Michigan State University

I received my Bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education from Florida State University. I also received my Master's degree in Music Performance, with a Euphonium concentration, from Carnegie Mellon University. With over nine years of experience working in college admissions and advising, I am deeply committed to providing tangible support and resources to marginalized populations through an intersectional lens. In my time at Florida State University, I served in multiple roles involving university admissions and student enrollment advising. I served on the Student Board of Advisors (BOA), and provided specialized academic advising to new freshmen and transfer students to the FSU College of Music. Additionally, I served the CoM Admissions Office as an admissions administrator. In this role, I was the first point of contact for undergraduates, guiding students and their families through all aspects of the admissions process including: program information, application procedures, audition days, and ensuring that students met all requirements to be admitted into the university. I continued working in admissions during my graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon, as a graduate assistant. My responsibilities in this position were the same as my previous roles, but also allowed me to also meet one-on-one with families to lead information sessions on the School of Music's undergraduate and graduate degree programs. After completing my graduate degree, I continued working as a freelance musician while also serving as a Senior Admissions Coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS). I was the first point of contact and application administrator for prospective undergraduate and graduate students at the 30 programs offered at SHRS. I guided applicants through each phase of the admissions process, prescreened application materials, hosted virtual admissions meetings with applicants and families, and distributed final decision letters. Additionally, I collaborated closely with SHRS academic leadership on using data-driven research to implement best practices for holistic admissions. I currently serve as co-founder and Director of Operations for Chromatic Brass Collective: a nonprofit organization for brass musicians that celebrates, performs, and educates in an effort to increase the visibility of racially and ethnically underrepresented women and gender non-conforming people throughout the brass world.

As of 2024, I have earned a B.A. in Economics and German with a minor in Music from Kalamazoo College and a M.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW). I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in Education Policy at Michigan State University (MSU). My career in college admissions began soon after graduating from Kalamazoo College in 2016. I served as a college advisor within Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), a statewide policy program affiliated with Americorps intended to boost postsecondary enrollment in the state of Michigan. In that role, I acted as the personal advisor for a high school of approximately 400 students for two years. I provided one-on-one meetings, lectures on student loans and financial literacy, organized scholarship nights, college fairs, resume building, essay writing, and much more. After my two-year term limit through Americorps expired, I moved to Madison, Wisconsin for two years to complete my M.S. in Economics where I also joined the UW-Madison admissions office as a Graduate Admissions Officer. At UW, I evaluated applications from around the world, provided customer services through phone, email, and in-person, and helped work recruiting events around campus. My time between both positions elucidated my understanding of the college admissions process from both sides and compelled me to take my knowledge and understanding towards research. The next logical step for that entailed beginning my doctorate at MSU in 2020, so in addition to working for CollegeAdvisor.com, I am currently working on my dissertation at MSU. My dissertation topic concerns postsecondary access and equity in the United States, particularly in Michigan where I am using econometric and qualitative research methods to analyze the efficacy of various college access programs. As a returning college advisor and admissions officer, I loved my work then and I am excited to get back into it. Know that if you have me as an advisor or officer, I will work with you to the best of my ability to help you achieve your dreams both in college and beyond. As a college advisor, I worked tirelessly to make sure every graduating senior had a solid plan, and as an admissions officer, I made sure every question was answered thoroughly and applications were fully considered. It brings me joy when former students reach out to share something, ask for advice, or just say thank you. So, thank you for considering me and I look forward to working with you!

Tayla is a junior at Michigan Ross pursuing Business Administration and a minor in User Experience (UX) Design, with the goal to work in consulting post-graduation. She is heavily involved with professional business organizations on campus, specifically her business fraternity and professional consulting club. Tayla interned this past summer with United Airlines in Chicago, IL and will be working in consulting this upcoming summer in New York City. Tayla is experienced in essay writing and revisions, activity and extra-curricular selection, and the financial aid/scholarship application process! She currently works on-campus as a student ambassador and career peer coach at the Michigan Ross School of Business Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

I hold over 6 years of higher education administration experience advising students on their educational and academic pursuits. I obtained my B.S. in 2017 from Bowling Green State University where I received a 4-year full-ride scholarship. I graduated from Michigan State University with my master's in Education Administration in 2019. As a higher education professional, I strive to remove barriers to education and provide support to students from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. I believe that having access to affordable higher education is an amazing avenue to pursue, and an opportunity everyone should be able to access affordably. I have experience advising a diverse array of students from many different institution types and love connecting with students holistically and providing them support and resources to best reach their collegiate goals. As an educator the driving force behind my advising style is to provide guidance and support as well as getting to know my student goals, values, and priorities to help them make decisions best suited for their situation. My time in higher education has allowed me to gain a great understanding around academic requirements, extracurricular activities, and institution types. I am always excited to learn about the experiences that have shaped students and how they want to make their impact on the world. I am very skilled in assisting students in finding out what it is they value and how they want to "share their story" with higher education institutions. I know the application process and the search for the right school can feel daunting and overwhelming at times, but I know from experience with the right support it can be incredibly rewarding and exciting as well!

