Boston College

I graduated with my Master's in Higher Education from Boston College Lynch School of Education and I currently work as the Admissions and Recruitment Specialist at the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to receiving my Master's, I worked in Japan for a couple years teaching English to students from ages 2-18. I have also worked for Boston College's TRiO program in supporting first-year, first-gen students in pursuing their interest in research and graduate school and Middlesex Community College Program for Asian American Student Advancement (PAASA) with organizing events for Asian/Asian American students in their academic and career development as a Graduate Assistant. My undergraduate experience at University of Vermont has inspired my interest in working in Higher Ed. As a first-generation, Chinese American, I want to assist and support students on their college process journey.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Boston College, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Student Affairs from Boston College. After graduating with my Bachelor's degree from Boston College in 2015, I began my work in higher education as an Admissions Counselor at Northeastern University where I recruited high school seniors from across the country. I was quickly promoted to Assistant Director of Admissions, and it was in this role that I gained the valuable understanding of how highly selective admissions processes operate. After receiving my Master’s degree, I knew I wanted to be directly supporting students through their college application process, and began my role as an Associate Director of College Counseling at an independent college preparatory school. Having guided over one-hundred students through their application and admissions processes over the past three years, I have a breadth of knowledge that will allow me to best serve you. My first priority is to understand the student - and the experiences, aspirations, and qualities that make you, you. With that knowledge, I will help ensure that you are utilizing your authentic voice to wholly present yourself in your applications. My goal is to empower you through this process - to dig deep and get to know yourself, and to translate that into selecting a college environment that is a best fit for you and will ultimately help you along the path to achieving your goals. I can’t wait to work with you through this process!

I hold a B.A. in Communication from the University of Southern California, as well as minors in Journalism and Film. While at USC, I participated in a variety of research projects, including the Media, Diversity, and Social Change Initiative (MDSCI), which has since been renamed the Inclusionists. I graduated Summa Cum Laude, with additional honors, and a GPA of 3.93. Following a year gap at work, I began studying for an Master's of Science in Global Communication from the London School of Economics and Political Science; I followed this degree with an additional Master's of Arts in Global Media from USC. During this time, I published original research and two dissertations, and volunteered in the admissions office, gaining critical experience needed to navigate the admissions process in high-performing institutions. I completed my graduate education in 2019, shortly before the pandemic, and decided to open my own college advising and academic coaching company. I have had students admitted to Ivies, Stanford, USC, all UCs, and some international schools primarily based in the UK and Europe. I regularly work with my clients not only to determine which schools would be best for their intended major, financial status, and personality, but also work closely to develop a narrative for the admission process. With my guidance, they refine this narrative in their essays, and use a template system for supplemental essays in order to maximize efficiency. My students have applied to majors from business to environmental studies, computer science to theatre, nursing to pre-law. I am an excellent writer and storyteller, with a passion for editing, and the most enjoyable part of my day is hearing from students that they have learned something new about writing during our sessions. It is a joy to work with this generation of students; they are whip-smart, hilarious, and ambitious. I love to bond with them over shared passions, get to know them through in our sessions and through their writing, and refine their skills to become the best writers, storytellers, and students they can be. Although the task of finding and applying to colleges is daunting, I believe that together, in concert with some hard work and a little humor, the process can be as fun as it is challenging.

Meet Alexandra Martinez, a dedicated and passionate Senior Advisor and graduate of Vanderbilt University. Alexandra is not just a professional in her field; she is also a supportive and caring guide who has made a significant impact on the lives of countless students during her time in the advising space. With a degree in Counseling Psychology, Alexandra is well-equipped to provide invaluable guidance to students as they navigate the complex and often daunting college application process. Her strengths include admissions expertise, diverse student support, academic and career guidance. In summary, Alexandra's unique blend of experience in admissions and advising undergraduate international students has provided her with a well-rounded perspective and a rich skill set. Her roles in these areas have made her not only a knowledgeable and effective college advisor but also a bridge for students from diverse backgrounds to access higher education opportunities. Her commitment to their success, combined with her institutional knowledge, is an asset that continues to enrich the university community.

Hello, my name is Roystone Martinez, and I graduated from Boston College in May of 2002 with a Bachelor of Art in Human Development, with a Theater Minor and a Black Studies Concentration. While at BC, I was heavily involved in student affairs, and served as President of the Organization of Latin American Affairs, received the Archbishop Oscar Romero Leadership Scholarship, and worked in the office of undergraduate admission, where I found my passion for this work. I went to Harvard University immediately after undergrad. I obtained a Education Masters in Administration, Planning & Social Policy to explore how colleges can do a better job of recruiting, retaining, and graduating first generation, low-income, students of color. Upon graduation, I entered Higher Ed and worked for several years, serving in roles in admission, student affairs, and first-generation student support. I went back to school and obtained a second Masters of Art in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University. My research focus then was to learn the intricacies of young gay men of color and how schools could serve as safe havens given the proper scaffolds. As a first-generation student who was admitted to several elite institutions with minimal assistance, it is my life’s mission to help students and their families navigate the overwhelming competitive college admissions process.

