Our Story: How College Buddy Was Born from Personal Experience
our story
The Beginning
College Buddy was born out of my own experience applying to college. As I, Jack Watchmaker, began my college journey, it quickly became clear that my family was in unfamiliar territory. After more than two decades without going through the admissions process, we didn’t know where to start. We turned to the internet for guidance, but what we found was shocking—college consultancy services were priced at an average of $6,400, with many services easily exceeding $10,000. For my family, and countless others, that was simply unaffordable. This is the story that inspired me to create College Buddy.
It didn’t make sense to me. Why should getting help with college applications be so expensive, especially for students applying to schools that weren’t necessarily the most selective or elite? I knew there had to be a better way—one that made expert guidance available to all families, no matter their budget.
What We Are
And so, College Buddy was born: a service created by students, for students, with the goal of offering expert college admissions help at a much more affordable price. We’re here to provide the support families need without the hefty price tag, helping students navigate the application process with confidence and clarity.
While we specialize in helping students with schools in the Northeast region—particularly because many of our clients come from Massachusetts—we also have broad experience and expertise in navigating admissions at schools across the United States and internationally. We know that every student has a unique path, and we’re equipped to guide students toward the best-fit institutions, whether they’re close to home or across the globe.
Additionally, for families with international students, we offer on-call staff with international experience who can be brought in when needed. From understanding different educational systems to navigating visa requirements, our team is prepared to support families from all over the world.
At College Buddy, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and we’re committed to making the college admissions process accessible, affordable, and achievable for everyone.
Our Founders Story
Hi, I’m Jack Watchmaker, and I’ve been where you are. Navigating the college admissions process can be overwhelming, but I’m here to make it easier. As a current student at Bentley University, I’ve successfully navigated the process myself and have helped countless others do the same through College Buddy.
What sets me apart is my experience on both sides of the admissions table. As a former Admissions Fellow at Bentley, I interviewed prospective students, learned exactly what admissions officers are looking for, and worked with many students to refine their applications. I understand how to make your application stand out and what it takes to impress at every step.
Beyond that, I’ve helped students navigate merit aid appeals, successfully securing significant scholarships and reducing college costs. With College Buddy, you’ll get the expertise, insight, and strategies you need to unlock your best possible future.
Why Choose Us
At College Buddy, we believe every student should have access to an affordable college admissions support story, which is why we’ve built a business model that allows us to keep costs significantly lower than traditional consultancy services. Our prices are lower because we operate with minimal overhead—our only major expense is maintaining the website. Beyond that, we rely on a team of dedicated, part-time employees who are currently in college themselves. This structure not only helps us keep our costs down but also allows us to offer insights and advice that are relevant and up-to-date, based on the most current admissions trends and experiences.
We’re passionate about providing high-quality guidance at a price that makes sense for today’s students and families, without sacrificing the level of expertise and attention to detail you’d expect from larger firms.
