Testimonials

TESTIMONIAL

Stories of Student Achievement

The best investment we could have made in our daughter’s college admissions process.Tim H
Our family believes hiring Denise Karp was the best investment we could have made in our daughter’s college admissions process. Our daughter had worked very hard to earn good grades, have solid test scores, earn extracurricular accomplishments, etc. However, we quickly learned that there were a lot of other students who had done similarly; the competition for admissions into highly selective schools is tough. Our daughter was accepted into her first choice, Top Tier school & we believe that Denise helped make that happen.
With Denise’s counsel, my son plotted a path to successThe Smith Family
Working with Denise was an invaluable experience for my son and our entire family. She is infinitely patient, readily available to help, and a voice of reason and wisdom throughout the daunting college application process. When we started this vast undertaking, we felt overwhelmed. Denise was able to break down each step into manageable tasks and ultimately engaged my son by really getting to know him as a unique individual.
HIRE HERAllison Z.
Denise was an excellent coach for my son! Helped him come up with a list (with great suggestions we might not have considered!) Kept everything on track, helped manage timelines and essays, was totally available around sports and other commitments, cannot recommend her enough! Especially if you are a working mom of a teenage boy, I cannot stress this enough-
She made me the biggest fish coming from the smallest pondAshlyn Northeastern University
It is not often that a student is accepted into all but one of the universities they apply to, especially if they applied to 14. To put my experience and Denise’s expertise into perspective, I come from a small town school with 80 students in my graduating class, which is rarely the accepted applicant pool for well-known universities. However, Denise turned this implausible dream into a reality. Unfamiliar with the college process, guidance through every step was a requirement for my family and I.
As any parent going into the process of helping/guiding a child through the process of college choices, applications, and admissions is awareJosh Kaufman
We were overwhelmed and terrified of the thought of missing some option or deadline that could impact our senior’s options or chances at the schools that would be right for them. Working with Denise made the process manageable and (relatively!) stress free for us and our child. Having the next steps and deadlines known, and guidance always just an easy call or message away was invaluable.
I highly recommend working with Big Fish on Campus to navigate the college application process. It was a smooth, Julie Forte
Denise was instrumental in helping my son every step of the way from identifying colleges that would be a good fit, building his resume, completing the common application, brainstorming essay ideas and working one-on-one with him on supplemental essay responses. Denise was very flexible with meeting times and extremely responsive to my son and I during the entire year we worked together.
As any parent going into the process of helping/guiding a child through the process of college choicesJosh Kaufman
We were overwhelmed and terrified of the thought of missing some option or deadline that could impact our senior’s options or chances at the schools that would be right for them. Working with Denise made the process manageable and (relatively!) stress free for us and our child. Having the next steps and deadlines known, and guidance always just an easy call or message away was invaluable. The regular check ins kept everyone on-track and now here we are just a few short months from them going off to their top-choice school, thanks in no small part to Denise’s help!
I highly recommend working with Big Fish on Campus to navigate the college application process. Julie F
I highly recommend working with Big Fish on Campus to navigate the college application process. It was a smooth, stress-free process because of her expertise. Denise was instrumental in helping my son every step of the way from identifying colleges that would be a good fit, building his resume, completing the common application, brainstorming essay ideas and working one-on-one with him on supplemental essay responses. Denise was very flexible with meeting times and extremely responsive to my son and I during the entire year we worked together.
Denise Karp Big Fish on CampusKirby K
TRIPLETS! In 2025, Denise mentored 3 Juniors to 1-Accepted Early Decision only choice, 2-Accepted in (3?) days 1st choice, 3-Accepted to stretch (perfect fit). 2 of 3 with significant merit funding. Biggest kudos…they TRUSTED her and we had peace of mind.
Working with Denise was one of the best decisions I made during the college application processAndrew K
What could have been an overwhelming and stressful experience felt manageable and even exciting thanks to her guidance and support. We were able to build a comfortable and trusting relationship, which made it easy to seek advice and feedback throughout the process. Whether she was reviewing my essays, helping me refine my applications, or keeping me on track with deadlines, her dedication and encouragement played a major role in my success. I am incredibly grateful for her constant support and the confidence she helped me develop along the way. Go Gators!

