College Admissions

With over 15 years of working with Top 20 college applicants, I am an expert in identifying the areas where everyone needs help: telling their story in way that makes them stand out. When you're up against other Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Yale applicants, there is more to personal statements and supplemental essays than merely being outstanding. Your story has to stop the jaded admissions folks in their tracks and make them say, 'Wow! That's who we're looking for!" That's where I come in. I take a deep dive into getting to you know, your story, what makes you tick and what motivates you. With the help of our curated conversations, custom guides and 90-minute brainstorming sessions, I will help you squeeze out every last ounce of your potential and make it sing on the page. Working in this way is painstaking and time consuming, but my results speak for themselves. Each year, I get 90+% of my clients into at least one of their top 3 dream schools. This also means that I cannot take on many clients (usually 25-28 per application cycle). My clients get admits to the Ivies, UC Berkeley, Stanford, UT, UMich, UNC, MIT, Duke, and many even receive scholarships. With so much personal attention given to each applicant and their multiple applications, it is impossible for me to maintain my high level of success if I take on more than 25-28 clients per year. This means three things: 1.) My schedule fills up quick 2.) I am by no means the cheapest consultant out there (in fact, I am on the more pricey side) 3.) The experience--and results--you have with me (yes, me, Avi...not some junior consultant) will be second to none. It's also worth noting that roughly half of my clients each year are those that had disappointing (and in some cases nightmarish) experiences working with other consultants. The most common complaint I hear from these disgruntled applicants is that the overpriced packages they were pitched didn't match the quality of the service. In short, they didn't feel like the consultant took a vested interest in their success, limiting their face to face time while discouraging them them from applying to top-tier schools. This way, the consultant looks like a big hero when you get admitted to schools you would have likely got admitted to without their "help". My specialty is Top 20 undergraduate universities for high schoolers. In both cases, my job is to get you interviews at, and admitted to, schools that in some cases you have no business getting accepted to, and in other cases getting you scholarship money for your No. 1 school. Otherwise, what's the point, right? If I can't raise the stakes for you, what am I getting paid for? Background: Born and raised in New York City, I take a non-nonsense approach to consulting. We are going to work together for months, sometimes a full year, together, so I like to set the tone for an honest, direct style of communication that leads to winning applications, not inflated egos. To do this successfully, I have to part coach, part mentor, part drill sergeant and part therapist. But mostly your fearless leader in navigating the tricky terrain of college apps. I will hound you for draft deadlines, insist on better revisions and deeper reflection even when you feel it's "good enough". And I will keep you on a structured schedule so you don't feel overwhelmed. Lastly, in certain cases I won't be "nice". If I feel you're capable of better, I'll let you know. If something could work better in an application, I will point it out. I will not spare your feelings, we're here to win this admissions game. I have coached this game for going on 20 years. I am a former Admissions reader at Berkeley and writer for the LA Times. I have a receding hairline and a mean left hook (former boxer). I value honesty over flattery and ambition over modesty. Let's make this happen. Together.

Welcome to my profile! With a diverse academic background from prestigious institutions like Harvard, NYU, and UC Berkeley, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to college admissions coaching. As a Senior Personal Statement and Supplemental Essay Coach at Oriel Admissions and a Writing Instructor at Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America, I've guided 60+ students to craft compelling narratives that stand out in the competitive college admissions process. My experience as a Creative Writing Faculty at NYU and English Faculty at Central Piedmont Community College further enriches my ability to help students express their unique stories effectively. Let's work together to make your college application shine—reach out to start your journey today!

With over 11 years in higher education at top US institutions such as NYU, Stanford, and UT Austin, I know what it takes for an application to stand out. As a former admissions staff member and campus leader, I’ve read applications, interviewed students, and helped universities share their stories with prospective applicants. I’m also an ICF-Certified Coach and graduate of NYU’s Executive Coaching and Organizational Consulting program. My approach combines admissions expertise with professional coaching techniques to help you identify your strengths, refine your essays, and present your most authentic story. My goal is to help you ensure that your application stands out as memorable and unique to you.

At Stanford, Kelly was an admissions officer in both the undergraduate admissions office as well as in graduate admissions in the School of Education. Kelly previously served as an enrollment manager at California College of the Arts, a college counselor at an independent college preparatory high school, an academic advisor at University of San Francisco, and an independent college counselor. Kelly has extensive experience in undergraduate admissions and enjoys working with students with a variety of interests and backgrounds, including the arts, social sciences, psychology, cognitive science, education, language, business, entrepreneurship, and more. During Kelly’s career in admissions, she reviewed thousands of applications from around the world as well as the US, in all majors, as well as BFA, MFA, and joint degree programs in Law and Business, Kelly earned her BA in Art History and Fine Art at UC Davis and an MA in Museum Studies, Italian Studies and Photography in Florence, Italy. Kelly also has niche expertise in developing and reviewing visual art portfolios, not only for arts-focused students but also those seeking to submit optional portfolios to highlight their creativity to enhance their applications to other programs. Kelly has participated in multiple National Portfolio Day events as an admissions rep and portfolio reviewer. In addition to her undergraduate admissions experience, Kelly has also read and evaluated thousands of graduate applications as well as served as an academic advisor. At the Stanford Graduate School of Education, Kelly was a one-person operation, overseeing all aspects of graduate admissions operations, application reviews and academic advising for prospective students. Kelly reviewed 3,400+ graduate applications annually and uses that experience when guiding students in developing their graduate school narratives, research plans, strategic school lists, and crafting their personal statements to fit their specific schools of interest. As a counselor, Kelly’s approach is focused on helping her students engage in the self-discovery process, to go beyond what is expected of them, and get passionate about their roles in shaping their future. Kelly has found a particular interest in guiding students who struggle to find their path, encouraging them to understand and reveal what makes them distinct, adding color, curiosity, and creativity to their applications so they can connect with admissions officers. Kelly also brings hands-on experience in gap year and study abroad advising. Kelly prides herself on devising innovative ways to make her students shine and communicate their ‘specialness,’ demystifying the admissions process to make it more of a creative journey together, no matter which major or path.

