
Robert Piazza
5.0
(24)
Studied at Northwestern University
Works at Wyzant
Successful clients at
Available tomorrow at 11:00 PM UTC
Usually responds within 3 hours
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About Robert
I’ve had careers in teaching, publishing, and corporate banking. I have master’s degrees in business administration/marketing and in writing, including from Northwestern. I’ve taught at two colleges and now work as an admissions coach for Wyzant and Leland. In addition, I spent two decades writing and editing for large newspapers and magazines and recently published my first book of essays. I retired from Truist Bank as a corporate manager. I’ve helped students win acceptance to many good schools, including Yale, Berkeley, Duke, Rice, Purdue, Michigan, US Naval Academy, Georgetown, and Georgia Tech. Contact me if you have a rough draft or no idea where to begin writing your admissions essays. My job is to help you recognize your best stories and to mine the details, anecdotes, and insights that will enrich them. As for school selections and other strategies, we’ll discuss US News and World Report vs. Poets&Quants vs. The Princeton Review rankings; EA-ED-RD; university test-optional policies; particular reach, target, and safe schools; the pros and cons of honors colleges; the Common Data Set; BigFuture; what to expect from the Common App; scholarships and financial aid; what to include in your resumes; how to prepare for college interviews; what to accomplish on college visits; and how to help your teachers and coaches write strong recommendation letters. After I retired from Truist, my wife told me that I was driving her crazy around the house. She said, “You always loved teaching. Go teach.” So I do.
Why do I coach?
I studied writing and marketing for two graduate degrees, so one student’s mom asked me if I emphasized strategy or writing to my college-bound students. I didn’t know what to say. I felt like she was asking if I was pure of heart. Well, I am, kind of. You see, to an extent, I see your resume, activities list, personal statement, and supplemental essays as sales. I’m not a starry-eyed naif. But at the same time I know – and you should know – that good writing can help you unearth and detail the true you. And with strategy and good writing, you can be truthful and successful. So, in answer to Mom’s question, I concentrate on both sales and writing in my classes since my job is to help you get into as many target and reach schools as I can. This is why I coach.
Work Experience
College Admissions Advisor
Wyzant
2023 - Present
I help students ready their Common App and supplemental essays (including University of California PIQs), scholarship essays, transfer essays, resumes, and answer prompts from high school teachers and counselors for recommendation letters. I also prepare students for college visits and interviews and assist with overall strategy and school selections.
Project/Operations Manager
Truist
2012 - 2022
Hiring Manager
Led change execution projects to merge mortgage servicing systems and processes between SunTrust and BB&T banks. Cross functional teams included 20+ members. Before this, led three teams – data analytics, QA, and payables – for an accounting division. QA team validated more than $100 MM in claims annually.

Assistant Publisher
Magazines, Newspapers
2006 - 2011
Hiring Manager
Spearheaded projects for publishers to develop websites, create new magazines, improve service/financial results, and expand sales territories. Led sales teams.

Writer, Editor
Magazines, Newspapers
1987 - 2005
Interviewer
During this time, I helped interviewees reach into their lives for necessary, telling details and helped them distill their best thoughts, best points, into clear and simple prose. I was also an instructor at junior colleges.
Education
Northwestern University
MS, 3.56 GPA, Writing
Virginia Commonwealth University
MBA, 3.92 GPA, Marketing

Washington & Lee University
BA, 3.25 GPA, Writing
24 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Robert has helped clients get into these schools: