Getting students where they belong
UNCOMMON App is a New York-based boutique educational consulting service. Founded by Dr. Elena Polenova in 2017, UNCOMMON App has helped more than 150 students earn acceptances to Ivy League schools, competitive private universities, small liberal arts colleges, and outstanding public institutions as well as well-known graduate and medical school programs.
Finding the right match. UNCOMMON App operates behind a crucial principle: it is far more important to find the right match than to simply win a slot at any one institution. The volatile landscape of college admissions is unpredictable and sometimes incomprehensible—in moving away from the clichés of reach, target, and safety schools, we focus instead on a simple question: where would you be happy to attend? By keeping focus on finding a sense of belonging, Elena is a true ally to students and a source of support to their parents.
Customizing our approach. The success of UNCOMMON App lay in its name. We reject a uniform methodology and adopt a highly customized approach to each client based on their personality, aspirations, and family goals. The heart of our work is developing close, trusting relationships with students from early in their high school careers and mapping intensely individualized programs catered exclusively to their success. Elena’s background in psychology and career counseling has equipped her to help students better identify, understand, and articulate their own strengths. This confidence-building is key.
Earning confidence. Honesty and open communication are essential to UNCOMMON App’s success. Elena is direct and realistic, and prides herself on understanding her clients’ goals and fears equally. Her ability to strike a balance between encouraging introspection and pushing hard shows students how to stay confident and excited about what matters most to them.
Achieving results. Elena’s priority is guiding her students to success on their own paths. Her extensive knowledge of the admissions landscape, combined with her sensitivity to personality and potential of her students, enables each applicant to develop the strongest possible applications, resulting in acceptances to the schools and programs they belong in. By employing structure, insight and empathy, UNCOMMON App achieves outstanding results.
Finding the right match. UNCOMMON App operates behind a crucial principle: it is far more important to find the right match than to simply win a slot at any one institution. The volatile landscape of college admissions is unpredictable and sometimes incomprehensible—in moving away from the clichés of reach, target, and safety schools, we focus instead on a simple question: where would you be happy to attend? By keeping focus on finding a sense of belonging, Elena is a true ally to students and a source of support to their parents.
Customizing our approach. The success of UNCOMMON App lay in its name. We reject a uniform methodology and adopt a highly customized approach to each client based on their personality, aspirations, and family goals. The heart of our work is developing close, trusting relationships with students from early in their high school careers and mapping intensely individualized programs catered exclusively to their success. Elena’s background in psychology and career counseling has equipped her to help students better identify, understand, and articulate their own strengths. This confidence-building is key.
Earning confidence. Honesty and open communication are essential to UNCOMMON App’s success. Elena is direct and realistic, and prides herself on understanding her clients’ goals and fears equally. Her ability to strike a balance between encouraging introspection and pushing hard shows students how to stay confident and excited about what matters most to them.
Achieving results. Elena’s priority is guiding her students to success on their own paths. Her extensive knowledge of the admissions landscape, combined with her sensitivity to personality and potential of her students, enables each applicant to develop the strongest possible applications, resulting in acceptances to the schools and programs they belong in. By employing structure, insight and empathy, UNCOMMON App achieves outstanding results.
Degree Programs
Whether you’re preparing to apply to undergraduate, graduate, medical, or international
programs, UNCOMMON App has the experiences, resources, and team to help you.
Read more about our programs
Read more about our programs
Results
Our students have earned acceptances to top schools and programs across the country and abroad. Read through our testimonials to hear from students and parents themselves on how we’ve helped them embark on their journeys, and be sure to review the long list of schools where our students have been accepted.
Our approach
UNCOMMON App’s signature comprehensive plan centers on building a long-term
relationship with your student. This program is most effective when activated during the
student’s sophomore year of high school, in preparation for choosing consequential
junior year courses. In getting to know your student as early as possible, we will also get
on track for competitive summer programs relevant to their college aspirations.
Read more about our services
Read more about our services
Our team
Our team is truly one-of-a-kind. Their individual skills and strengths, diverse schooling
and work experience, and personal interests and passions reflect the different students
we’re excited to embrace at UNCOMMON App.
Meet our team
Meet our team