Isamar V.
5.0
✅ Former Stanford Admissions Officer | Expert Coach for U.S. & Int'l Apps
Studied at Harvard University
Works at Eleva Edge Admissions
Admissions Committee Experience
Available Tuesday at 10:00 PM UTC
Usually responds within 12 hours
I am prioritizing seniors who purchase comprehensive packages for 2024. I will support non-seniors in 2024 who purchase session bundles or single sessions up until I reach capacity based on purchased comprehensive packages. I current still have availability. Sessions can be scheduled Tuesday - Friday. Some Mondays will be available on as needed basis. Saturdays will be available during the peak admissions seasons October - January.
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Isamar’s free events & group classes
Elevate Your Common App: Craft a Powerful Activities List
Tue, Oct 29 from 11:00 PM UTC – 12:00 AM UTC
Blank Page to Clear Outline: Get Unstuck on Your Personal Essay
Mon, Nov 11 from 7:00 PM UTC – 8:15 PM UTC
Isamar’s College Qualifications
Coaches professionally
60+ people coached for College
Isamar has helped clients get into these schools:
With over 8 years of experience in selective undergraduate admissions and coaching, I know all the ins and outs of navigating the complicated U.S. college admissions process from anywhere in the world. I believe that with the right support and guidance, you can find yourself studying at a great U.S. university for you. Why work with me? 1. I know what it takes to get in. I'm an admissions expert. As an Assistant Director of Admission at Stanford, I personally reviewed ~7,000 undergraduate applications. My portfolio included various regions in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Ireland, and the UK. Before Stanford, I was an alumni interviewer for Harvard, I interned for Harvard Admissions' student recruitment initiatives, even supported their application file room. 2. I know how to help you apply as your best self. I am a global admissions consultant with clear results. For 3 years, I advised students from the U.S. and around the world for a top global college admissions consulting company. 75% of the students I coached were admitted to the most selective universities (keep in mind the extra obstacles that international applicants face - so this is significant!). My clients were admitted to private and public universities like Yale, Brown, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, UCLA, UC San Diego, UVA, Georgia Tech, Grinnell, Babson, UIUC, Drexel, University of Washington, and Boston University. As an independent consultant working both pro bono and for my consultancy, Eleva Edge Admissions, my clients were admitted to Harvard, Emory, Pomona, UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, Penn, and others. I've coached ~50 student clients directly over multi-year coaching programs. I have completed additional application reviews for 50+ one-off clients. I share these variety of universities to show the breadth of colleges my students applied to. Yes, many got into elite colleges, and they also applied or attended colleges outside the "Top 20." There are many incredible schools out there, and I love helping students discover universities that are a good match for their goals, regardless of the ranking. 3. I get it. From the beginning of my own higher ed career, I've been committed to supporting educational journeys with a focus on personal growth. I graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master of Education in International Education Policy. I also graduated from the University of Oxford with an MBA, so I understand firsthand the experience of figuring out how to study abroad in a different country. I was a first-generation college student from immigrant parents, and had to figure everything out own my own. I grew a lot but it was challenging, confusing, and stressful. It doesn't have to be like that for you. I believe that with the right guidance, students can view the application process as a time of incredible personal development and self-awareness. My approach is personalized, empathetic, and strategic, ensuring that your unique strengths and experiences shine through in your application. Let's work together to make your college dreams a reality—book a free 20-minute consult call today!
Isamar can help with:
Editing
Recommendations
Interviews
Waitlist Strategy
School Selection
Secondary Review
Application Strategy
Essays
Resume
Work Experience
Founder
Eleva Edge Admissions
September 2023 - Present
• Apply to U.S. colleges & universities with expert coaching from a Former Stanford Admissions Officer and an International Admissions Expert. Book a FREE 20 minute consult call: eleva-edge-admissions.ck.page/consult-call Services offered: one-on-one admissions consulting, application reviews, essay reviews.
Manager, Former Admission Officer (FAO) Services; Admissions Consultant/Strategist
Crimson Education
July 2018 - April 2021
• Built/managed new premium Former Admissions Officer (FAO) service and designed/led the 40+ page training/service playbook; managed 7 FAO contractors; Reported to VP & CFO. • Achieved 75% client admit rate to specifically Reach universities (<20% admit rate) by advising 38 clients from 16 global regions (Southeast Asia, East Asia, UK, Oceania, US) w/bespoke strategic plans for US university applications.
Assistant Director of Admissions
Stanford University
September 2014 - July 2018
Admissions Committee Experience
Assistant Director of Admission - Diversity & External Outreach Team Admission Counselor - International Outreach Team • Annually reviewed 1700-2000 first-year/transfer/QB applications from U.S. & international territories (Latin America, Canada, UK & Ireland). Yielded 91% of admits (vs ~82% total yield). • Managed QuestBridge partnership program to increase outreach & admission to first-generation, low-income students. • Oversaw the International Ambassadors program, marketing to 200+ leads. Trained 30+ students to complete outreach visits in 14 countries. • Presented QB results to Faculty Senate Committee on Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid (CUAFA), a group of university stakeholders, to showcase value of the partnership.
Brazil Office Post Graduate Fellow & Mentorship Program Lead
Harvard University
June 2013 - June 2014
• Managed Mentorship & Language Acquisition Program in Brazil for 30 high-need students from Brazil and the U.S., resulting in a 100% approval rating and program renewal for 7 years. Included college application prep. • Managed close partnerships with 7 Brazilian institutions, increasing partner involvement with programs. Partners included Fundação Estudar, EducationUSA, Colégio Bandeirantes, Colégio ETAPA, Fundação Lemann, Primeira Chance, among others. • Recruited, reviewed, and selected students for three student programs after targeted outreach to over 100 applicants.
Alumni Interviewer
Harvard University
October 2013 - April 2014
• Conducted admissions interviewers for Brazilian applicants. 100% of those I recommended were admitted.
Admissions Intern/Undergraduate Admission Council Co-Chair
Harvard College Office of Admission
September 2009 - May 2013
• Co-Chair, Undergraduate Admissions Council - Supported Visitas, the admit student weekend and high school outreach. • Latinx Summer Coordinator, Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program - Conducted outreach, info sessions, and tours. • Admissions Office Admin Assistant, Harvard College Office of Admission
Education
Said Business School (Oxford)
MBA
2021 - 2022
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Master of Education, International Education Policy
2018 - 2019
Harvard University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
2009 - 2013
Undergraduate Admissions Council (Co-Chair) • Harvard College Admissions Office Intern • Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program (Summer Latinx Coordinator) • Mentoring & Language Acquisition in Brazil (Mentor) •
Isamar was also personally admitted to
Princeton University
Dartmouth College
Columbia University
Swarthmore College
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Santa Barbara
Harvard University
Harvard Graduate School of Education
University of Oxford
Said Business School (Oxford)
4 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Knowledge
5.0
Value
5.0
Responsiveness
5.0
Supportiveness
5.0
Isamar has helped clients get into these schools: