Advisors

Joshua Ford attended UNC-Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain Scholar in the Honors Program. Upon graduating, he received a Fulbright scholarship to study entrepreneurship in Mexico. He spent several years as a management consultant before moving to startups. He previously worked for Candid and Uber before becoming the CEO & Founder of HipTrain. HipTrain was acquired by FORME which Joshua helped bring public on the NASDAQ exchange in April 2023. He now serves as the Global Head of Redesign Health.

As a seasoned college advisor, I bring 3 years of experience guiding students toward their academic and professional goals. My expertise lies in helping individuals navigate the complex college admissions process with a focus on personalized strategies that align with each student's unique strengths and aspirations.

Key Highlights:

🔍 In-Depth Admissions Knowledge: I stay updated on the current trends and prerequisites in college admissions, ensuring my clients receive timely and pertinent guidance.

🌟 Proven Track Record: Over the years, I have successfully assisted numerous students in gaining admission to their dream schools. My approach combines a deep understanding of academic requirements with a keen insight into each student's passions, resulting in tailored and impactful applications.

🤝 Personalized Guidance: I believe in fostering strong, one-on-one relationships with my clients. By getting to know each student on a personal level, I can provide targeted guidance that goes beyond mere academic advice. I am committed to helping students discover their strengths and develop a clear roadmap for achieving their academic and career aspirations.

💡 Holistic Approach: Recognizing that the college journey is not just about academics, I offer holistic support that encompasses personal development, goal setting, and life skills. My goal is to empower students to thrive not only in their academic pursuits but also in all facets of their lives.

🚀 Passion for Empowering Futures: What drives me is the belief that every student has untapped potential waiting to be discovered. Witnessing their growth and success fuels my passion for this work. I am dedicated to empowering each student to take charge of their future and reach heights they may not have thought possible.

My name is Idylla Louis and I will be your advisor. I currently hold my Bachelor's Degree from Providence College and my Master's from Harvard University. Beyond that I have over 5 years' experience in mentoring high school students. My career in education and mentorship began in my undergraduate year with programs at my university that allowed me to connect with students looking for extracurricular opportunities and since then have followed me until my post graduate years. Since receiving my Master's I have pivoted to private sector work, specifically in Private Banking. I have also been working more freely as an educational consultant for k-12 students.

Hello! My name is Heidi McClure and I have spent the last 18 years as a School Counselor, supporting students in grades 6-12. Much of my experience has been as a High School Counselor and College and Career Coordinator, helping students identify and pursue their goals beyond high school. Helping students find, apply, and get into schools that are a great fit for their academic and personal profile has always been my favorite part of my job. I am passionate about supporting students to both identify the best fitting colleges and craft their application story to gain admittance to the school(s) of their choice. I graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Colorado College and hold dual master’s degrees, in School Counseling and School Administration, as well as a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. In addition to having experienced the benefits of both a small, liberal arts college, and a large public university for my own education, I have had the opportunity to visit many colleges both in the United States and abroad. As a result, I am knowledgeable about a wide array of post-secondary opportunities and their application processes. During my time as a School Counselor, I have advised thousands of students through the college search, selection, and application process. I have also had the opportunity to forge relationships with several College Admissions representatives from whom I have gleaned valuable insight about the college admission process. I enjoy being able to share these insights with the students and families that I work with to help as we craft an application strategy. The most important part of the advising process, for me, is ensuring that each student’s unique lived experience is told through the various application components that they submit. As an advisor, I feel successful when a student looks at their application package and sees their voice amplified and their story captured within it. With the increasing complexity of the college admissions and application landscape, the experience that I bring helping students navigate not only the Common Application, but the Coalition, University of California, QuestBridge, and UCAS applications, as well as Apply Texas, ensure students will receive tailored support no matter what schools they ultimately apply to. I recognize that each student has a unique application journey, and I am thrilled to partner with students and their families to understand and applaud the work that you’ve already put in, while crafting a plan and strategy that will help you get where you want to go. It is this level of personalization and my commitment to each student I work with that has helped the students I’ve worked with see extraordinary admissions results. Some of the schools that students I have recently worked with have been accepted to include Princeton, Rice, NYU, Colorado College, Wellesley, Scripps, UCLA, UC-Berkeley, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, University of Michigan, Stanford, and Washington University in St. Louis.

I look forward to getting to know your students and supporting you throughout the college application process!

