“Having Ben guide our daughter towards her dream college saved our home from a civil war.” A highly satisfied mother of one of Dream School Architects students
“Ben, you have been such a steady hand for J. through this whole admissions season. She trusts you, respects your feedback, and the fact that she actually enjoys facing the challenge of the admissions process with you says everything. And on a family level, you have no idea how much you’ve helped. This could have been months of stress and arguments in our house, and instead the process felt manageable and even calm. That is a huge gift.” A parent of a current student
“Thank you for caring as much as you do, and for being so kind and consistent with our daughter. We’re really grateful. I loved what you said about her being a true partner in the process. That’s exactly how it has felt watching her work with you: she has become more confident, more clear, and her voice is really shining.” A thankful parent
“I can’t tell you how grateful we are for you. You’ve been such a blessing, and you’ve done so much more for our son than I ever expected — not just making his writing stronger (which is so obvious), but helping him trust the admissions process and believe in what he has to say. There is no way he could’ve kept up that steady writing schedule on top of all his schoolwork without your persistent encouragement and project management and the way you challenged him. You’ve helped him build real discipline. We are so grateful.” A parent of a Dream School Architects student
“Thank you so much for your commitment to S. during this critical season. Thanks to your hard work, he will be attending his Early Decision dream school. We are immensely grateful. I’m glad you enjoyed our family celebration video — we will all raise a toast this evening.” A grateful parent
“I had the opportunity to work with Ben for months. Ben has a great ability to educate and inform the reader, with an approachable and thought-provoking style. I would highly recommend Ben as a writer on almost any topic, and someone who can help any organization simplify the complex and inspire both his readers and his colleagues. On top of that, Ben is a warm, friendly person who always takes the time to bring his teammates along, never condescends (although he’s probably the smartest guy in the room) and has been great fun to work with. Plus, I’ve never met anyone who can produce the volume of writing Ben can. Give him a topic, turn him loose.” Michael G., Marketing at Appirio
“Ben is one of those unique individuals who has unlimited energy and passion only surpassed by the depth of his intellect. His renaissance man approach to a variety of disciplines that blend law, politics, technology, entrepreneurship and human relations gives him a perspective that is far broader than that of his contemporaries.” Scott O., Venture Investor
“I had the privilege of working with Ben on several different writing projects over the years. His depth of knowledge is impressive, but the breadth of his expertise is staggering. Projects were impressive from the start, but he went to great lengths to perfect them. His expectations of his work were even higher than mine. I hope I am lucky enough to work with Ben, again on any project. If he is involved, it will be flawless.” Chris G., Government Relations, formerly of Xerox XLS Litigation Services
“Ben is one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking people I’ve engaged with. In his extensive writing and reporting he has made the most complicated changes in technology, science and society utterly understandable. I was honored that he reviewed extensively and intelligently my book about startups in the Arab World and made it more accessible and detailed. No surprise his analytic mind and outstanding communication skills and forward thinking can carry him in any enterprise or startup!” Christopher S., Internet/Media CEO; Venture Investor; Writer on Startups, Emerging Markets and the Middle East
“I had the privilege of working with Ben over several years to craft high-impact stories that translated complex technologies into compelling narratives. Ben is a rare blend of strategist, storyteller, and technologist—able to grasp nuanced concepts quickly and communicate them with clarity and resonance across verticals and subverticals.
Ben developed influential thought leadership pieces that shaped industry conversations. One such piece was “Manufacturing Moneyball,” a Forbes feature on GE that reframed industrial innovation through the lens of data and performance analytics. It became a widely cited piece in executive discussions around digital transformation.
Ben’s versatility across domains—from healthcare to AI/analytics to enterprise software—makes him an invaluable partner in thought leadership. He’s collaborative, intellectually curious, and always focused on impact. He brings insight, precision, and a deep understanding of how to connect ideas to outcomes.” Nancy S., formerly Global Head Audience Marketing, Health & Life Sciences, Microsoft
Dream School Architects was founded to guide students and families through the challenging college admissions process based on three simple principles.
We provide elite one-on-one training and coaching for your high school senior as they navigate the confusing process of writing college applications. We begin by strategizing and drafting the Common Application, tackling each university’s supplemental essays, and then following up with letters of demonstrated and continued interest, and scholarship essays as needed. The admissions process requires strict project management, a service we provide to ensure that students express their authentic voice on schedule. Our students are consistently finished with final drafts ahead of our own internal deadlines in order to meet college submission requirements with time to spare. We accomplish this by adhering to a regular meeting cadence that cannot be compromised.
We establish a personal relationship with each student so that they – and you, their parents – can maintain a sense of calm throughout the process. Applying to college is a stressful, engulfing, and too often an opaque process. Our work provides regular feedback to build trust and relieve family stress. We believe that compassion and grace are core principles, not optional parts of this process – and we reinforce this with each meeting with your senior and regular parent updates.
We help your senior plan their college application responsibilities – and in particular multiple drafts that meet both our internal and college deadlines in a way that’s sustainable with the rest of their busy life and yours. We understand that your student has other obligations – violin lessons, soccer practice, volunteering, family, jobs, and others. Senior year is difficult enough. College applications should not make life overwhelming. We devise bespoke schedules tailored to our mentees.
Founder, Dream School Architects
Ben Kerschberg is the founder of Dream School Architects. A graduate of Yale Law School and the University of Virginia, Ben also graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology in Northern Virginia, widely regarded as one of the best magnet schools in America.
Ben brings a wealth of writing, teaching, and editing experience to his mission.
Ben has not forgotten his own process of applying to college and law school. In those days, students largely worked on their essays with their high school teachers and parents. Ben’s AP English teacher was his guide. She made the process human and encouraged his dreams. Hence, Dream School Architects.
Former students will tell you that Ben is always prepared, kind and funny, and runs a tight ship. The most important lesson he has learned by working with college applicants is that they cherish being told how proud he is of their hard work. No other compliment has a similar effect.
The college admissions process does not require sacrificing compassion and humanity. It does require diligence, sustained effort, and respecting the process.
If you are considering working with Ben, please feel free to email him at ben.kerschberg@aya.yale.edu.
An initial conversation with your family will help you understand how Ben can help you achieve your college admissions goals. To get started, please share a few details below. Ben will respond to you directly by email to discuss potential next steps.
** Ben reviews transcripts and test scores before deciding whether to accept a student, so please be candid.** An asterisk (*) below indicates a required field.
Dream School Architects works with select students each year. Submitting an application does not ensure that a student will be chosen for any given application cycle.