Riley Baker Educational Consulting

I found my way to Riley Baker at the recommendation of a friend. This is a fabulous organization and Barb is the person you want in your corner! She did great work with our seniors - she motivated them to really want to do their best work. She dug deep to help them find a way to put their personal stamp on their application. In addition, they thoroughly enjoyed working with her which created a successful partnership. Both students were accepted ED into their first choice of schools, which was a reach for them and there is no doubt that Riley Baker was a contributing factor. We are grateful for the tremendous support and highly recommend!

The best firm to partner with in the competitive college application process we parents are faced with today, the best investment we made for our child other than her education.nRiley Baker and its talented and dedicated staff has helped take the stress and pressure off the many deadlines, applications and paperwork required by colleges, they help guide and council the child as an individual and do a very good job of matching Universities to your child's personality and strengths.nWe work with Dan Hales and we could not be more pleased with his guidance and his knowledge of the many options available in higher education.

Best investment we ever made. We learned about Riley Baker when our niece applied early decision and got accepted to a prestigious college in the Southeast. She recently graduated and had the most amazing college experience. Based on their experience, we engaged Riley Baker to work with our daughter when she was a sophomore in high school. What I have learned: The team at Riley Baker is at the top of their game. They are all about getting to really know their students and helping them get into the best, right college. They have made the experience of preparing for and applying to college a positive one. Our daughter has a clear plan on target, reach and likely schools, all of which she would feel great about attending. They have literally taken the stress out of the preparation by working closely with our daughter so she is prepared at every step. The counselors get to know their students on a different level than their parents. Her counselor communicates with her in an encouraging, non-emotional way that gives her a logical perspective. As a result, our daughter has taken real ownership in the process. Our daughter’s teachers have commented on how our daughter is way ahead of her class in being motivated and having a clear idea of what type of school and curriculum she is interested in. I can’t say enough about the experience and have recommended Riley Baker to other parents who are also thrilled with their experience. If there is one thing you want to get right, this is it.

Well worth the investment in my college planning. Barb help guide me through the whole application process and put me at ease with her knowledge of schools, essay writing and deadlines. I strongly recommend Barb at Riley Baker!!

We began private college counselling with Stacey at Riley Baker Educational Consulting in Winnetka, IL in 2013. I was dreading the application procedure because of what I had heard from other parents. But I could not disagree with them more! The entire staff at Riley Baker is friendly and professional. Their office in Winnetka is beautiful, clean and has all the technical 'bells 'n whistles'. Whenever I would leave a voicemail message or write an email, Stacey would respond promptly with full explanations to all my questions. She has a talent relating with young adults while making the anxious parent feel comfortable, too. There is so much to know about the entire process, from ACT's to essays and applications, along with timelines and class schedules. I am including a picture of Stacey with my son to show how she personally shows her students how to maneaver through the log-ins and college website portals. She is confident and calm, which quickly promotes a bond of trust. Their team is organized and methodical, which makes it possible to see the light in the tunnel if you simply follow their advice. I could not have asked for a better experience with their company and I am ready to turn around and start all over again with my daughter. Stacey went far beyond the duties of a college counselor; this company exceeded my expectations at every turn!nnMy son graduated this weekend from a private military boarding school in Wisconsin. Stacey actually attended his graduation because she wanted to gain information about his high school so that she would be familiar with the campus! She also offered us Sunday appointments on occasion, due to the fact that my son did not have many weekends that he could get a pass to come home. Now, he is headed to WMU in Kalamazoo, MI to attend one of the best aviation schools in the country. Stacey and the staff at Riley Baker Educational Consulting played a major role in his admission process. I can't thank you enough!