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Career & Major Counseling

Career & Major Counseling with the Highlands Ability Battery

We know that choosing a college major or imagining a future career can be overwhelming. That’s why we are proud to offer the Highlands Ability Battery (HAB), a powerful career and major guidance tool that helps students understand how they’re naturally wired to succeed.

The HAB is a research-based aptitude assessment that goes beyond personality tests and interest inventories. Through a series of timed, objective exercises, it measures a student’s innate abilities—how they process information, solve problems, learn new skills, and communicate. These results provide insight into what types of academic paths, work environments, and long-term careers will feel most energizing and sustainable.

The exam is computer-based and takes approximately three hours, though students do not have to complete it in one sitting.

After completing the work samples, students meet with Alyssa Coltrain, our certified Highlands Ability Battery Consultant, to review the results of their battery and connect their unique aptitudes to college majors, extracurricular opportunities, and future career paths that fit who they are.

Whether a student is undecided, exploring multiple interests, or delving deeper into a career path they are sure of, the HAB helps them move forward with purpose and peace of mind. Our goal is not just to help students get into college; it’s to help them thrive once they’re there.

Success Stories

Ivy Experience helped us navigate through choosing the appropriate standardized test for our daughter and preparing her to take it, leaving her confident of her ability on the test. Then, they helped her develop her Common App essay and the myriad additional essays for the colleges to which she decided to apply. I recommend them wholeheartedly!

Stacy L. - Parent

I wanted to finally thank you and the team at Ivy Experience for the support you provided to my daughter in the subjects of math and science. Having one of your tutors along on my daughter's academic journey was such a gift and it paid off in so many ways. While in high school, she was able to challenge herself in the math and sciences which included Honors Physics, Chemistry, BC Calculous, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics. She nailed the AP exams and we are just beyond proud of her.

Carol W. - Parent

The team at Ivy Experience are awesome. My son worked with them on both his SAT preparation and college applications. I followed my son’s progress keenly during the entire process and the improvement was outstanding. I was not surprised that our expectations were met. My son did marvelously well and got accepted to his first choice, Penn. Ivy Experience, simply the best. I look forward to seeking their services for my remaining two children in due time.

Eric B. - Parent

The Ivy Experience Team does not just tutor, but supports and guides students and their parents through the entire college application process. Their knowledge and encouragement were invaluable. Both my children greatly improved their scores and got into their top college choices. An incredibly stressful process was made so much more enjoyable thanks to Ivy Experience!

Robin T. - Parent

I want to thank you for the phenomenal job Ivy Experience did preparing our son for his standardized tests. Our tutor was exceptionally gifted! Our son being accepted to an Ivy League institution would not have been possible without achieving high standardized test scores… I do not think his college would have even looked at him without these scores.

Caroline R. - Parent

“I could not have done it without my Ivy tutor!” This has been my daughter’s response to anyone who congratulated her on being accepted to her first choice university. The tutors at Ivy Experience were not only knowledgeable in all areas of test prep and essay writing, they were very compassionate when it came to understanding the stress and emotions my daughter was experiencing with the entire college process

Karen M. - Parent

I could say a lot about the manner in which Ivy Experience creates a schedule, monitors progress, and keeps students on track to reduce stress. I could also comment on the thoughtfulness with which the team approaches developing a balanced, realistic list of schools, or the wealth of experience and admissions insight they bring. But what I most valued is the rapport they built with my son. Their genuine interest inspired trust, encouraged my son to be more open, and that care ultimately resulted in more meaningful, introspective essays that reflected who my senior is, not just what he has accomplished. We couldn’t be happier with the results!

Anonymous - Parent

[My daughter] is absolutely thriving - [her college] is such the right place for her - she is with like minded people and in a supportive campus community. The city is fabulous and she is taking advantage of it. She is declared as a neuroscience major. I will also acknowledge that [her college] would never have been on her radar if we had not done the college survey exercise that Ivy has - we had wanted to open up the aperture on schools - it was the results of that list that encouraged her to apply to [her college] and [her second choice college]. The best money we spent!

Alana D. - Parent

Be Prepared

Knowing how to navigate the college prep process is more than half the battle. Contact us today to form a personalized plan for your student.