College Admissions

Welcome to my profile! I graduated from Cornell University and am an incoming law student at the University of Chicago Law. I was also admitted to Columbia Business School as a deferred applicant. I bring a unique perspective to college admissions coaching. My academic journey, marked by a 4.193 GPA and recognition such as Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude, has equipped me with the skills to guide students through the complexities of the application processes. Having coached dozens of students, I am passionate about helping students craft compelling applications that highlight their strengths and unique stories.

Your college application essay is your time to shine. I love helping students write in a way that lets their story shine! As an award-winning writer, I've learned how to transform ideas and experiences into powerful, concrete stories that connect writers to readers. I'd love to hear your stories to determine how you can best express them in your essay. I'm excited to learn about you, work with you, and give you the help you need to achieve your goals!

A More Thoughtful Path to Exceptional College Admissions Helena helps ambitious students become distinctive, compelling college applicants through personalized admissions strategy, intellectual development, and authentic storytelling. A Stanford graduate with Distinction, nationally recognized scholarship recipient, and experienced independent college admissions consultant, Helena brings nearly a decade of expertise guiding students and families through highly selective U.S. college admissions. Her academic background includes a B.A. from Stanford University, an M.A. in Education from the University of Southern California, and an M.S. in Sociology from ISCTE–University Institute of Lisbon. Her own admissions journey included acceptances to Stanford, Harvard, Yale, MIT, UC Berkeley, USC, and UCLA, alongside recognition through prestigious scholarship programs, including Gates Millennium, QuestBridge, and Beinecke. Her Approach: Strategy Before Applications Helena believes exceptional applications are built through intentional preparation, meaningful experiences, and sustained intellectual curiosity—not last-minute résumé building. Her approach extends well beyond essay editing. She works closely with students to develop their academic profiles, identify intellectual interests, pursue research and passion projects, strengthen extracurricular involvement, and craft cohesive admissions narratives that reflect their authentic strengths. Her expertise encompasses: - Ivy+ and Highly Selective Admissions: Strategic positioning, college selection, application development, essays, and interviews. - Long-Term Academic & Extracurricular Planning: Personalized guidance beginning as early as middle school, including course rigor, leadership development, summer enrichment, and meaningful extracurricular pursuits. - Application Narrative & Essay Mastery: Sophisticated, collaborative coaching that transforms students' experiences into compelling, student-authored personal statements and supplemental essays. - Competitive Scholarships: Individualized strategy and application mentorship for prestigious opportunities, including QuestBridge, Gates, and other selective scholarship programs. - Research & Passion Project Development: Guidance in designing and pursuing meaningful intellectual, creative, and community-focused initiatives. What Sets Helena Apart Combining firsthand experience with elite admissions, interdisciplinary academic training, and extensive student mentorship, Helena takes a highly individualized, holistic, and relationship-driven approach to admissions consulting. She works with students across STEM, the humanities, social sciences, business, and creative disciplines, helping them discover what distinguishes them and translate their achievements and aspirations into authentic, cohesive candidacies. For families beginning early, she provides comprehensive, long-term educational advising. For juniors and seniors, she offers focused, high-touch guidance through the complexities of competitive applications. Her philosophy is simple: the strongest applications don't manufacture an impressive student—they reveal the remarkable individual already taking shape. Begin Your Admissions Journey Whether a student is beginning to explore their interests or preparing applications to the nation's most selective universities, Helena provides the strategic insight, personalized attention, and thoughtful mentorship needed to navigate the process with confidence. Schedule a complimentary introductory consultation to explore how Helena can help build a more intentional path toward your student's college aspirations.

I was accepted to four Ivy League universities and six highly competitive combined Bachelor’s/DDS dental programs. I ultimately chose to attend Stony Brook University on a full scholarship, where I was also admitted to the Honors College. Through this journey, I gained firsthand experience navigating competitive admissions, building a strong application profile, and crafting essays that authentically showcase a student’s strengths and story.

Experienced with the standard overachiever high school track of clubs, off campus programs, APs, competitions etc. at a top 10 US public high school. Accepted to multiple top institutions and enrolled in University of Pennsylvania, where I graduated with 2 undergraduate degrees. Also coached international Chinese students looking to get into top US colleges / grad programs.

Hello and welcome to my profile! With a strong academic background from the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, I bring a unique blend of expertise in psychology, neuroscience, and public health to my coaching. My professional journey at L.E.K. Consulting, where I advanced from Associate to Senior Consultant, has honed my skills in strategic analysis and client engagement. I have been actively involved in firm recruitment, interviewing candidates, and mentoring new associates, which has given me a deep understanding of what top institutions and companies look for in applicants. I also have a deep pre-med background, as I completed the track through all 4 years of college, and can always help guide through many of the tough decisions we have to make during that time. I am passionate about helping students craft compelling college applications that highlight their unique strengths and potential. Let's work together to make your college dreams a reality!

Welcome to my profile! With a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence from Royal Holloway and extensive experience as an AI Engineer at top firms like Accenture and Microsoft, I bring a wealth of knowledge to aspiring college students interested in tech and AI fields. My journey from a Developer Audience Specialist at Microsoft to an Agentic AI Engineer at Accenture has equipped me with unique insights into the tech industry, which I leverage to guide students in aligning their academic pursuits with industry demands. I've successfully mentored numerous individuals in navigating the complexities of college applications, particularly for tech-focused programs. Whether you're aiming to enhance your technical skills or explore the vast opportunities in AI, I'm here to help you achieve your educational and career goals. Let's connect and start your journey towards a successful future in technology!

With a robust background in admissions and a passion for helping students succeed, I bring a wealth of experience to admissions and case coaching. As a Georgetown University alumnus, I have spent eight years interviewing undergraduate applicants (in addition to hands on experience working in the admissions office), so I have insider insight into what top schools are looking for. My journey continued at Yale School of Management for my MBA, where I served as a student admissions interviewer and successfully navigated the waitlist process. In my professional career, I've honed my coaching and interview skills at McKinsey & Company and LinkedIn, where I've prepped numerous candidates. Whether you're aiming for a top-tier university or need guidance on your application/interviewing strategy, I'm here to help you craft a compelling narrative and stand out in the admissions process. Let's connect and make your college and career dreams a reality :)

When I was an undergraduate at Harvard I started helping students apply to top schools, and then was a full-time admissions coach for exceptional Chinese high school students in Beijing. I have extensive experience creating school lists, crafting essays to tell your most compelling story, strategizing about extra-curricular activities, and preparing for interviews. My goal is to partner with you, working side by side to make sure your best and brightest self shines through the application process.

With a robust background in recruiting and leading recruiting teams at prestigious global strategy consultancies like Bain & McKinsey & Company for ~15 years combined with a deep understanding of the US and UK university admissions process, I am well-equipped to guide you through your college application strategy and journey to determine where, why, how, and when to apply. As an MBA graduate and former member of UPenn's Wharton School's student admissions committee, an MSPH graduate of UNC's Gillings School of Public Health, and a BSc graduate of UVA's McIntire School of Commerce, I have firsthand experience in what top US schools are looking for in applicants at the graduate and undergraduate level. I am passionate about helping students craft compelling applications that highlight their unique strengths and potential. Let's work together to make your college dreams a reality!