Discover what students & families are saying about their college journey! Our testimonials showcase real stories of success, growth, & guidance. From crafting compelling applications to choosing the perfect school, hear how our personalized approach has made a lasting impact. Discover Your Potential with Academic Adve
Mrs. Malene is an EXCEPTIONAL college coach!
It is with heartfelt gratitude that we share the outstanding educational guidance and support Mrs. Malene provided to our daughter throughout her college preparation journey beginning in 7th Grade! Her expertise, dedication, and genuine care made a significant impact on our daughter’s success.
Our family sincerely appreciates Mrs. Malene’s unwavering commitment, compassionate approach, and the instrumental role she played during this pivotal chapter in our daughter’s life. She took the time to truly understand our daughter’s aspirations and provided tailored advice, access to valuable academic enrichment resources, and strategic recommendations for college and scholarship applications. Mrs. Malene has not only been a trusted guide but also a remarkable mentor!
Our daughter was accepted to the following universities:
· North Carolina A&T State University (NC A&T)
· Spelman College
· University of Chicago
· University of Michigan
· University of Maryland, College Park, Honors College
Awarded over $350k in scholarships & grants, we're beyond excited that our daughter will graduate DEBT FREE!
As a proud recipient of the NC A&T College of Engineering Competitive Full Scholarship, our daughter is thriving as a junior Chemical Engineering major and Spanish minor.
The college preparation process can be overwhelming—navigating applications, identifying the best-fit schools, and showcasing a student’s unique strengths. We wholeheartedly recommend Mrs. Malene to any family seeking expert coaching to help their child successfully achieve their college dreams... just be sure to start as EARLY as we did in the pre-college process!
~Mr. K. Patterson, Howard University, Class 1993
~Mrs. Q Patterson, Howard University, Class of 1991
I met Mrs. Lawrence in 2020, while a caregiver for two sisters ages 2 and 3. Their parents enrolled them in Mrs. Lawrence's enrichment class to build their confidence and develop their early reading skills. Even at their young ages she kept them actively engaged in fun learning activities and they quickly learned to read. That's when I knew she'd be perfect for my great-granddaughter. Over the past three years, my granddaughter has received literacy and math support tailored to her needs as a dyslexic learner. Thanks to Mrs. Lawrence's expertise, patience, and engaging teaching methods, my granddaughter has made remarkable academic progress. More importantly, since starting with Mrs. Lawrence in 2nd Grade, my granddaughter's confidence and self-esteem have soared; Mrs. Lawrence has even participated in parent-teacher conferences and served as an advocate during our IEP meetings. My granddaughter never truly enjoyed school before, but Mrs. Lawrence has made learning fun and culturally relevant, which has transformed her attitude towards education. I highly recommend Mrs. Malene & Academic Adventures College Prep to any family looking for compassionate and effective academic support! ~Mrs. G. Coulter-Payton
~Mr. C. Horton, Lawrenceville, GA
As a parent, you always want the best for your child, especially being first-generation and scared about the entire college process. Working with Academic Adventures & Mrs. Lawrence was the BEST decision we could have made. She started preparing my daughter early, keeping her organized and motivated throughout high school. By the time senior year came, we felt confident in the applications. The results speak for themselves, my daughter got into her dream school with scholarships. Best of all, we didn’t have to take out any loans!
~Ms. O. Wise, Albany, NY
Mom of c/o 2026 Howard University
School of Business
Mrs. Lawrence has been such a huge help in my college journey over the past five years! As a homeschooled student, I didn't have a formal school counselor to help me. Mrs. Lawrence has guided me through researching schools and figuring out which ones align best with my goals, which has helped make the process so much less overwhelming. She has also introduced me to scholarship opportunities I hadn’t even considered before. Her dedication and support have been incredible, and I truly appreciate how she always makes time to answer my questions and provide advice. Thanks to her, I feel much more confident and prepared for the next step in my education!
– Anaiyah P., Houston, TX
11th Grade, Class of 2026
Working with Mrs. Malene since middle school has been life changing. From day one, she helped me set clear goals and build a strong academic and extracurricular profile. She guided me in selecting challenging courses in high school, which prepared me for AP classes, dual enrollment, and finding leadership opportunities that aligned with my passion of becoming an engineer. When it came time for college applications, Mrs. Malene was there every step of the way, from brainstorming essays, keeping me on schedule with deadlines and perfecting my applications.
Because of her unwavering support, and me following her lead, I was accepted to my dream school with scholarships! I can’t thank her enough for believing in me and helping me believe in myself. Her guidance made all the difference!
~ Aaliyah S., Bronx, NY
Howard University, Class of 2022
Working with my son through the college application process was a challenge and extremely stressful, until we started working with Mrs. Lawrence. Her expertise and personalized guidance made the process easier. Attending college fairs and visiting campuses with her made the process smoother and allowed us to find a place where he felt safe and valued. As I prepare to embark on the same journey with my youngest son, who's now in 10th grade, I'm better prepared and am glad that we have Mrs. Lawrence as our College Prep Angel!
~Ms. Otha C., Washington, DC
Mom of c/o 2025 North Carolina
A&T University, Electrical Engineering
Starting this journey with Mrs. Lawrence and Academic Adventures in 9th grade was the best decision my family and I ever made. From helping me choose the right classes and activities to preparing for scholarship essays and interviews, she was with me every step of the way. By the time I started applying to colleges, I felt so confident in my applications and interview skills. Getting into my dream school with scholarships felt like a dream come true, and I know I wouldn’t have achieved it without her guidance.
