Advisors

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.

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!

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!

I hold my Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University where I majored in Secondary English Education. Upon graduating I was selected to serve as a 2010 Teach For America Corps Member Teaching Middle School English in Houston, TX. After completion of my teaching requirements, I stayed within my placement school and moved into the college initiatives team specializing in personal statement development and ACT/SAT test prep. Upon returning to my hometown of Chicago, I continued working within the college admissions sector. I served as a program director within a local nonprofit organization providing college access and success programming that included building college lists, personal statement essay support, test prep, career exploration and development, application and financial aid/scholarship submission. Most recently, I worked as a college advisor for academically ambitious students throughout the entirety of the application process, including interview preparation for some of the top universities. As an educator and college advisor, I have worked with students who have major(ed) in Business and Entrepreneurship, Education, Pre-Health and Sciences, Engineering, Psychology, and more. With 12 years of experience within the education sector, I can provide the support and knowledge to help navigate the college application and selection process. I am passionate about providing a holistic approach to college counseling to include identifying best fit schools in which a student is going to feel academically challenged, successful, supported and happy. I specialize in working with each student's unique goals and work in partnership to provide the support and encouragement to ensure those goals are met. I believe in ensuring that students are able to have a safe space to work through the application process and a healthy mindset to achieve the goals set forth.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Michigan – Go Heels & Go Blue!! After graduating from UNC, I started my career as a college advisor where I helped guide students through the college application process, both in-person and virtually. As a first-generation college student, I am passionate about ensuring that students feel supported, uplifted, and encouraged through the college application process. I enjoy helping students craft their story to allow their strengths, their passions, and their authentic selves to shine in college applications. During my time as an advisor, I have had the honor of successfully advising students who have been accepted into top colleges and Ivy League schools across the US. Throughout my professional career I have gained experience as a College Advisor, an MBA student, a digital marketer, and a product manager. Understanding the importance of exploring your passions and pursuing your interests, I have had the opportunity to pivot and explore different opportunities – and I want to encourage you to also explore different pathways as you begin your college journey! The college application process doesn’t have to be stressful – I look forward to working with you to find colleges that are the best fit, craft your essays, and submit strong applications that you are proud of… and ensuring that we have fun along the way!

Like many residents of Washington Heights, I was born to immigrant parents who came here with nothing and had limited options. I am family-oriented, an advisor, a leader, and passionate about what I do. I have been a college advisor for the past 5 years. Within this position, I have been able to advise students at such a pivotal point in their lives where I am able to guide them towards a better future, whether it be college, trade school, work, or even building some post-secondary plan. I graduated with my Master's in Higher Education and Student Affairs from NYU Steinhardt, hoping to push further to become the best version of myself and continue advising students toward a better future. This expedition was not only for me but for others to see that it is possible, underserved students need representation. One must know that no one can stop you from achieving your goals but yourself.

Hello! My name is Persis and I am a senior at Princeton University studying neuropsychology, with a minor in African-American studies. As a first-generation college student from an underprivileged background, I am passionate about college access. I was accepted into prestigious summer programs and colleges, and earned over 1.5 million dollars in scholarships. Over the past four years, I have helped students get accepted into Yale, Princeton, Bates, and George Washington, among others. I assist students throughout the entire college process: researching schools, writing essays, finding recommenders, applying for scholarships, and choosing programs. Most notably, I have helped many students get full-tuition scholarships to their dream schools. You don’t need to be a prodigy, valedictorian, or class president to enter your target program! Nor do you need to be highly connected or wealthy. I empower my students to highlight the skills and experiences they already have, to show their unique value in their applications. In college, I started off pre-med, conducting and publishing neuroscience research. I was interested in marketing, and was selected from externships at Google and P&G. Now, I am pursuing a career in private equity and have had prestigious internships on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley. I have a hybrid of experiences that I can pull from to advise you. I’m excited to work with you!

