Florida State University

I’m a first-generation college Cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science in College Student Personnel Services & Administration from the University of Central Arkansas. My own journey navigating college as a first-gen student fuels my passion for guiding others through the process. Over the past decade, I’ve worked in college admissions, career advising, and student success programs at major universities across Florida and Arkansas. I’ve coached students on everything from essay writing and interview prep to securing scholarships, navigating pre-med pathways, and planning for future careers. Currently, I lead recruitment efforts for a national nonprofit dedicated to helping first-generation and low-income graduates break into careers in tech and business. I understand the challenges of balancing school, extracurriculars, and life while preparing for college. My approach is to make the process clear, supportive, and empowering—helping students and families move through each step with confidence and authenticity.

Outside of advising, I enjoy sports, traveling, concerts, and discovering new experiences. I’m excited to help students from all backgrounds see what’s possible and achieve their educational goals.

Hi there! My name is Rachael, and I graduated from Northwestern University in 2023 as a theatre major, dance minor, and music theatre certificate recipient, and with additional studies in choreography and acting for the screen. I now use the education and connections that Northwestern provided me as a professional actor in Chicago, IL. Online Tutoring Experience with Varsity Tutors: I have previously tutored students in College Essays and ACT/SAT prep. I helped one student brainstorm and develop her personal statement for the Common App, and she sent me a thank you after she was accepted and committed to Princeton University! I am a professional musical theatre actor who studied music theatre and dance at Northwestern University. I know well the unique college application AND audition process that prospective MT students must go through. If you are looking for someone to help you navigate that process, select and prepare your audition material, put together dance reels and self-tapes, edit your theatrical resume, prepare you for in-person auditions, etc - look no further! During my college application process, I applied to around 25 different schools - even if you are not someone looking to study fine arts, I can still be a great resource as someone with experience juggling many different applications, deadlines, and essay topics. Of the schools listed below that I myself have been accepted to, I am referring to academic acceptance. I was not accepted for musical theatre at all of those listed, but can provide insight into both the application and audition processes.

I am a seasoned musician and arts administration professional with over a decade of experience. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education from Florida State University and completed my Master’s in Instrumental Performance (Euphonium) at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music. Using an intersectional approach, I am deeply committed to providing tangible resources to the next generation of arts professionals.

My journey in admissions began as a student worker at the Florida State University College of Music's admissions office and continued at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music's recruitment and enrollment office. I also served as the Senior Admissions Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, where I managed application administration, student matriculation, program information sessions, and acted as the first point of contact for prospective students.

I currently serve as Recruitment & Academic Coordinator at Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, where I contribute to the school's overall recruitment efforts. My responsibilities include application administration, campus visit programming, and collaboration with faculty on audition days. I also assist in developing and implementing data-driven recruitment strategies for the School of Music.

In my spare time I enjoy hiking, caring for my many plants, watching horror films, and supporting Pittsburgh’s local music and art scene. I also serve as a co-founder and Director of Operations of the Chromatic Brass Collective, a music nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and elevating the visibility of racially and ethnically underrepresented women and gender non-conforming individuals in the brass community through performance, education, and outreach.

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 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!

Hi! Nice to meet you. I am an education advocate with over 7 years of experience. I currently work as a Director at UCLA Anderson Management School of Business where I lead admissions and recruitment strategies, oversee the student affairs team, and provide career counselling to students throughout their academic journey. I'm deeply passionate about creating inclusive environments that empower students to succeed and thrive in their academic pursuits. Previously, I worked at Florida International University as an Admissions Officer, where I built strong relationships with 9th - 12th grade prospective students, their families, and other key stakeholders in the community. I earned my Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration and Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Florida International University. In addition, I earned a certificate in Academic Advising and am a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC). If you catch me outside of work, I'm an adventurous traveler - 28 countries and counting. I'm an avid lover of fitness and yoga. During the summer, I earned my scuba dive certificate and hope to swim with whales one day.