Sara Harberson and Application Nation
If you’ve been researching college admissions help options, especially on Facebook, you may have come across Sara Harberson’s Application Nation. With her background as a former admissions dean and her large social media following, Sara has built a brand that appeals to families looking for insider advice. Is Application Nation the best option for your child? Read this expert review to find out.
Application Nation is a college admissions advising platform founded by Sara Harberson in 2018. Before founding Application Nation, Sara worked for more than a decade in admissions offices of various colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania, and at a college counseling office at an elite high school. She states that she’s read hundreds of thousands of college applications and essays.
Unlike traditional one-on-one consulting firms, Application Nation is built around community-based advising, offering a mix of private Facebook groups, masterclasses, and personalized feedback depending on the service tier you choose. Her collection of counseling groups, Application Nation, are a series of private Facebook groups organized by high school graduation year (Class of 2027, Class of 2028, etc.).
Parents who use Application Nation appreciate both hearing the perspective of other community members and Sara’s responsiveness to their questions. Application Nation isn’t a way to get highly personalized step-by-step guidance through college admissions, but it’s a good introductory way to ask questions and learn the ins-and-outs of the admissions process and what schools are looking for. Sara also offers one-on-one counseling on essays, interviews, application prep, etc. to a select number of students.
Services Offered
Application Nation
- Year-round community support for parents, organized by student grade level
- Monthly video call seminars with Sara Harberson
- Limited feedback on college lists, essay topics, activity sections from Sara
- Webinars and masterclasses on admissions topics
- Guidance on strategy for test-optional policies, early action/decision, and more
1-on-1 Advising
- Personalized college list building
- Essay editing and application review
- Full application strategy
- Interview prep
- Waitlist or deferral strategy support
Free Resources
- Blog posts and videos
- Weekly newsletter with advice and updates
- Essay bootcamp courses
Locations
Application Nation is entirely virtual. All services—whether Facebook groups, webinars, or one-on-one advising—are delivered online. If you choose to work one-on-one with Sara, you have the option of working with her virtually or in-person at her office in Lancaster, PA.
Pricing
Application Nation’s costs vary depending your student’s grade. If your student is a high school junior or younger, the cost is $69 a month. If your student is a high school senior or rising senior, the cost is $99 a month.
One-on-one advising services typically cost several thousand dollars, depending on the scope and timeline.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line: Is Application Nation Right for You?
If you’re looking for expert guidance with an accessible price tag, Application Nation may be the right option for you. This is especially for parents who like to stay involved and informed throughout the process. Sara Harberson has a lot of admissions experience, and her advice is often very useful to parents.
Families who benefit most are typically those who are comfortable with a DIY approach but want expert feedback from time to time, as well as feedback from other parents going through the same experiences.
Application Nation may not be the best fit if your student needs frequent one-on-one support or if you’re looking for someone to fully guide your child through the admissions process. However, if you want expert insight and a community of equally invested parents, Application Nation can be a great value.