Massachusetts Institute of Technology
I graduated from MIT in the spring of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. After undergrad, I served as a first-year college advisor for a cohort of nearly 80 students in the Greater Boston Area. Then, I worked as a college readiness teacher and taught approximately 215 9th and 10th graders in San Antonio, TX, where I helped students practice their resume writing and draft their personal statements. I now utilize my personal experiences as a first-generation, low-income student and professional experiences in college access and success so that other students do not need to go through the challenging experience of applying to colleges on their own. I also enjoy collaborating with students and discovering what qualities can help them stand out in the process and teaching them how to emphasize those qualities in the application process.
University of California – Berkeley
In her past positions, as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Outreach for the University of California Berkeley, Dolann used her talents to lead, create, and execute strategies that aligned the admissions and diversity initiatives, and increased their visibility to meet their enrollment goals for both domestic and international students. Her experience in higher education has prepared her to help students from diverse educational backgrounds to successfully and expeditiously achieve their goals. She is dedicated to professional, artistic, entrepreneurial and student development and success, and embodies that “If you can dream it, you can achieve it” attitude. Dolann vehemently ascertains that accountability along with objective advice can positively change the trajectory of a student's life. Everyone has a dream, and Dolann wants to make sure that your desires come to fruition. She prides herself on embodying a student's objective while working collaboratively to make the vision a reality. She brings kindness along with punctuality and is known to work with students on their monologues and college essays, because Dolann wants every student that she works with to enjoy the journey and to be proud of their progress and results. Dolann has benefited from the generosity of others and is committed to paying this level of kindness forward.
Josie graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College in 2020. At Dartmouth, she majored in Government, minored in Spanish, and was an editor at the Dartmouth Law Journal. Josie is pursuing a JD/MD joint degree and is attending Harvard as a student in their Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program. She is an admissions interviewer for Dartmouth College and has ample experience with the college interview process and essay writing.
Carnegie Mellon University
Hello! I have loved working with students ever since I was a college student admissions ambassador myself! I've worked in admissions as a counselor at Providence College (RI) and Carnegie Mellon University (PA). So much of my happiness and positive energy is from helping students to find the right personal "fit" for pursuing academic and personal experiences that bring out the best in themselves. There's nothing like seeing students feel confident pursuing what lights their fire! I have experience in leadership and career & professional development consultant work at two additional colleges and a Fortune 200 company, working with high potential early career talent. I enjoy reading, puzzles, and being outdoors. My favorite places are near the water and mountains. I love cooking, entertaining, and hanging out with my family and dog.
Jasmine attained a B.A. in history and American Studies from Colby College. During her time at Colby, she noticed the link between college accessibility, diversity, ability, and structural inequalities, which led her to pursue a graduate degree in higher education. She holds an M.S. Ed. in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania. Jasmine has 5+ years of experience assisting students in their college and scholarship pursuits. Former students have earned Gates, Questbridge, Horatio Alger, and Jack Kent Cooke Scholarships. She has also helped students gain admission to top institutions such as Cornell, WashU, Colby, Bowdoin, Columbia, Emory, UC Davis, Yale, SMU, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Tulane among others. Jasmine's educational philosophy: student learning is the focus; student success is the goal. Jasmine was recently selected as one of six College Board Fellows, where she was recognized as a person-to-watch, national scholar, and rising leader in closing the educational attainment gap. She was also selected as a RESULTS fellow for her work as an activist and leader fighting against poverty.
Hi! My name is Bailee Peralto and I am a recent graduate from Brown University. I have five years of experience working with high school students on college applications. I specialize in advising on scholarships and financial aid, staying on track with deadlines, deciding on a school list, and crafting strong college essays. As a first-generation college student myself, I love being able to support other first-generation students in their college application journey. At Brown I was involved in Model United Nations, I was a Writing Fellow, and I was a Co-Programmer for the Multiracial Heritage Series at the Brown Center for Students of Color where I'm involved in activism and community organizing. I also worked as a Policy Intern for the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island. I really enjoy working with students on crafting their applications to make their college dreams come true!
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.
Hello! I'm Sumona Halder and I am a recent graduate of Harvard University. I concentrated in computer science on the mind brain behavior track (similar to cognitive neuroscience). Right out of undergrad I worked as a Product Manager at WeHealth, a global healthcare solution firm, and led the development of a contract tracing app as a solution to the Covid-19 pandemic. I currently work as a PM in the fintech space.
Also Accepted to
University of California – Los Angeles
I graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology with a focus on pre-medical sciences. For the last four years, I have been dedicated to clinical research, clinical and non-clinical community service, and student leadership at UCLA. I knew that medicine was my goal from a young age, but highschool and college experiences have been instrumental in affirming that interest. I will be matriculating into the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, a Top 40 medical school.
I have been a College and Career Placement Counselor for the past eight years. I have supported students and their families with admissions into prestigious universities; additionally, I have supported families with the many layers of the financial aid process. It has always been a passion of mine to work with students as they prepare for their college application process and to prepare them for life after high school, specifically students from low-income communities and minority students. I have a small furniture business, in which I reupholster and refinish wood pieces, I also make decorative and custom pillows for all occasions.
