About Ivy Elite

Ivy Elite Education

Ivy Elite Inc.

Founded in New York in 2012 by former admissions professionals and alumni of leading universities including NYU and Columbia, Ivy Elite has spent more than a decade helping students approach global education with greater clarity and confidence. In 2025, our Greater China flagship service center opened in Chengdu, bringing locally responsive support together with exceptional international resources for students ready to make their mark on the world.

New York Headquarters1460 Broadway FL 14, New York, NY 10036

Chengdu OfficeSuite 2809, IFS Tower 3, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, China

2012｜A Purposeful Beginning

Ivy Elite is founded in New York by admissions professionals from leading universities, bringing a more informed perspective to education advising.

2013｜A Different Model

We introduce a low-deposit, unlimited-application model designed to share risk with students rather than simply pass it on.

2015｜A Wider World

Deep partnerships with more than 200 respected institutions create a broader range of meaningful academic paths.

2017｜Recognition Earned

Our founder is named to AACYF 30 Under 30, a recognition of entrepreneurial leadership in the Chinese-American community.

2018–2019｜Trusted in Education

Invited to leading education forums at Harvard, Columbia, and beyond, Ivy Elite becomes a trusted contributor to the higher-education conversation.

2021｜A Field Leader

Named one of the most influential study-abroad consultancies at the Tencent Education Forum.

2025｜A Global Next Step

Our Greater China operations center opens in Chengdu, strengthening our ability to serve families across borders.

Why Ivy Elite?

WHY US

Global University Navigation

From the Ivy League and the UK G5 to leading institutions across Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, and Australia, we use long-term partnership insight to turn a broad ambition into a focused, realistic school strategy.

Exceptional Writers and Advisors

Standout applications are never assembly-line products. Our writers include PhDs, professors, and industry specialists who help students shape an authentic story with intellectual depth and personal distinction.

A Stronger, More Complete Profile

Research with university faculty, meaningful industry experience, publication support, and informed test preparation work together to build academic credibility and real-world perspective.

Outcome-Oriented Partnership

Our service model is designed around results and accountability. More than a decade of real admissions experience gives families the confidence to make ambitious decisions with expert support.

Support That Extends Beyond Admission

An offer is a beginning, not an endpoint. From career direction and resume strategy to interview preparation and professional connections, we remain a trusted partner through the next stage of growth.

Our Team

Leadership Team

MARK

Founder

Former admissions officer at New York University
AACYF 30 Under 30 honoree (2017)
Member, National Association for College Admission Counseling
Member, Overseas Association for College Admission Counseling
Member, The Association of Boarding Schools and related professional associations

ZHIQIANG HE

Co-Founder & Director of Consulting

PMI-certified in U.S. higher-education policy
16 years of experience in U.S. education consulting
Former senior advisor, China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange
Former mentor, Health Sciences, SUNY School of Medicine
Former senior recruitment and training advisor for international-student services
Sina-certified Five-Star Study Abroad Advisor (2012)

PHILLIP LIANG

Group Partner & Chengdu Office Lead

M.S., Columbia University School of Engineering
Former admissions officer, Columbia Engineering
OACAC-certified education advisor
U.S. News certified study-abroad consultant
Ivy League application specialist
Supported more than 800 students and families

A Global Network of Mentors

Former admissions professionals, faculty mentors, industry leaders, and research experts bring a nuanced understanding of what leading universities value—and help students turn that insight into a tailored plan from school selection to interviews.

Mumu Senior Advisor

A dual master’s graduate of Columbia University with more than eight years in education consulting and hundreds of successful Top 30 outcomes.

Tom Senior Advisor

Eleven years of North American study and professional experience, combining business and STEM expertise to design highly individual application strategies.

Simon Senior Advisor

A Columbia University graduate with six years focused on U.S. admissions and a record of guiding students to Top 30 offers.

Caroline Senior Advisor

Former strategy consultant and financial-engineering specialist, with deep expertise in business and data-focused applications.

Vivian Senior Advisor

Specializes in humanities and social-science applications, with strong outcomes in integrated marketing, communications, and other competitive programs.

Shan Senior Advisor

Brings U.S. study and work experience plus seven years of advising across leading programs in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

Lidia Zhao Senior Advisor

NYU master’s graduate and CAPM-certified professional with extensive application-advising experience.

Steve.F UCLA College Chair

Founder and former director of USC’s Game Design PhD program, with responsibility for admissions.

Francis.S UCLA Tenured Professor

Director of UCLA’s International Journalism Library, committee member in digital anthropology, and founder of the Global Network Laboratory.

Paul.H NYU Stern Professor

Former founder of a Universal Pictures brand and senior leader at Warner Bros. and Turner Broadcasting.

Joni.W UC Berkeley Tenured Professor

Lead investigator of the Wallis Lab and an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Niyazi.T University of Cambridge Professor

Has advised Accenture, Citibank, Google, and other organizations across more than 50 industry projects.

Support Across Three Key Stages

Graduate Applications

An end-to-end graduate admissions strategy that connects academic direction, research depth, distinctive writing, and meaningful university engagement.

Undergraduate Applications

Structured planning across academics, activities, competitions, summer programs, essays, and interviews—built to help each student present a compelling case to leading universities.

Undergraduate Transfer

A tailored transfer strategy for community-college, international, and domestic university students, aligned with each institution’s requirements and the student’s next academic goal.

Our Story

Ivy Elite · Expert Education Guidance

In the Media

An international education partner defined by focus, expertise, and commitment.

With a strong U.S. presence and first-hand insight into admissions, Ivy Elite has helped thousands of students pursue high school, undergraduate, transfer, graduate, and community-college pathways. We pair trusted guidance with the resources and rigor students need to move toward a university that truly fits their ambitions.