Alec has a Bachelor’s degree in both Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Asian Studies from Rice University and an MBA from Stanford University. He has several years of experience helping college candidates get into their dream schools.
As a coach, Alec enjoys helping others find confidence and pride in what sets them apart. Essentially, he loves to see students embark on journeys to further cultivate their individuality. His greatest strength when working with Quad applicants is his ability to help them find their confidence and voice. Alec understands the difficulty in articulating the “why” behind your experiences and decisions when applying to college. He prides himself on his ability to help students dig deep so they can determine the motivations behind their choices, whether it's their reason for pursuing an activity, a school, or a program.
Students Alec has recently coached have gotten accepted into UC Berkeley, Yale University, Princeton University, MIT, Stanford University, Washington University St. Louis, Rice University, and Vanderbilt University.
In Alec’s free time, he enjoys taking courses online, making up games, and solving computer science problems.
Alec’s Pro Tip?
Students do better in the interview when they answer extemporaneously from the heart rather than when they memorize what "should be said".
Jay completed his Bachelor’s degree from Duke University on a full merit-based scholarship. He also holds a Master’s and PhD from the University of Oxford, completing the latter on a Rhodes Scholarship. During his time at Duke, Jay served as an Alumni Interviewer and the lead student organizer of Duke's undergraduate merit-based scholarship selection process. Jay has over 10 years of experience coaching students applying to college. He also has extensive experience coaching students applying to graduate school with a particular focus on prestigious post-graduate scholarships and fellowships such as the Truman, Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell programs.
Jay is passionate about helping students unlock their full potential during this formative and challenging transition to college. He firmly believes in instilling habits of self-reflection and curiosity, ensuring students are prepared for success in all their future endeavors.
As a coach, Jay excels in helping students identify their strengths and transform them into a compelling narrative that enhances their college applications and fosters critical reflection and self-discovery. He possesses a unique ability to see the big picture while paying attention to intricate details. With a strong background in writing and editing, Jay has published multiple academic articles and contributed to public-facing writing in venues such as The New York Times.
Throughout his coaching career, Jay has witnessed the transformative power of reflection and narrative creation in students' application journeys. He firmly believes that writing goes beyond merely transmitting beliefs; it is a bidirectional process that shapes convictions and inspires introspection. He values maintaining a warm and approachable personality and believes in combining high standards with unwavering support when working with students.
Jay looks forward to collaborating with applicants and their families, providing guidance and expertise as they embark on the college application process. Over the past decade, Jay has successfully coached numerous college applicants, facilitating their acceptances into renowned institutions such as Oxford University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, and the University of Virginia.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Jay enjoys leisurely walks with his beloved St. Bernard, Betty, exploring new parks, experimenting with new recipes, and indulging in reading and writing.
Tori has a Bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley and a Master's from Yale University. She is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Cambridge. Over the past three years, Tori has helped numerous students with their college applications, allowing them to secure acceptances to the country's top colleges.
Tori understands that the higher education system can overwhelm students and families. Her passion for coaching stems from her desire to pay it forward by helping younger students achieve their dreams. She finds it personally rewarding and fulfilling to connect with students one-on-one and to support them along this often stressful journey.
As a coach, Tori's greatest strengths include being a great listener, flexible, and compassionate. Tori is a great listener. Additionally, she can easily extrapolate winning themes to tie together a student's college application. Tori is skilled at taking a student's perceived weakness and working on it together to turn it into a favorable narrative. She loves connecting with students and getting to know them personally to help them craft individualized narratives.
Tori's coaching philosophy is centered around a peer-to-peer approach that respects and empowers her students. While offering guidance, she expects self-motivation from her students, fostering a collaborative and empowering atmosphere. Tori meticulously plans each engagement with students to ensure they gain maximum value from their time together.
In her free time, Tori loves to go on walks, practice yoga or pilates, and catch up on the latest movies or shows.
Rachel has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. She also has a JD from Boston College Law School.
Rachel's educational experiences are invaluable to her, which is why she decided to use her talents to help others achieve their educational aspirations. Rachel understands how overwhelming and anxiety-ridden applying to college can be. She loves taking the complicated college application process and breaking it down so that it becomes straightforward and understandable. Her goal as a coach is to reduce stress from applicants and their family members, allowing students to focus on highlighting their strengths and achieving their educational goals.
When working with Quad applicants, Rachel strives to keep the mood light and the environment calm and relaxed. Once Rachel has achieved a relaxed environment and the trust of her students, she works to break down material so it is manageable and can be completed in an organized and efficient manner. Rachel’s greatest strengths as a coach include creating realistic timelines and organized schedules and helping students create stand-out personal statements and resumes.
In her spare time, Rachel enjoys home decoration and organizing, trying new exercises, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog.
Harley has a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Yale University and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Harley has also served on Yale's admissions team as an Admissions Counselor, reviewing and evaluating applications to determine which applicants should be offered admission to the college or university. This involved reviewing various materials, including transcripts, test scores, essays, activity lists, and letters of recommendation, and assessing each applicant's academic and personal qualifications. Additionally, Harley conducted interviews with applicants and provided feedback and advice to help them improve their applications. Overall, Harley's role was to help the college or university identify the most qualified and promising applicants and to make admission offers to the students who would be the best fit for the institution.
