College Admissions Counseling & SAT/ACT Prep

As an independent college admissions counselor, I help school students arrive at a deeper understanding of their authentic interests, values and goals, aid them in finding best fit colleges, and support them as they prepare authentic and impactful applications. I love helping students get in touch with what excites them and then supporting them in bringing those interests to life, both in high school and beyond. I visit around 20-30 colleges each year and regularly speak with admissions officers to learn about the latest trends in admissions.

Through my individualized tutoring, I also help students significantly improve their SAT and ACT test scores. I have extensive experience diagnosing students’ weaknesses, simplifying difficult material, building study skills, motivating students, easing anxiety and instilling confidence.

I have been quoted in US News & World Report, Forbes, New York Post, Business Insider and various other outlets. I hold a Certificate in College Admissions and Career Planning from UC Berkeley and have worked in highly selective college admissions, having evaluated applications for Northeastern University (5.6% acceptance rate). I am a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC), the International Association for College Admission Counseling (International ACAC), the National Test Prep Association (NTPA), and an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). I hold a Ph.D. from Harvard University, where I was recognized with distinction by the Dean of Harvard College for my teaching, and I have also taught at The Dalton School. I have scored in the 99th+ percentile on the SAT and the 99th percentile on the ACT, and I formerly worked as an application essay coach at Prep for Prep, the nation’s premier program for placing gifted students of color in highly selective private schools. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Columbia University, where I have also served as an admissions interviewer.

I also hold Certificates in Mindfulness, Meditation and Stress Management from The City University of New York and am certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Mindfulness can be a powerful tool for reducing test anxiety, improving student focus, creating greater self-awareness around academic, extracurricular, career and college choices and managing the stress of the college admissions process, which is why I often teach these skills as part of my counseling.

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