Kelly Chester is the founder of the Application Workshop, a boutique admissions firm based in New York, and a member of the Board of Advisors for Forward Thinking. After receiving her graduate degree from Columbia University, Kelly started her career as a teacher and administrator at several prestigious Manhattan private schools. The New York Times described her teaching as being “on a level that most college professors might envy.” Kelly established the Application Workshop after noticing that many college consultants lacked the pedagogical background necessary to motivate and inspire students to craft essays and develop applications that would resonate with admissions officers. Kelly works closely with families to identify ideal schools for applicants based on transcripts, standardized test scores, and interests. In addition, she specializes in the preparation of applications and the development of authentic and impactful personal statements and supplemental essays. In addition to serving clients domestically, Kelly has worked with international applicants from many regions. Kelly’s expertise and proven success rate have provided her with a nuanced understanding of what competitive colleges look for in their applicants, which is why over 90% of her students have been admitted to one of their top three schools each year. More importantly, her dedication to each of her students and her commitment to helping them grow academically during the application process make her approach to admissions extraordinary.
