University of California – Los Angeles

As a proud first-generation college graduate from UCLA with a B.A. in Sociology and a background in psychology and anthropology, I know firsthand how daunting the college application process can be. Now pursuing my Master’s in Counseling, I’m here to help ease the anxieties that come with this pivotal moment, guiding students every step of the way and ensuring both they and their families feel supported. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of seniors and their families throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. My students have been accepted into top universities across California and the U.S., many earning prestigious scholarships like QuestBridge and Posse. I also have extensive knowledge of financial aid, scholarships, and the overall senior year timeline, helping students and parents navigate the process with confidence. I specialize in college platforms like the UC App, CSU App, Common App, and the Common Black App, and I love helping students explore majors and careers, research and create college wishlists, and craft standout resumes and brag sheets. Whether it’s brainstorming essay ideas or polishing a personal statement, I’m excited to help students discover their strengths and present their best selves. Outside of work, I’m a huge animal lover with three dogs. I also love to travel, catch up on my favorite TV series, exercise, read, and hang out with friends. My goal is to make this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible, helping you transition into this next chapter with ease.

As a recent first-generation graduate and regents scholar at UC Berkeley, I can still remember how nervous I was for my first college admissions cycle. In 2020, I joined Matriculate with the hope of improving this experience for others, eventually mentoring over 120 high school students while managing a cohort of 60 college advisors. Through CollegeAdvisor, I have learned even more about supporting students towards their dream schools, while advocating for increased transparency and equity in the college admissions system. From conversations with many college admissions offices, I understand that colleges are not searching for the perfect student, but rather one that is able to articulate their story. My role as an advisor is to help students build this narrative by embracing their unique perspective and experiences, which I promise every student has! My previous students have been admitted to a wide range of schools including highly selective institutions, such as Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, and UC Berkeley. Currently, I work as a Research Analyst for LAVCA based in New York, where I cover investment/development projects in Latin American markets. During my time at UC Berkeley, I had the opportunity to study abroad for nearly a year in Chile, which led to my current career as an analyst. In my free time, I love performing at open mics, trying new dance classes, and spending time with my cats. Please reach out if you have any questions about anything I've mentioned here or would like to know more about my advising background, I'm always happy to chat!

I have a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Berkeley. More specifically, my degree is from the College of Natural Resources. I majored in Conservation and Resource Studies with a concentration in Climate Science under the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management department. As an undergraduate student I was a Program Facilitator at the Lawrence Hall of Science and I interned for the National Science Foundation, performing climate science research in conjunction with meteorology and ecological anthropology faculty at Penn State. In addition to this, I worked part-time for a bay area nonprofit focused on the conservation of California's old growth forests. After graduating in 2021, I decided to go in a different direction than my field of study. I accepted a role as a corporate recruiter for the top data science and analytics recruitment firm in San Francisco. I quickly promoted to Senior Consultant, but confirmed my suspicion that corporate life was not aligned with my interests. As a result, I left this position and became an independent contractor. I find working with students in an advising capacity fulfilling, because I know the impact high-level support can have on a student's journey through the application process. I vividly remember how important acceptance into a fitting program felt when I was in that stage of life, so I have a lot of empathy for students who are currently applying to universities. I understand the path is not always straight forward or easy. I pride myself in my attention to detail and my wide range of knowledge. Over the past eight years I've developed a significant level of expertise in regard to recruitment trends and process, and I've developed unique insights from both personal and professional experience.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University with a B.A. in Environmental Sciences & Policy and Sociology, the latter with distinction for researching and defending my undergraduate thesis and with a concentration in the Sociology of Work and Organizations. I was part of a plethora of organizations while in college, such as being a member of Business Oriented Women, a teaching assistant for Duke's Social Marketing class, and a marketing coordinator for a civic engagement program for Duke and Stanford student-athletes. Outside of Duke, I also took accounting classes at Foothill College and plan to sit for the CPA exam next year. During my time at Duke, I advised college-aged peers and students as an alum of my high school's Women in Leadership class on landing finance internships, resume building, interview prep, and more. In high school, I was a writing tutor and helped seniors and juniors sharpen their personal statements and supplement essays. I have a lot of experience as a peer editor and reader, and also assisted my younger sibling and cousins on their college applications. I have a widely adaptable approach to advising and am quick to pivot to ensure that any student's needs are met and exceeded. I take pride in my research skills as well as my writing/reviewing abilities. I had a whirlwind of an experience while applying to college, having applied to over 20 schools and being accepted to all but 2. Yet, the most memorable part of the process for me was being able to give back and help my peers achieve success. My goal is to ensure that a holistic, impactful picture of any student is aptly conveyed through writing and, more importantly, to make the college application and advising process as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Currently, I am a Global Banking & Markets Analyst at a financial firm in New York City. I also plan to apply to JD/MBA programs in the coming years to further my passion for law and business. My passion for advising and education stems back to my childhood, not only from being inspired by my mother's experience as an FGLI student who pushed herself to earn her Bachelor's degree and MBA on her own, but also by being able to tutor and help my younger brother on his journey to college. Outside of my career, I love photography, hiking, and running my music blog.