Hi there! My name is Renee and I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from Northeastern University where I minored in both Business Administration and Social Entrepreneurship. I then furthered my studies at University College London and hold a Master of Arts in Education and International Development. After living and working in Cape Town, South Africa after the completion of my graduate studies, I have spent the past five years with Philadelphia Futures, an organization that provides low-income, first-generation-to-college students with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary for admission to and success in college. Within my role as Senior Coordinator, I advised a caseload of 45 students and their families by sharing tools to help students find their best fit college and create a strong admissions plan. I have led admissions process and programming for these students by planning, executing and tracking all activities related to both their college admissions application and their financial aid application as well. This has included the FAFSA, CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE completion, as well as postsecondary list-building and postsecondary decision-making processes. My previous students have been admitted to a varied and diverse list of mid-range and highly selective institutions, such as Stanford, Penn, Vanderbilt, Boston University, and John Hopkins. I have worked with students who have pursued a degree in a wide range of majors including the Arts and Humanities, Business, and STEM as well. As such, I am well versed in the requirements and expectations of a wide variety of academic disciplines. Looking at my work from a financial aid perspective, I have decreased my students cash gap by an average of $25K or more per student, often to as low as $0. Additionally, I have helped students access and secure an average of $100K in external scholarships as well. As the college admissions landscape is continually shifting, I pride myself in staying up to date on the latest trends and data by attending various professional development opportunities including attending counselor information sessions, well as fly-in events across campuses around the country. I am also a NACAC and PACAC member as a classified independent educational consultant. Within this space, I have stewarded strong relationships with college admissions staff to advocate for my students and their families. Education has the power to be transformative. I know the college admissions process can feel overwhelming, but I’m dedicated to empowering students on their educational journey! I will leave no stone unturned and will provide the necessary expertise to help students live up to their greatest potential!

Hello! My name is Mary Katheryn, and I graduated from Notre Dame with my Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Business Economics. After graduation I worked as a Corporate Recruiter at a tech company before returning to Notre Dame to work as an Admissions Counselor in the Undergraduate Admissions Office. I have 6 years of experience evaluating applications for admission and counseling high school students through the admission process. I'm passionate about access to higher education and helping students find their fit. I know how stressful this process can be for students and parents alike. I have extensive knowledge of highly selective admissions and look forward to taking some of the stress out of college applications!

Hi everyone! My name is Hamsa Shanmugam, and I am a Senior at Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), one of the top BS/MD programs in the country. I am from Hopkinton, MA and am pursuing a double concentration in Health and Human Biology as well as Music. I am deeply passionate about academic mentorship–having been a peer tutor since high school, a college application advisor for the past several years, and an academic peer advisor for the PLME and orientation leader during my time at Brown. At Brown, I am also involved in research, student government, and volunteering with the local Providence community. Outside of classes, I enjoy making music with Brown Bhairavi–the student group I founded for students interested in South Asian classical music–and dancing with Brown Abhinaya, the South Asian classical dance team. As a member of a combined baccalaureate/MD program, I have extensive experience with the college admissions process and, specifically, the admissions process for combined medical programs. I look forward to working with you and supporting you in your college admissions journey!

Greetings! I am a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where I was a Psychology major, African American Studies minor, and a Ronald E. McNair scholar. I earned my Masters in Counseling Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (D.C. campus). For the past 10 years, I have worked in secondary and higher education as both a college access and mental health professional. I spent two years serving in the College Advising Corps at one of North Carolina's largest public high schools and spent a year as the lead Academic and College Advisor at a private International Baccalaureate (IB) academy in Northern Virginia. During my career, I have assisted more than 700 high school students from diverse backgrounds in navigating the college admissions process with acceptances to universities including Yale, Emory, UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech, Duke, John Hopkins, Howard, and many more. Most recently, I spent four years at a liberal arts university in North Carolina serving as an Academic, Financial Aid, Graduate, and Mental Health Counselor where I also assisted undergraduate students in applying to graduate school programs. I am excited to bring a holistic approach to working with you during this critical period in your academic and personal journey, and serve as a dedicated resource to you as you pursue your dreams!