Our Story
Sara Blakely took a very unique approach in discussing one’s purpose. She asked “what breaks your heart?” A simple yet effective tool in being the change you want to see. For me, it is seeing unrealized potential in students. It’s when a student settles for a subpar university rather than their dream school just because an admissions officer could not see their potential.
In 2018, I was rejected from USC. It was a humbling experience. Salutatorian with a 4.5+ GPA, 800+ volunteer hours, multiple extracurriculars, and competitive SAT score gets rejected from his dream school. I had listened to every college counselor – crossed every “t” and dotted every “i.”
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While I was admitted into multiple prestigious universities, I had my sights set on USC. I made a conscious decision to attend a community college and quickly realized the unmatched benefits that are largely unknown among young ambitious students. After dozens of counseling sessions, numerous reading materials, months of research, and multiple conversations with top college admissions specialists, I finished 2 years of community college in only 6 months and transferred into USC as a junior.
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Armed with my proof of concept, I acquired my first official client – my sister and co-founder of Everest, Sarina Garabedian. Similarly, she transferred in six months and gained admittance into all her target schools. Over the past 5 years, we have refined our curriculum and expanded our clientele, yielding unquestionable results. We are excited to continue seeing such success in all our clients.
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Transferring has been viewed as a second rate option, a stigmatized fail safe for students who were unable to get into their top choice schools. We could not disagree more. Everest was founded with a simple purpose: to get students into their dream school with a competitive edge and lowest financial burden possible. Let us help you climb your Everest.
Andrew Garabedian
Co-Founder of Everest
Meet The Founders
Andrew Garabedian
USC Marshall School of Business
With 5+ years of college counseling experience, Andrew Garabedian has helped multiple students gain admittance into prestigious undergraduate universities, graduate programs, and top-ranked firms (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, among others). Andrew utilizes a reverse engineered approach, focusing on the unique goals of each student to help them craft a personalized plan for success. A firm believer in mentorship and networking, Andrew takes a vested interest in each of his clients and is always willing to take a call. His professional passions involve the intersection of law, finance, and entrepreneurship – he has worked in all three sectors respectively. In his free time, Andrew enjoys trying new restaurants, singing, and playing the piano.
Sarina Garabedian
USC Marshall School of Business
Driven by her love for storytelling and framing compelling narratives, Sarina Garabedian has a penchant for helping students showcase their unique voice in college applications. She uses her own experiences as a window into her client’s stories, giving them an outlet to express themselves confidently. With 3+ years of college counseling experience, Sarina has overseen multiple college applications, crafted numerous personal statements, and built multiple effective course plans. Her professional passions include creative brand strategy, marketing, and entrepreneurship. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, discovering local coffee shops, and pursuing her creative passions.