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 all! I'm proud to announce that I am a Neuroscience PhD Student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Over the last several years I have gone through the college admissions process three times. I received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience (2020) and a Master of Science in Chemical Biology, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude (2022). Both degrees I received from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. While I am most familiar with the University of Michigan and their admissions I have been accepted to other top universities and have guided fellow students in their admissions process as well. I pride myself on taking a transparent approach to admissions and equipping students with the tools they need to succeed. This means highlighting their individuality and accomplishments to admissions faculty. As an aside, I am a non-traditional student, a military spouse, and Federal Pell Grant recipient. As a former pre-med student, I have completed the required coursework, extracurricular activities, and essay preparation needed to be accepted and succeed at a top 50 university. I have expertise in volunteering, research, and employment in the STEM field. Additionally, many of the students I have advised are from underserved populations in science. Over the last two years I've taught as a Graduate Student Instructor for a neuroanatomy course and an upper-level molecular biology lab. As an educator and mentor, I continuously look forward to deepening these skills and meeting the needs of students. Supporting students in the pursuit of their dreams is truly my passion and I aim to provide ample resources and essay preparation. During my undergraduate career I had the privilege of tutoring peers in cellular, molecular, and developmental biology as well as animal physiology. Through diversity, equity, and inclusion training I've worked with the Science Learning Center and the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiative to provide tutoring and advising support to a variety of student demographics. At the same time, I served as Coordinator for the Office of Enrollment Management's Student Advisory Board. This office encompasses the sectors of Financial Aid, Admissions, Registrar, and New Student Programs. Additionally, I have direct experience mentoring first-generation and non-traditional students. As a Kessler Presidential Scholar, I have direct knowledge of first-generation scholarship programs and financial aid. Furthermore, I have experience navigating need-based as well as merit-based support systems. This list is comprised of all the extracurricular activities I engaged in during my time in college. Some directly related to mentoring/advising and some not. However, the college application process is holistic and navigating studies while growing your personal and career interests is essential to a successful and rewarding life. I am happy to discuss any of these extracurricular activities, how to pursue them, and the importance of having a broad range of experiences throughout your high school and college journey!

• Undergraduate Researcher (2018) to Summer Fellow (2019) to Graduate Student Researcher (2021) to full-time Laboratory Technician (2022) to Neuroscience PhD Student, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (2023)
• Coordinator for the Office of Enrollment Management Student Advisory Board
• Graduate Student Instructor for Neuroscience 470: Neuroanatomy and MCDB 429: Upper-level cellular and molecular biology lab course
• Course facilitator for ALA 171: Making the Most of Michigan
• Tutor for cellular, molecular and developmental biology and animal physiology at UM's Science Learning Center. Awarded Tutor of the Year, Biology (2020).
• Tutor and Peer Mentor in the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) at UM
• Hospital Eldery Life Program (HELP) volunteer and Team Lead
• Student Government chair of the Subcommittee on Technology, Advising, and Academic Resources (STAAR)
• Kessler Presidential Scholar, program peer mentor, and community service representative
• Ginsberg Social Justice Cord recipient and student advisory board grants committee representative
• Doors of Opportunity Secretary
• America Reads Tutoring Corps
• Barger Leadership Institute Fellow
• Founding member of the Omicron Pi chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi

I am passionate about empowering and equipping high school students as they prepare for college and navigate the college application process. I grew up in a small, rural town in Northern Michigan and I often felt alone, confused, and underprepared when I was going through the college admissions experience. Since then, I've dedicated my educational studies and career to supporting students! I bring both lived experiences, professional work experiences, and extensive research experiences with me into this role. I am a two-time alumna of the University of Michigan where I received both my B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with High Honors and my M.A. in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Access and Success. Following my studies, I worked for two years as an Admissions Officer at U-M and now as an Academic Advisor in our College of Engineering. Outside of work, I love to be outdoors, I love cycling, running, triathlons, and enjoy reading. I can't wait to work with you!