About

About Hilary

Hilary Sullivan, Founder and Principal of Affirm, earned a Distinction in the Graduate Certificate in College Counseling at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2017 and conducted her Practicum for the Certificate at The American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida. In March of 2023, Hilary completed the Fundamentals of Graduate School Admissions Counseling at University of California, Irvine (UCI).


She is a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC), each requiring the highest of ethical standards in educational consulting. Hilary also earned an MBA from The London Business School (LBS) in London, England and gained admissions experience as an LBS Alumni Interviewer for the South Florida Region.


Hilary served on the Board of Trustees at The Frederick Gunn School in Washington CT, The Unity School in Delray Beach FL, and on the Board of Directors of Impact 100 PBC. She currently serves in an advisory capacity to Impact 100 PBC and on the Grant Committee for Education. Her early career experience included twelve years in the institutional financial service industry in New York, London, Boston, and Miami.


In addition to working with ten comprehensive clients per grade, Hilary works pro-bono on college essay writing with mostly first-generation college applicants at Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, FL. 


Hilary understands the nuances of the college admissions processes after going through it with numerous families as well as her own two daughters. She follows all industry best practices, stays current on industry trends and education, and visits numerous colleges each year. Hilary also offers select boarding school and graduate school application support on a case by case basis.


Hilary works with students across the US and abroad and if you are interested in seeing how Affirm might help your family, please contact Hilary for a complimentary consultation.

“The college process can be an exciting time, but also a daunting task. Our advisor, Hilary Sullivan, helped my son take ownership of the process. She took her time to get to know him personally and academically, which played a vital role in how she assisted him in the college application process. Hilary had a strong sense of what my son was looking for in a University. She was a terrific fit and I highly recommend her expert services. We are thrilled that our son was accepted early decision to Emory University.”

 


Jeanette

Parent of a High School Graduate

“The best choice I made during the college application process was choosing to work with Hilary Sullivan at Affirm Educational Planning. Hilary is an amazing college advisor and helped ease the stress of the whole process. She is so knowledgeable and helped me find more colleges that fit what I wanted in a college. When it came to writing numerous supplements and preparing for interviews, she was the perfect counselor. She is a superb editor and had a plethora of great ideas on how to personalize my essays and portray the best of me. I am truly grateful for all of the aid she has given me through the process. I would not have been able to navigate through all of the confusing college information, deadlines, and questions without her. I would 1000% recommend her to anyone about to start the college process. I am pleased to say that with her help, I will be attending Wake Forest University in the fall!”

Brennan

High School Student, Class of '23

"Hilary is an incredible asset and I highly recommend her! She quickly understood my child, assessed his skills, and made recommendations for great colleges for him. She gently guided him and helped him find his voice and reflect who he is in his essays and applications. She gave him confidence and enabled my husband and I to step away from the process. Hilary has a wealth of knowledge about colleges and an intrinsic understanding of the application process."


Ashley

Parent of a High School

 Graduate

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