An affordable alternative to traditional private college counseling.
What is Application Nation?
Sara Harberson’s vision for Application Nation™ took shape after seeing that many families don’t have affordable access to reliable college admissions advice. Students are surrounded by misinformation about the admissions process on the internet, while professional advice can cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. With Application Nation, Sara’s private college counseling community, Sara wants to change that.
Created especially for parents navigating the college admissions process with their children, Application Nation is an affordable alternative to traditional private college counseling where families can ask all of their college admissions questions and get comprehensive answers quickly—from professional college counselors with a collective 30+ years of experience making admissions decisions at highly selective colleges.
During Sara's time as a dean of admissions at a top college and an associate dean of admissions at an Ivy League university, she has trained the very best admissions officers. With her Application Nation groups, it is Sara's goal to teach families to think like an admissions officer and get the inside scoop on admissions. Because every kid applying to college deserves the best advice.
Why Join Application Nation?
During our monthly live video webinars, Sara and her team teach the ins and outs of college admissions through exercises, Q&As, and more. Plus, call recordings are available for on-demand viewing in our video library.
Application Nation is your 24/7 virtual college counselor! Members enjoy access to Sara and her team for questions, support, college admissions strategy training, and insights that you can't get anywhere else.
Application Nation fosters a like-minded community of parents to rely on, share with, and pose questions to about the college admissions process.
Sara and her team offer members exclusive private college counseling add-on offers like comprehensive essay editing, one-on-one sessions, college application reviews, deferral/waitlist guidance, and more.
Members get individualized guidance on top-of-mind topics, like SAT and ACT testing, college essays, academics, extracurriculars, and more. While Sara's insider college admissions timeline keeps them on a schedule of knowing what to do (and when to do it!).
Worksheets, sample emails, exercises, charts, templates, and more are reviewed during our live webinars and are released exclusively to members afterward in our content library. Plus, when Sara releases a new resource, like her College Admissions Annual Timeline, Application Nation members are the first to know!
How Does Application Nation Work?
Application Nation™ is a suite of members-only private Facebook groups that unites students, parents, and caregivers from across the country (and around the world!) with professional college counselors to create a powerful college counseling community. Members sign up for Application Nation for a monthly fee based on their high school class year, join their group on Facebook, and get unlimited access to the following benefits. Application Nation is billed monthly, there is no commitment, and members can cancel at any time.
- Expert Answers To All of Your Questions. Ask your college admissions questions directly on our members-only private discussion board and Sara and her team will personally respond with their professional advice. Plus, you'll receive bonus insights and support from fellow parents!
- Live Webinars with Sara + Team. Our live video seminars are designed to give families the tools they need to conquer the college admissions process and learn how admissions officers think. They are offered monthly on of-the-moment topics, hosted on Zoom, and recorded for on-demand viewing.
- Follow-Up Resources from Each Webinar. Worksheets, sample emails, exercises, charts, templates, and more are reviewed during our live webinars and are released exclusively to members afterward in our content library.
- Private College Counseling Offers. Want a comprehensive college counseling experience? Our private add-on services are exclusive to Application Nation members, are purchased separately, and cover everything from essay editing to one-on-one sessions to application reviews, and more.
- A Tight-Knit Community. Application Nation fosters a supportive community of parents who cheer on all college-bound families needing advice, encouragement, and a safe space to learn. At the end of their admissions journey, members are invited to our extensive Alumni Network.
Our Current Groups
Is Application Nation Right For You?
Application Nation™ is a new way to learn about the college admissions process and a modern alternative to traditional college counseling. Here are a few reasons to take the plunge and become a member.
Our team is made up of former admissions officers and reliable experts who will consider even the smallest details of your questions and offer the best advice on our 24/7 private discussion board.
With our low monthly fee, Application Nation is a great place to begin learning about the admissions process, find your best path forward, get quick answers to beginner questions, follow our timeline, and get reassurance that you’ve got this!
Families can choose to spend just the monthly fee for all of the tools they need to do it themselves or to purchase add-on offers à la carte. When you're on a budget, why should an overinflated counseling package be the only option?