Hello, my name is Hattie, I am a U.S. Rhodes Scholar and I recently graduated from the University of Oxford with a master’s in politics (comparative government). Before attending Oxford, I graduated summa cum laude from South Dakota State University in 2021 with bachelor’s degrees in political science, global studies, and Spanish, where I was a Fishback Honors College Scholar and received a full scholarship. I also previously served as a fellow to the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship at Princeton University, the U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship in Jordan, and the U.S. Department of State National Security Language Initiative for Youth Program in Morocco. I possess extensive experience as an academic, admissions, scholarship, and career advisor to students. Previously, I advised students applying for national scholarship opportunities such as the Truman, Rhodes, Gilman, and Marshall scholarships. I provided these students with personal statement advice, application editing, objective setting, and interview guidance. During my undergraduate studies, I also served as a peer advisor to first- and second-year students where I supported 50+ students a year in realizing their education and career objectives. Finally, I am a committed peer educator and I hold extensive experience tutoring undergraduate students in Arabic, Spanish, English, statistics, research methods, and other areas within the social sciences. My mission while advising is to help students tell their unique stories and achieve their personal goals. I understand that the college admissions process can be challenging to navigate, and I bring a supportive, adaptable, and optimistic mindset to guide students and their families on the college journey. I am currently working in Geneva while studying for the U.S. Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). My love for international affairs and politics began back home where I was active with the South Dakota World Affairs Council. In my free time, I enjoy drawing, sewing, robotics, reading, and spending time with friends.

I am a proud former first-generation college student who is now a first-generation professional. I have 6+ years of professional experience working with students and their families to navigate the higher education system. I recently (within the last 5 years) obtained a master's degree in education with an emphasis in Student Affairs from UCLA. I attended University of California, Berkeley for my undergraduate education and my major was Psychology with a minor in Chicano Studies. My passion is to assist students and their families on their higher education journey. A skill I feel I have while working with students is truly listening to their wants and needs and adapting my advising from there. I approach my work by honoring my students' lived experiences. On a one-on-one basis I’ve assisted with creating college school lists, academic road mapping, how to choose and change a major, financial aid, and career prep. Outside of student affairs I enjoy reading, cycling, and spending time with my family and friends.

Hi everyone! My name is Anya and I graduated from Johns Hopkins University in May of 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a minor in Leadership Studies. At Hopkins, I was on the varsity women's tennis team, president of my acapella group, and co-president of the student-athlete advisory committee. Additionally, I was a chair in the Johns Hopkins Model United Nations Conference, a sorority sister in Alpha Phi, and in honor societies including the Order of Omega and TriBeta National Biology Honor Society. Finally, I was involved in biomedical research and heavily invested in the college careers of over 50 freshmen as a teaching assistant in courses including introductory chemistry, chemistry lab, and oral presentations. In these positions, I have had the privilege of engaging with students from diverse backgrounds, each with ambitious goals and compelling personal narratives. Having gone through athletic recruitment and both college and medical school applications, I hold a deep appreciation for mentorship and the means through which it facilitates an easier navigation of a convoluted application process. I am so excited to meet our enthusiastic students, help them conquer college applications, and see them achieve their goals!

Zehra is a seasoned college counseling practitioner with over 15 years of international education experience with a Master’s degree in Higher Education. In her last role, she managed the U.S. Department of State EducationUSA college advising program and worked with students from over 20 nationalities with their applications to U.S. universities. Most recently, Zehra served as an External Admissions Reader for UCLA where she evaluated 500 applications. Zehra is a subject matter expert on American college admissions landscape and have helped hundreds of families in their journey of applying to universities, presented workshops in international conferences, visited over 80 U.S. college campuses and presented at several higher education conferences. She is an active member of NACAC, IACAC and IECA. Her favorite part of the application process is helping students prepare college essay drafts and brainstorming fun topics!

Zee Santiago is a Director of FutureReadyNYC Advising in the Office of Postsecondary Readiness for the New York City Department of Education. A proud graduate of New York City Public schools, he has been an educator for a decade and a half. After being awarded a full tuition scholarship through the Posse Foundation, Zee graduated from Trinity College with his Bachelor's in Anthropology, in 2012 he earned his Master's in American Studies while serving his Alma Mater as an Assistant Director of Admissions. Prior to joining the Department of Education, he served as the Director of College Counseling for CollegeBound Initiative at Collegiate Institute for Math and Science in The Bronx. Aiding students to enroll and secure financial aid at a myriad of colleges and universities, Zee Santiago is an active member & former board member of NYSACAC, NECBAC (New England Counselors of Color Bridging Access to College), and a passionate college access professional.