Hello, my name is Nikki. I graduated from Brown University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, which I am very proud of as a first-generation college student from the Rio Grande Valley in TX! At Brown, I was part of 2 different engineering research labs and worked a part-time job as a barista at the cafe in the engineering building. After graduating from Brown, I joined Teach For America and taught 8th grade math for 2 years. Now, I am a College Counselor at a charter school in Houston, TX. I walk students step-by-step through the college admissions process from building a college list to helping them understand their financial aid packages. I love having the opportunity to serve students whose shoes I was once in and show them the patience and kindness needed through the admissions process. I particularly enjoy getting to know students personally and finding the best way to help them tell their story in their application. I look forward to doing the same with my advisees and being a support for you in your journey to college!

I am an educator with over fifteen years of experience working with diverse students in a range of educational settings. I hold a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University in Sociology and Chicana/o Studies, where I graduated with honors and a Presidential Citation. After graduation, I participated in an AmeriCorps volunteer program at a K-12 school on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. In 2012, I earned a M.A. in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University, while working for a California Student Opportunity & Access Program at a high school in San Francisco's Mission District. Over the past ten years, I provided both hands-on advising, developed programming, and led strategic initiatives to support students throughout Southern California as they explore, identify, and apply to educational options that are a fit for their unique interests, needs, and goals. I approach my work with students with curiosity and care, ensuring that the college application process is accessible, empowering, and exciting.

Hello, I'm Nick, a Mechanical Engineer with a B.S. degree from Lehigh University (2022), currently working in the Defense Industry. As a former Teaching Assistant in various engineering courses during my time at Lehigh, I honed my skills troubleshooting technical problems, and assisting students in developing their own skills at the dawn of their engineering journeys! Growing up in Brazil and Uruguay, I've navigated the challenges of international transitions. Serving as an International Orientation Leader at Lehigh, I've had experience guiding students at the beginning of their academic journeys. Having been on both sides of the student experience, I offer a unique perspective to my advising role. I am a passionate person, seeking to fully immerse myself in whatever I do, whether parachuting off bridges or strategically maximizing tax deductions! I enjoy taking life by the horns take pride in devoting myself to whatever piques my interest. Whether you're excited about your path or still exploring, I'm here offering guidance and support! Thank you for considering me as your advisor. I'm excited to embark on this journey with you, offering insights, guidance, and a personalized approach to help you achieve your academic and personal goals.

As a first-generation college student, I understand how daunting the college admissions process may seem to those who have no experience with it. Despite the challenges I encountered, I was admitted to every college I applied to and learned how the process works along the way. I bring my past advising experiences helping students draft and write essays, create college application plans, and manage their time to my role as an Advisor. The pride in seeing my students succeed makes me excited to help you on your journey to college. I believe that behind every successful student there are individuals who have helped them find and express their voice, and I can’t wait to work with you to accomplish this!

Hello and welcome! I'm Natalie, a dedicated Senior Advisor with a passion for guiding students through the transformative journey of higher education. I graduated from Johns Hopkins University in May 2023 and currently hold a full-time position at Emory University, where I continue to learn more about the academic world. My journey in advising high school students began in the summer of 2020 when I, alongside fellow alumni from my high school, founded Brentwood Alumni College Coaches. This initiative was born out of our shared recognition of the need for personalized support in the college admissions process within the Brentwood Free Union Free School District in Brentwood, NY. As a first-generation, low-income college student myself, I deeply understand the challenges of navigating this crucial phase without adequate guidance. During this program, I had the privilege of mentoring two students who successfully enrolled in Johns Hopkins University and Stony Brook University. Inspired by this experience, I joined Matriculate during my undergraduate years, a national nonprofit organization that virtually connects high-achieving, low-income juniors and seniors with highly-trained undergraduate advisors. My role as an Advising Fellow allowed me to empower students to attend colleges where they would thrive, such as New York University and Cornell University. In addition to advising, I took on the responsibility of a Working Group Lead, facilitating monthly meetings to discuss the college advising process and the Matriculate curriculum with my peers. One of the aspects of my approach to advising is the incorporation of personal experiences, drawing not only from my journey but also from the diverse experiences of my peers. I believe in providing students with real-life accounts of college life, sharing insights into what I wish I had known during the admissions process, and offering guidance on optimizing both the admissions process and the overall college experience. My commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of students extends beyond the technicalities of college admissions. I find immense joy in assisting students in realizing their full potential, fostering a supportive environment that goes beyond academics to encompass personal growth and fulfillment. I look forward to working with you and helping you navigate the exciting path that lies ahead in your academic journey. Let's embark on this adventure together!

