Rice University

I recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. I stayed at USC to complete my Masters of Science in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering with a Product Development focus through the Progressive Degree Program that allowed me to overlap my B.S. and M.S. programs. While at USC for both degrees, I was a full-tuition scholarship Trustee Scholar, a USC Viterbi School of Engineering Merit Research Fellow, and a member of the W.V.T Rusch Engineering Honors Program. My favorite activities outside of classes were my research fellowship where I worked on design validation testing of a force sensing glove for interface with a wearable orthotic robot arm, my volunteer work with the Science Outreach club teaching science curriculum to low income elementary schools in central LA, and my leadership roles on the executive board for the Women in Engineering organization. During my time at USC, I served as an advisor in multiple mentorship programs where I guided underclassmen students in strategic course selection, applying to research positions and summer internships, selecting extracurriculars for skill development, and overall adapting to college life. In my present full-time career, I work on the college student summer intern recruitment team - allowing me the opportunity to return to target university campuses to develop and identify star engineering student talent to recruit for co-op and intern programs. In this role I mentor students going through the internship application process on their resumes, interview skills, networking basics, and overall career advising. These experiences have helped me to hone the ability to discern the distinctive qualities of every student, enabling me to guide them in showcasing their unique strengths and potential within their applications. I have worked with students who major in Engineering, Pre-Med and Health Professions, Science and Biology, Computer Science and Technology, Entrepreneurship and Business, and any other major looking to connect their work to the STEM fields. My purpose as an advisor is to help students select the correct educational path for their futures and use that motivation to highlight to colleges why they will be an outstanding addition to any academic program. I strive to help every student and family find a program that will not only provide the academic rigor and extracurricular activities that they desire, but also the community and foundation as a young adult that will set them up for an outstanding future. I experienced the stress of helping a loved one through college applications while supporting my sister applying mid-pandemic, and my mission as an advisor is to be the extra set of eyes and ears to identify key facets of every program to find the best fit for every student. I am currently working as a Research & Development Biomedical Engineer at a cardiovascular medical device company based in Southern California, currently leading a global project team developing a novel minimally invasive device to treat failing heart valves. I love having a role that pushes my technical knowledge as an engineer and my connections to others through the cross-functional nature of medical device development. Outside of my career, I enjoy playing competitive roller derby, learning new crafting skills, baking treats to spoil my friends with, and exploring the beautiful state of California.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from Rice University. I also hold a Master's in Education from the University of Houston in Higher Education Administration and Supervision. I am currently working on a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Houston.

I started my career in college admissions at Rice University in 2009. I worked my way up from being an Admission Counselor to Associate Director of Admission. I have over 15 years of experience in advising students through the college admission process. While I represented Rice University, I have always viewed my job as being a representative of higher education. Therefore, I have assisted students in their college admissions journey whether their destination was Rice or any other college or university. I have also conducted workshops on highly selective admission practices, essay writing, and mock admission committee case studies. I served as an admission committee chair for all areas of study including international student admissions and transfer admissions. I have served at the national level as part of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Anti-Racism Institute Faculty and the Guiding the Way to Inclusion Conference Faculty

My approach is to serve as a guide and a coach. The college admission process should be an amazing time in your life in which you get to dream big and think about the environment you want to spend your time in. My job is to help guide you to places that will help fulfill your dreams, places that will provide the environment where you will feel happy, healthy, and supported, and places that will open you to new opportunities/possibilities. This process can seem daunting, but it truly isn't. Together we will put together your best application, hit submit, and take a deep breath as you watch the admission doors open.

Hi everyone! My name is Hamsa Shanmugam, and I am a Senior at Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), one of the top BS/MD programs in the country. I am from Hopkinton, MA and am pursuing a double concentration in Health and Human Biology as well as Music. I am deeply passionate about academic mentorship–having been a peer tutor since high school, a college application advisor for the past several years, and an academic peer advisor for the PLME and orientation leader during my time at Brown. At Brown, I am also involved in research, student government, and volunteering with the local Providence community. Outside of classes, I enjoy making music with Brown Bhairavi–the student group I founded for students interested in South Asian classical music–and dancing with Brown Abhinaya, the South Asian classical dance team. As a member of a combined baccalaureate/MD program, I have extensive experience with the college admissions process and, specifically, the admissions process for combined medical programs. I look forward to working with you and supporting you in your college admissions journey!

I believe the college admissions process can be an opportunity for self-discovery and reflection. I've worked with hundreds of students who are the first in their families to go to college and didn't have a ton of resources, so making this process as simple and supportive as possible is one of my passions. I attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, and graduated magna cum laude and phi betta kappa. I majored in anthropology and have a love for working with students of different backgrounds. I also want to make sure that students choose an affordable school that is a great fit for them. I have a special love of writing and was a former English teacher, so can help you make your essays strong. As such, I am a member of CollegeAdvisor's Essay Review Team. I am warm, approachable, and caring, and seek to leave students feeling more clear, less anxious, and affirmed about their abilities and potential!