From the rural city of Taishan, China, to a low-income suburban town in Idaho, and finally to the metropolis of Los Angeles, I recently graduated from the Honors College at UCLA with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a Specialization in Computing. During my time at UCLA, I served as an advisor, head advisor, and national advisor for Matriculate, where I guided low-income, high-achieving high school students into their top-choice universities. I was also actively involved on campus as the assistant managing editor of UCLA's Undergraduate Science Journal, where I edited undergraduate research papers for publication. My academic journey included conducting research in a comparative cognition lab and an organic chemistry lab, working as an ophthalmic technician and caretaker, and student supervising a campus library. Beyond academics, I embrace life by engaging in outdoor activities like hiking and skiing, and exploring diverse cultures in Canada, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and China. I'm an avid binge-watcher, and you'll often find me rewatching Stranger Things or Harry Potter, or in the movie theater critiquing the latest movie. I'm currently in my concert era, having recently attended the Jingle Ball, Hozier, TwoSet Violin, Stephen Sanchez, TWICE, and Meghan Trainor concerts. My most favorite activity of all is creating unforgettable memories with my friends (and loving my cat). I have experience working with students interested in dentistry, law, public affairs, engineering, and have a strong understanding of the pre-medical track. My mission as an advisor is to help students authentically present themselves to admissions officers, ensuring their true selves shine through in their applications. I understand that the college application process can be overwhelming, but with a confident mindset and a personalized approach, it can become an exciting new chapter in life. Currently, I am preparing for the MCAT with the goal of applying to medical school in the next application cycle. My passion for education stems from my experience growing up as a low-income student in a public school system where higher education was not emphasized. I aim to show my community and others that the pursuit of higher education is within everyone's reach, and that anyone can chart their own path to success.

In terms of my educational background, I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Later, I became a double Bruin, and received a Master of Arts degree in Asian American Studies. Recently, I completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at New York University (NYU) in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Fiction. Between my undergraduate career and graduate career, I gained nine years of professional experience in Student Affairs at UCLA – serving in different capacities at the Student Retention Center. During my first three years, I was the Project Coordinator of the Southeast Asian retention project (SEA CLEAR), a program that provides peer counseling, skill-building workshops, and mentorship opportunities to support underserved students. In this role, I helped students with strategic course planning, goal setting, and campus resource referrals. In the following three years, I served as the Program Manager of the UCLA Writing Success Program (WSP). WSP provides 1-on-1 counseling to help undergraduates brainstorm and revise academic essays, graduate admissions materials, scholarship materials, and job applications. My experience in both roles led to my promotion to the Retention Advisor position from 2017-2020. As Retention Advisor, I supervised the overall operations of the UCLA Student Retention Center, including its seven retention programs, study hall services, and campus wide events. Over the years, I have interacted with hundreds of students, administrators, faculty, and community members, which allows me to work with people of diverse ages and backgrounds. Following my nine years in Student Affairs, I continued to gain experience in writing instruction during my time as a graduate student in UCLA’s Asian American Studies Master’s program, where I worked as a Teaching Assistant (T.A.) during the 2021-2022 academic year. I was assigned to the Asian American Studies writing courses and taught a weekly discussion section focused on developing writing skills and helping students critically discuss classroom material. During my time in the MFA program at NYU from 2022-2024, I worked as a Graduate Assistant at NYU’s Preprofessional Advising Center, which helped me gain familiarity with the academic support structure at NYU. In this capacity, I gained experience working with pre-med and Post-baccalaureate students. In addition, I taught an undergraduate introductory course to poetry and prose, which has given me exposure to syllabus planning, undergraduate instruction, and administrative tasks as it pertains to classroom upkeep.

