University of Texas – Austin

Hello! My name is Michelle Adebisi and I am excited to meet your advising needs. I received a Civil Engineering Degree, but I work as a Sales Engineer in the Electrical Engineering field. My previous work experiences have been in Land Development, Utilities Engineering, Roadway Design, and Oil and Gas. My advising experience started with serving as an incoming freshman orientation advisor at the University of Texas at Austin. I provided one-on-one advising sessions with incoming freshmen and discussed class schedules, major selection, student organizations, and orientation participation. I also prepared students for internship and full-time job interviews and edited their resumes and cover letters. As a second-generation college student, I am very passionate about helping students who do not have the resources they need to feel supported in their college application process. I have helped family and friends gain acceptance and enroll as a students in colleges like the University of Texas at Austin by reviewing their college essays and directing them to financial aid opportunities. I am also an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers (Life Long Member). I planned several community service events, professional networking socials, and professional development events with key industry speakers. My focus was spreading awareness of college scholarships and financial aid opportunities to underserved communities and inspiring more women to be in the STEM field.

As a seasoned college advisor, I bring 3 years of experience guiding students toward their academic and professional goals. My expertise lies in helping individuals navigate the complex college admissions process with a focus on personalized strategies that align with each student's unique strengths and aspirations.

Key Highlights:

🔍 In-Depth Admissions Knowledge: I stay updated on the current trends and prerequisites in college admissions, ensuring my clients receive timely and pertinent guidance.

🌟 Proven Track Record: Over the years, I have successfully assisted numerous students in gaining admission to their dream schools. My approach combines a deep understanding of academic requirements with a keen insight into each student's passions, resulting in tailored and impactful applications.

🤝 Personalized Guidance: I believe in fostering strong, one-on-one relationships with my clients. By getting to know each student on a personal level, I can provide targeted guidance that goes beyond mere academic advice. I am committed to helping students discover their strengths and develop a clear roadmap for achieving their academic and career aspirations.

💡 Holistic Approach: Recognizing that the college journey is not just about academics, I offer holistic support that encompasses personal development, goal setting, and life skills. My goal is to empower students to thrive not only in their academic pursuits but also in all facets of their lives.

🚀 Passion for Empowering Futures: What drives me is the belief that every student has untapped potential waiting to be discovered. Witnessing their growth and success fuels my passion for this work. I am dedicated to empowering each student to take charge of their future and reach heights they may not have thought possible.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Michigan – Go Heels & Go Blue!! After graduating from UNC, I started my career as a college advisor where I helped guide students through the college application process, both in-person and virtually. As a first-generation college student, I am passionate about ensuring that students feel supported, uplifted, and encouraged through the college application process. I enjoy helping students craft their story to allow their strengths, their passions, and their authentic selves to shine in college applications. During my time as an advisor, I have had the honor of successfully advising students who have been accepted into top colleges and Ivy League schools across the US. Throughout my professional career I have gained experience as a College Advisor, an MBA student, a digital marketer, and a product manager. Understanding the importance of exploring your passions and pursuing your interests, I have had the opportunity to pivot and explore different opportunities – and I want to encourage you to also explore different pathways as you begin your college journey! The college application process doesn’t have to be stressful – I look forward to working with you to find colleges that are the best fit, craft your essays, and submit strong applications that you are proud of… and ensuring that we have fun along the way!

Hello, my name is Nikki. I graduated from Brown University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, which I am very proud of as a first-generation college student from the Rio Grande Valley in TX! At Brown, I was part of 2 different engineering research labs and worked a part-time job as a barista at the cafe in the engineering building. After graduating from Brown, I joined Teach For America and taught 8th grade math for 2 years. Now, I am a College Counselor at a charter school in Houston, TX. I walk students step-by-step through the college admissions process from building a college list to helping them understand their financial aid packages. I love having the opportunity to serve students whose shoes I was once in and show them the patience and kindness needed through the admissions process. I particularly enjoy getting to know students personally and finding the best way to help them tell their story in their application. I look forward to doing the same with my advisees and being a support for you in your journey to college!

I have worked with students full-time for over 7 years and worked with high school students part-time for over 2 years in my undergraduate career. At Mays Business School, I had the pleasure to advise and mentor students who are part of the Regents’ Ambassador First-Gen Scholars Program, a program of approximately 250 freshmen through senior year first generation college students with high financial need. I have also had the opportunity to collaborate with the Office of Admissions Regional Prospective Student Centers to recruit students throughout the state of Texas including Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Laredo, San Antonio, Austin, and the Rio Grande Valley. Before my current role, I served as a College Access Advisor at Aldine Senior High School, a Title 1 school in North Houston. At Aldine, I advised 700 high school seniors through the college application and matriculation process utilizing programs such as Apply TX, Common App, FAFSA, and TASFA and approximately 600 juniors on the college application process including finding best-fit, SAT/ACT preparation, scholarship applications, and career guidance. I am currently a College and Career Readiness Advisor for Houston ISD where I have advised over 300 students in the college application and financial aid process. One of my greatest strengths is having experience with students both in the secondary and post-secondary level with assistance in the financial aid application process. I am passionate about helping students reach their college and career goals.