I am a recent graduate of Harvard University and a member of the Dual Degree Program with Berklee College of Music. I studied full time at Harvard, majoring in Sociology with a focus in social reform and policy, and part time at Berklee where I studied vocal performance, songwriting, and music business. I went to a small public high school in Maine, and moved to Los Angeles this fall.
Holly Wolf, MS Ed – HEA, graduate of Smith College and Baruch College’s Marxe School of Higher Education, brings over 20 years of experience guiding students to the colleges and universities of their choice. To her role as a Senior Advisor at CollegeAdvisor, Ms. Wolf offers her passion for college access. In particular, she is keenly knowledgeable about unique admission programs such as the Brandeis University’s Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program, Posse, Northeastern University’s Ujima Program, Hampshire College’s James Baldwin Scholar’s Program, New School HEOP along with SUNY and CUNY colleges. Her connections to dance, theater, music visual art and academic programs at Adelphi University, Antioch College, Berklee College of Music, Boston University Cal Arts, Cal State Los Angeles, Columbia College, Earlham College, Elon College, Emerson College, University FIT Hampton University Hofstra University, Lincoln University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Minneapolis College of Design, Montclair State University, New School University Eugene Lang, NYU, Pace University, Parsons Pratt Institute, Rutgers, Sarah Lawrence College, Smith College, SUNY Purchase, Syracuse University, Temple University, University of the Arts, University of Massachusetts, Virginia Commonwealth University and Western Connecticut State, among others, have all been honed through deep and rich relationships to college admission teams. Her success at helping students win scholarships is essential to affording college and for students with disabilities, her expertise at unlocking ACESS VR support is especially important for transition needs. Ms. Wolf’s knowledge of college opportunities, mastery of application and scholarship writing and engaging, and insightful teaching style have helped hundreds of students to gain admission to a host of prestigious colleges.
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.
Also Accepted to
Hi! I'm Elana Grayson and I am a College Advisor and Assistant Director of Financial Aid from the suburbs of New York City. I graduated from Boston University's College of Communication, where I spent my time as a Dean's Host, London study abroad participant, and Sigma Kappa Sorority sister. In addition, I hold a Masters in Library and Information Science from Long Island University. I am currently enrolled in UCLA's College Counseling Certificate program while I work in the Office of Financial Aid at a local college. I have extensive experience editing college essays and am a volunteer college coach with a national college access non-profit for underrepresented populations. I am here to help reduce the anxiety and stress often associated with the college application process and help find a school that is a great fit for you!
Also Accepted to
Hi there! I was accepted early decision to Columbia, where I studied Comparative Literature. Arabic, Spanish, and English are the languages I chose to work in to complete my undergrad. After working for a few years in publishing, media, and translation, I decided to complete a Center for Arabic Study Abroad fellowship at the American University in Cairo. After the fellowship, I began a master's degree in Arabic language and literature, also at AUC. In my free time, I love to watch films, cook, and exercise. I strive to be an honest and relatable advisor, and I am looking forward to working with students of diverse interests, goals, and origins.
Hi! My name is Lara, and I recently graduated from Harvard College with a double degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology along with Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology. I grew up in a small town in South Africa, with a graduating class of only 25 people (including myself!) and know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the college application process without the help of an academic advisor. Because of this, I am passionate about helping students from under-resourced high schools aim high and succeed in gaining admission to the colleges of their dreams! I am also excited to share my experience of pursuing research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, engaging with various volunteer organizations, and working with pre-med students to ensure their college application success.
Hello! My name is Isabella, and I am a 4th-year student with a Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering double major and minors in Entrepreneurship and IST for Aerospace Engineers at Penn State. At Penn State, I hold several distinctions, including being a member of the honors college (Scheyer), the honors engineering scholars' program (Leonard Scholars), and a recipient of the Provost Award. Professionally, I interned at SpaceX in Spring 2021, Lockheed Martin Space in Summer 2021, and a hypersonic start-up called Hermeus in Summer 2022. During my senior year application cycle, I gained admittance to several top universities, listed on my profile. I also earned several national, regional, and local scholarships including the Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship, and I have totaled over $150,000 in scholarship money to date. While in high school, I was active in several STEM extracurricular events, including the Summer Exposure Engineering Experience Program at the University of Michigan (received a scholarship to attend the summer camp and won the summer camp's $20,000/year Engineering Scholarship of Honor for use at UMich), MOSTEC at MIT, and CE^2 at Columbia University. One of my areas of strength is scholarship applications and essays, both specific to a university or in a national or local application. I also thoroughly understand how to frame a college application in the best way possible by creating cohesive activity descriptions, essays, and short answer responses. I have worked with students in the Pittsburgh area and with international students prior to joining CollegeAdvisor. This is my second year with CollegeAdvisor, and I’m so excited to continue helping students meet their goals!
