College Admissions

I understand what it takes to stand out in the most selective college admissions processes because I’ve experienced it myself. As a low-income immigrant student, I earned admission to Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, MIT, USC, and the University of Michigan, along with national scholarships such as the Coca-Cola Scholarship and the Elks Most Valuable Student Award. Navigating this process without expensive guidance taught me how to build authentic, high-impact applications grounded in strategy and storytelling. Now, I help students do the same by refining their essays, strengthening their extracurricular narratives, and presenting their achievements with clarity and purpose. My goal is to help each student discover how to tell their story in a way that is both honest and compelling.

I'm Brandon, a recent Columbia Engineering grad (Computer Science + Entrepreneurship, 3.985 GPA) who just finished navigating college apps and MBB recruiting. I know what it actually takes to translate a technical background into a story that resonates, because I had to figure it out myself. In high school, I landed offers from Columbia, Cornell, UPenn, Berkeley, Rice, Johns Hopkins, NYU, and UIUC. At Columbia, I landed a BCG full-time offer through my own outreach strategy (not on-campus recruiting). And I've spent the past four years mentoring 15+ students from my hometown, my high school network, and my church community into top schools - working through their essays and positioning with them one-on-one. What I bring to coaching is a fresh perspective from someone who just went through it. If you're a STEM student who doesn't know how to make your resume "tell a story," or an applicant trying to figure out how to stand out, I've been in that exact spot. I can help you audit where you are, figure out what's actually compelling about your background, and turn that into something that clicks with college admissions committees or MBB interviewers. Happy to chat - no fluff, just honest feedback.

I believe my success in MBA admissions came down to one strength: I was able to clearly articulate how my professional and personal experiences had shaped me, how I planned to make the most of an MBA, and where I wanted to go after that. When it comes to admissions, articulating your story is everything. I knew what made me passionate, built a plan for my MBA, and executed on it. If you're applying with a specific path in mind and need help putting that into words, I'm your coach. I recently graduated with an MBA from Wharton and a Master of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania's Weitzman School of Design, and I specialize in dual degree and nontraditional paths. If you're not yet sure what you want out of the MBA experience, I'm here to help you introspect and sharpen your pitch. I also offer specialized guidance if you're pursuing a real estate focus at any MBA program or specifically targeting Wharton. It would be my pleasure to help you navigate a process that has meant so much to me.

Welcome to my profile! As a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate and Dean's List honoree, I have a strong foundation in both academics and leadership, having served as Project Director at Illinois Consulting Group. My professional journey includes roles at top companies like Microsoft and Capital One, where I honed my skills in program management and business analysis. With experience as a consultant and project manager, I bring a strategic approach to college admissions coaching. Although I am new to formal coaching, my diverse background equips me to guide students through the college application process, helping them craft compelling narratives and make informed decisions. Let's work together to unlock your potential and achieve your college dreams!

I am qualified to coach undergraduate applicants through first-hand experience of highly competitive admissions across the UK and US. I received undergraduate offers from the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and New York University, and later secured admission to the Wharton Deferred MBA programme. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of how selective institutions assess academic motivation, personal narrative, extracurricular impact, and long-term potential. I also have extensive mentoring experience, having supported more than 15 students with successful applications to leading universities in the UK and US. My coaching covers university and course selection, personal statements, extracurricular positioning, CVs, interview preparation, and overall application strategy. I provide structured, candid feedback and help applicants present their experiences in a clear, distinctive, and compelling way. Additionally, I have worked as an academic tutor for undergraduate biomedical sciences and preclinical medicine at Oxford.

Welcome! I’m a Stanford Law School graduate with an academic background spanning Stanford, the University of Oxford, and Duke University, and I’m passionate about helping students tell the story of who they are and what they bring to a college community. I’ve built my career around persuasive writing, strategic thinking, and helping people communicate complex ideas with clarity and purpose. At Gibson Dunn and Accountability Counsel, I developed a rigorous approach to research, writing, and advocacy, while my work as a Communications Consultant at Change Matrix gave me experience helping others identify their strongest ideas and communicate them effectively. I bring that same approach to admissions coaching. Rather than trying to fit students into a formula for the “perfect” applicant, I help them identify what is distinctive about their experiences, interests, and perspective—and translate that into an application that feels cohesive, authentic, and compelling. Whether you’re brainstorming a personal statement, refining supplemental essays, or figuring out the broader narrative of your application, I’ll provide thoughtful, candid feedback while making sure the final product still sounds unmistakably like you.