Hello, my name is Yesenia. I was the first in my family to attend college. I went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with a degree in Psychology with a minor in Labor and Workplace Studies. I then earned a Master's Degree from California State University, Long Beach in Counseling - Option in Student Development in Higher Education. I am passionate about helping students with their higher educational goals to ensure they are able to get accepted, attend, and ultimately graduate from college to obtain a fulfilling career. For the past 10 years, I have been working in college access and success programs and have served hundreds of students with their college-going journey! It would be a pleasure and a privilege to support you in your goals. Let's work together to make that goal a reality!

I am a first-generation Latina college graduate and I hold my B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). I have held positions as a College Advisor, Student Services Advisor and Academic Mentor where I have advised students with the college application process in both 1-1 and group settings (virtual and in-person), organized and coordinated college access and leadership workshops to support students and families from diverse backgrounds, and supported with post-secondary education and career planning. As a first-generation student, I was never exposed to resources to support me with the college access process. This taught me how to seek out resources on my own, which supported me throughout my time at university. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I further developed my passion of helping others because I believe everyone should have equitable access to attain higher education. I believe everyone has a unique story to share and with my passion to support and experience in advising students, I am excited to get to hear our students' stories and continue advocating and ensuring students receive the support needed to attain higher education.

Hello! My name is Victoria Li, and I am a current third year student on a five-year BA/MA dual degree studying Education Studies/Social Policy with a minor in Public Policy and Management. My interests particularly lie in finding the intersection between the economic inequities in education, social impact, and business. On campus, I am involved with 180 Degrees Consulting NYU, EmpowerED Consulting, and intramural volleyball. I have been private tutoring in demographics ranging from elementary schools to prospective college students for over 3 years. I have expertise with students interested in business and humanities, essay writing, standardized test prep, career advising, and interview prep. Since high school, I also have had a lot of experience with tutoring international students, particularly helping with college applications and visa complications. I can speak Mandarin, Shanghainese, and English. I got accepted into NYU ED II and Rutgers. Some colleges that my students who I have tutored have gotten into Cornell, Yale, Wellesley, USC, and UCSB.

Higher Education professional dedicated to making sure that all students, no matter their background, race, or socioeconomic status, has access to quality higher education options. Excellent at collaborating with multiple university offices and community organizations to solve problems creatively, while also building lasting relationships. Bringing over 15 years of experience working in college admissions in large state schools and highly selective institutions. Joined college advisor to continue my quest to help students, from any and every background, realize their dream of achieving higher education. Please, come work with me!

Tia D. Rideout is currently an Interim College and Career Counselor. Prior to this, she served as an educator specializing in College and Career Readiness for the School District of Philadelphia. She has over 13 years of experience working as an educator in College Readiness and is perceived as an expert in the Philadelphia area. Through her leadership, Tia headed the #ReachHigherPhilly College Signing Day with ultimately hosting Former First Lady Michelle Obama to host the 2018 National event in Philadelphia. In addition, Tia has led several district college readiness initiatives such as the HBCU College Fair, Step Up to College Pre-College Conference, and the BEYA Conference. Prior to working at the school district, Tia worked as an Intensive Case Manager at CATCH, Inc. serving children and families with severe mental health disabilities. Her passion for serving children runs across the spectrum from womb to workforce. Tia is trained as a childbirth doula and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, working with nonprofit organizations such as Maternity Care Coalition and the Breastfeeding Resource Center. In addition to her professional work, Tia works with various nonprofit organizations such as the F.A.S.T. Foundation, T.W.I.Y.O, Camp Sojourner, the Breastfeeding Resource Center, The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc., and her beloved sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. which is joined as an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania. Tia is a Philadelphia native and a first-generation college graduate. She holds a Master’s degree from Eastern University in Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently working on obtaining a PMP certification. When Tia has downtime, she enjoys life as a foodie and spending time with her beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Classie. With over 13 years of experience working in urban Schools as a College/Career Readiness Specialist.

Tayla is a junior at Michigan Ross pursuing Business Administration and a minor in User Experience (UX) Design, with the goal to work in consulting post-graduation. She is heavily involved with professional business organizations on campus, specifically her business fraternity and professional consulting club. Tayla interned this past summer with United Airlines in Chicago, IL and will be working in consulting this upcoming summer in New York City. Tayla is experienced in essay writing and revisions, activity and extra-curricular selection, and the financial aid/scholarship application process! She currently works on-campus as a student ambassador and career peer coach at the Michigan Ross School of Business Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Hi! My name is Tatiana Diaz. I am a first-generation college student and the first in my extended family to graduate college. Navigating the college application process was a bit daunting when I was in high school, but I was able to use the resources around me, including Upward Bound and GEAR Up to successfully achieve the goals I had set for myself. I am looking forward to working with students and their families as they navigate this process and am very hopeful that I will be able to provide assistance through some of the bumps that might come up along the road. I graduated from UC Irvine where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior and Chicano/Latino Studies with a minor in Education in 2010. In 2014 I graduated from Loyola Marymount University and received my Master’s in Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential. I am now in my tenth year as a high school counselor. I have had the pleasure of guiding and educating many students about their college, career, and financial aid options during their high school years. I very much look forward to working with you and continuing to learn with you!

