Villanova University

I am a recent graduate of Princeton University with a bachelor's in English and a certificate in American Studies. During my first year at Princeton, I worked as an English tutor with TutorOut, providing guidance in writing, editing, and reading comprehension to students in China. In the fall of that same year, I co-ran a pro-bono college admissions workshop where I worked with dozens of students to help craft their personal statements and supplemental essays with the goal of expanding accessibility to college mentorship services. Prior to Princeton, I volunteered for four years as a generalized tutor to students aged elementary through high school, working one-on-one and in group settings to foster personal development and academic growth in my underrepresented, rural school district. All of these experiences, along with my own journey coming from a town where less than one-fourth of adults hold a bachelor's degree, have strengthened my interest in admissions advising and promoting access to higher education. I am currently working in attorney development at a top-5 corporate law firm in New York City with hopes of one day attending law school. I have extensive knowledge regarding Pre-Law/Political Science, Arts and Humanities, and Communications and Media Studies. I center my advising around clearly articulating each student's voice and personal brand, using the admissions process as a chance for reflection upon not only each student's achievements and passions, but also upon their unique personal trajectory. The college admissions process is a time filled with possibilities, and my aim is to help each individual student and family realize those possibilities while recognizing the value in all the work they have done to reach this point.

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.

My name is Sara Whitelaw and I am a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. I studied cognitive neuroscience and criminology and completed an honors thesis in my final year surrounding the effects of militarization on protest outcomes. Throughout university, I worked as a research assistant at the Center for Autism Research connected to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, while also being actively involved in student groups on campus. In my free time, I worked as a marketing intern for a woman-owned small business in Philadelphia. I have previous advising experience through working with Matriculate: a non-profit college advising company that helps low-income students and first-generation students apply to successful and financially accessible universities. I loved this experience and cannot wait to continue my advising journey for CollegeAdvisor. I have advised students who were successfully admitted into top programs such as USC's Annenberg School for Journalism & Communication with a full-ride scholarship as well as Stanford University. I look forward to building a connection with eager students excited about the college process!