I am a proud immigrant, first-generation college student. My professional career started upon earning my B.A. in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin in 2019. A few months after graduating, I started working for Advise TX (a partnership program between UT and the College Advising Corps, the nation's largest nonprofit in college access) as a college adviser at a high school in Austin. My caseload for the 2 years I was a college adviser was 600+ students each year so I've advised all types of students with all types of interests (Engineering, Pre-Med, Humanities, Business, etc.) get into all types of schools (Ivies, Highly Selective Schools, Private, Public). I advised students (and their families) who were interested in out of state schools, but my expertise is concentrated in Texas colleges and universities. I have a passion for getting students to and through college, so much so that I went back to school to earn a Masters in Higher Education Administration in 2023. I currently work full-time as an academic advisor for a Student Support Services-Disability (SSSD) Program where I help college students with disabilities persist and thrive in their university setting. Previous students appreciated me for my enthusiasm to help and my knowledge base on everything college related. I highly value higher education and together, we can make sure that you can go on to receive a quality education, too!

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.

I have been a college and career adviser for over three years now. I fully enjoy working with students to help them accomplish their dreams as higher education should be accessible to all! The college application process can be overwhelming and sometimes complicated, so I strive to make sure the process not only flows easily but makes sense for each student. I work with students starting in their sophomore year (or earlier) plan for their educational and career goals and making sure that they are taking steps early on in their high school career to accomplish their goals. I'm a big believer in the match and fit process and making sure to explore all aspects of a university to make sure it's the right fit for a student.

I am a proud first-generation college graduate and professional who aspires to fight for educational equity. I hold my B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin and fell in love with working with students during my first work-study job on campus. I graduated in 2012 and became a college advisor for The College Advising Corps where I supported students in college admissions at high school in Austin, TX. I then joined Teach for America and became a 7th grade and 8th grade math Teacher where I continued to develop a passion for developing youth and supporting student success initiatives. I taught for two years and later joined an organization that allowed me to enhance my college access and success expertise. I became a program manager for a program called EMERGE that focuses on admissions to private and Ivy League schools. With this program I successfully supported students throughout the entire application cycle. My students have been accepted to colleges/universities such as: Harvard, Dartmouth, Amherst, Bowdoin, Northeastern, USC, UCLA, Rice University, Franklin and Marshall and many more!!! I know hundreds of institutions by memory, and can recite their location, strengths, and what their financial package may look like based on your family's income. I wanted to continue to develop as a leader and attended my alma mater, The University of Texas for my master's degree in Human Dimensions of Organizations. After working in Texas for six years, I moved to Los Angeles where I managed a mentorship program called AMP that supported college students at: UCLA, UC-Irvine, UC-Merced, UC-Riverside and other campuses in the region. In this role I managed a team that supported college success initiatives on campuses throughout So-Cal. In this role I developed expertise on what it takes to thrive once you are on the college campus. I then transitioned to the SF Bay Area to support my partner as she transitioned into law school and became an Associate Director of College and Career Counseling where I continued to support high school students in college admissions. My students were accepted to all 9 UC campuses, Harvard, Middlebury, Scripps, and USC. I helped secure the first Harvard admission ever on our campus. Within a year, I was promoted to Director of College and Career Counseling where I now manage all initiatives pertaining to college access in my network and ensure that our students are on target to graduate. I have a deep passion for developing and coaching young adults. I treat you with the respect and care that you deserve because I know how hard this process is. With more than a decade of experience I truly understand the admission game and what it takes to get to your desired college. I am an expert in crafting and developing personal statements. I am an expert in the Common APP, and other platforms such as ApplyTexas, The Coalition App, and The UC App. I am an expert in coaching and guiding you towards selecting your major based on your passions and interests. I have a deep understanding of utilizing your interests in STEM or Humanities to get you access to specialized programs at colleges and universities throughout the country. I care deeply about this work because I was a student that needed a lot of support but did not receive it. I experienced a great deal of trauma and learned to navigate a system that was unfamiliar to me. In this work I care to learn more about you and why you want to attend specific colleges and universities. My students are my priority because I know how life-changing this work is. With me, you'll know that you'll have someone in your corner. As we embark on this journey together, I want you to know that 1.) We will have a good time, because the work is hard, but we should be able to smile along the way. I'm a big goofball! 2.) I will help you establish a balanced college list based on your academic and extracurricular profile. 3.) We will extract the experiences to create a personal statement that is special to you. 4.) You will have support and access to me along the journey as my priority is to ensure you always support. Applying to college can be stressful, however we will get through this together and grow along the way.

I look forward to seeing your acceptance videos!