As a first-generation low-income student, Harley understands the challenges and obstacles that students from similar backgrounds can face in the college admissions process. He is passionate about helping first-generation low-income students navigate the complex, sometimes daunting, college application process. He believes that every student should have the opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of their background or circumstances, and is committed to providing the guidance and support that these students need to succeed.
As a dedicated coach and teacher, Harley is passionate about coaching college applicants because he believes in the transformative power of higher education. He has seen firsthand how a college education can open up new opportunities and experiences for students. He is passionate about helping students find the right college or university that will allow them to thrive and succeed. Harley also enjoys the challenges and rewards of working with college applicants, who are often at a critical juncture in their lives. Helping them make informed decisions about their education and career paths is incredibly fulfilling, and he takes great pride in seeing his students succeed. Additionally, Harley finds that working with college applicants allows him to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in higher education and to continually learn and grow as a coach and teacher.
As a coach, Harley's greatest strengths are his ability to break down complex problems into manageable and simple steps and provide clear and concise guidance and instruction. Harley believes that the key to helping students succeed is to provide them with the tools and knowledge they need to tackle any challenge. He is passionate about helping students understand and overcome any obstacles they may face. Harley is an excellent communicator and listener and can clearly convey his thoughts and ideas to students in a way that is easy for them to understand. He is also patient and supportive and is committed to helping Quad applicants achieve their goals. Harley welcomes the opportunity to work with you and help you on your journey to success.
Applicants Harley has recently coached have gotten accepted at Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Brown University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Duke University, University of Washington, and the University of Michigan.
In his spare time, Harley enjoys a variety of hobbies and activities that allow him to relax and unwind. Cooking is one of his favorites, and he loves trying out new recipes and experimenting with different cuisines. He also enjoys writing and reading.
We’re dedicated to equipping New Zealanders with the support, knowledge, and skills necessary to traverse US/UK application processes. Our extensive network of admissions counselors is passionate about student success, ensuring your documents exceed the expectations of top American and British schools. Quad Education’s support is truly comprehensive, including school selection guidance, discovering your most impactful academic/extracurricular experiences, essay editing, interview prep, and more.
Applying to schools abroad as a student in New Zealand isn’t easy. That’s why Quad Education strives to make the process simpler, with original project plans and timelines built to align with your schedule, needs, and aspirations. Our plans ensure you always know what’s coming next and when to submit application materials while minimizing stress.
Polishing your application package includes discovering your unique application narrative. We make uncovering your most meaningful experiences and traits easier with our specialized persona assessment, designed to help us find your most compelling stories. Your counselor will help you brainstorm and create intriguing essays highlighting your candidacy. We help New Zealand students edit their work to perfection while we assess writing for its impact, word choice, sentence structure, tone, and grammar/punctuation.
Our US/UK interview coaches provide high-level instruction to New Zealand students to help them ace admissions interviews. You’ll participate in mock interviews with your coach, answering questions comparable to those you’d be asked at top UK/US institutions, including Ivy League schools and Oxbridge. Your coach will provide concrete feedback to help you improve your delivery, tone, answers, and overall performance.
No matter where you’re based in New Zealand, our college consulting services are available to help you accomplish your college goals! You can work with admission consultants in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, and beyond. Our expert college insight, personalized guidance, and insider strategies are available to students in all areas of New Zealand!
Applying to schools in the United States and the United Kingdom as an international student can be a lengthy process. While we recommend working on your application at least three months before deadlines, we acknowledge that it may take many students more time to produce a polished product.
Keep in mind that applying to schools abroad means learning more about admissions requirements, completing all application documents, engaging recommenders, writing detailed essays, and more. A stellar US or UK university application isn’t built in a day!
Students in New Zealand can apply to Cambridge and Oxford Unversity but can only submit applications to one or the other. Choosing the right schools can be difficult, but your counselor can help you determine which UK universities meet your educational and professional goals best.
Yes, we’re happy to help you craft US and UK applications, no matter which schools you have on your list.
Quad Education’s team understands how to strategically position students in New Zealand as competitive applicants. Our admissions experts bring a wealth of insider knowledge and mentorship experience with them to each interaction. These insights help you craft a competitive application that shows UK and US admissions committees why you’d be a great addition to the class.
Our counselors are well-connected and stay updated on changes in admissions processes, ensuring the insights they provide are timely and specific. Additionally, Quad’s support spans the entire admissions lifecycle. When you work with us, you receive high-level assistance at every step in the process.
We strive to work with only the most knowledgeable, talented, and compassionate admissions counselors. Our team has been carefully assembled to assure its excellence—we want to ensure all New Zealand students receive the best possible experience. We only work with 2.5% of admissions counselors we talk to each year; click here to read more!
Quad Education is here for you, no matter what your application needs are. Our one-on-one virtual delivery is convenient for students, no matter where they are in the world. Your counselor will assist you with all application components, from identifying your best-fit schools and developing a recommendation letter strategy to editing essays and preparing for interviews.
Yes, we help students apply to many US universities. Whether you want to apply to Stanford, MIT, Northwestern, or Johns Hopkins, we’re here to help!
Yes, we help students in New Zealand apply to other UK universities besides Oxbridge.
Work with our expert UK/US admissions counselors to differentiate your profile years before you plan to apply. Plan for your future early and receive strategic edits on UCAS/Common App documents before submission.
Learn MoreNot sure what you need? Speak with an enrollment team member