Stanford University

As a first-generation college student, I understand how daunting the college admissions process may seem to those who have no experience with it. Despite the challenges I encountered, I was admitted to every college I applied to and learned how the process works along the way. I bring my past advising experiences helping students draft and write essays, create college application plans, and manage their time to my role as an Advisor. The pride in seeing my students succeed makes me excited to help you on your journey to college. I believe that behind every successful student there are individuals who have helped them find and express their voice, and I can’t wait to work with you to accomplish this!

My name is Manuel Stefano Castaño. I am an international student that graduated with honors from the B.A. Politics program in Princeton University, and with the LExS Award in the M.P.A. program in Leiden University in The Hague, Netherlands. I am currently a PhD Candidate at the same school. Throughout my academic career, I have been fortunate to have won multiple awards and honors. I have been advising high school, university, and adult applicants for over 7 years, specializing in College Admissions Counseling, Applications, Essays, English/Verbal sections of standardized testing (ACT, GRE, etc.), Interviews, and related areas. I have helped applicants stand out and be accepted into schools like Harvard, Columbia, U Chicago, Berkeley, and UCLA, amongst others. During my time at Princeton University, I founded the "College Crash Course," a service initiative in cooperation with an NGO called MIRA USA. This was a service initiative based on helping vulnerable student populations understand the application process and succeed in it. I worked as the coordinator of this program for four years, helped hundreds of students apply to their choice universities, and it is still running to this day. Outside of College Advising, I am a self-motivated and results-oriented international consultant, political advisor, editor, writer, translator, and interpreter with knowledge and experience in national and international governance. I have professional experience with international organizations like the United Nations, as well as political parties in Colombia. I have founded and led public service projects, as well as cooperated with NGOs in various human-rights related programs. Facilitating intergovernmental cooperation, sacrifice, and change through diplomacy to increase the normative and socio-political legitimacy of people's welfare are my prime motivators. I was born in Colombia in 93', where my mother and I escaped the Armed Conflict in 99'. Knowing the struggle of those who are most vulnerable, my passions are justice, peace, and honest governance.

Hello everyone,

I am Iyanu, a junior majoring in Economics at Stanford University. Having attended high school in London, UK, I gained a deep understanding of the profound challenges and anxieties the US admissions process can pose, especially for international students who may find it unfamiliar. My central aim is to transform what can be a stressful process into a smooth and more enjoyable journey by providing guidance and unwavering support. I hold A Levels In Mathematics, Economics, Further Mathematics and an AS in Physics in addition to my 9 GCSEs at level 9 (A*). Beyond this, my professional experience spans over 5 years, encompassing tutoring, nonprofit youth board advising, university admissions mentorship and the creation of essential resources for navigating the US college admissions process. This diverse background has not only refined my knowledge but fueled my dedication to helping all students best position themselves to attain their educational goals. My time at Stanford University has been an enriching and diverse experience. I explored a range of academic disciplines and contributed to research in ethical AI and published research in health equity. I have also interned in finance, consulting and public policy, gaining insights to guide students in their professional journeys. Beyond academics, I have been actively engaged in financial literacy initiatives, dance, debates, efforts to reduce food insecurity, and STEM tutoring for female students in the local area. As your advisor, my goal is to guide you on a journey of personal growth within a supportive and effective advising environment. I am committed to helping you craft an application that creatively narrates the story of your unique strengths and holistic talents. No matter what stage you are in the process, I am here to support you and also let you find joy in the application experience.

To give you an idea of who I am, I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with my Bachelor of Science in Biology & Exercise and Sport Science in 2016. I then went on to become a College Advisor aiding over 1500+ students in their college process. Some of my most rewarding experiences have been supporting students to be admitted to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Duke, and many other top universities. I’m very passionate about the sciences and education. I currently work as a Senior Instructional Designer for a cable provider! I’d love to be a part of your journey!

Hello! My name is Conrad. I am a lifelong learner and come from a family of educators. My parents always emphasized the importance of a balanced learning approach. As a result, I place a large focus on fundamentals and motivational coaching with my students. I have my B.S and M.S in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University. During undergraduate and graduate school, I acquired multiple teaching assistantships in the engineering and psychology departments for a total of 5 years. I am also trained in non-violent communication. Since graduating in 2017 I have taught engineering workshops for students across the Los Angeles area with the Two Bit Circus Foundation and served as a professional tutor and advisor at A1 College Prep. My primary objective with students is to cast the light that allows them to shine. Telling a student's story in a way that is authentic to them is very important to me, and what I believe to be a core feature of any strong application. This process involves developing a holistic profile showing not just how far students have come, but how far they dream to go. It also means applying the most modern approaches to the college admissions process available, with emphasis on rapidly growing data and analysis. I value our young minds and am excited to work with you to reach your goals! I graduated with a degree in engineering, which required me to take advanced courses in math and sciences. I have also worked in a professional capacity as an engineer at several companies where I was accountable for STEM competencies. Companies include but are not limited to Texas Instruments, Amazon Lab126, and Sensel Technologies. I look forward to learning your needs and developing a custom system that will work for you. Together we will strive for excellence.