Throughout my education, I have worked as a freelance tutor, guiding students in reading, writing, SAT Verbal preparation, and college admissions essays.

Hi! I’m Adonis, a 3rd-year PhD student studying Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine. I graduated from Stanford in 2021 with a degree in Biology, focusing on microbes and immunity. Initially, I entered college as a pre-med student and completed the first two years of pre-med coursework before discovering my passion for biomedical sciences and deciding to pursue a PhD. Throughout my undergraduate years, I conducted research on viruses and vaccines at renowned institutions, including Stanford, the Pasteur Institute in France, the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub in San Francisco, and Genentech. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of the field and a global perspective on biomedical research. Before joining CollegeAdvisor, I worked at CollegeVine for two years, where I helped students secure admissions to prestigious schools like Stanford, Brown, and UC Berkeley. I’m here to answer your questions about the college application process, campus life, interviews, internships, studying abroad, and more. I’m excited to meet you all and am committed to being highly accessible as we work together to find your dream school!

I am a higher education professional with over 10 years of experience specializing in college access, counseling, student services, and academic advising. In addition to my contributions to the positive learning outcomes of my immediate community, I am a lifelong advocate for the betterment of all youth. Above all, I consider myself a servant to young people everywhere. I have made a career in counseling high-achieving youth nationwide and currently serve as College Access Manager at Thrive Scholars. I am passionate about coaching and supporting young people through the application process, from building a college list to reviewing financial aid award letters to helping young people and their families decide where they will go next. I am a coach and use my managerial experience to build character and set high expectations for all my clients. I am a trained historian and often seek opportunities to create dialogue and share ideas in education, contemporary politics, popular culture, and music. Last but certainly not least, I am a musician with 15 years of experience producing and performing. I believe in using technology to build well-informed communities. I invite all art-medium creatives, future healthcare professionals, and potential clients interested in humanities to consider working with me to build a spectacular college application.

A Duke honors grad with neuroscience training from Stanford, I help leaders thrive in our changing world. I started my career in global education over a decade ago and have been publicly recognized by Melinda Gates and 4x NYT bestselling author Marianne Williamson for my work in education and whole-person development. My training, knowledge, and professional experience across marketing, education, and coaching make me a highly insightful, innovative, and integrative college advisor. Prior to CollegeAdvisor, I worked as an advisor in a small college advising firm, working with over 20 students on a team of advisors. Our students received admissions from Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Northwestern, Duke, Dartmouth, Berkeley, and MIT. I was lucky to learn the ropes from former Stanford admissions directors; entrusted with each student's applications and resumes, I realized I had a talent for showing what was unique about each student. I have become a sought-after essay advisor since. I help students get an edge in college admissions while enjoying the process and growing as a person. My students note how I help them succeed as themselves rather than striving for someone else's notion of "success" at their own long-term expense. This means that I work best with families who are interested in helping their student discover and unfold their whole selves and willing to do the challenging inner work that can entail. I'm interested in what makes you different! Fun fact: I have been fortunate to continue my involvement in higher education long after graduating. I have spoken at Duke, NYU, and Harvard conferences, served as a staff and alum career coach at UC Berkeley and Duke University, and am also a fractional executive coach to higher education professionals. These engagements give me another view into colleges and their evolving priorities. As an advisor, I am energetic, insightful, compassionate, entertaining, and rigorous. If you are willing to be seen, heard, challenged, and emboldened through the college application process, then you've found the right person. I hope I will shape your experience to be one where you can reach your goals, find your place in the world, and honor your humanity and inherent value.