University of Maryland – College Park

I recently graduate Dean's List from Brandeis University with a BA in Public Health and African-American studies. During my time at Brandeis I was heavily involved in Jewish life, research, orientation programming, and community service initiatives. I worked with students of all ages in the local school district. After graduating I took a role at Big Brothers Big Sisters running a mentoring program for high schoolers. The program focused on building meaningful relationships with an emphasis on college and career readiness. I created programming to guide students on making college lists and thinking about areas of study. This experience emphasized the importance of relationship in building when making big decisions- like college planning. I then went on to spend the next few years working as an Admission Counselor at Brandeis University followed by Olin College of Engineering. In these roles I was able to guide prospective students and applicants though the application process and beyond. I would advise students on essay topics and the extracurriculars section, offering guidance on how to make their application represent them the best. I gained an understanding of the entire admission process from beginning to end, seeing the areas where students can shine most. This experience could be stressful for some students but continuing to communicate with one another made all the difference. I now work as a Client Success Manager at a remote software company guiding our clients on best practices and troubleshooting the product. I love being able to guide and teach people everyday and I'm excited to continue that journey here. When not working at the computer, you can find me cooking, playing tennis, reading or going for a long walk.

Hi! I am a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Maryland, College Park, where I respectively earned my BA in Psychology and M.Ed. in School Counseling. I am a first-generation college student and have made it my life’s work to help students like me navigate the college-going process. After completing my Undergraduate degree, I joined the College Advising Corps and worked as a college advisor in a public high school in North Carolina, where for two years I was the sole College Advisor for 2000 students and guided them throughout their college application processes. I then went on to gain almost a decade of higher education experience working as an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor, and Program Coordinator/Advisor for First Year College Students. I have worked with students through the pipeline, and I have a passion for helping students to find their best fit. I believe that college is one of the best experiences of your life, so it is an honor for me to help students navigate their way through this monumental milestone.

I have a strong commitment to college education access, matriculation, transition and retention. I am currently in the pursuit of my PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change at UCLA, have an MEd in Higher Education Student Affairs, and International Education Policy (University of Maryland, 2022) and a BA in Sociology and Ethnic Studies (UC San Diego, 2018). Throughout my undergraduate career, in addition to obtaining a minor in Education Studies, I actively worked with high schools by providing campus tour, hosting student for overnight programs, facilitating classes for a summer bridge program, presenting during high school conferences, conducting research at a high school and being an active mentor to high school students that were connected with me via personal networks. From 2018-2022, I was a College Advisor for the University of Southern California College Advising Corps where I worked predominantly with senior students and advised them based on their goals, aspirations and circumstances. I have given presentations on various topics (A-G, FAFSA, CalGrant, scholarships, transition programs, on-campus resources, etc.), have extensive resume, statement of purpose, and personal statement editing experience both for the college admission process and scholarship applications. I am a proud recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship (2013), which has an award rate of under 1% and has funded my bachelor’s, master’s, and is now funding my doctoral degree. In my 10 years of working with high school and college students in summer bridge programs, college access programs, outreach, programming, fraternity and sorority life, residence life, and research, I have developed an advising style that meets students where they are based on their knowledge. The premise of my advising style is to meet the needs of the student and their families/guardians with integrity and resourcefulness. I like to provide students with information to facilitate taking ownership of their decisions and can similarly have the confidence to answer questions and discuss topics with their families and guardians. I have enjoyed the process of involving parents to ensure they are equally informed as their students and together support students in their college-going process.

Hi there! My name is Renee and I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from Northeastern University where I minored in both Business Administration and Social Entrepreneurship. I then furthered my studies at University College London and hold a Master of Arts in Education and International Development. After living and working in Cape Town, South Africa after the completion of my graduate studies, I have spent the past five years with Philadelphia Futures, an organization that provides low-income, first-generation-to-college students with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary for admission to and success in college. Within my role as Senior Coordinator, I advised a caseload of 45 students and their families by sharing tools to help students find their best fit college and create a strong admissions plan. I have led admissions process and programming for these students by planning, executing and tracking all activities related to both their college admissions application and their financial aid application as well. This has included the FAFSA, CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE completion, as well as postsecondary list-building and postsecondary decision-making processes. My previous students have been admitted to a varied and diverse list of mid-range and highly selective institutions, such as Stanford, Penn, Vanderbilt, Boston University, and John Hopkins. I have worked with students who have pursued a degree in a wide range of majors including the Arts and Humanities, Business, and STEM as well. As such, I am well versed in the requirements and expectations of a wide variety of academic disciplines. Looking at my work from a financial aid perspective, I have decreased my students cash gap by an average of $25K or more per student, often to as low as $0. Additionally, I have helped students access and secure an average of $100K in external scholarships as well. As the college admissions landscape is continually shifting, I pride myself in staying up to date on the latest trends and data by attending various professional development opportunities including attending counselor information sessions, well as fly-in events across campuses around the country. I am also a NACAC and PACAC member as a classified independent educational consultant. Within this space, I have stewarded strong relationships with college admissions staff to advocate for my students and their families. Education has the power to be transformative. I know the college admissions process can feel overwhelming, but I’m dedicated to empowering students on their educational journey! I will leave no stone unturned and will provide the necessary expertise to help students live up to their greatest potential!

Chi (he/him) is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Virginia, studying Economics and Politics. Following his undergraduate experience, he obtained an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from the top-ranked University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. A Senior Advisor with CollegeAdvisor since May 2021, Chi connects his years of professional experience as an Admissions Reader with Yale University and Yale-NUS College to provide thorough coaching and admissions support. His primary philosophy involves building the 'holistic profile,' empowering students to make well-informed decisions about their application strategy and highlighting their personal stories in the application process. With 5+ years of professional experience, Chi's work in research, admissions, and student services seeks to foster life skills and knowledge development, helping students succeed in the transition to post-secondary education and beyond. In addition to his work with CollegeAdvisor, Chi is a full-time Senior Research Associate with Storbeck Search, a subsidiary of Diversified Search Group, in its education practice. He bridges his knowledge of the higher education landscape with admissions work to provide strong, contextual detail tailored to each student. Chi demonstrates a strong track record of success coaching students during his tenure with CollegeAdvisor, including acceptances in, but not limited to: - 6 of 8 Ivy League institutions - 21 of the Top 25 institutions, ranked by U.S. News & World Report - 44 of the Top 50 institutions, ranked by U.S. News & World Report Chi calls West Virginia home, and is an avid foodie, enjoys outdoor runs and hikes, and is often found cheering for his alma mater Hoos, Ravens, and Sixers.

Deven is a J.D. candidate at the University of North Carolina School of Law. He also attended the University of Virginia where he graduated with Distinction. Deven prides himself on his holistic approach to the college admissions process and looks forward to helping you reach your goals! He has helped students gain admission into several top 20 universities, the Ivy League, and Stanford University.