Testimonials
“I foolishly hired an independent counselor only to abandon them once I discovered Application Nation!"
Sandy
Application Nation Parent, Class of 2025
"Thinking back to when I was trying to decide where to spend money on this process knowing we don't have limitless resources, I am so glad to have chosen Application Nation."
Lori
Application Nation Parent, Class of 2022
"Sara's attention to detail and attentiveness to the students and families’ needs is more than I could have ever imagined—especially in an online environment.”
Sarah
Application Nation Parent, Class of 2021
Application Nation™ By The Numbers
$279M+
In Merit Scholarships
10,600+
College Acceptances
50
States
23
Countries
Application Nation members have been accepted to over 540 colleges & universities, including every Ivy League university, the top 25 institutions in the U.S., every state flagship, honors colleges, top-tier speciality schools, and more!
Meet Sara Harberson
Sara Harberson is the founder of Application Nation™ and the author of SOUNDBITE: The Admissions Secret that Gets You Into College and Beyond from Hachette Book Group. She is the former associate dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania and the former dean of admissions and financial aid at Franklin & Marshall College. A lifelong student advocate, Sara’s philosophy is that every kid applying to college deserves the best advice.
As the leading authority on college admissions, Sara has made appearances on NBC Nightly News, CNBC, ABC News, CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, The Today Show, and Lifetime. She has also published op-eds in The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, and has been quoted as an expert in national publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Teen Vogue.
After working in college admissions for over 25 years, Sara trains parents on how to understand the process from the inside out. When it comes to college admissions advice and individualized attention, Sara is unparalleled in her field. That is why Sara is known as America's College Counselor.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to the questions we’re asked the most about Application Nation.™
What is Application Nation?
In short, the most powerful college counseling community in the country! Application Nation is a suite of private Facebook Groups that Sara Harberson created especially for parents navigating the college admissions process with their children. Sara’s goal is to explain to parents how admissions officers think, so you have the inside scoop.
What does membership to Application Nation include?
- Direct access to Sara and her team for answers to your college admissions questions, as well as support and insights that you can't get anywhere else.
- Monthly live video webinars with Sara and her team. Plus, on-demand viewing in our video library.
- Exclusive access to purchase Sara's private college counseling add-on services, like essay editing, one-on-one sessions, college list planning, application reviews, and more.
- Priority releases for Sara's guides and announcements.
- A like-minded community to rely on, share with, and pose questions to about the college admissions process.
- Sara's tried and true college admissions timeline, keeping you on a schedule of knowing what to do (and when to do it!)
- A monthly email newsletter with a message from Sara, plus college admissions tips, news, and reminders.
- An exclusive invitation to our supportive and extensive Application Nation Alumni Network at the end of your college admissions journey.
What are your private college counseling add-on services?
Our private college counseling add-on services are completely optional, exclusive to Application Nation members, and are purchased separately.
- Private One-on-One Sessions
- College List Reviews & Planning
- Private Essay Editing (Main + Supplemental)
- Application Reviews
- And many more!
Who is Application Nation for?
Application Nation is a private Facebook Group open to students, parents, caregivers, and families of high school students looking for affordable college admissions guidance and training from professional college counselors. The goal of Application Nation is to ensure a student puts together the strongest application possible for the colleges on their list.
How much does Application Nation cost?
Membership to Application Nation is between $69 and $99 per month depending on your class year and the time of year you join. Add-on offers are purchased separately. Membership is billed monthly, there is no commitment, and members can cancel at any time.
Will I really receive personal college admissions advice for my student?
Yes! Sara and her team personally answer questions posted on our private discussion board about your student—broad or specific, big or small. Members also have the exclusive opportunity to have a private session and purchase other private add-on offers, and get frequent face time with the team and Sara on monthly video calls.
Still Have Questions?
Interested in Future Groups?
If your child is still in middle school, but you want to be the first to know when future Application Nation groups open up, join our mailing list!
Sign Up