"Highly Recommend!"

I highly recommend Denise. She helped guide my son through the college application process from start to finish, keeping him on track with all of the deadlines. She was available on nights and weekends and was all around helpful and encouraging!

"Amazing with my senior!"

Denise has been amazing with my senior! I really don't know where we would be without her helping us navigate the college process. She really gets to know your child and helps find schools that best fit your child and their goals!

"We are so happy she got into her first choice!"

My daughter worked with Denise with her college applications and we are so happy she got into her first choice! Denise is very knowledgeable on this process and provides support at any given time and knows all of the answers! We are so thankful for her guidance!

"I will certainly be reaching back out when it's time for my boys."

Denise was amazing! She is very patient and intentional and helped my daughter complete all of her college applications- I didn't do a thing. This helped preserve our relationship during her senior year since I didn't have to nag her during the process. She was accepted into every college she applied to (one waitlist that we thought was a long shot), including her dream school, Clemson! My child is a very busy student and Denise worked with her schedule to advise her. They often met on Sunday nights, after volleyball games, and really whenever it met my daughter's needs. We will be using her again when it is time for my sons to apply to college. Couldn't have asked for a better experience! We have had an amazing college application experience with so many positive results!

"As a mom, I appreciated Denise's calm"

Really enjoyed working with Denise! She reviewed essays in a timely manner, and she is extremely knowledgeable about how to navigate the college application process for the 15 schools my daughter applied to. She could assess whether to use test scores or not, whether to apply early admission or wait for better scores and apply regular. In the end, my daughter got in to 12/15 schools (including one where she waited for better test scores and got in regular decision). As a mom, I appreciated Denise's calm in the middle of our stormy fall semester getting everything in on time.

"Supportive, sensitive and set firm expectations"

Denise Karp was amazing in helping my grandson through the entire application process. She was supportive, and sensitive, set firm expectations and goals, and he got into the college he chose!!! We highly recommend Denise.

"Got accepted to UT. Thank you so much for all your help!"

Hi Denise, I just got the email from UT Austin today and GOT ACCEPTED into public health!!! Thank you so much for all your help!

"Denise worked with each of my children in a way that worked for them."

The process of picking a college and navigating the process is hard enough with one but with twins going in different directions, it could have been overwhelming. Denise was there to discuss the positives and negatives of every college and was super responsive. We also appreciated that she set realistic expectations. More importantly, she worked with each of my children in a way that worked for them. Ultimately, she provided the guidance that would result in acceptance to their 1st choice schools.

"She was a great resource which took the stress off of me."

Denise did a phenomenal job working with my son on his college search. She helped him identify schools and stay on track with essays and applications. She was a great resource which took the stress off of me!

"We highly recommend Big Fish on Campus!"

Denise made this anxiety-producing and difficult process a breeze! She helped us find schools that would best fit our daughter, and she worked with our daughter on all aspects of the application. With Denise's expertise, our daughter had to make a difficult choice, as she got into all the schools she applied to, most with merit scholarships as well! We were so impressed with Denise, that the aspect of doing this again for our second child is no longer scary. We highly recommend Big Fish on Campus!

"Incredibly helpful, essential, supportive, invested and encouraging"

Denise has been incredibly helpful and essential during my college application process. Everything from deciding which schools to apply to, to writing college essays was made so much easier with Denise's guidance. Not only did she offer me experienced and detailed advice, but she was also incredibly supportive, invested, and encouraging during the process. I owe so much to her and would definitely recommend her to anyone else who's starting the college application process!

"Her guidance was an essential part of my success."

Denise is there to guide you through whichever stages of the college admissions process you may be struggling with. Her services aren't just for those totally unfamiliar with how the process works, but rather she adapts to help you with whatever parts you specifically find yourself needing help with. I found her expertise on what college admissions officers are looking for specifically invaluable when it came time to write my common app essay as well as all my supplemental essays. As the college admissions cycle becomes more and more competitive, the essays are truly one of the most important pieces of your application so I know Denise's guidance in crafting these essays was an essential part of my success. I personally went to Denise with an exact plan for my future and she helped strengthen my application around this goal. For example, she helped me find a research opportunity which was a key component of the extracurricular section of my application. Because of Denise, I am attending one of the top public universities in the nation. Go Blue!