Languages spoken: English and Spanish

Hey! My name is Talya, and I am a recent graduate of Pitzer College in Claremont, California where I majored in Sociology. Here, I worked as a Head Writing Fellow at Pitzer College’s Writing Center for the past three years. In this position I assisted students at all levels of writing, ranging from first-year assignments to senior theses and graduate school applications. I have also supported the application process for numerous students who were accepted to prestigious fellowships like Fulbright, Watson, Truman, and Melon Mays. As an advisor, I combine my love for storytelling and conversation with my keen editorial eye, and sense of humor to support students in achieving their personal and educational goals. I approach advising with an open mind, understanding that each student has different strengths. I am committed to reducing stress, making this process more accessible, and helping students develop confidence in themselves. While I majored in sociology, my interests include psychology, public health, politics, and history and I am excited to work with students from a myriad of educational interests. I love learning, especially with and from my students. In my free time, you can find me learning how to rock climb, throwing dinner parties with friends, and taking walks by the ocean.

Hello! My name is Sydney, and I am a proud Midwest native, first-generation college student, and Tar Heel! I received a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) from Duke University. As a high school senior, I was accepted into all 13 schools I applied to and I earned over $1.7 million in college scholarships, including the prestigious national Gates Millennium Scholarship and Morehead-Cain Scholarship at UNC. Along with being a Senior Advisor with CollegeAdvisor.com, I am also a Webinar Moderator. I used my undergraduate experience as a time to explore different subject areas. I entered college with the hopes of attending veterinary school, so I am familiar with pre-health tracks and requirements. During a required introductory computer science class, I fell in love with programming and ended up pursuing a minor in Computer Science and working as a Teaching Assistant for several semesters. I also earned a minor in Education because of my passion for educational equity and access. Outside of my academics, I played club rugby and acted in Company Carolina productions. After graduating in December 2020, I applied to a variety of marine and environmental science graduate programs at schools like Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and University of Miami. I ultimately decided to go back to North Carolina where I pursued a Master of Environmental Science with a specialization in Coastal Environmental Management at the Duke University Marine Lab. My Master's Project compiled community art projects and individuals' creative representations of the word "entanglement" for a digital zine. I also have experience with research, as I have traveled to places like the Galapagos and Australia to work in the field on a range of research projects. Currently, I have a science communications fellowship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). I am excited to work alongside students to showcase their authentic self to colleges and can't wait to see all of the amazing schools they are accepted to!

Over 20 years ago I began my career as a college admission professional in upstate NY. Since then, I have worked in undergraduate and graduate admissions for seven public and private colleges in New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. I've worked for a small liberal arts college with fewer than 1,00 students, a large public with over 10,000 students, and a top 25 research institution. I understand the admissions process and aim to make it less intimidating for my students. I also spent five years as Senior Manager for a national internship program where I recruited college students from 200+ institutions across the country. I became more familiar with students from many schools and visited over 50 campuses. My students interned with media companies like ESPN, HBO, NFL, CBS, Paramount and many others. That experience led me to author my first book, The Internship Manual: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Internship of Your Dreams. I enjoy the process of working with students and helping them navigate the admissions process! I've done thousands of admissions interviews and read countless admissions applications. I hold an M.S in Professional Writing from Towson University so you might have guessed, essays are my jam. Let's get to work!

Scott Wilson is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA, 2012) and the University of California, Los Angeles (M. Ed, 2015). For the better part of a decade, Scott has been committed to helping both students and professionals pursue their next steps. Scott brings breadth and depth when advising high school students and their families as he's worked in high school, university, and corporate settings. Scott's admission experience includes over six years at UCLA, the nation's top-ranked public institution and most-applied to institution, as a Senior Assistant Director on the high school recruitment team. He presented to and counseled thousands of students and families through the UC application process throughout the country, but predominantly worked with families in California, New York and New Jersey. He has reviewed thousands of applications for admission to UCLA (first-year, international, and transfer) across all majors and continues to review applications for the University. Additionally, Scott worked as a Technical Recruiter at Meta (formerly Facebook) on their Emerging Talent team, working to bring the world's top up and coming software engineering talent to the company. Scott's goal is to make sure students and families have a clear understanding of the college admissions process, turn what seems like a daunting application process into a story telling opportunity, and provide expertise to help students achieve their short and long-term goals.

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!