University of California – San Diego

Darleene is a graduate student at Columbia University studying Population and Family Health with a certificate in epidemiology. She graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Molecular Cell Biology, specifically in Cell Development and Physiology and Public Health,with an emphasis on maternal, child, and adolescent health. She has worked with the UC Berkeley Undergraduate Admissions Office and the School of Public Health, supporting traditional, transfer, and first-generation students. In her undergraduate career, she has held research positions at UCSF, UC Berkeley, and Stanford, doing both qualitative and quantitative work, including clinical, wet-lab, community-based participatory action (CBPR) and computational research.

She also has experience with curriculum planning, choosing or changing majors, finding research opportunities, and applying to graduate school. Many of the students she has worked with in the past have had aspirations to develop their professional and academic STEM careers. Her expertise lies in helping students amplify their authentic voices and develop passion projects. She hopes to be a supportive player in your college admission journey to make the process less daunting and set you up for success once you arrive on campus!

Hello! My name is Edwin. I hold a bachelor's degree in Political Science from UC San Diego and a master's degree in Higher Education Administration and Policy from UC Riverside. Since 2018, I’ve worked extensively with high school students on the college application process, guiding them in selecting schools that align with their unique goals and expectations. My support includes creating personalized reach, target, and safety school lists, as well as reviewing and providing feedback on over 10,000 college essays.

Drawing on my experience as a former Admissions Officer at UC San Diego, I bring a deep understanding of the University of California admissions process and a student-centered approach to every application journey.

I am a California college admissions expert and pre-law mentor with over seven years of experience helping students gain admission to top UC, CSU, and private colleges across the state. Whether you're aiming for UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Cal Poly SLO, USC, or any other competitive school in California, I know exactly what it takes to stand out. As a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC) and a current law student, I specialize in guiding students through the highly competitive UC and CSU admissions process and helping those interested in law careers build a strong undergraduate foundation for law school success. I’ve mentored students into nearly every UC and CSU, teaching them how to craft compelling personal statements, strengthen their extracurricular profiles, and present applications that catch the attention of admissions officers. My approach is highly strategic—I don’t just help students meet admissions requirements; I teach them how to differentiate themselves in one of the most competitive college landscapes in the country. Beyond admissions advising, I specialize in essay writing, extracurricular development, and strategic application planning, ensuring students present themselves as standout candidates. I know what makes an application memorable, persuasive, and competitive, and I work tirelessly to help students maximize their chances of getting into their dream schools. As a law student focusing on business law, employment law, and trial advocacy, I also provide specialized guidance for students considering pre-law, political science, or legal careers. Whether you want to attend a top California college or build the strongest possible application for law school, I’ll help you craft a path that sets you up for success.

When I’m not working with students or immersed in my legal studies, you’ll find me taking my dog to the dog park, watching baseball or football, playing CATAN, or diving into a legal textbook.

Let’s work together to build a standout application and get you into the school where you belong!

I earned my B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and my M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California (USC). My passion for education and student support led me to a career where I guide students through the exciting yet often overwhelming college application process. Currently, I work as a College Bound Academic Advisor with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast. In this role, I support students from diverse backgrounds by helping them explore their educational and career goals, build confidence, and navigate the path to higher education. I assist students with researching colleges, creating school lists, writing personal statements, preparing for interviews, and understanding financial aid. I also guide students through completing the FAFSA, applying for scholarships, and reviewing financial aid offers. One of my proudest moments was helping a high school senior overcome personal and academic challenges to apply to top-tier universities and competitive programs. Seeing my students gain confidence and celebrate their successes, including acceptances to schools such as the University of California campuses, Princeton, and other prestigious institutions, is what motivates me every day. As a former transfer student, I understand the challenges and opportunities students face as they transition into higher education. I use my experiences to create an empathetic, encouraging, and supportive environment for every student I work with.

I am passionate about helping students and their families feel confident throughout the college application process. This is a pivotal time in a student’s life, and I strive to make the journey exciting, empowering, and successful. I look forward to working together to achieve your college goals!

Hi! My name is Cadence and I am graduating this year from the University of California San Diego with my Bachelor of Science in Molecular Synthesis. At UCSD I have been very involved in biomedical research at the School of Medicine, worked with students as a private tutor for math and chemistry, and worked on the board of officers for the archery team. I aspire to become a physician-scientist with an MD, and PhD and will begin applying to medical school this spring. I have extensive experience in standardized test prep and got a 95th percentile score on my MCAT. I first started working with CollegeAdvisor.com as a high school student when I was applying to schools and was thrilled with my experience as a client. It was through this process I learned the value of having someone knowledgeable to help you through the complicated process and I wanted to give back to students that were once in my shoes.

I know how hard it can be to navigate science and medicine in high school and college, and I am passionate about guiding other high school students and helping them explore and pursue different routes in medicine and STEM.

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.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with over 10 years of experience in higher education and specialization in International Education, supporting and guiding international students. My professional journey has taken me through various roles at UBC and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where I have developed a robust expertise advising and guiding a diverse group of students for admissions and study abroad. As a first-generational transfer student, my career is defined by a deep passion for fostering global perspectives and supporting students through the admissions process. Having worked top international schools, my experiences shaped my understanding of diverse educational systems and cultural contexts. I am dedicated to helping students navigate the complexities of the application process. I enjoy spending quality time with my family, trying out different cuisines and traveling around the world! I have previously visited, Ireland, UK, Spain, France, Portugal, Philippines and hope to add more to the list soon! In my spare time, I find joy in finding gems at the thrift store and exploring local coffee shops. Overall, my approach to guide and support is rooted in a genuine passion for global education and a student-centered philosophy. The college admissions process is a transformative journey, and my goal is to guide students through this pivotal time with clarity and confidence. I am dedicated to helping students find environments where they can thrive academically and personally, and I am committed to providing the tools and support they need to present their best selves. Together, we will craft compelling applications and open doors to exciting opportunities, ensuring a fulfilling and successful admissions experience!

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.