Hi! My name is Nannette Beckley, and I’m super excited to work with you! I recently graduated from Princeton University in May of 2023 with a B.A. in the School of Public and International Affairs and earned a certificate (minor) in Global Health & Health Policy. As a student, I participated in several organizations, including Matriculate, a college access program. Through my work as an Advising Fellow for Matriculate, I gained several years of experience advising high-achieving, lower-income students on the college application and financial aid process. I am also a member of the AP Alumni Council through the College Board. I enjoy helping students form their college lists and reviewing students’ essays. Outside of CollegeAdvisor, I serve as a Research Associate at NORC at the University of Chicago in their health-adjacent departments.

I look forward to guiding you through the long, complicated, but fulfilling college admissions process!

I have worked with students full-time for over 7 years and worked with high school students part-time for over 2 years in my undergraduate career. At Mays Business School, I had the pleasure to advise and mentor students who are part of the Regents’ Ambassador First-Gen Scholars Program, a program of approximately 250 freshmen through senior year first generation college students with high financial need. I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with the Office of Admissions Regional Prospective Student Centers to recruit students throughout the state of Texas including Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Laredo, San Antonio, Austin, and the Rio Grande Valley. Before my current role, I served as a College Access Advisor at Aldine Senior High School, a Title 1 school in North Houston. At Aldine, I advised 700 high school seniors through the college application and matriculation process utilizing programs such as Apply TX, Common App, FAFSA, and TASFA and approximately 600 juniors on the college application process including finding best-fit, SAT/ACT preparation, scholarship applications, and career guidance. I am currently a College and Career Readiness Advisor for Houston ISD where I have advised over 300 students in the college application and financial aid process. One of my greatest strengths is having experience with students both in the secondary and post-secondary level with assistance in the financial aid application process. I am passionate about helping students reach their college and career goals.

I hold over 6 years of higher education administration experience advising students on their educational and academic pursuits. I obtained my B.S. in 2017 from Bowling Green State University where I received a 4-year full-ride scholarship. I graduated from Michigan State University with my master's in Education Administration in 2019. As a higher education professional, I strive to remove barriers to education and provide support to students from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. I believe that having access to affordable higher education is an amazing avenue to pursue, and an opportunity everyone should be able to access affordably. I have experience advising a diverse array of students from many different institution types and love connecting with students holistically and providing them support and resources to best reach their collegiate goals. As an educator the driving force behind my advising style is to provide guidance and support as well as getting to know my student goals, values, and priorities to help them make decisions best suited for their situation. My time in higher education has allowed me to gain a great understanding around academic requirements, extracurricular activities, and institution types. I am always excited to learn about the experiences that have shaped students and how they want to make their impact on the world. I am very skilled in assisting students in finding out what it is they value and how they want to "share their story" with higher education institutions. I know the application process and the search for the right school can feel daunting and overwhelming at times, but I know from experience with the right support it can be incredibly rewarding and exciting as well!

