This millennial was rejected from 200 jobs—now he makes millions charging wealthy families six-figures to get their kids into the Ivy Leagues
Like many Gen Zers today, after graduating from college, Christopher Rim was rejected from more than 200 job applications—including at top firms like Goldman Sachs and BCG. But, he says, 'that was the best thing that could have happened to me.' Now, he's making millions disrupting the $3 billion college consultancy industry.
How much would you pay to help your child get accepted into Harvard, Stanford, or MIT?
$10,000? What about $100,000, or even $750,000?
Hundreds of families are paying six-figure price tags to a young millennial named Christopher Rim to get their kids into their top college choices. As the founder and CEO of college admissions consultancy group Command Education, Rim has become a wizard of sorts for how to crack the Ivy League code. Over the last five years, 94% of his clients have been accepted into their top three college choices.
And while the $3 billion college consultancy industry may sound like another leg-up the rich have to get their children into schools, Rim says it's about helping students reach their dreams and unlock their potential. After all, on average, only about 5% of pupils who want to go to an Ivy League school actually get in.
'You have one chance. That's it,' the 30-year-old tells Fortune. 'You can't go back to college or apply to these selective universities again.'
Unlocking potential is something that hits home in Rim's own story toward success, both in his own journey trying to attend an Ivy League school as well as trying to find his footing as a young graduate.
As a public high school student in New Jersey, Rim was told he'd never be cut out for an Ivy League institution.
While he admits himself that he wasn't the smartest kid in his class, he had a mission to attend Yale University, and decided to apply even when his guidance counselor pleaded with him to settle for Rutgers University, an in-state public school. Out of the nearly two dozen students from his school who applied to Yale, he was the only one who got in—despite having a lower GPA than the rest.
As a student, he kept the ball rolling by charging high schoolers $50 to edit their admissions essays and advising them on how to strengthen their resumes and 'authentically stick out.' After his first two clients got into MIT and Stanford, he realized he might have a gift, and thus Command Education was born in 2015 in his New Haven, Conn., dorm room.
However, Rim still wasn't sure it was the key to a post-grad career. Then came the time to apply for jobs.
'I applied to over 200 jobs senior year. All my friends were getting jobs at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, BCG, major corporations. I got none. I got zero,' he says. 'And that was the best thing to have that happen to me.'
Instead of letting the rejection defeat him—like what happens to millions of young adults each year—Rim used it as motivation to help others reach their dream college, too.
'Everyone has this potential, and I was able to instill that confidence and belief and motivate them through the process,' Rim says. 'I think that was a major reason as to why my students succeeded, which, of course, led me to succeed with the business.'
So far, Command Education has guided over 1,500 students into top-tier schools, with acceptance rates that soar far above the national average—more than seven times higher at places like Harvard, Caltech, and the University of Chicago.
And with parents investing close to $100,000 on average for his services, Rim isn't just shaping student futures, he's built a booming business in the process.
While he declined to comment on his company's revenue, his average fee and high demand would put that figure in the millions. (Rim also explained that the $750,000 price tag was a one-off example that included working with a student starting in middle school and having unlimited access to services.)
With or without professional help, getting into a top institution is no easy feat. In fact, over the last decade, colleges have only gotten more selective in the students they accept.
However, it's not because schools have gotten much smaller in size, it's because more students are applying. For Harvard's class of 2028, who just finished their first year of college, over 54,000 applicants battled for just 1,970 seats; an acceptance rate of 3.6%. That's up from about 37,000 applicants competing for 2,080 spots for the class of 2019, an acceptance rate of 5.6%. Even then, not all accepted students ultimately choose to attend that school.
At the same time, college is only getting more expensive. Tuition and fees at private universities have increased by about 41%, when adjusted for inflation, according to U.S. News and World Report. And while some colleges have made attempts at softening the burden for many lower-income students—like Harvard making tuition free for families making less than $200,000—attending a top college remains an uphill battle for many students.
However, Rim says services like his aren't making the process less equitable, but rather helping young people find their true calling.
'I know I am not helping my student take a spot away from a middle-class student or a lower-income family student,' Rim adds. 'I'm helping other wealthy families and their kids compete against other wealthy families.'
And despite some students feeling that their degree wasn't worth the cost, Rim says demand is higher than it's ever been before. But young people are expanding their interests outside of the traditional Ivy Leagues to other top-ranked schools like Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of North Carolina.
'If you want to get a specific job at a bank, consulting firm, or become a doctor or lawyer, your school is going to matter a lot,' he tells Fortune. But at the end of the day, he says it's about finding students' passions and interests.
'I really will never tell a student, join the debate team, join band club, join newspaper club, because we think that's what colleges want. In fact, it's the total opposite,' Rim says. 'Do what you want.'
