How It Works

A good application takes time. I want to help you show colleges who you are, rather than rush everything the night before a deadline.

The earlier we start, the more time we have to work on what you’ll share with colleges.

Your grades matter. Colleges also want to understand you beyond your grades. If you need a scholarship as an international student, that part of your application matters too.

I help you work out what you want colleges to know about you and how to explain it in your application.

We’ll start by talking about you.

I want to make sure I’m the right person to help you.

I work with only 25 students per cycle so I have time for each of you. I look for students who’ll put in the work and listen to feedback.

You’ll fill in a detailed application first. If I think we could work well together, I’ll invite you to an interview. If it goes well, I’ll send you a proposal. Once we agree, we can start.

I plan each student’s applications myself.

First, we’ll talk about your background, family, school system, goals and budget. I’ll help you work out what you want colleges to understand about you. Then we’ll plan your university list, grades, activities and deadlines.

Your situation might be different from another student’s. You might study a curriculum US colleges don’t know well, need full aid, or be starting late. We’ll take that into account when we make your plan.

Selective colleges look closely at your grades first.

I help you decide which tests to take and when: SAT or ACT, IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo. We’ll also decide whether to send your scores to test-optional schools.

I help you explain your curriculum so colleges understand your grades. That includes CBSE, FSc, WAEC, Thanaweya Amma and other school systems.

I’ll help you pick a topic and plan your essay.

We’ll talk about what to include and how to put it together.

You write every draft yourself. I want the words to be yours.

Then we’ll edit together, as many times as we need. Nothing gets sent until I’ve read it and we both think it’s ready.

Colleges want to know what you actually did in your activities, not only which clubs you joined.

A good project lets you use what you’re good at to solve a real problem. We’ll look at how it could reach people beyond your school. It might be a nonprofit, research paper, small business, community project or online platform.

We’ll find a project that makes sense for you. I’ll also help you explain your activities and honors clearly in your application.

Most of my students need a lot of financial aid. If you do too, we’ll keep that in mind when choosing colleges and planning how and when to apply.

I’ll help you with the CSS Profile, ISFAA and each college’s own aid forms. We’ll look for colleges known to offer generous funding to international students.

Many of my students have received near-full scholarships, including a full ride to Columbia.

Some colleges will invite you to an interview. It’s normal to feel nervous.

We’ll practise with mock interviews. I’ll give you feedback so you feel more comfortable talking about yourself.

You’ll share personal things with me when we work on your applications.

What you share with me stays private. I only share a student’s acceptance, name or message with their clear permission. I remove any details they don’t want others to see.