An affordable alternative to traditional private college counseling.

Former dean of admissions, Sara Harberson, created Application Nation™ for families like yours. With over 25 years of experience in college admissions, Sara wanted to create a safe space for students and parents to feel heard and to get the best possible college advice—at a fraction of the cost of private 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?

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.

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.

Our Current Groups

Application Nation™

If your high school student is in the class of 2028, 2029, or 2030, this group is for you! Enjoy personalized college admissions guidance and training from Sara Harberson with a focus on the building blocks of college admissions.

$69.00

Monthly. Cancel at any time.

Application Nation™ - Class of 2027

Is your student in the class of 2027? If so, this Application Nation group is for you! Enjoy personalized college admissions guidance and training from Sara Harberson with a focus on the urgent college admissions topics your student is facing now.

$99.00

Monthly. Cancel at any time.

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.

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.

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.

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

In Merit Scholarships
$ 0 M+
College Acceptances
0 +
States
0
Countries
0

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 NewsCNBCABC NewsCBS Evening NewsCBS This MorningThe Today Show, and Lifetime. She has also published op-eds in The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, has been featured in People Magazine, and has been quoted as an expert in national publications such as The New York TimesThe Washington PostThe 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.

Stop Overpaying for Private Counseling

Application Nation

Private Counselors

A Comprehensive College Counseling Experience
Private One-on-One Sessions
College Essay Editing
Final Application Review
Helps Students Stay on Task
Affordable Pricing
Pay for Only What You Need
Provides Expertise for All College Aspirations
24/7 Access to a Counselor
Quick Answers to Pressing Questions
30+ Years Collective Experience Making Admissions Decisions at Highly Selective Colleges
Alumni Network for Questions About Specific Colleges

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to the questions we’re asked the most about 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.

  • 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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Ready To Start?

Just click the button below to select the group that’s right for you!

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!

Contact Us