Ivy League Stories is led by Michael Torto who an experienced college counselor specializing in competitive admissions and one of the top counselors at Empowerly, a leading college admissions agency. He earned a B.A. in Sociology from Harvard University, and his own application essay was published in 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays.

Michael uses storytelling to help students craft compelling personal statements that authentically express their unique voice. He is highly skilled in interview preparation, college list building, and helping students create meaningful leadership opportunities through community projects and clubs. His expertise extends beyond undergraduate admissions — he also helps students gain acceptance into graduate programs at institutions including Harvard Law, Columbia University’s Teachers College, NYU Law, University of Michigan Law, and UCLA Law, as well as competitive summer programs such as MIT’s RSI, Yale Global Scholars, and Harvard’s Pre-College Program.

His counseling style blends deep listening with heart and empathy, helping students tell vulnerable, compelling stories that leave a lasting mark on admissions officers. His students have gained admission to top universities including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Duke, Brown, NYU, The Juilliard School, USC, Boston College, Emory, Michigan, Tufts, Notre Dame, and UNC-Chapel Hill, among many others.