INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING
Choosing schools can be exciting. It can also be time consuming and difficult. Our aim is to make the school selection and admission processes easier for you – and for your family – by providing a personalized range of choices and a method for reviewing your options.
Providing unbiased expert advice to families and prospective students was a motivator for establishing our consultancy. As independent educational consultants, we are free from the conflicts of interest inherent in organizations that represent a roster of institutions.
Educational advice on Canadian and American boarding schools and universities
Insightful, engaging, and supportive consultants help you identify schools that match your academic, extra-curricular, and personality preferences. We motivate you to pursue your academic and personal goals without the stress commonly associated with admissions processes.
VerveSmith educational consultants provide you with a clear understanding of admissions processes, systematically guide you through the school search, and present you with personalized information so you can make strategically good choices.
We also help you manage your most valuable asset: your time.
EMPOWERING OUR STUDENTS
Jordi, the owl in our logo, is a powerful symbol of wisdom and vision. It is a constant reminder of our mission in educational consulting to motivate and empower you by sharing knowledge we have gained through:
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• More than 20 years of experience in international university and college admissions counselling;
• More than 400 admissions presentations to more than 20,000 students and their families;
• University, college and boarding school campus visits and on-campus discussions with students;
• Professional interaction with university, college and boarding school admissions administrators, faculty, and other independent educational consultants;
• Continuous professional development through the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Graduate Certificate in College Admissions Counselling, the Independent Educational Consultants (IECA) Summer Training Institute at Swarthmore College, and webinars hosted by educational leaders.
Membership in the following professional organizations confirms our commitment to professionalism, independent advice, and adherence to strong ethical guidelines:
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• Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
• Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)
• National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)
• International Association for College Admissions Counseling (IACAC)
WHAT CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US
“My husband and I believed we could effectively guide our son in applying to universities in the USA and the UK. Although we did our best, there were some early missteps and we decided to turn to an expert in the area. We were fortunate to have Teo Salgado’s help. Teo was key to the successful outcome of the process, actually CORRECTING some of our errors. His work truly was a “game-changer.” Experienced, intelligent and professional, Teo also cares deeply about his students, and in our view that was absolutely invaluable.”
— N.C., Toronto (Canada)
Son currently at St. Andrews University (Scotland)
“I was absolutely confused about what I was going to do. I knew I wanted to apply abroad but I wasn’t sure how to go about it. And that’s where Teo came in. He helped me sort out through the rubble to find exactly what I wanted, and needed. It also helped that I was getting invaluable insight from someone who knew what they were doing and who knew about international students trying abroad. He was available at all times. I’m sure I bugged him with a hundred thousand emails about the most mundane things but he obliged smilingly every time! It was a very easy relationship and I can say that I feel like hiring VerveSmith was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
— Devyanka, Kolkata (India)
Currently at American University
“We sought out professional help for our daughter who was unsure with how to decide between different schools. The sheer amount of information and variety of schools and admission processes available was daunting. The choice of school was very important to us and our daughter and we really had no idea of where to start.
After our daughters very first meeting with Teo she became much more enthusiastic and calm about the process. He took the time to get to know her, where she wanted to go, what her skills were, and he reassured her that it was indeed possible to find just the right school for her. He provided summaries from carefully researched schools and provided knowledgeable guidance on admission processes. In the end our daughter had a choice of schools that fit her perfectly and she is now attending the school of her choice. We could not have been happier with the professionalism, care and diligence that Teo showed to our daughter and now shows to our son.”
— Scott, Calgary (Canada)
Daughter currently at University of Southern California
“When I decided to transfer from my Canadian university to a very different program in the US, I didn’t really know where to begin. I didn’t fully understand how to pick schools, what types of candidates programs were looking for, and which schools would be reasonable for me to apply to.
After meeting with Teo, this process became much less daunting for me. Together we were able to hone the list of universities of interest and make sure that I chose the right program for me. The personalization of the guidance provided to me is what truly made this a worthwhile process, and I am positive my work with Teo has guided me in the right direction.”
— Ryan, Edmonton (Canada)
Currently at Emerson College
“When I decided to study in Canada, we approached Teo to provide guidance for school choices, study plans and communication support with the universities that I was going to apply. Teo was so successful in all of the above and guiding me in the right direction, that I got 100 % success rate in all my applications (University of Toronto, Queens, UBC, Trent, Bishop’s, University of Kings College, Dalhousie & Mount Allison) and scholarships from many of the schools that I applied. I believe to have Teo was one of the most correct decisions we have made, and my mother is right in calling him “the Great Canadian College Counselor.”
— Sami, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Currently at Mount Allison University
“Writing Graduate School applications can be extremely hard! Trying to stand out from the hundreds of other applicants while selling yourself in just the right way to match a program is a skill that takes years to develop. After many rejections, I chose to work with Teo to put my best foot forward – and it worked! There is an art in selling oneself that can feel unnatural for most people. Having an expert there to extract key points about myself and highlight those points in my Letter of Intent was essential to my acceptance at U of T. I could immediately tell that Teo knew what he was doing when we sat down and started reviewing my writing. Huge improvement! I believe his help made all the difference.”
— Charlie, Toronto (Canada)
Currently at University of Toronto (Engineering)