~Kamille K., Washington, DC
Spelman College c/o 2021
Mrs. Lawrence at Academic Adventures scores an 11 in my book! From the application preparation and essay writing to the financial aid application, Mrs. Lawrence helped my son navigate through the college admission process. She was an essential part of making our son’s college journey enjoyable and as stress-free as possible. Her professional, patience and nurturing demeanor were amazing in keeping my son calm and focused. The Zoom sessions worked well with his schedule and gave him the confidence to apply to top schools on the East Coast.
After being admitted to several colleges, we're extremely happy with the service we received and cannot recommend Academic Adventures College Prep enough! Mrs. Lawrence consistently went the extra mile to provide full support and guidance. even after his first semester of school! A+++
~Mrs. Y. Baez Brooklyn, NY
Mom of c/o 2026 Rochester
Institute Of Technology
Gloria J, Class of 2024, Case Western Reserve University
I met Mrs. Lawrence when our sons were classmates in 6th Grade. Both of us were committed to providing the best education for our kids, with college acceptance as our TOP priority. Malene’s extensive experience in secondary education was invaluable to me as I navigated this process. Despite our families relocating and our sons attending different schools, we maintained a strong connection.
As a single mom, I often felt discouraged and intimidated to discuss college with other parents, especially since I was usually the only single parent in the group. Malene, however, never made me feel out of place or that our goals were unattainable. Instead, she continuously supported me & helped us plan our first HBCU Tour, encouraging EARLY exploration. This allowed us to make informed decisions, having already visited many of my son’s top choices during his freshman and sophomore years of high school.
This would come in handy as the world shut down spring of my son’s junior year. The time when many parents were just beginning to look at schools I was grateful to have followed Malene's guidance and work with her at the beginning of Freshman year. The COVID Pandemic completely transformed the college application process and my son & I found ourselves in uncharted territory…Malene however never wavered, she quickly pivoted staying up to date on the latest changes with test requirements, virtual visits and interviewing. Thanks to her I was well informed the entire time.
By Fall of senior year, I felt more prepared than most parents. I knew the steps and deadlines, and I was able to better support & assist my son through the application process. During college night at his school, I noticed many parents asking questions that should have been addressed earlier. I was immediately grateful to have such a supportive friend, sister & college coach who guided me through this journey.Malene’s keen advice, such as creating a high school resume even when it was optional, truly set my son’s application apart. He received acceptances to several colleges, including Hampton, Loyola, Howard, Clark Atlanta, Belmont, and Morehouse. Additionally, he was awarded several scholarships including UNCF, Target Scholars and Adidas LatinX.
Now, my son is entering his final year of college. Thanks to all the guidance & resources from Malene, he'll soon head to Italy for a semester study abroad before completing his undergraduate career as a Sports Journalism major at Morehouse.
If you're seeking college prep guidance through the college journey, Malene is DEFINITELY the person you want by your side through this process!
~Shalanda T, Bloomington, IL
Proud Mom of c/o 2026 Morehouse Man
Ms. Tanya Frazier, Mom of FAMU c/o 2028 Mechanical Engineering Scholar
Mrs. Lawrence,
Thank you so much for everything you've done for me over the past five years. You have truly been a great guide and mentor for me beginning in middle school, throughout the entirety of the college application process and even now in my junior year of college! Beginning with our first formal meeting in 8th grade, you immediately got to work analyzing my academic & extracurricular interests explaining the best routes for me to while in high school to be able to have options and get into a college of my choice. Thanks to you, I was able to have a solid idea of the coursework and extracurricular activities I should pursue while in high school. In addition, you were integral for me in finding the best summer internships and research opportunities to help solidify my choice in pursuing a career in Mechanical Engineering. While many of my fellow classmates seemed to be struggling to find direction when it came to the college process, I felt confident at every point along the way that I not only knew what I was doing but WHY I was doing it.
Without your help, the actual process of forming an application could not have run as smoothly as it did, and my mom would have been just as stressed as the other parents in her social media groups! I applied to a lot of schools, and I was able to email you every draft of every essay I wrote in the application process. You were always quick to give me detailed and valuable feedback. Not only were you always available for help via email, but you were also there for Zoom sessions and some of the college fairs & campus visits when my mom couldn't attend. Not only did this better prepare me when I spoke with admissions reps but also greatly improved the quality of my applications while giving me a peace of mind many high school seniors are unable to maintain.
In the end, I was accepted to many prestigious universities, and I received considerable scholarships at several of them. Looking forward to seeing you at my college graduation in May 2026!
~Kenya, University of Chicago
Class of 2026
Mrs. Lawrence has been an incredible mentor to my son since 9th grade. Her expertise in college admissions and her genuine care for students stood out from the beginning. She helped my son discover his strengths, build a strong academic record, shine in his applications and helped turn his goals into reality. She encouraged him to step ou
Mrs. Lawrence has been an incredible mentor to my son since 9th grade. Her expertise in college admissions and her genuine care for students stood out from the beginning. She helped my son discover his strengths, build a strong academic record, shine in his applications and helped turn his goals into reality. She encouraged him to step out of his comfort zone, whether it was taking a challenging class, joining new clubs, volunteering in our community or prepping us both for college fairs. When it came time to apply for colleges, he was prepared and confident. We are beyond grateful for her support and can’t thank her enough for helping my son achieve this amazing milestone!
~Khadijah M, San Antonio, TX
Mom of c/o 2024 Texas
A&M University
Kailes C.
North Carolina A&T University
Carmen O.
Prairie View A&M University
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