Duke University

Hi there! I'm Katrina, a Northwestern graduate with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and Theater and a minor in Entrepreneurship. As a National Merit Scholar, Presidential Scholar nominee, and recipient of multiple merit-based scholarships that funded my Northwestern education, I understand what it takes to stand out in selective admissions processes. My academic journey spanned pre-medicine, technology, and the arts, giving me unique insight into how students can craft compelling narratives from diverse interests while maintaining academic excellence. Currently, I work in AI while staying involved in Chicago's film/TV scene and startup ecosystem—experiences that keep me connected to both STEM and the arts. My commitment to education started early—in high school, I founded a nonprofit to mentor young women in STEM and coached students in speech and debate. In college, I helped students understand how to position themselves effectively for selective universities and guided them through academic planning and exploring potential career paths. My years of advising have sharpened my ability to help students move beyond simply checking boxes to tell authentic, memorable stories that make them stand out from other qualified applicants. My approach combines structured guidance with candid feedback and strategic insight. I excel at breaking down the nuances of college admissions into clear, actionable steps. While strong grades and test scores open doors, I help students learn the unwritten rules of what makes an application truly stand out to admissions officers. Through honest collaboration, I guide each student in crafting an authentic narrative that resonates with top schools—because given how competitive college admissions have become, a compelling story is what transforms a qualified applicant into a memorable one.

No matter where you are in the process, I'm here to help turn your experiences into a powerful story that sets you apart. Excited to make it happen!

I am a current undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University working on a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and a minor in engineering mechanics. During my first semester at Penn State, I was offered a three-rotation internship experience with Delta Air Lines. Following this experience, I completed a summer internship experience at The Boeing Company. While at Penn State, I was a mentor and career advisor as a part of The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP) aiding working with students to build their resumes and secure internships very early in their undergraduate careers. As a mentor, I also offered guidance to students in their college experience helping them to find clubs, research, and other groups they could actively engage in either for a professional motive or to simply help find their passion. This experience has exposed me to using the vast variety of different backgrounds and interests these students have to leverage as their greatest strengths. I have worked with students who major in all forms of Engineering including Aerospace, Mechanical, Biomedical, Electrical, Computer Engineering, Architectural, Civil, Chemical, and Industrial. In addition, I have also worked with students in the fields of Computer Science and Cybersecurity. My mission while advising is to bring out the best in a student by leveraging their strengths and turning what may seem like weaknesses into opportunities for growth that the college would love to invest in. As someone who has gone through the application process myself, I understand that applications can be an anxious experience at times. But taking that first step of finding passion in yourself with enable you to display your best you.

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 attend Columbia Law School on a full-ride, merit scholarship, where my studies focus on civil rights, education policy, and non-profit law. Before law school, I worked in philanthropy as a grantmaker on issues related to public policy, youth organizing, and technology regulations and in communications as a consultant for political campaigns. I'm a National Geographic Education Fellow and Forbes 30 Under 30 Awardee for my education policy and advocacy work. I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor's in Political Science. I was a Robertson Scholar at Chapel Hill, a full-ride scholarship that gave me access to UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University classes. I was also a Coca-Cola Scholar and a Kevan Flagler Assured Admit. In addition to the Robertson Scholarship, I was awarded full rides to three undergraduate institutions (UK, Davidson, Wake Forest) and partial scholarships to several others. During my undergraduate studies, I interned at a political consulting firm in Washington, DC, a management consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia, and a local community development nonprofit in New Orleans. After undergrad, I pursued a Master's in Education Policy & Management from Harvard Graduate School of Education, where my research focused on student power in the K12 education system. In high school, I founded a nonprofit organization that advocated for more student voice in the K12 education system. I also competed in speech and debate, played soccer, and practiced the cello. During my junior year, I moved to Washington, D.C., for a semester to serve as a United States Senate Page. There, I attended class in the morning and worked on the Senate floor in the evening. Outside of academic and career interests, I love live music, hiking in the woods, and a relaxing spa day. When applying to college, the key is honing your narrative to stand out to admission officers from among the dozens of qualified applications they will review.

I graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience with a Minor in Psychology. During my time in college, I worked as a resident assistant fostering community for first-year students and mentoring pre-med students. Since I graduated from Duke University in 2021, I have dedicated myself to promoting equity in college access for students from rural and underserved communities. For three years, I worked with Duke College Advising Corps in Sampson County with over three hundred students over their senior year to help them realize their post-secondary goals. I have also volunteered with the Duke Center for Girls & Women with ADHD for over a year. I am currently pursuing my dual master's in Social Work and Public Administration at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill to continue my work toward increasing access to healthcare and education for women with mental health concerns. I have worked with prospective students interested in being Pre-Med, Pre-Law, and studying Engineering, Computer Science, and Communication and Media Studies. College advising is an opportunity to foster independence, introspection, and growth within students. I will be with my students every step of the way, ensuring they understand their options and find joy in choosing their next steps forward!

Hi! My name is Morgan and I am a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology studying Engineering, with interests in the built environment, climate change/adaptation, and computer science. I am from Brooklyn, NY and am a current Junior (class of 2026). I grew up with a low-income immigrant single mother from the Caribbean, and attended boarding school from 9th through 12th grade. I have done a lot since starting my degree, with many of my activities revolving around engineering, research, career exploration, leadership, and the college application process. For example, I have worked in two labs during my undergrad, one of which is focused on computer science, architecture, and engineering. I have worked there for 1.5 years. Currently, I am working in a UCL lab focusing on tsunami engineering and disaster prevention. Back at MIT, I am a part of MCG (MIT Consulting Group), a club that allows me to work on real consulting cases as an undergraduate student. I understand the difficulty of the college application process, as I went through it a few short years ago. In my cycle, I was able to receive acceptances from many prestigious universities, some of which being Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Duke, and many more. With that being said, I am a huge proprietor of open and honest communication; I am here as a resource to demystify the college application and help the student reach their fullest potential. In my free time, I like to read and try new cuisines. Hope to be in contact with you soon!

My experience in higher education is from working as an Assistant Dean of Admissions at Wake Forest University. I reviewed thousands of applications, served as a voting member on application review committees, and interviewed hundreds of applicants. I aided in the implementation of several systems to create an equitable review process to give all applicants a fair chance. While working in Undergraduate Admissions, I made it my mission to offer the best support to families and counselors while navigating the college application process. I educated families on the uniqueness of a liberal arts education and how the holistic nature of it can be beneficial. As a first-generation college graduate and woman of color, I provided extra support to students of underserved backgrounds to help them understand the college application process and help them on their journey. I now even mentor some of those enrolled students to this day! Higher education is something that I'm truly passionate about. I look forward to working with all families from all walks of life!

A Duke honors grad with neuroscience training from Stanford, I help leaders thrive in our changing world. I started my career in global education over a decade ago and have been publicly recognized by Melinda Gates and 4x NYT bestselling author Marianne Williamson for my work in education and whole-person development. My training, knowledge, and professional experience across marketing, education, and coaching make me a highly insightful, innovative, and integrative college advisor. Prior to CollegeAdvisor, I worked as an advisor in a small college advising firm, working with over 20 students on a team of advisors. Our students received admissions from Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Northwestern, Duke, Dartmouth, Berkeley, and MIT. I was lucky to learn the ropes from former Stanford admissions directors; entrusted with each student's applications and resumes, I realized I had a talent for showing what was unique about each student. I have become a sought-after essay advisor since. I help students get an edge in college admissions while enjoying the process and growing as a person. My students note how I help them succeed as themselves rather than striving for someone else's notion of "success" at their own long-term expense. This means that I work best with families who are interested in helping their student discover and unfold their whole selves and willing to do the challenging inner work that can entail. I'm interested in what makes you different! Fun fact: I have been fortunate to continue my involvement in higher education long after graduating. I have spoken at Duke, NYU, and Harvard conferences, served as a staff and alum career coach at UC Berkeley and Duke University, and am also a fractional executive coach to higher education professionals. These engagements give me another view into colleges and their evolving priorities. As an advisor, I am energetic, insightful, compassionate, entertaining, and rigorous. If you are willing to be seen, heard, challenged, and emboldened through the college application process, then you've found the right person. I hope I will shape your experience to be one where you can reach your goals, find your place in the world, and honor your humanity and inherent value.

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.