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IVY LEAGUE STORIES

Your Story, Your Power, Your Admission.

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Mission

Ivy League Stories leans into the power of storytelling to help students write compelling, character-driven college essays and prepare for standout interviews — drawing on firsthand experience from a Harvard graduate with years of tutoring and college admissions expertise.

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About the Founder

  • Graduate of Harvard University
  • Personal college essay published in 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays
  • Professional actor signed to Rebel Creative Group
  • Tutored for Harvard Student Agencies, Lever Tutoring, and J&J Education
  • Helps students across the country craft unforgettable narratives for their applications.
Michael Torto Headshot
50 Successful Harvard Application Essays Book Cover

Our Services

Student writing an essay

Essay Coaching

Everything from figuring out a topic to a top-to-bottom revision.

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Two people in a professional interview setting

Interview Prep

Learn how to best share your story with interviewers.

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A person giving advice to another

Hourly Consultations

Come get advice about anything ranging from supplementals, activity descriptions, and additional essays.

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Testimonials

Proof That Your Story is Powerful.
Don't just take our word for it — here's what past students had to say after getting into their dream schools.

Daniya A.

Five Stars Rating

"I loved having Michael as my coach! Finding a topic was such a huge struggle for me but he was so patient and asked all the right questions and I ended up getting into my top 2 schools!"

Accepted to: Harvard, Brown, Boston College

Abdul R.

Five Stars Rating

"I got into Columbia early decision! Huge thank you to Michael for preparing me for the interview I was so prepared for it and everything flowed so naturally"

Accepted to: Columbia, Duke, NYU

Emma K.

Five Stars Rating

"I just want to say how huge Michael has been for me in this college application process. I am not the best writer and I do not feel like I’m the most interesting person either, but somehow we were able to craft one of the best essays I have ever written. I expected this to be a preppy experience and genuinely was not excited about it but I ended up doing a lot of self exploration and it was such a nice experience writing everything out. AND I get to go to my dream school!"

Accepted to: Emory, University of Michigan, Northeastern

Daniel L.

Five Stars Rating

"I would like to give a huge thank you to Mike for pushing me to go deeper with my story — I’m really proud of how it turned out and I really feel that it reflected a lot about who I became during my high school years"

Accepted to: USC, Tufts, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Amara T.

Five Stars Rating

"THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP MICHAEL! I already told him this but my essay was so good that it made my Mom cry when I showed her. Thank you for helping me put this story into words."

Accepted to: Wake Forest, Tulane, University of Georgia

Ready to share your testimony? Book Your Consultation today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have Questions? Take a look at the most common inquiries when it comes to Ivy League Stories and college essay writing.

We don’t believe in generic templates or forced narratives. Ivy League Stories is built on the belief that your story is your strongest asset. Started by a Harvard grad whose own college essay is published, you are getting the most relevant and timely advice you can when it comes to crafting college applications to top universities. Coaches at Ivy League Stories have the knowledge, creativity, and skill to help students create compelling applications to any university of choice.

Absolutely. That’s what the brainstorm session is for! We dedicate an entire hour to exploring what experiences from your life make you shine the brightest through a piece of paper. Most students start with “I don’t have a story” — but we’ll dig deep together and find one that shows your character, growth, and uniqueness. And it’s important to note that there is so much beauty in simplicity. You don’t need to most adventurous or chaotic life in order to tell a beautiful story about who you are.

Yes! We work on all types of college essays — personal statements, “Why us?” essays, activity descriptions, and school-specific supplements. Packages can be tailored based on how many essays you need reviewed.

Of course! While the name is Ivy League Stories, we help students applying to all colleges — from top 10s to state schools to liberal arts colleges. The goal is to craft a story that fits your path.

Not at all! In fact, starting early gives you a huge advantage. This isn’t about writing your essay now — it’s about living your story. As a 9th or 10th grader, you have time to explore interests, try new things, and reflect on what really matters to you. That self-awareness becomes the foundation for a powerful essay later on. We offer early-stage guidance to help you develop experiences now that will naturally lead to great stories when it’s time to apply.