete, and even the financial aid process when we finished sending in the applications. Burnie was very generous with her time, and has continued to be a welcome and calm presence in the midst of a very stressful period in our lives. I’m extremely grateful to her for helping my son get into several competitive universities with six-figure merit scholarship awards! I will be recommending Burnie and Smart Path College Counseling to all of my parent friends with college bound kids!”

— Amy, Drexel, Parent of Drexel University Student, Class of 2028

“We appreciated Burnie's knowledge and insight of the college process. It was helpful to have someone guide us through the process beginning with creating a college list to writing essays and completing the college application. Burnie allowed us to be parents, supporting our daughter through each decision, while Burnie was able to use her expertise to navigate each aspect of the college application.”

— LaMonte and Zara, Parent of Villanova University Student, Class of 2028

“Burnie was committed to helping my son with the entire college application process. As a parent I appreciated that she was there every step of the way, making sure that all the pieces and parts of completing a college application were not only done, but done extraordinarily well. Without hesitation, I would recommend Burnie and Smart Path College Counseling to any parent or family looking for an expert in how to successfully navigate the college application process. Burnie interacted so well with my teenage son that I never had to remind him of deadlines, meetings and completing his assignments before meeting with Burnie. That’s how I know he truly enjoyed working with her. For him it made the entire process pleasant. High school students have so much academic stress and pressure they are dealing with, but working with Burnie made the college application process easygoing and less stressful thanks to her outstanding expertise.”

— Monica, Parent of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Class of 2028