University of Maryland – College Park

With extensive experience in both College Counseling and Special Education, Monique is committed to helping students achieve success in their academic and career paths. Since 2019, she has been dedicated to guiding families through the college admissions process, offering application support, essay reviews, and financial aid guidance. Her approach is student-centered, and she remains informed on the latest education policies and trends to ensure her support is relevant and effective.

College Counseling Expertise
● College application support
● Essay reviews and feedback
● Financial aid and scholarship guidance
● Staying current with admissions trends and policies

Before transitioning to college counseling, Monique worked as a Special Education teacher and coordinator in multiple school districts. She developed Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and provided tailored support for students with diverse learning needs. Monique has collaborated with educators, families, and school staff to create inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive.

Monique’s expertise in both special education and college counseling equips her to guide them toward successful academic and professional futures. Whether helping students with disabilities navigate their college journey or providing general college admissions support, Monique is dedicated to helping ALL students succeed.

Hello! My name is Alex Garcia, and I’m a rising junior at Cornell University studying business, government, science, and technology. I’m currently interning at KPMG in NYC and aiming for a career in consulting post-grad. At Cornell I strive to stay active by serving as a senior board member of an advocacy organization and regularly take part in a variety of other student clubs ranging from the student ambassadors to weightlifting groups. Outside of school, I work with a large-scale nonprofit to review grant applications and finances of organizations across North America. My college experiences build on my high school activities, where I was President of the largest student-run organization in Maryland’s most-populated school district, collaborated directly with politicians (local-national) on legislation impacting students, and much more. I’ve learned about the business world from unique perspectives and believe it’s inclusive across disciplines. With today’s competitive college and internship landscape, creative self-branding is crucial. As a Specialty Advisor for Business at CollegeAdvisor.Com, I’ll help with brand creation to align with your experiences and suggest ways to maximize high school opportunities to attract college and internship recruiters—a process I’ve recently navigated.

Side Notes: 1) I received the International Baccalaureate Diploma in HS, but also received the AP Scholar with Distinction Award - I would love to assist with course selection. | 2) I recently received the 2024 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Award - I am able to guide students through scholarship applications. | 3) A lot of my experiences involve politics - I have lots of insights into this field as well for college/career related matters

Thank you for your time.

I received my Bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education from Florida State University. I also received my Master's degree in Music Performance, with a Euphonium concentration, from Carnegie Mellon University. With over nine years of experience working in college admissions and advising, I am deeply committed to providing tangible support and resources to marginalized populations through an intersectional lens. In my time at Florida State University, I served in multiple roles involving university admissions and student enrollment advising. I served on the Student Board of Advisors (BOA), and provided specialized academic advising to new freshmen and transfer students to the FSU College of Music. Additionally, I served the CoM Admissions Office as an admissions administrator. In this role, I was the first point of contact for undergraduates, guiding students and their families through all aspects of the admissions process including: program information, application procedures, audition days, and ensuring that students met all requirements to be admitted into the university. I continued working in admissions during my graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon, as a graduate assistant. My responsibilities in this position were the same as my previous roles, but also allowed me to also meet one-on-one with families to lead information sessions on the School of Music's undergraduate and graduate degree programs. After completing my graduate degree, I continued working as a freelance musician while also serving as a Senior Admissions Coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS). I was the first point of contact and application administrator for prospective undergraduate and graduate students at the 30 programs offered at SHRS. I guided applicants through each phase of the admissions process, prescreened application materials, hosted virtual admissions meetings with applicants and families, and distributed final decision letters. Additionally, I collaborated closely with SHRS academic leadership on using data-driven research to implement best practices for holistic admissions. I currently serve as co-founder and Director of Operations for Chromatic Brass Collective: a nonprofit organization for brass musicians that celebrates, performs, and educates in an effort to increase the visibility of racially and ethnically underrepresented women and gender non-conforming people throughout the brass world.

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.

Over the past decade, I've immersed myself in guiding college-bound students from across the country through the admissions process. With experience from institutions like the University of Delaware, University of Maryland College Park, and George Washington University, as well as working with Johns Hopkins School of Nursing at the graduate level, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education. My journey is fueled by a passion for fostering inclusivity and accessibility in higher education. Through workshops, outreach events, and personalized guidance, I empower students from diverse backgrounds to navigate the admissions maze with confidence. Working closely with the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by aspiring healthcare professionals and reinforced the importance of mentorship. As I reflect, I'm grateful for the relationships formed and lives touched. My dedication to empowering students remains steadfast, driven by the belief in the transformative impact of education and the boundless potential within every student.