I am a first generation, low income student and I have a bachelors degree in Human Services from Western Washington University. I started my higher education career as a student worker with Western Washington University where I worked as a Tour Guide, was the Admissions Office Transfer Days and Personal Visits Manager, worked with the WWU Donor Foundation as a Student Ambassador, and was a Student Staff Manager for our Alumni Association. During this time I had so many opportunities to learn about the different sides and facets of higher education and really fell in love with Admissions. When I graduated from WWU in 2017, I was hired as an Admissions Officer for Vanderbilt University where I got the opportunity to learn the parts of a highly selective admissions process. Currently I work with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology where I help setup, oversee and support all of our dual enrollment programs within Metro Nashville Public Schools. Through all of my jobs at these various colleges and universities, I have had the opportunity to learn so much about the industry and how I can support students in whatever their journey is from a technical education, to a mid-size liberal arts state school, to a highly selective, top 20 university. My approach to student support is to listen to them first and really learn what their main priorities are and hear what their goals are. Once these are identified, I can help guide students with my knowledge of the admissions process. The college admissions process is such an exciting time, and while it can feel daunting when students focus on what all they HAVE to do, then they also get to learn about what they will GET to do and there's something so special about that!

I am an international student from Nairobi, Kenya, who embarked on an academic journey at the Claremont Colleges in California. My undergraduate pursuit led me to Biochemistry, with a strong focus on premed and leadership studies, until a pivotal moment during my senior year when I decided to shift my focus toward Cosmetic Chemistry combined with Marketing—a unique trajectory I aim to pursue at the graduate degree level. In addition to my academic journey, I have actively contributed to the field of college advising. Working and interning at a college advising firm in Nairobi, I have played a pivotal role in guiding fellow students through the intricate process of applying to international schools and navigating the complexities of securing financial aid. My distinct perspective as an international student has provided invaluable insights to assist others in achieving their educational aspirations.

I graduated from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor with a High Distinction Honors B.S. in Computer Science. I applied my education to a successful career in Information Technology Consulting at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) and Strategic Management Consulting at Deloitte and Touche (now Deloitte). Following my consulting career, I took years off to be a stay-at-home mom of my four children. As my oldest was applying to college, I became fascinated in and took a deep dive into the college application process. With my depth and breadth of information, I have worked as a CBO College Counselor for the past 9 years—first at Evanston Scholars and then at Chicago Scholars. Through my CBO work, I have the privilege of developing solid rapport, personal connections, and trusting relationships with students and families from a variety of backgrounds. In addition to my CBO College Counseling, I am a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and provide Independent Educational Consulting by referral. I stay current on shifting trends in the application process and versed in colleges’ academic climates and landscape. I understand, as a parent of four college graduates—University of Michigan Ross School of Business ('16), University of Michigan Ross School of Business ('18), University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy and Ross Minor ('20), Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering ('22) and Stanford University ME PhD (anticipated '27), how to inspire and motivate teenagers while creating a supportive and nurturing environment. My professional qualities are based on a faculty for meticulous research and analysis as well as organizational, written, and interpersonal communication skills. These traits translated well from a consulting career to a college counseling career. In my free time, I love to travel to Philadelphia, Miami, and Palo Alto to see my kids. I am an avid reader and I am addicted to pickleball.

I am Megan Tang and have 10+ years of experience in advising and supporting students through the college admissions process, college access and success, ensuring students' achievement through their first year in college, and a number of other aspects that ensure your collegiate experience is transformative for you. I graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Additionally, I have a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I started my journey in the college access space working in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Wake Forest University where I conducted thousands of interviews, reviewed prospective student applications, and was a part of the team in deciding which students were admitted into Wake Forest. Currently, and for the past 8 years, I have worked with a college access organization in North Carolina, serving over 2,000 juniors and seniors each year. Through my college access work and advising, students in the program have enrolled in over 135 different colleges and universities across the country at schools such as Duke University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Tufts University, UNC Chapel Hill, and many more. My time in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Wake Forest and my current role with college access provided, and continues to provide me, with a full understanding of the best practices to enhance your essays and other supporting materials for college admissions. Additionally, I have significant experience working with students to develop a strong target list of colleges and universities for their specific portfolio. I look forward to learning more about you, working with you to help you realize your college dreams, and finding the school that will suit you best!