For some ultrawealthy families, Ivy League prep begins in elementary school — and can cost up to $750,000 by the time the application is submitted.
That’s the high-end price tag for Ivy Link, a bespoke admissions consulting firm founded by Adam Nguyen, a former Columbia admissions officer who now helps the ultra-rich reverse-engineer their children’s résumés years in advance.
Nguyen said his team works with families as early as fourth or fifth grade to groom students for Ivy League acceptance, shaping everything from test prep and extracurriculars to internships and application essays.
“Most people look forward linearly in time,” Nguyen said. “You’re not thinking seven years from now, working backward. But that’s our job — and that’s why families pay us so much money.”
Courtesy of Adam Nguyen
A $500,000 Ivy League strategy — starting in high school
Nguyen’s clients — often CEOs, billionaires, and legacy families — spend an average of $450,000 to $500,000 over five years.
At any given time, Ivy Link works with 30 to 40 students across various stages of development, from sparking interests in middle school to refining application essays in senior year.
However, wealth alone isn’t enough, Nguyen said.
“They’re very conscientious about multi-generational planning — not just wealth transfer, but making sure the children are educated and productive members of the clan,” Nguyen said. “To carry on the business and the legacy of the family.”
Much of Ivy Link’s work centers around helping students develop what Nguyen called “measurable accomplishments” — concrete, sustained achievements that demonstrate real impact and intellectual depth.
“Saying you joined a club or attended meetings isn’t an accomplishment,” Nguyen said. “Admissions officers want to know: what did you accomplish?”
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Custom résumés and curated opportunities
Nguyen says one of Ivy Link’s most valuable offerings is helping students land highly competitive internship experiences.
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One example is a high-school student who secured a spot in a biotech lab that usually doesn’t even take college interns.
“He’s in high school, but he’s operating at the college level in terms of STEM research,” Nguyen said. “We prepped him as if he were going into a job interview — and he outperformed even my college students.”
Nguyen added that many opportunities come from family connections. Ivy Link simply shows them how to leverage those relationships effectively.
“These families are very well connected,” Nguyen said. “They could pick up the phone and call a nonprofit they’ve donated to — they just need direction. We help tie everything together into a compelling narrative that makes sense.”
$30,000 semester programs
Nguyen said that exclusive semester-away programs like The Mountain School, The Island School, and Alzar School — each costing around $30,000 or more per term — have become increasingly popular among his clients.
These programs, which emphasize leadership, character, and outdoor resilience, provide a rugged contrast to the typical applicant résumé.
“It’s all about standing out,” Nguyen said. “So that now you’re different from all the kids in New York City who apply — their wildest thing is taking the subway, right?”
He’s quick to stress that such programs only work when they’re a natural extension of the student’s interests.
“We don’t push it unless the student’s very outdoorsy — loves camping, loves canoeing,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen also works with families to gain admission to elite feeder high schools — places like Horace Mann, Phillips Exeter Academy, or St. Paul’s — which come with their own prestige pipelines to Ivy League schools.
“It’s part of a long-term strategy,” he said. “You don’t need any of this. It’s a luxury. But some families are willing to invest in the edge.”
Parents, boundaries, and the business of prestige
For all the money and strategy involved, Nguyen insists the student still needs to do the work.
“We’re not on the treadmill — they are,” he said. Ivy Link won’t write essays, fake accomplishments, or take shortcuts. They also step in when parents get too pushy — like the time a billionaire client asked if Donald Trump could write their child’s recommendation. “I told them: that doesn’t help if he doesn’t know your kid.”
In one case, Nguyen said he saved a client $23 million by advising them not to donate to a university. “Their child’s record was strong enough,” he said. “They got in anyway.”
Nguyen said the work is high-touch and long-term. He’s coached one student from private school admissions to Yale Law. “At this point, the only thing left is matchmaking,” he joked.
Despite the taboo, Nguyen said elite prep services like his are far more common than people admit. “It’s an open secret,” he said. “Nobody talks about it — but everybody gets help.”
Still, he insists that success isn’t just about money. “Planning, support, strategy — that’s what gets results,” he said. “It’s no different from hiring a great coach or the right trainer. The most successful people know they can’t do it alone.”
