Most families treat SAT/ACT preparation and college admissions as separate problems, addressed at different times by different people. But these processes are not separate; they are deeply intertwined. A student's test scores shape which school choices are realistic. The school list in turn shapes essay strategy, and essay strategy reflects the narrative built over a student's entire high school career. Every element is interconnected, and the advisor who understands all of it from the beginning produces fundamentally better outcomes than one who sees only part of the picture.
I am one of the only college consultants in the country with genuine expertise in both standardized test preparation and college admissions. Not as detached or parallel services, but as a single integrated strategy built around each student from the start.
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COUNSELING
Most advisors study the admissions process from the outside. I ran it from the inside. As a former admissions officer at Duke University, I know precisely how applications are read, how decisions are made, and what separates admitted students from equally qualified ones who are not.
I work with a small number of students each year on comprehensive admissions strategy — from building the right college list to shaping a cohesive application narrative, developing the essays, preparing for interviews, and navigating final decisions. Every aspect of the process is guided by direct experience, not educated guesswork.
STANDARDIZED TEST COACHING
I take the SAT three times every year as an adult and score a 1600 each time. I do this so that my preparation methods stay current, precise, and proven against the live exam — not last year's version of it. The same applies to the ACT.
Test preparation with me is a highly individualized curriculum. It's a targeted diagnostic process to identify exactly where a student is losing points and build a plan around those specific gaps. Students I have worked with have achieved score increases of 200, 300, and in some cases 400 points.
the full engagement
The families I work with most effectively begin the process early, typically in sophomore or junior year. It is always best to build deliberately toward the strongest possible outcome rather than react to a deadline.
A full engagement begins with targeted SAT and ACT preparation, timed to maximize scores before the application season begins. From there, it moves into comprehensive admissions strategy: building the right college list, developing a cohesive personal narrative, crafting essays, preparing for interviews, and navigating final decisions.
This is not two separate services delivered back to back. It's one continuous strategy built around one student, guided by one advisor who understands both sides of the process from the inside. By the time students submit their applications, every element — test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular positioning — has been developed as a unified whole.
The students I work with arrive at application season fully prepared, submitting the strongest applications they can. Never scrambling.
ENGAGEMENTS
The Junior Year Program — comprehensive test preparation and admissions strategy, sophomore spring through junior year The Senior Year Program — application strategy, essays, and decisions, summer through final choice Standardized test coaching — hourly, by arrangement Essay development — available independently or within a program
I work with a limited number of students across the United States and internationally via Zoom
All engagements are tailored to each family's needs & timeline
A complimentary thirty-minute consultation is offered to all prospective families