Tests do not only measure what you know, they also measure how well take tests. I've been empowering students to perform their best on the SAT and ACT since 1992, first as a tutor at The Princeton Review (6 years), then as a solopreneur, until 2005, when I founded my company City Test Prep. Early on, I learned early that how a student's performance and score, can be compromised when they feel under pressure and timed conditions, feel anxious, have negative self-talk or beliefs, or aren't provided the tools to meet or exceed their expectations. To help students succeed, I drew from my own experience of getting into the zone as a trained artist and musician. When I'm in that liminal space, I produce the best work, perform the best on tests, and am able to create with ease and enjoyment. This 'secret sauce' has helped students score hundreds of points higher when they take tests because they're able to feel comfortable and assured in their knowledge and skill sets. I've amassed a robust toolbox to help students show up as their best test-taking selves: calm, focused, clear-headed, and confident. I draw from mindfulness, visualization, integrated life coaching, Neuro-linguistic programming, bilateral stimulation, hypnosis, growth mindset, positive psychology, sound therapy, and other tools. The work I do can be understood as that which trainers and sports psychologists offer high-performing athletes, for my work addresses the needs of test takers. Beyond being a problem solver and someone who delights in empowering others, my qualifications include an MA in education, 30+ years working with students on content mastery, test-taking strategy, mindset, and speed reading for tests. I am among the first to combine mindful and holistic practices into education and test-prep. I have taught students test prep and fine art at middle and high school as well as college levels. Contributions I've made to the field include the 'Full Potential Manual' (author), The GMAT Sentence Correction Intensive (co-author) (both published by Nova Press), The Full Potential Audio series (including titles for the ACT and SAT). Since time management is also a problem for students, I developed the MindFlow workshop and recently launched it as an online program. MindFlow is a mindful speed reading training system for SAT, ACT test takers, and high school students. Students who work individually with me typically achieve the results they seek in 3-5 hours. When not working, I'm active in dog rescue and in raising and releasing monarch butterflies. I still create art (google me!) and music and lead life-cycle rituals as an ordained kohenet. I live with my rescue pup, Chata and typically a foster dog.

Welcome to my profile! Over the past several years, I’ve guided students through every stage of the college admissions journey—from academic planning and test prep to essay coaching and interview prep—with proven results. My students have gone on to attend Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Amherst, Duke, and the University of Chicago, among many other top schools. After graduating from Harvard, I began my career as an analyst at Legendary Entertainment where I focused on data and strategy before developing a successful tutoring and coaching business. That analytical foundation now informs the way I coach: I combine clear, structured processes with creative storytelling to help students stand out in a competitive applicant pool. I’ve worked with a wide range of students, helping each one discover their authentic story and present it in a way that resonates. My approach blends empathy with structure: I break the process into clear, manageable steps while also challenging students to highlight what makes them truly exceptional. Whether you need assistance with essay writing, application strategy, or interview preparation, I'm here to help you achieve your college dreams. Let's connect and make your college aspirations a reality!

With a wealth of mentoring experience, I've guided numerous individuals in securing coveted spots in their desired undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as supporting job seekers in non-profit and development sectors. My expertise also extends to supporting college students. I'm eager to craft a tailored approach that hones in on your strengths, interests, and aspirations. Drawing from my own journey, I understand the obstacles and self-doubt that can arise, but I'm passionate about sharing insights that helped me overcome these challenges and reach my goals. Let's collaborate on your path to success!

As an Admissions Counselor, I provided guidance to hundreds of prospective students regarding admissions and academic success. This experience has afforded me a profound comprehension of the admissions process, encompassing universities' criteria for applicant evaluation, strategies for crafting compelling applications, and the academic routes that pave the way to achievement. In addition, my responsibilities involved advising potential students on admissions and academic achievement, and I also actively contributed to the admissions decision-making process, enriching my understanding of this critical aspect.