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
35 minutes ago
- CNET
Upgrade Your Home Security With Up to 62% Off Some of Our Absolute Favorite Arlo Security Cameras
Home security cameras are so versatile these days. From keeping an eye on pets or kids to deterring package theft and protecting your home while you're sleeping or away, there are plenty of reasons for you to invest in some cameras for your space. Right now Woot is making it even easier to get your hands on some for cheap, marking down a number of Arlo security cameras by up to 62%. Prices start at just $67. If you're looking for outside security there are a few options, but one of the best deals in this sale is the Arlo Ultra 2 Spotlight camera bundle. The cameras have 4K HDR, a 180-degree field of view, great smart home support and local storage. It's our pick for the best wireless 4K home security camera of 2025. Our biggest gripe was the price, but this deal alleviates that worry. Along with two cameras, you'll also get a SmartHub, a power adapter, two rechargeable batteries, two ethernet cables and mounting kits. This bundle would normally run you $600, but a nice 50% discount slashes that price in half so that you'll pay only $300 if you act fast. For something with a dual function, try the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight security camera. It has a motion-activated floodlight that can reach up to 3,000 lumens, which is great for when you get home late at night. But it will also ensure anyone in your driveway is illuminated and recorded just in case they're up to something nefarious. The camera itself has 2K resolution, color night vision and two-way audio. It's also one of our favorite options for security cameras with floodlights for 2025 and won our Editors' Choice award. Regularly priced at $250, you can get yours for just $120 at Woot. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. For indoor coverage, grab yourself a 2-pack of 2nd-gen Arlo Essential security cameras for $67. These indoor cameras are currently our pick for the best overall nanny cam of 2025 thanks to its 2K resolution, solid two-way audio, clear night vision and zoom capabilities. There are some other choices available as well, so be sure to shop the entire sale selection to grab exactly what you need for your home. And don't forget -- Prime members get free shipping, too. Just be sure to log in with Amazon before placing your order. Why this deal matters There are a ton of great options in this sale, including some of our top picks of 2025. If you've been considering getting a home security camera (or several), now is the time. It's rare to see so many discounts saving you half the cost -- or more -- and we are fairly certain these offers will sell out quick. Lock in your order soon to avoid disappointment.
Bloomberg
36 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Tesla Robotaxi Videos Show Speeding, Driving Into Wrong Lane
Tesla Inc. 's self-driving taxis appeared to violate traffic laws during the company's first day offering paid rides, with one customer capturing footage of a left turn gone wrong and others traveling in cars that exceeded posted speed limits. In a video taken by Rob Maurer, an investor who used to host a Tesla podcast, the Model Y he's riding in enters an Austin intersection in a left-turn-only lane. The Tesla hesitates to make the turn, swerves right and proceeds into an unoccupied lane meant for traffic moving in the opposite direction.
CNN
37 minutes ago
- CNN
Tesla finally begins long-promised robotaxi service
Tesla's much-publicized robotaxi service began this weekend — but only in one neighborhood in Austin, Texas, only for a select group of the company's fans and only with a Tesla employee in the front passenger seat. It was a far more modest rollout for robotaxis than Tesla CEO Elon Musk had promised. While other companies have already achieved and surpassed this initial test, Tesla fans still cheered the unassuming launch as a game-changing first step. Musk has promised since 2019 that Tesla was on the verge of providing a wide-ranging ride-hailing service that would change the basic way riders get around, including the promise that Tesla owners would profit from renting their cars to the service. Last fall, Musk debuted a prototype for a 'Cybercab' without a steering wheel or pedals, and he said the service would greatly change the financial outlook for Tesla, making it the most valuable company on the planet. But the start of the Tesla service Sunday was only a fraction of any of that. A small number of company-owned cars were used and they were existing Model Y vehicles — not Cybercabs, which are not yet allowed on roads, let alone produced on a mass scale. It was not even the most extensive robotaxi service in Austin — a joint effort between Uber and Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Google parent Alphabet, has been up and running in Austin since March. But the Austin test pressed on regardless. The rides were made available to a select group of Tesla fans, according to Dan Ives, a tech analyst with Wedbush Securities and an effusive Tesla bull, and Joey Klender, who writes for the site Klender and a member of Ives' team took multiple rides in a Tesla Model Y robotaxi on Sunday. Ives' note to clients, which cited how a Tesla 'safety monitor' sat in the front passenger seat while no person was in the driver's seat, praised the quality of the rides taken by his team member. 'We took a route through a park with dirt roads and traffic cones, yet the car was able to navigate perfectly and picked us up right at our exact location,' Ives said in the note. 'To really put it into perspective, there was a moment where we drove up a narrow road going up a hill with cars parked on both sides with oncoming traffic and people opening their car doors into the road and the Robotaxi masterfully maneuvered.' But it was not all smooth sailing, with multiple videos showing the car making mistakes. In one YouTube video, the robotaxi drove on the wrong side of the road after it attempted and abandoned a left turn, only to continue traveling down the street on the opposite side of a double yellow line before making the left turn on the following block. Fortunately, there were no vehicles driving on the other side of the road. A separate YouTuber posted a video in which the robotaxi kept driving past its destination for several minutes as he tried to get it to pull over so he could get out. 'Please exit safely,' a screen in the rear seat of the car said, as it continued driving down the road. All the rides on Sunday, no matter the distance, cost $4.20, a favorite number of Musk based on its association with marijuana. Musk reposted tweets on X from others who took rides on the initial day of service. Unsurprisingly, all the posts were positive. Musk and his fans have insisted the service will rapidly be expanded to other cities and will dramatically change the financial performance of Tesla. But the EV maker is playing a game of catch up. Waymo, a unit of Google parent Alphabet, has been providing paid rides since 2020, and now provides more than 250,000 rides a week to paying riders in Austin, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It soon plans to expand the service to Atlanta, Miami and Washington, DC. General Motors pulled the plug on its own self-driving car hailing service in December, citing the 'considerable' resources needed and 'an increasingly competitive robotaxi market.' It also had an accident in which one of its robotaxis in San Francisco hit a pedestrian and dragged the woman along the road for 20 feet. The woman had already been hit by a human-driven car before she was struck by GM's robotaxi. California authorities ordered the company to halt its operations in the state as a result.
