Winston Chang
5.0
(1)
Craft Winning College Apps | Ex-JHU Admissions & Deloitte Interviewer
Studied at Johns Hopkins University
Works at Mercor
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Winston's Coaching Offerings
Custom hourly · $85/hr
Get help with Application Strategy, Editing, and .
Winston’s College Qualifications
10+ people coached for College
Welcome to my profile! I bring a unique, real-world perspective to college admissions coaching, shaped by my background in education, consulting, and admissions evaluation. I’m a former Teach For America Corps Member who successfully pivoted from the classroom into management consulting, most recently as a consultant at Deloitte. There, I led on-campus recruiting and served as an interviewer for early-career candidates, evaluating communication skills, problem-solving ability, and leadership potential across diverse applicant pools. I’ve also served on the student admissions committee at Johns Hopkins University, giving me firsthand insight into what highly selective schools look for in applicants. To date, I’ve coached 18 students through the college application process, helping them craft clear, compelling narratives that stand out authentically. I also specialize in guiding students on the responsible and effective use of AI in the essay-writing process, helping them leverage modern tools for brainstorming and structure while ensuring their final work remains original, personal, and admissions-safe. My approach is structured, practical, and student-centered, focused on aligning academic choices with long-term goals. If you’re ready to approach college admissions with clarity and confidence, I’d love to work with you.
Winston can help with:
Application Strategy
Editing
Essays
Financial Aid & Scholarships
General Exploration
Interviews
Recommendations
Resume
School Selection
Secondary Review
Supplementary Materials
Testing & Assessments
Waitlist Strategy
About Winston
I didn’t start my career in consulting or admissions. It wasn't even in my mind. I started in the classroom. As a Teach For America Corps Member, I worked directly with students navigating high-stakes academic decisions, often without clear guidance on how those choices would shape their futures. That experience pushed me to understand education not just as schooling, but as a pathway. I later pivoted into management consulting, where I worked with large organizations on strategy, change management, and complex decision-making, and led on-campus recruiting and candidate interviews. Along the way, I also served on the student admissions committee at Johns Hopkins University, giving me a behind-the-scenes view of how selective schools evaluate applicants beyond grades and test scores. Today, I coach students through the college admissions process by combining an educator’s empathy with a consultant’s structure. I help students tell their stories clearly, use modern tools like AI responsibly in the writing process, and make intentional academic choices that align with long-term goals. My goal is simple: cut through the noise, reduce stress, and help students move forward with confidence.
Why do I coach?
I know how confusing high-stakes decisions can feel when the path isn’t clearly laid out. Furthermore, there are many deterministic factors you might be thinking about. Early in my own journey, I benefited from mentors and teachers who helped me see options I didn’t even know existed, and that support changed the trajectory of my education and career. Something I realized in my As a Teach For America Corps Member, I saw firsthand how access to guidance, not talent, often makes the biggest difference for students. Later, as I transitioned from education into management consulting, I experienced how powerful it is to have someone who can help you translate your story, make intentional choices, and move forward with confidence. Coaching allows me to be that steady, informed guide for students navigating college admissions today, especially in a world that’s louder, more competitive, and increasingly shaped by technology. I care deeply about helping students cut through the noise, stay authentic, and make decisions they feel proud of.
Work Experience
AI Strategist
Mercor
November 2025 - Present
At Mercor, I currently work with AI Strategy dealing with algorithms and machine learning. Additionally I host workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions in how to build relationships across champions, executives, technical leaders, program teams, and end users, and convert early wins into broader deployment. Lead technical discovery, tailored demos, pilots, training, and enablement to ensure customer success and ultimately drive greater usage Navigate procurement, security, legal, and change-management blockers while supporting joint motions with federal partners, SIs, and OEMs.
Management Consultant
Deloitte
February 2022 - July 2025
Interviewer
I worked as managing consultant, I did interviews of select personnel for the company. I lead on-campus recruiting for both USC, UCLA, and the Claremont Campuses. I have led and supported structured interview processes across campus and early-career hiring programs, serving as both interviewer and evaluator for high-volume candidate pipelines. My experience includes designing interview rubrics, assessing candidates across behavioral, technical, and case-based dimensions, and calibrating feedback with hiring managers to inform final selection decisions. I have interviewed candidates from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, evaluating communication skills, problem-solving ability, leadership potential, and role fit. In campus settings, I supported end-to-end hiring cycles including resume screening, first-round interviews, panel participation, and post-interview debriefs. I also coached candidates informally on interview strategy, storytelling, and performance improvement based on observed gaps. This experience allows me to coach candidates from the interviewer’s perspective, helping them understand how interviewers assess signals, make tradeoffs, and differentiate strong candidates from “good on paper” applicants.
Program Manager
Entrepreneurship
November 2021 - March 2022
Host World Series of Innovation Competition. Oversee Direct Program Strategy and Design for NFTE's experiential curriculum and quality youth in-school and summer entrepreneurship programs. Maintain and develop relationships with district leaders, school admin, teachers and local colleges and universities.
Program Manager
Entrepreneurship
November 2021 - February 2022
Educational Consultant
Equity Sports
September 2021 - 2022
Implementing Restorative Justice Policies in public schools in Louisiana. Advising Educational Policy Implementation to reduce school suspension/expulsion. Build Coalition Partnerships to form stronger connections to local school districts.
Public Policy Fellow
Alameda County Office of Education
June 2020 - June 2021
Admissions Committee
• Led team on researching, drafting, and presenting on School Reopenings in Bay Area. • Revised policies for diversity, equity, and inclusion. • Coordinated COVID-19 testing plan with district officials of Alameda County. • Organized and planned the first FEMA mobile vaccination site in the United States I led admissions/hiring process for fellows nationwide. Thousands applied only a couple got the offer.
Education
Johns Hopkins University
BA, International Studies
Activities and societies: Alpha Delta Phi, Baltimore Yo! charity project, Hopkins Hosting Society, Dean's List Honoree, Student Ethics Board, Student admissions committee.
W. P. Carey School of Business - Arizona State University
Master's degree, Elementary Education and Teaching
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