"Thank you so much for helping me!"

Hey! Thank you so much for helping me with my essays and details on my applications this summer.

"Top notch… I couldn't recommend her any more highly!"

My experience with Ms. Karp was top notch! I really appreciate the times I could connect with her and her efforts in listening, sharing and comprehending me. I could not recommend her any more highly!

"Highly recommend — My daughter enjoyed working with Denise immensely."

I highly recommend Denise Karp as a college consultant from Big Fish on Campus. My daughter is a senior this year and we started the college process a bit late compared to others. When we started to do the research, it was beyond overwhelming, and we realized that we were going to need help from someone with experience. The process of finding someone was overwhelming as well. We started with a different company and submitted a deposit and they did not respond when they were going to, and it was a major headache. Denise came highly recommended and the process from the moment we signed on with her to the end was very smooth and efficient. She mostly worked with my daughter which I liked. She was available very promptly. My daughter enjoyed working with her immensely. Denise is a very hard worker and definitely went above and beyond our expectations. Our daughter was accepted at all schools that she applied for and received generous scholarships. She will be attending her college of choice fall of 2023. It was well worth having a college consultant. I highly recommend Denise Karp.

"Strongly recommend Big Fish on Campus and Denise"

My family loved working with Denise. She assisted us in finding the right schools for my son to apply to and then helped him get into his first choice. Denise was always available and assisted in all aspects of the application process. We considered her a part of our family and truly believe she was as excited as we were when our son Matthew got into Wake Forest. I would strongly recommend Big Fish on Campus and Denise for any family looking for someone to help during the college selection/application process.

"We can't thank you enough."

I highly recommend Denise Karp, Big Fish on Campus's services to help relieve the stress of navigating the college selection and navigation process. If your child needs expert and honest guidance, they will get it from Denise. Denise will help you and your child every step of the way. As a Mom, I am forever grateful for her valuable assistance/contribution in helping (me) and my two twin daughters find the right college "fit" for them. The technology tools available through Big Fish on Campus coupled with Denise's sound insight and advice was effective, efficient, and successful. So, here we go… two of my daughter's going to college in the fall (Northeastern University and MCC!) All the best to all. Thank you so much – Denise. We can't thank you enough for your outstanding support and work to help them through this journey. You are amazing.

"Highly recommend — Super responsive and quick"

Denise provided useful feedback and great editing for my daughter's college essay. She was also super responsive and quick. Highly recommend.

"I'll always remember what you did for me!"

Hey, Miss Denise, I know I've said it quite a lot, but I still want to say it once again. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to work with you and I will always remember what you did for me.

"The best!"

Denise, thank you so much! I appreciate all the help you have given me with my college search and applications. You are the best!

"Rutgers satisfied everything he wanted, and he's now loving it!"

My son is a freshman at Rutgers University. Initially, he was not sure where he wanted to go. He was told by guidance to find a certain amount of safe, reach and target schools. We set out to visit some but he had no idea what he was looking for in each school. Denise sent me lists of things to look for when seeing each school to make it less overwhelming. This helped a great deal as there were now things to consider. She made it so much easier this way training us to think differently. We talked through each of his acceptances and which ones to visit. Denise helped us continue to narrow his choices to find the right fit. Rutgers satisfied everything he wanted and he's now loving it!

"Thank you for pulling me through this difficult time in my life."

Dear Denise: Thank you for pulling me through this difficult time in my life. I now have a better understanding as to what I am supposed to be doing as a helpful parent to my child. Thanks again!

"It's a great feeling when someone like you is in our corner."

We appreciate you being there for us and Jessica the whole school year. It has been a trying year for us but it's a great feeling when someone like you is in our corner.

“Highly Recommend!”

I highly recommend Denise. She helped guide my son through the college application process from start to finish, keeping him on track with all of the deadlines. She was available on nights and weekends and was all around helpful and encouraging!