I earned my degree in Electrical Engineering from Howard University, with Magna Cum Laude Latin Honors, finishing my program in three years. I am currently a PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) department. My research focuses on the field of physical electronics, particularly optoelectronics. Optoelectronics is widely considered a sub-discipline of photonics, which refers to the study and application of the physical science of light.

My Passion for Advising Students:

In my own undergraduate college journey, I was accepted to over ten universities with $1 million USD in financial aid. Similarly, for my graduate school process, I was accepted to top universities for engineering with fully funded offers to pursue my PhD. During this process, I was on my own researching and applying to my schools of interest. I believe that my vast experiences in engineering will enable me to assist anyone to create their own story and achieve their collegiate dreams. This can be a difficult process to navigate, with many different hidden hurdles involved, and I am passionate about leveraging my experience to help students. Below, you will find a summary of my engineering experience!

Undergraduate Academic Experience:

During my three years at Howard University, I completed various hardware electronics projects. For my senior capstone project, I worked with The Aerospace Corporation on a project titled, “Machine Learning Based Sensing for Autonomous Robotic Manipulation”. I was also amongst a group of 30 students selected for a Google program called Hardware Product Sprint. In Summer 2022, I had a great experience working with Google engineers to learn about consumer electronics. Additionally, I have experience conducting undergraduate academic research projects in quantum materials science. In Summer 2023, I was one of three students selected for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Global Quantum Leap International Research and Training Experience Program at the National Institute of Materials Science in Japan. This project was supported by Cornell University. In Summer 2022, I was a research intern at the NSF Center for Integrated Quantum Materials at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Both these research projects had applications for advanced computing with the long-term goal of developing next generation electronic devices.

Engineering Leadership Experience:

Aside from my academic experiences, I am very involved in engineering leadership. At UC Berkeley, I am the professional development chair for the Black Graduate Engineering and Science Students, which is the graduate chapter for the National Society of Black Engineers. I also serve as delegate in the EECS Graduate Assembly, which is a student government that advocates for EECS graduate students. At Howard University, I was a resident assistant in a freshman dorm, I was the campus ambassador for Raytheon Technologies, I was the membership and academic excellence chair of the Howard University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, I was the programs chair of the Howard University Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and I was the diversity representative of the Howard University College of Engineering and Architecture Student Council. Additionally, I am an initiated member of the DC Alpha chapter of Tau Beta Pi, which is an engineering honor society for students at in the top percentile of their academic year group.

I have a strong commitment to college education access, matriculation, transition and retention. I am currently in the pursuit of my PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change at UCLA, have an MEd in Higher Education Student Affairs, and International Education Policy (University of Maryland, 2022) and a BA in Sociology and Ethnic Studies (UC San Diego, 2018). Throughout my undergraduate career, in addition to obtaining a minor in Education Studies, I actively worked with high schools by providing campus tour, hosting student for overnight programs, facilitating classes for a summer bridge program, presenting during high school conferences, conducting research at a high school and being an active mentor to high school students that were connected with me via personal networks. From 2018-2022, I was a College Advisor for the University of Southern California College Advising Corps where I worked predominantly with senior students and advised them based on their goals, aspirations and circumstances. I have given presentations on various topics (A-G, FAFSA, CalGrant, scholarships, transition programs, on-campus resources, etc.), have extensive resume, statement of purpose, and personal statement editing experience both for the college admission process and scholarship applications. I am a proud recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship (2013), which has an award rate of under 1% and has funded my bachelor’s, master’s, and is now funding my doctoral degree. In my 10 years of working with high school and college students in summer bridge programs, college access programs, outreach, programming, fraternity and sorority life, residence life, and research, I have developed an advising style that meets students where they are based on their knowledge. The premise of my advising style is to meet the needs of the student and their families/guardians with integrity and resourcefulness. I like to provide students with information to facilitate taking ownership of their decisions and can similarly have the confidence to answer questions and discuss topics with their families and guardians. I have enjoyed the process of involving parents to ensure they are equally informed as their students and together support students in their college-going process.

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!