My Services

Direct counseling services can be provided locally (Orange County) or virtually via Zoom.

Balanced College Lists

Creating a balanced college list requires research and exploration. Building a well-informed list is not always intuitive. Prestige and acceptance rates are surface level. A deeper dive into career outcomes, student supports, diversity, activities, food, culture, arts, etc. is crucial in this process.

I rely on updated data from both the university side as well as the student’s high school (very important) to recommend schools that make sense for the student. Starting with data helps students feel informed and confident about their college list. I empower students to do their own research to personalize the experience; I help them with WHAT to look for.

Holistic Applications

Taking a macro perspective on college applications is crucial. The applications provide various sections in which students can strategically present their whole self. Whether it’s through the essays, the activities section, or even the optional parts for contextual info; there’s an art to filling out these applications.

I will introduce the various sections of each application early and create a comprehensive game plan to ensure there are no “missed opportunities” for my students. With years of experience on my side (as college counselor & application reader), I will provide students a menu of things they can include in their application-many of which they would not have thought of on their own.

College Essay Support

College essays are the x-factor. Through the essays, the applicant conveys the person behind the transcript. This requires a deep level of self-understanding, which can be a lot of work. Applications require multiple essays and the bulk of the application process is writing/revising essays.

I use career/personality assessments as well as interviews to get to know the student on a deeper level. As a natural story-teller, I identify the deeper themes of the student’s experience, to work them into the essays. I also have an extensive database of strong college essays from former students that my students can benefit greatly from.

Broad Academic Guidance

The most successful high school seniors are those who start this process long before the college applications. They feel less stressed and more confident when it comes time to applying.

For students who are non-seniors, I comprehensively review transcripts to explore coursework progression (based on interests and the type of colleges they want to pursue). And these classes are not limited to the course offerings of their high school (as the Dual Enrollment Coordinator at my high school site, I can help students register for FREE college-level classes at their local community college). Non-academically, I can help connect students to extracurriculars/programs that are fulfilling and fit the overall theme of their college applications.

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