Client: Hallie S)
“Amazing with my senior!”

Denise has been amazing with my senior! I really don’t know where we would be without her helping us navigate the college process. She really gets to know your child and helps find schools that best fit your child and their goals! –Debbie F.

“We are so happy she got into her first choice!”

My daughter worked with Denise with her college applications and we are so happy she got into her first choice! Denise is very knowledgeable on this process and provides support at any given time and knows all of the answers! We are so thankful for her guidance! – Kim L

“I will certainly be reaching back out when it’s time for my boys.”

Denise was amazing! She is very patient and intentional and helped my daughter complete all of her college applications- I didn’t do a thing. This helped preserve our relationship during her senior year since I didn’t have to nag her during the process. She was accepted into every college she applied to (one waitlist that we thought was a long shot), including her dream school, Clemson! My child is a very busy student and Denise worked with her schedule to advise her. They often met on Sunday nights, after volleyball games, and really whenever it met my daughter’s needs. We will be using her again when it is time for my sons to apply to college. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience! We have had an amazing college application experience with so many positive results! –Sally R

“As a mom, I appreciated Denise’s calm”

Really enjoyed working with Denise!  She reviewed essays in a timely manner, and she is extremely knowledgeable about how to navigate the college application process for the 15 schools my daughter applied to.  She could assess whether to use test scores or not, whether to apply early admission or wait for better scores and apply regular.  In the end, my daughter got in to 12/15 schools (including one where she waited for better test scores and got in regular decision).  As a mom, I appreciated Denise’s calm in the middle of our stormy fall semester getting everything in on time. – Holly R

“Supportive, sensitive and set firm expectations”

Denise Karp was amazing in helping my grandson through the entire application process.  She was supportive, and sensitive, set firm expectations and goals, and he got into the college he chose!!! We highly recommend Denise. –Penny P

“Got accepted to UT. Thank you so much for all your help!”

Hi Denise, I just got the email from UT Austin today and GOT ACCEPTED into public health!!! Thank you so much for all your help!- Janhavi

“Denise worked with each of my children in a way that worked for them.”

The process of picking a college and navigating the process is hard enough with one but with twins going in different directions, it could have been overwhelming. Denise was there to discuss the positives and negatives of every college and was super responsive.  We also appreciated that she set realistic expectations. More importantly, she worked with each of my children in a way that worked for them. Ultimately, she provided the guidance that would result in acceptance to their 1st choice schools. 

Thank you- Kim & Ernie H

“She was a great resource which took the stress off of me.”

Denise did a phenomenal job working with my son on his college search. She helped him identify schools and stay on track with essays and applications. She was a great resource which took the stress off of me! –Doug M

“We highly recommend Big Fish on Campus!”

Denise made this anxiety-producing and difficult process a breeze! She helped us find schools that would best fit our daughter, and she worked with our daughter on all aspects of the application. With Denise’s expertise, our daughter had to make a difficult choice, as she got into all the schools she applied to, most with merit scholarships as well! We were so impressed with Denise, that the aspect of doing this again for our second child is no longer scary. We highly recommend Big Fish on Campus! –Robyn K

“Incredibly helpful, essential, supportive, invested and encouraging”

Denise has been incredibly helpful and essential during my college application process. Everything from deciding which schools to apply to, to writing college essays was made so much easier with Denise’s guidance. Not only did she offer me experienced and detailed advice, but she was also incredibly supportive, invested, and encouraging during the process. I owe so much to her and would definitely recommend her to anyone else who’s starting the college application process!- Lexie

“Her guidance was an essential part of my success.”

Denise is there to guide you through whichever stages of the college admissions process you may be struggling with. Her services aren’t just for those totally unfamiliar with how the process works, but rather she adapts to help you with whatever parts you specifically find yourself needing help with. I found her expertise on what college admissions officers are looking for specifically invaluable when it came time to write my common app essay as well as all my supplemental essays. As the college admissions cycle becomes more and more competitive, the essays are truly one of the most important pieces of your application so I know Denise’s guidance in crafting these essays was an essential part of my success. I, personally, went to Denise with an exact plan for my future and she helped strengthen my application around this goal. For example, she helped me find a research opportunity which was a key component of the extracurricular section of my application. Because of Denise, I am attending one of the top public universities in the nation. Go Blue! – Sophia

“Thank you so much for helping me!”

