Wesleyan University

Hi! My name is Madison, and I graduated from Swarthmore College in 2021. I majored in Psychology and also studied Studio Art, Economics, and Biology. As a first-generation low-income student, I applied to college through QuestBridge. At Swarthmore, I enjoyed tutoring K-12 students in math, competing in the Collegiate Leadership Competition, and participating in bowling club. I have extensive experience editing essays, and I am excited to help you create an application you’re proud of.

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!

I hold my B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University. I hold my Masters in Education from Pace University. After college, I joined Teach for America in Brooklyn, NY. After TFA, I joined a charter school organization, where I taught math and served as a middle school principal. I spent the last seven years as the Director of College Completion at a public charter high school in Brooklyn, where I had the good fortune to manage a team of talented counselors and to work with many brilliant young people on their journeys to and through college. My favorite part of the college process is essay writing. I enjoy getting to know each student, their interests and quirks, and anything else that makes them unique, and then helping them translate that essence into 650 words or less. I especially value working with first generation college students and families. The college process can be very intimidating, and I am always happy to demystify the process and help find the right college match. Applying for college requires a lot of hard work, but I also believe it is best approached with a healthy dose of joy and humor, which I try to bring to any situation.

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!