[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” padding_top_1=”50px” padding_bottom_1=”30px” padding_bottom_2=”0px” padding_top_bottom_link_1=”false” padding_top_bottom_link_2=”false” padding_left_right_link_1=”false” padding_left_right_link_2=”false” padding_1_tablet=”0px||0px||true|false” padding_1_phone=”” padding_1_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_color=”#f8f9fa” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#181818″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”1px” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”120px” height=”7px” box_shadow_style=”preset7″ box_shadow_horizontal=”40px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_color=”#181818″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_4_font=”PT Sans|700||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#181818″ header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” custom_margin=”-38px|||130px|false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”Margin:auto;” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”PT Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_font_size=”60px” header_line_height=”1.1em” custom_padding=”||1px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”30px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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<\/em>.<\/p>\n 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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin_tablet=”-30px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_color__hover=”#fbbb4e” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/contact” button_text=”Free Consultation” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#072e5e” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”100px” button_letter_spacing=”2px” button_font=”PT Sans|900||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||40px||true|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|tablet” custom_padding=”20px|24px|20px|24px|true|true” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ box_shadow_blur=”28px” box_shadow_spread=”-10px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,122,255,0.33)” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” box_shadow_color__hover=”#2585b2″ box_shadow_blur__hover_enabled=”off” box_shadow_blur__hover=”20px” box_shadow_vertical__hover_enabled=”off” box_shadow_vertical__hover=”10px” button_text_color__hover=”#fbbb4e” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”\/contact” button_text=”See Results” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#072e5e” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”100px” button_letter_spacing=”2px” button_font=”PT Sans|900||on|||||” button_use_icon=”off” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||40px|0px|true|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”20px|24px|20px|24px|true|true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” box_shadow_color__hover=”#2585b2″ box_shadow_blur__hover_enabled=”off” box_shadow_blur__hover=”20px” box_shadow_vertical__hover_enabled=”off” box_shadow_vertical__hover=”10px” button_text_color__hover=”#fbbb4e” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/ivyleaguestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/illus-01.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_height_tablet=”400px” max_height_phone=”” max_height_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_margin=”|-10vw|0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#f8f9fa” _builder_version=”4.16″ top_divider_style=”wave” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_2_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”#2a3749″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Learn At Home” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#FFFFFF” image_icon_background_color=”#072E5E” image_icon_width=”20px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_font=”PT Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#2a3749″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”PT Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”13px” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#F8F9FA” icon_font_size=”20px” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#F8F9FA” circle_color=”#007aff” global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n All coaching sessions are conducted virtually, so you get elite-level admissions guidance from the comfort of your home \u2014 no matter where you are in the world.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Full Profile Building” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”m||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_background_color=”#072E5E” image_icon_width=”20px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”800px” content_max_width_tablet=”200px” content_max_width_last_edited=”off|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_font=”PT Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#2a3749″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”PT Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”13px” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|tablet” custom_padding=”||||false|false” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#F8F9FA” icon_font_size=”20px” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#F8F9FA” circle_color=”#f96e86″ global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n College admissions starts long before senior year. We help students build a complete, compelling profile \u2014 from the courses they take to the clubs they join to the summers they spend intentionally.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Constant and Direct Communication” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”v||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_background_color=”#072E5E” image_icon_width=”20px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_font=”PT Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#2a3749″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”PT Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”13px” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#F8F9FA” icon_font_size=”20px” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#F8F9FA” circle_color=”#AD6EF9″ global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n Unlike large agencies where you’re passed between advisors, Michael is your single point of contact \u2014 always available, always in your corner, from first session to final decision.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Grades 9\u201312 Support” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_background_color=”#072E5E” image_icon_width=”20px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_font=”PT Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#2a3749″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”PT Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”13px” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#F8F9FA” icon_font_size=”20px” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#F8F9FA” circle_color=”#6ed2f9″ global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n The students who stand out in applications are the ones who started building their story early. We work with students from 9th grade through senior year \u2014 and 100% of our students get into at least one of their top 3 schools.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Expert Counselor” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_background_color=”#072E5E” image_icon_width=”20px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.16″ header_font=”PT Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#2a3749″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”PT Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”13px” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#F8F9FA” icon_font_size=”20px” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#F8F9FA” circle_color=”#F9CE6E” global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n Your counselor is a Harvard graduate, national speech and debate champion, and published essayist \u2014 with a track record of acceptances to Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Duke, UChicago, and beyond.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Elite Essay Writer” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”j||divi||400″ icon_color=”#ffffff” image_icon_background_color=”#072E5E” image_icon_width=”20px” icon_alignment=”left” content_max_width=”800px” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_font=”PT Sans|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#2a3749″ header_font_size=”16px” body_font=”PT Sans||||||||” body_font_size=”13px” image_icon_custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” border_radii_image=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all_image=”3px” border_color_all_image=”#F8F9FA” icon_font_size=”20px” use_circle=”on” use_circle_border=”on” circle_border_color=”#F8F9FA” circle_color=”#99DA89″ global_colors_info=”{}” image_icon_background_color__sticky_enabled=”#7EBEC5″ image_icon_background_color__sticky=”#7EBEC5″]<\/p>\n Michael’s own Harvard application essay was published in<\/em> 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays. When it comes to essay writing, you’re working with someone who has been there at the highest level<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” next_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f8f9fa” top_divider_style=”wave” top_divider_height=”180px” bottom_divider_style=”curve” bottom_divider_height=”282px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding_tablet=”||20px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”PT Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_2_font=”Playfair Display|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#181818″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” custom_margin=”|-59px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” width=”98.7%”]<\/p>\n College admissions has never been more competitive. GPA and test scores get you in the door. Your story gets you in the school.<\/strong> In this short video, Michael breaks down why a compelling story is the most powerful thing a student can bring to their application \u2014 and how Ivy League Stories helps you build one.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FkQuawiGWUw” image_src=”https:\/\/ivyleaguestories.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/agency-09-2.jpg” thumbnail_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.6)” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|-57px||||” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" AboutAbout Ivy League Stories 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-108","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Choose Us?<\/h2>\n
The Philosophy Behind the Work<\/h2>\n