I have experience as an admissions interviewer for both Penn and Harvard. I've also spent the past 8 years as a mentor to high-potential high schoolers attempting to get into top 20 undergrad programs. We can work together to identify your safety, target, and reach schools, drafting strong essays that help you stand out to admissions boards. My students have received acceptances to: Brown, Columbia, Duke, Emory, Northwestern, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania (Penn), University of Washington, Stanford, Smith College, Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt.

As a a BYU alum, a mom of four BYU students and an experienced editor with over 10 years of experience working on executive-level writing, I’ve developed a unique passion for helping students tell their stories well. Since 2017, I’ve coached dozens of applicants—many of them nervous, hopeful high school seniors—through the BYU admissions process, specializing in helping them craft essays that are thoughtful, genuine, and uniquely theirs. I understand what BYU is looking for, both on paper and in spirit, and I love helping students gain the confidence to present their best selves. I’m passionate about all things BYU—from its mission and community to cheering on the Cougars every football season. If you're ready to apply to BYU and could use some support, I’d love to help—feel free to reach out!

Welcome to my profile! With over a decade of experience as a College Admissions Consultant, I have successfully guided students to gain admissions into top-tier universities, including Ivy League schools and prestigious programs like BSMD and 7-year Dental programs. My students have celebrated over 50+ Ivy+ acceptances last year alone, with 90% securing a spot in their top five choice schools. As a former advisor at Empowerly and PrepScholar, I have honed my skills in hiring and training consultants, ensuring the highest quality of service. I specialize in providing comprehensive support throughout the admissions process, from college list development to essay editing and mock interviews. Let's work together to make your college dreams a reality! Reach out to start your journey today.

As a recent summa cum laude graduate of Florida A&M University and current Columbia University master’s student and Fellow, I understand firsthand what it takes to build a competitive college application and successfully navigate the admissions process. At FAMU, I served as a Presidential Ambassador, where I represented the university to prospective students and families, participated in recruitment initiatives, and gained direct exposure to what universities look for in future students. I also served as a Peer Influencer in FAMU’s Academic Coaching Office, mentoring students and connecting them with resources to support their academic success. Beyond admissions, my leadership experience as President of Social Labs, Vice President of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated has given me experience helping students identify and communicate what makes them stand out. Having successfully navigated undergraduate and graduate admissions, scholarships, fellowships, and competitive programs myself, I can help students turn their experiences into a compelling application that authentically tells their story.

Greetings! My name is Lisa, and I am here to help you craft the most compelling college essays and application package possible so you can achieve your college admissions goals. As a Stanford alum and former interviewer for Stanford, I have literally read the book on what these admissions committee look for and value. I have sat across the table from dozens of students, evaluating them as candidates for admission so I know what makes an application stand out from the crowd and shine! My comprehensive approach to college admissions combines helping students write college essays that stand out to college admissions offices and preparing a college application package that they can’t forget. In addition to college admissions success, my students come away from the process with a new understanding of who they are, what they want from their education, and their long-term goals for the future. Many have even told me they enjoyed writing their college essays! :) I have been blessed to work with so many amazing students! My students have gained admission to a wide array of schools including Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, The University of Pennsylvania, Duke, Carnegie-Mellon, all of the UC campuses including UCLA and UC Berkeley, The University of Virginia, The University of Michigan, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The University of Southern California, Georgia Tech, Boston College, and Notre Dame. My students have also received full merit scholarships to schools including Washington University in St. Louis, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt, and the University of Southern California. I am an alum of Stanford University (B.A.), Columbia University (J.D.), and the University of Southern California (M.B.A.). I love working with students and their families so please reach out to schedule a free consultation! More About Me After graduating from Stanford (B.A. in English and Economics) and Columbia (J.D.), I spent most of my career in Wall Street finance, working with startups to raise the money they needed to realize their vision. What this really involved was spending hours with founders, teasing out their story, building out the narrative, and strategizing how to present it all in the way that most would appeal to investors and get them to write a large check. And I was terrific at it! Because of my storytelling expertise, I have been featured in such diverse publications as “The Huffington Post,” "Entrepreneur," "Inc.com,","Fortune," and "Business Rockstars," and my startup alumnae have raised over $100 million. I now leverage those same storytelling skills to work with high school students to present their best versions of themselves in their college essays. Moreover, because I have spent years as an alum interviewer for Stanford and have interviewed dozens of candidates, I can help you identify the qualities you have that will most appeal to a college admissions committee and help you bring those out in your essay.

With nearly two decades of experience in writing and editing, I specialize in guiding high school seniors through the college application process. As an Admissions Coach at College Essay Builder, I worked closely with students to develop compelling essay ideas and refine drafts into standout final products. My freelance work has helped students gain admission to prestigious institutions such as the BYU, University of Oxford, UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and San Diego State University. I lived in in the multicultural and multiethnic country of Qatar for eight years where language and communication were at the forefront of life. Having coached many students to success, I'm here to help you craft a unique and powerful application. Let's connect and make your college dreams a reality!