Testimonials
Here’s a sampling of the glowing testimonials we’ve received from students, counselors, admission officers, and parents.
Students
“I never thought visiting colleges could be so fun. The trip helped me learn what type of campus I was looking for and see vastly different college cultures. Mr. Rubin’s exhaustive knowledge on all things college related helped me find my dream school before I had even visited.”
Alain C.
Dartmouth College
Ransom Everglades School, Miami, Florida
“I can only say great things about The College Authority’s college tour and Bill Rubin. The campus tours and admission meetings gave me an insider’s view, but my favorite moments were actually on the bus in between stops with constant access to Bill’s decades of expertise. The more he got to know me, the more he helped me figure out what was really important for my college search. This tour was essential for me.”
Kiersta H.
Vassar College
Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, New Mexico
“The College Authority was the most important part of my college search while I was in high school. Not only was Bill Rubin knowledgeable about the academics, politics, and vibe of every campus we visited, he was unusually adept at getting to know each student on his trip and let them know what schools would be good matches for them. He read me within a few hours and knew exactly which places to tell me to pay particular attention to. A year late, I even called Bill after I was accepted into different colleges to ask him which would be the best fit for me.”
Jordan B.
Vassar College
Webb Schools, Claremont, California
“I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the college scene than my tour with The College Authority and Bill Rubin. Beyond the diversity and quality of the schools we visited, Bill gave me a strong sense for what to look for in a school and the freedom to observe and discuss my own preferences.”
Milan M.
Stanford University
Polytechnic School, Pasadena, California
“I could not have asked for a better college tour experience. It was informative, comprehensive, and also very fun! I highly recommend this opportunity to explore such a wide variety of colleges and their areas while making lifelong friendships along the way. Bill is an incredible resource and really knows his stuff!”
Allison F.
University of California at Berkeley
Harvard-Westlake School, Studio City, California
Admission Officers
“The College Authority is the authority on college tours. Students come away very informed and excited about the college search process. I look forward to personally conducting the information sessions for The College Authority each time a group visits Richmond. Bill Rubin is terrific.”
Gil J. Villanueva
Associate Vice President and Dean of Admission
University of Richmond
“Bill Rubin has earned high regard across our admissions world for being a true professional. He has a mastery of the ins and outs of an enormous number of colleges and their admission processes. Bill’s in-depth knowledge of college campuses–built from not only continual touring but from personal relationships with scores of admissions officers–makes him one of the best possible resources of information and support for students.”
Rachel Korn
Former Regional Admissions Director
University of Pennsylvania
“Bill Rubin truly understands the landscape of higher education. The student groups he brought to the Penn campus were always extremely prepared and knew how to make the most out of their visit. I knew I could count on Bill to reinforce facts and properly address any questions the students might have had after visiting. The range of schools he exposes students to is impressive and curated with purpose. I absolutely recommend his tours.”
Jordan Pascucci
Co-Director of College Counseling, Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, Pennslyvania
Former Associate Dean of International Admission, University of Pennsylvania
Counselors
“A College Authority tour isn’t just a chance for students to visit colleges, it is a master class in the college admissions process. Our students have always returned from the trips, not just with more knowledge, but also with a more sophisticated understanding of what is to come. The trips are designed to hit the perfect match of information, exploration, and fun. From punctuality, to safety, to communication with parents, Bill’s tours are second to none, and he’s able to do this all while developing relationships with each and every student on the bus.”
David Rion
Director of College Counseling
Sonoma Academy, Santa Rosa, California
“College tour planning can be extremely difficult and time consuming, but not with The College Authority! Bill Rubin did a fantastic job planning and organizing our college tour. With his wonderful relationships with admission officers across the country and his expertise in planning the ultimate campus visit, our tour was seamless. Every detail was taken care of, so we were able to relax and enjoy spending time with our students. Thanks TCA!”
Dr. Jawaan Wallace
Director of College Counseling
Brentwood School, Brentwood, California
“Bill is a phenomenal tour guide! Our students return from his tours not only with immense perspective on their college options but also with a sense of independence and ownership of their college search. Bill provides so much more than just brick and mortar tours of college campuses; he challenges students to be self-reflective and discerning, and they return from the experience more mature, primed and enthusiastic about the exciting next stage of their life.”
Djiara Meehan
Director of College Counseling, St. John’s School, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Former Associate Director of College Counseling, Ransom Everglades School, Miami, Florida
“Without exaggeration, I can say that Bill Rubin is one of the most knowledgeable college admissions and guidance professionals I have known in more than twenty years of working in education. Bill loves to get to know individual students, and he works very hard to make The College Authority tours both informative and fun. In particular, Bill has deep expertise in the study of science and engineering, which makes him a rare resource among his colleagues. Bill Rubin is one of a kind: he is a terrific resource and he makes touring colleges a lot of fun.”
Kirk Smothers
Head of School, Delaware Valley Friends School, Paoli, Pennsylvania
Former Director of College Counseling, Calhoun School, New York, New York
“The College Authority consistently provides professional, well-planned, informative, and energy-packed college tour experiences. Even on a full bus, Bill Rubin goes one step further to get to know each student and to engage in conversations about different colleges that are not on that particular tour. Each student leaves a TCA tour not only with personalized information, but with self-confidence on envisioning the upcoming process.”
Steve Frappier
Former Director of College Counseling
Ransom Everglades School, Miami, Florida
Parents
“I wholeheartedly recommend The College Authority. We were so happy with the tour and outcome for our first daughter that we used them again for our second daughter. In both cases, our daughters came home from the trip with a clear idea of what they wanted. Bill takes so much of the stress out of the college admission process and makes the search a lot of fun.”
Liebe Gadinsky
Parent, Ransom Everglades School, Miami, Florida
Students at University of Pennsylvania and Brown University
“The College Authority college tours were perfect for our two daughters; our first daughter loved her tour so much that we gladly sent our second. In addition to seeing a large number of different types of campuses, the tours forced them to visit schools they might not have otherwise considered. Bill Rubin is so very knowledgeable about the colleges and universities across the US and abroad.”
Kim Nunley
Parent, Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Students at University of St. Andrews (Scotland) and Lehigh University