Command Education stays ahead of admissions trends so families can make informed, strategic decisions.

“Feedback is not helpful when it is neither action-oriented nor constructive,” said Christopher Rim, CEO and founder of Midtown-based Command Education, an education and admissions consultancy. “As a manager, you cannot request feedback from an employee if you aren’t willing or prepared to do something about it, as it will create situations that are more frustrating for everyone if there is no follow-through.”

When you run a boutique college-consulting firm like mine, you get used to urgent, last-minute requests.

The son of one of my clients — a 10th grader from New York City — texted me at 11 p.m. on Memorial Day. He said, “Chris, I have a final tomorrow. I need a math tutor.”

Even though it was late at night and a holiday, I got a math teacher ready for the student by 11:30 p.m. They had a 1 ½ -hour class and logged off at 1 a.m.

Your essays should highlight unique traits or accomplishments that help differentiate your application from others, says Christopher Rim, CEO of Command Education. “You want to be able to write about in these essays what you’ve done in the past, what you’ve done during school, what you did the summer before. That’s what’s really important.”

Such wealth has a gravitational pull. Christopher Rim is the founder of Command Education, a firm that advises families on college admissions — often beginning in middle school. Two years ago he followed his clients from Manhattan to Miami. “It was a group of parents who said, ‘Chris, come here! Help us. We’ll make it worth your while,’” he recalls.

As National College Decision Day looms, some college-bound seniors face a difficult decision due to record-breaking numbers of applications pushing acceptance rates to all-time lows. Experts suggest considering other schools that may be a better fit in terms of cost, academics, and campus life, and to keep an open mind. If waitlisted, seniors should write a letter of continued interest to the college and provide an update that highlights their recent accomplishments. It’s important to consider the amount of aid available as some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.