Emory University

From the rural city of Taishan, China, to a low-income suburban town in Idaho, and finally to the metropolis of Los Angeles, I recently graduated from the Honors College at UCLA with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a Specialization in Computing. During my time at UCLA, I served as an advisor, head advisor, and national advisor for Matriculate, where I guided low-income, high-achieving high school students into their top-choice universities. I was also actively involved on campus as the assistant managing editor of UCLA's Undergraduate Science Journal, where I edited undergraduate research papers for publication. My academic journey included conducting research in a comparative cognition lab and an organic chemistry lab, working as an ophthalmic technician and caretaker, and student supervising a campus library. Beyond academics, I embrace life by engaging in outdoor activities like hiking and skiing, and exploring diverse cultures in Canada, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and China. I'm an avid binge-watcher, and you'll often find me rewatching Stranger Things or Harry Potter, or in the movie theater critiquing the latest movie. I'm currently in my concert era, having recently attended the Jingle Ball, Hozier, TwoSet Violin, Stephen Sanchez, TWICE, and Meghan Trainor concerts. My most favorite activity of all is creating unforgettable memories with my friends (and loving my cat). I have experience working with students interested in dentistry, law, public affairs, engineering, and have a strong understanding of the pre-medical track. My mission as an advisor is to help students authentically present themselves to admissions officers, ensuring their true selves shine through in their applications. I understand that the college application process can be overwhelming, but with a confident mindset and a personalized approach, it can become an exciting new chapter in life. Currently, I am preparing for the MCAT with the goal of applying to medical school in the next application cycle. My passion for education stems from my experience growing up as a low-income student in a public school system where higher education was not emphasized. I aim to show my community and others that the pursuit of higher education is within everyone's reach, and that anyone can chart their own path to success.

Hello there! I'm Ertrell Harris, and I'm excited to introduce myself as a Senior Advisor. Originally from South Carolina, I've always believed in the power of education to transform lives. Growing up as a first-generation college student in a low-income household, my journey to higher education was driven by my determination to overcome obstacles. My educational path began at Howard University, where I pursued my undergraduate studies and discovered my passion for higher education and college access. Building on this, I earned a master's degree in sociology from George Washington University. Drawing from my own experiences, I've spent over a decade empowering students like myself to navigate the academic landscape. Throughout my career, I've been privileged to work with two college access programs dedicated to supporting minority and economically disadvantaged students. My students have received scholarships from organizations like Questbridge, Posse, the Gates Scholarship, and more, and have attended a diverse range of colleges, from local community colleges to prestigious institutions like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Additionally, I've gained valuable insights from working in three different admissions offices, where I've assisted students in making crucial decisions about their future—choosing a college that aligns with their goals and financial circumstances. In my roles, I've been deeply committed to helping students pursue higher education while minimizing financial barriers. What I find most fulfilling is establishing meaningful connections and empowering students to realize their full potential.

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!

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! My name is Naomi Beckley and I am a recent graduate of Yale University. I majored in Global Affairs in addition to a certificate in Education Studies. I am very passionate about working towards a state of equity in education, particularly improving the quality of education and access to academic resources for marginalized students. I professionally hope to do so by attending law school and becoming involved with education policy and legislation. I have 4 years of experience of advising high school students through their college application processes, with my students going on to attend schools like Vanderbilt, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Pennsylvania. I really enjoy the work that goes into being an advisor, particularly guiding a student in figuring out their college fit and reading essays. Super excited to meet and work with you on what will be a challenging but ultimately fulfilling journey!

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 hold a BA from the University of Georgia in International Affairs, a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Georgia, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Go Dawgs and Go Blue! I started my career in the education and nonprofit space where I built a solid foundation in supporting the academic and socio-emotional development of high school students. It was during this time where I gained a foundation in College Advising. I supported the college application process of high school students across all five boroughs of New York City. As a college advisor, I excel at helping students craft their college admissions brand making sure that their transcript, essays, extra-curriculars, and interactions with admissions officers sell who they are. And I do this while ensuring that the student feels supported, encouraged, and excited by what can be a stressful process. College advising ENERGIZES me and I've successfully supported application processes for students who matriculated into Ivy, Ivy +, and other top colleges across the US! Professionally, I have experience as a teacher, a college advisor, an MBA student, a consultant, and a corporate trainer. Over my career, I have had the opportunity to pivot, reinvent myself, and try new things often, and I want that for every student I work with. Together, we will explore all available pathways and work together to build a story and a personal brand that will unlock those opportunities. The college admissions process is the beginning of your personal odyssey, and I am so excited to work with you as you embark on this journey.

Hi there! My name is Abu Mian and I would love to work with you through your college admissions process! Although I grew up in the NYC area, I went to High School in Islamabad, Pakistan where I did not have access to the best advising for the college admissions process. I know how daunting the experience can be and so I have joined College Advisor to help you stay informed and on track with everything to do with college admissions. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2021, where I completed a degree in Philosophy with honors. Alongside my coursework in the liberal arts, I also completed a supplementary major in Arts & Letters Pre-Health. I am an aspiring physician and plan on applying to Medical Schools soon. During my undergrad I spent two years serving as an Advisor for Matriculate, a non-profit that helps low-income, high achieving high school students apply to colleges. I've also worked as a writing tutor for College Athletes and as a Philosophy teaching assistant. I also have extensive experience working with young people such as yourself at several non-profits in Kansas City, Dallas, and London. I look forward to using my experiences to help you craft your narrative and compose beautifully written essays!

I hold a B.A. from Emory University, where I graduated summa cum laude with a double major in International Relations and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. After my undergraduate education, I served as an Admission Counselor at my alma mater for three years, recruiting exceptional prospective students and advising families about college options and the ins and outs of the application process. Additionally, I read applications and sat on the review committee for Early and Regular Decision admission and merit-based scholarships. Later, I served as an ICT Education Specialist in the United States Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. Having fallen thoroughly in love with work in the education sector, I went on to spend over a decade as a high school English Language Arts teacher and College Counselor at an accredited bilingual school in Santo Domingo. In addition to teaching, I supported students through the college admissions process, including school selection, personal branding and storytelling, essay writing, interview prep, career exploration, and scholarship and financial aid applications. My time on both sides of the proverbial college advisor desk has given me a clear picture of the academic and extracurricular profiles needed to succeed in competitive university admissions while also reinforcing my belief that the college selection process should center around the best fit for a given student. Currently, I am enrolled as a Master of Clinical Social Work student at Boston University with the intent of further honing my capacity to offer guidance and resources to young people and their families as they build life skills, navigate major transitions, and set goals for the future. I believe that the college admissions process is not an end in itself, but rather a powerful way for students to grow in self awareness, practice lifelong learning, and develop capacities that will allow them to define and achieve success on their own terms. I am passionate about supporting students, parents, and guardians with care, humor, and curiosity–I look forward to learning about the unique experiences and gifts each applicant has to offer in college and beyond!