Hi! My name is Renbin. I grew up in Shanghai, China and moved to San Francisco, CA when I was 15. I went to a small public high school in SF. I did my B.S. and MEng degree at MIT, majoring in Computer Science and Engineering with a concentration in AI and applied machine learning. I applied to QuestBridge and became their finalist. I was admitted to MIT through Early Action and Stanford through Regular Decision. I now work as a machine learning scientist at Flexport. My strongest suit with the college admission process is personal statement brainstorming and giving advice for students who would like to pursue computer science major. I am particularly interested in working with students who are first-gen/low-income.

Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Psalm attended college at the University of Chicago as a QuestBridge scholar, graduating with an honors BA in Anthropology. Following graduation, Psalm worked as a College Advisor at the University of Chicago Charter School and later as an Admission Officer at Claremont McKenna College, a private liberal arts college in southern California. Now a student at Yale Law School, he focuses on civil rights law and is committed to making a positive impact in the world. Psalm has also served as a teaching fellow in Yale College and a coach with Yale’s Access to Law School program, where he supports local Connecticut students in entering the legal profession. Psalm is passionate about connecting with students and supporting them in their individual journeys to and through higher education. He has worked with students of all ages and backgrounds. Having reviewed thousands of college applications and conducted over 100 college interviews with students from across the country, Psalm brings a wealth of insight into the admissions process. He particularly enjoys helping students develop compelling personal narratives, highlight their skills and leadership qualities, prepare for interviews, navigate the scholarship and financial aid process with their families, and find the college that is uniquely the right fit for them. In his free time, Psalm enjoys going on hiking trips, frequenting hip hop and jazz concerts, and trying new food.

Cristina Slattery applied to and was accepted at three institutions for her undergraduate education: Harvard, Stanford, and Middlebury. She attended Harvard College and graduated with honors in her field in Social Studies (international relations). She later earned a master's in English from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English and a master's in Teaching from Fordham University's School of Education. She has worked with international students from the Middle East and China who have applied to competitive U.S. and U.K. universities and graduate programs and who have been accepted by many of these programs. She enjoys working with students and has also taught English both in the U.S. and in Spain. She is currently working on a fantasy novel for kids ages 10-12 and hopes to see it published soon! Additionally, her non-fiction writing has appeared in publications ranging from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal, AFAR.com, FoodandWine.com, Words Without Borders, and many other magazines and websites.

I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University, where I also studied computer science, engineering, and Chinese. It was at Stanford that I had my first teaching experience, working with international graduate students to help them communicate most effectively on their published articles and dissertations. I also spent a summer teaching beginning and intermediate English at the Guilin Engineering University in Guilin, China. These experiences sparked my passion for working with students to help them envision the future they wish to live, set incremental goals, and chart an academic path to success. Following my undergraduate years, I had a two-year stint as a project manager with a company that was automating the semiconductor manufacturing process before returning to Stanford University as a staff member in Student Housing. It fascinated me to be on the inside of such a dedicated student service operation, and I rose quickly to the position of Director of Marketing and Business Support, managing six employees and providing marketing and communication services and strategies for the award-winning $450M/year auxiliary operation that included Student Housing, Stanford Dining, and Stanford Conferences. This background in marketing, project management, and communications turned out to be the ideal preparation for guiding students through the college admissions process and preparing them for college. After eight years as a Stanford staffer, I left to pursue an MS in Computer Science and Information Technology at the California University of Management and Technology (CALMAT) and serve as their Director of Marketing and Strategic Communication. During this same time, I began a business working with students and their families to provide teaching, tutoring, college application coaching, and editing services. In the past eleven years, I have worked with hundreds of students from fourth grade through graduate school to help them create a personalized academic plan that reflects the future they want for themselves and incremental, achievable goals to move them along the path to success. In addition, I’ve had the privilege of helping many students navigate the college admissions process through school targeting, developing stories that reveal not only a student’s unique identity but also his or her academic and career aspirations. Though I enjoy working with students from all backgrounds, I am particularly experienced with high-achieving students who are targeting selective campuses or programs and students from immigrant families who need assistance navigating the American college system. I have worked with many students who plan to study arts, humanities, psychology, computer science, engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, math, and other STEM majors; pre-professional programs like pre-Med, business, and law; and nationally-ranked athletes and international students applying to US schools. I understand how to make students targeting these disciplines stand out from the competition. I strive to make every session fun and productive. Whenever possible, I use my time with students to coach them toward greater responsibility and independence–two of the most important skills for adapting to college life.