George Washington University

I am happily a rising junior at Brown University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts in International and Public Affairs. During my first two years at Brown, I founded a club dedicated to epistemic justice and social action, walked onto the women's varsity rugby team, and studied abroad in Sydney, Australia. Much of my experience revolves around exploring new realms of adventure and ambition while pushing myself outside my comfort zone. As your advisor, I invite you to do the same as a key step toward personal and professional growth. I am currently working as a research assistant for Brown's cognitive-developmental department and intend to pursue a profession in humanitarian psychology and research. Prior to CollegeAdvisor, I mentored family peers and rugby recruits through their college applications. Additionally, I have gained experience in advising through academic tutoring, both through the online platform, Ringle, and Brown University. I am so excited to start working with CollegeAdvisor as I love assisting others and hold much gratitude for the work that CollegeAdvisor dedicates its platform to. As a graduate of CollegeAdvisor, I am so grateful and excited to give back to the organization that helped me get into my dream school.

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.

I am a true military child, having grown up around the country and overseas. I am a proud alumna of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where I received my BS in Health Sciences. I am also a graduate of The George Washington University where I received my Master of Public Health in Health Communications and Program Planning & Evaluation in January 2020. For over 8 years I worked in Admissions for TAMUCC including 3 and a half years recruiting in Houston and helped over 5,000 students. I currently work as an Academic Advisor for students pursuing graduate certificates, MD/MPH, Ph.D./MPH, DDS/MPH, MS/MPH, MBA/MPH, MSW/MPH, and JD/MPH programs at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. I am very passionate about helping people in any aspect of their life. College is such an amazing, exciting experience and I love to be a guide for students to find their true fit for college. Can't wait to meet you and help you on this journey!

Hi there! My name is Renee and I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from Northeastern University where I minored in both Business Administration and Social Entrepreneurship. I then furthered my studies at University College London and hold a Master of Arts in Education and International Development. After living and working in Cape Town, South Africa after the completion of my graduate studies, I have spent the past five years with Philadelphia Futures, an organization that provides low-income, first-generation-to-college students with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary for admission to and success in college. Within my role as Senior Coordinator, I advised a caseload of 45 students and their families by sharing tools to help students find their best fit college and create a strong admissions plan. I have led admissions process and programming for these students by planning, executing and tracking all activities related to both their college admissions application and their financial aid application as well. This has included the FAFSA, CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE completion, as well as postsecondary list-building and postsecondary decision-making processes. My previous students have been admitted to a varied and diverse list of mid-range and highly selective institutions, such as Stanford, Penn, Vanderbilt, Boston University, and John Hopkins. I have worked with students who have pursued a degree in a wide range of majors including the Arts and Humanities, Business, and STEM as well. As such, I am well versed in the requirements and expectations of a wide variety of academic disciplines. Looking at my work from a financial aid perspective, I have decreased my students cash gap by an average of $25K or more per student, often to as low as $0. Additionally, I have helped students access and secure an average of $100K in external scholarships as well. As the college admissions landscape is continually shifting, I pride myself in staying up to date on the latest trends and data by attending various professional development opportunities including attending counselor information sessions, well as fly-in events across campuses around the country. I am also a NACAC and PACAC member as a classified independent educational consultant. Within this space, I have stewarded strong relationships with college admissions staff to advocate for my students and their families. Education has the power to be transformative. I know the college admissions process can feel overwhelming, but I’m dedicated to empowering students on their educational journey! I will leave no stone unturned and will provide the necessary expertise to help students live up to their greatest potential!

Hi! My name is Jesus and I graduated from Yale in 2020 where I majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. As a first-generation college student, I know the importance of college advising and have supported students from all walks of life as they applied to schools all across the country. I am excited to bring my years of expertise as a pre-med student interested in exploring the humanities and STEM fields through the liberal arts education at Yale as well as my years of experience advising students as they figure out what colleges they want to apply to, develop captivating essays, and determine what subjects they might be interested in exploring during college.

Chi (he/him) is a first-generation college graduate from the University of Virginia, studying Economics and Politics. Following his undergraduate experience, he obtained an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from the top-ranked University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. A Senior Advisor with CollegeAdvisor since May 2021, Chi connects his years of professional experience as an Admissions Reader with Yale University and Yale-NUS College to provide thorough coaching and admissions support. His primary philosophy involves building the 'holistic profile,' empowering students to make well-informed decisions about their application strategy and highlighting their personal stories in the application process. With 5+ years of professional experience, Chi's work in research, admissions, and student services seeks to foster life skills and knowledge development, helping students succeed in the transition to post-secondary education and beyond. In addition to his work with CollegeAdvisor, Chi is a full-time Senior Research Associate with Storbeck Search, a subsidiary of Diversified Search Group, in its education practice. He bridges his knowledge of the higher education landscape with admissions work to provide strong, contextual detail tailored to each student. Chi demonstrates a strong track record of success coaching students during his tenure with CollegeAdvisor, including acceptances in, but not limited to: - 6 of 8 Ivy League institutions - 21 of the Top 25 institutions, ranked by U.S. News & World Report - 44 of the Top 50 institutions, ranked by U.S. News & World Report Chi calls West Virginia home, and is an avid foodie, enjoys outdoor runs and hikes, and is often found cheering for his alma mater Hoos, Ravens, and Sixers.

Hi! My name is Lara, and I recently graduated from Harvard College with a double degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology along with Cognitive Neuroscience and Evolutionary Psychology. I grew up in a small town in South Africa, with a graduating class of only 25 people (including myself!) and know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate the college application process without the help of an academic advisor. Because of this, I am passionate about helping students from under-resourced high schools aim high and succeed in gaining admission to the colleges of their dreams! I am also excited to share my experience of pursuing research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, engaging with various volunteer organizations, and working with pre-med students to ensure their college application success.