College Admissions

Welcome, bienvenidos, bem-vindos! I graduated with two bachelor's degrees from an Ivy League university (the University of Pennsylvania's Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business), and have served as an alumni interviewer ever since. I can help you with the college application process - anything from positioning your profile to tips and tricks on essay writing to narrowing down which school you'd like to attend. Also, I am trilingual - I'm a native English speaker originally from the United States, but I have lived and worked in Mexico and Brazil and am happy to help out in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Please feel free to reach out!

You have a story worth sharing: I am here to help you tell it. As a successful former collegiate applicant, accepted into multiple Ivies, securing various merit-based scholarships, and attending WashU on a full-tuition scholarship, I bring a unique perspective to the college admissions process. My academic and professional journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of what top programs seek in applicants. I have successfully coached multiple individuals and have sat on professional panels, helping students craft compelling applications to best highlight their strengths and communicate their unique story. Whether you need guidance on personal statements, recommendation letters, interview preparation, or anything else, I am here to personally help you navigate your path to achieving a place in your dream program. I am excited to work with you!

Having coached students applying to elite and selective colleges across the US and Europe, my focus is on helping you craft the stories that help tell a compelling narrative about who you are behind the stats on your resume, application or transcripts. Helping students gain admission to the Ivy league, liberal arts programs, specialized degree programs (art, music, combined UG/GR programs)-- such as Brown, Penn, Harvard, Haverford, U of Chicago, Northwestern, and everything in between-- my focus is always personal, customized and designed to tell your unique story. As a first generation college student, I believe strongly that everyone should have the ability to access education! And, you should have a TRUE expert on your side-- one who has made admissions decisions, sat in committee rooms, managed waitlists, and crafted classes at the undergraduate and graduate level. Just getting a degree from an elite program doesn't teach you the nuances of the admissions process. As a career admissions professional, I want to give you the edge you need to get the dream school ADMIT you are seeking!

At Leland, I coach college applicants on essays from brainstorming and finding an authentic voice through drafting, organization, and revision. I’ve led online admissions and essay workshops with 70+ registrants, and this profile includes two 5-star testimonials. At Rosetta Institute’s summer program, which served about 100 students, I advised high schoolers on college applications and independently led neuroscience labs for students aged 13–18. As an International Teaching Fellow at Neerja Modi School in Jaipur, I co-taught literature and philosophy in English to 20 students aged 14–17 and organized a college-admissions Q&A. I graduated from Columbia with a B.A. in Cognitive Science and Philosophy and was named a John Jay Scholar, an honor awarded to roughly the top 2% of Columbia College entrants. I’m now pursuing an M.A. in Cognitive Science at ENS-PSL. My own applications led to offers from Brown, Johns Hopkins, Colby, Bowdoin, and Northeastern. I help students build clear, authentic applications while keeping the writing their own.

Shayna is published in the University of Pennsylvania's Undergraduate Admissions blog 💥 ✔️ Guest collab with UPenn's longtime Dean of Admissions, Eric Furda, on an article advising applicants about best essay practices. ✔️ UPenn alum - Go Quakers! - Currently serving on the Penn Libraries' Young Alumni Board AND as an alumni interviewer for the undergraduate admissions office. ✔️ Northwestern Law alum - Editor of the Journal of Law and Social Policy; Research Assistant; Published academic article on federal and state legislation re: school meals. ✔️ Lawyer admitted in the state of New York - I read, write, and edit all day long. ✔️ Moral Support - can provide references! Virtual cheerleading and hand-holding available upon request.

I was accepted to Stanford and multiple Ivy League Schools, which taught me exactly how to build a standout academic and extracurricular profile. In high school, I pursued Stanford-affiliated research, led nonprofit and community initiatives, and built a set of top-tier extracurriculars that helped differentiate my application. In college, I’ve continued that trajectory as a student senator, campus leader, and someone who has worked across four countries in finance, business, and international development. I know what elite admissions offices look for and how to help students craft compelling stories, because I’ve done it myself and helped others do the same. I have a 100% success rate of getting my mentees into their top 3 choice schools. Let's work together to achieve your goals! Reach out to get started.

My experience as a varsity Track & Field athlete and involvement in various student organizations at Stanford have equipped me with the insights needed to help students craft compelling stories and applications that stand out. Before making my decision to attend Stanford, I visited and communicated extensively with Harvard and Princeton. This firsthand knowledge allows me to offer you expert guidance in finding the school that best suits your needs academically and athletically. Over the years, I've successfully coached international students, guiding them through the intricacies of the college admissions process and helping them gain acceptance to their dream schools. Whether you need assistance with application strategy, essay writing, interview preparation or athletic scholarship information I'm here to help you succeed.

As a first-generation, low-income community college transfer who successfully navigated the path to UC Berkeley, I understand the challenges and opportunities of pursuing higher education from a unique perspective. My journey is proof that with the right guidance, perseverance, and strategy, achieving admission to prestigious universities is possible, regardless of background. At Berkeley, I’ve excelled academically graduating Summa Cum Laude while actively engaging in leadership roles, such as Debate Captain, Vice President of an exclusive tech consulting club, and Student Government Director, where I’ve mentored peers, coordinated scholarship funds, and fostered inclusivity. My experience extends beyond academics to professional roles in top organizations like Adobe and Intel, where I’ve honed goal-setting, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills. I specialize in helping students craft compelling personal statements, navigate the application process, and unlock their potential to stand out in competitive applicant pools. Whether you’re transferring, applying to your dream school, or seeking advice on how to balance academics with leadership opportunities, I’m here to help you succeed!

I'm a fashion industry professional with a background that bridges creative and analytical work — I earned my Bachelor's in Fashion Business Management from Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and my MS in Business Analytics from Fordham's Gabelli School, then built my career inside the luxury industry—from CRM and digital marketing at GQ and Brooks Brothers, to inventory analytics at Christian Dior Couture, to my current role as an Inventory & CapEx Analyst at OTB Group (the house behind Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, and Jil Sander). I've seen how fashion actually runs as a business: how brands manage merchandise, forecast trends, allocate capital, and turn consumer data into decisions. That's exactly what I help applicants convey. Fashion programs no longer admit on creative talent alone—they want candidates who understand the commercial engine behind the brand. I help you articulate genuine industry insight, back your vision with data and consumer behavior, and position yourself as someone who sees fashion as both an art and a business. Having studied at FIT myself, I know what these programs look for from the inside, and having worked across fashion sectors, I bring a global perspective that today's industry demands. My goal is to help you stand out as a strategic, commercially-minded creative that any program would be excited to admit :)

I've worked directly with over 100 students crafting their personal narrative, and helping show the strongest version of themselves to college admissions committees. I'm a Harvard alumni interviewer for applicants from the Chicago area and a school representative. I was admitted across Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Huntsman Program at Wharton (UPenn), Columbia, Amherst, Swarthmore, and more. My clients have been admitted across the Ivy League and M7, with the greatest representation at Harvard and UChicago.