Uncommon students.
Uncommon paths.
Common good.
A boutique college and gap year counseling company helping diverse creative adventurous & passionate students on their future paths.
The Uncommon Philosophy
The current educational and career landscape is increasingly competitive, stressful, and elite—and often designed for people to follow traditional paths.
At Uncommon, we believe it should be about authenticity and purpose. Our mission is to guide students on a journey that not only prepares them to be strong candidates—whether for college, a gap experience, or future careers—but also helps them become better writers, thinkers, and humans.
Rather than fit the mold, we work with students to take initiative, seek challenges, engage their curiosity, contribute to their communities, and gain a broader perspective of the world and themselves.
The Uncommon Community
Our students have many diverse identities, interests, experiences, and dreams—and we’re here for it all. In fact, that’s why we’re here.
Our college and gap year counseling is guided by creating real, meaningful connections. We show up for every student. And we celebrate them—whether they’re LQBTQ, neurodiverse, a student of color, international student, athlete, artist, musician, environmentalist, outdoor adventurer, activist, scientist, or actor. You name it, we’re on your team.
How we can work together
College Counseling
9-12th grade students
1-on-1 guidance
Personal reflection & goal setting
Create a well-rounded college list
Gain Admission insights
College Essay Coaching
12th grade students
1-on-1 guidance
Brainstorm, write, & revise essays
Time management & organization
Expert editing
Gap Year Counseling
9-12th grade, college, or mid-career
1-on-1 guidance
Design a purpose-driven gap year
Select best-fit programs & itineraries
Full pre-departure support
How do you stand out among thousands of applicants?
We know how hard it feels. Download our free guide to gain insider tips on college admissions—including data that will make you rethink what college applications are really about
“Aside from accomplishing the job to be done and getting everything done on time in a way that my daughter was proud of, I would say that Uncommon contributed to my daughter's overall excitement and ownership over her own journey towards her next path in life. As a parent, I can't put enough value on this!”
— Heather H. | Parent
Our School Partners
