Emory University

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!

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!

Hello! My name is Lasya, and I'm a Senior at New York University studying biochemistry and philosophy. I'm originally from Florida. At NYU, I'm part of a medical innovation club and a non-profit that raises awareness about organ donation. I'm also conducting research at the Weck Lab, which focuses on colloidal chemistry. In my free time, I love to do yoga, cook, and listen to music. Having recently been through the application process, I would love to answer any questions and offer any advice I can!

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.

Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Psalm attended college at the University of Chicago as a QuestBridge scholar, graduating with an honors BA in Anthropology. Following graduation, Psalm worked as a College Advisor at the University of Chicago Charter School and later as an Admission Officer at Claremont McKenna College, a private liberal arts college in southern California. Now a student at Yale Law School, he focuses on civil rights law and is committed to making a positive impact in the world. Psalm has also served as a teaching fellow in Yale College and a coach with Yale’s Access to Law School program, where he supports local Connecticut students in entering the legal profession. Psalm is passionate about connecting with students and supporting them in their individual journeys to and through higher education. He has worked with students of all ages and backgrounds. Having reviewed thousands of college applications and conducted over 100 college interviews with students from across the country, Psalm brings a wealth of insight into the admissions process. He particularly enjoys helping students develop compelling personal narratives, highlight their skills and leadership qualities, prepare for interviews, navigate the scholarship and financial aid process with their families, and find the college that is uniquely the right fit for them. In his free time, Psalm enjoys going on hiking trips, frequenting hip hop and jazz concerts, and trying new food.

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!