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AFTER JULIA DIXON graduated from the University of Michigan in 2014, her family and friends asked for her help with the college application process. Dixon was happy to share her recently earned expertise about the world of higher education but soon realized how many parents and students in her community needed help and how hard it was for them to access that support.
The ratio of college counselors to students in the US, according to the American School Counselor Association, is one for every 376 students. Many students don’t have proper access to a college counselor to help them with admissions or pick which schools and areas of study might suit them best. Hiring a private college counselor is an option, but that can cost thousands of dollars.
In 2023, Dixon founded ESAI, a platform powered by artificial intelligence designed to assist students with the college admissions process. She also posts videos on TikTok about college planning and talks about how AI tools can be supportive to kids who don’t know what their career options are. Access to the AI platform starts at around $21 per month, far less than private counseling.