Hey! Thank you so much for helping me with my essays and details on my applications this summer. – Adam

“Top notch… I couldn’t recommend her any more highly!”

My experience with Ms. Karp was top notch! I really appreciate the times I could connect with her and her efforts in listening, sharing and comprehending me.I could not recommend her any more highly! – Millya N.

“Highly recommend- My daughter enjoyed working with Denise immensely.”

I highly recommend Denise Karp as a college consultant from Big Fish on Campus. My daughter is a senior this year and we started the college process a bit late compared to others. When we started to do the research, it was beyond overwhelming, and we realized that we were going to need help from someone with experience. The process of finding someone was overwhelming as well. We started with a different company and submitted a deposit and they did not respond when they were going to, and it was a major headache. Denise came highly recommended and the process from the moment we signed on with her to the end was very smooth and efficient. She mostly worked with my daughter which I liked. She was available very promptly. My daughter enjoyed working with her immensely. Denise is a very hard worker and definitely went above and beyond our expectations. Our daughter was accepted at all schools that she applied for and received generous scholarships. She will be attending her college of choice fall of 2023. It was well worth having a college consultant. I highly recommend Denise Karp. – MB Kelly.

“Strongly recommend Big Fish on Campus and Denise”

My family loved working with Denise. She assisted us in finding the right schools for my son to apply to and then helped him get into his first choice. Denise was always available and assisted in all aspects of the application process. We considered her a part of our family and truly believe she was as excited as we were when our son Matthew got into Wake Forest. I would strongly recommend Big Fish on Campus and Denise for any family looking for someone to help during the college selection/application process – B.Postman.

“We can’t thank you enough.”

I highly recommend Denise Karp, Big Fish on Campus’s services to help relieve the stress of navigating the college selection and navigation process. If your child needs expert and honest guidance, they will get it from Denise. Denise will help you and your child every step of the way. As a Mom, I am forever grateful for her valuable assistance/contribution in helping (me) and my two twin daughters find the right college “fit” for them. The technology tools available through Big Fish on Campus coupled with Denise’s sound insight and advice was effective, efficient, and successful. So, here we go… two of my daughter’s going to college in the fall (Northeastern University and MCC!) All the best to all. Thank you so much – Denise. We can’t thank you enough for your outstanding support and work to help them through this journey.
You are amazing.- Amy W.

“Highly recommend- Super responsive and quick”

Denise provided useful feedback and great editing for my daughter’s college essay. She was also super responsive and quick. Highly recommend.- Marci P.

“I’ll always remember what you did for me!”

Hey, Miss Denise, I know I’ve said it quite a lot, but I still want to say it once again. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to work with you and I will always remember what you did for me. – Dan G.

“The best!”

Denise, thank you so much! I appreciate all the help you have given me with my college search and applications. You are the best! – Bella K.

“Rutgers satisfied everything he wanted, and he’s now loving it!”

My son is a freshman at Rutgers University. Initially, he was not sure where he wanted to go. He was told by guidance to find a certain amount of safe, reach and target schools. We set out to visit some but he had no idea what he was looking for in each school. Denise sent me lists of things to look for when seeing each school to make it less overwhelming. This helped a great deal as there were now things to consider. She made it so much easier this way training us to think differently. We talked through each of his acceptances and which ones to visit. Denise helped us continue to narrow his choices to find the right fit. Rutgers satisfied everything he wanted and he’s now loving it! – Debbi P.

“Thank you for pulling me through this difficult time in my life.”

Dear Denise: Thank you for pulling me through this difficult time in my life. I now have a better understanding as to what I am supposed to be doing as a helpful parent to my child. Thanks again! – Jan P.

“It’s a great feeling when someone like you is in our corner.”

We appreciate you being there for us and Jessica the whole school year. It has been a trying year for us but it’s a great feeling when someone like you is in our corner. – Michael P