Krystal received a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance at Colorado State University and pursued a Master’s in Economics following her undergraduate degree. She has 15+ years of admissions experience and has served as an Alumni and Scholarship Program Fellow and Coordinator at the Boettcher Foundation’s full-ride merit scholarship program and as a Leadership Coach for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. In these roles, she ran informational sessions for high school graduates, reviewed applications including resumes, short answer questions, essay questions, counselor recommendations, and teacher letters of recommendation, interviewed final candidates, and made final acceptance decisions. Students she has coached have been accepted into prestigious institutions, including MIT, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Stanford, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and many others. 

Krystal is a prestigious scholarship expert, having graduated from several summer programs fully funded by the National Coca-Cola, Boettcher, Intel, Rotary, Masonic, Scientific Education, and Research Institute Scholarships, the President’s Leadership Program, and Honors Undergraduate Research Scholarships. She has also written and received multiple multi-thousand-dollar grants to conduct and present her scientific research at international conferences. She has led product marketing teams for Coca-Cola, partnered with university admissions, and spearheaded programming for state-wide scholarship programs. 

Krystal is passionate about giving students the tools they need to succeed and holds a strong belief that knowledge is potential power. She loves helping students identify their pain points and utilize creative problem-solving to enhance outcomes as they navigate the college application process. By helping students at this stage in their lives, she helps them achieve their educational goals in pursuit of their career aspirations to help them build happy and successful lives. Krystal is extremely passionate about resume building, telling her students’ unique stories, and helping them find the university of their dreams. 

Krystal thrives on making the application experience enjoyable for Quad applicants while still holding a sense of accountability and making it one of the best experiences of their lives. In addition to helping her students gain acceptance to top universities, she has coached, counseled, and worked with college students who have successfully navigated and accepted prestigious scholarships, including Fulbright, Coca-Cola, Gates, Marshall, Rhodes, Dell, Goldwater, and Boettcher. Krystal is passionate about giving students the tools they need to succeed.

When Krystal isn’t coaching, she enjoys teaching Aqua Zumba, mountain biking, SCUBA diving, and painting large murals.

Laila earned a BA from Brown University before pursuing two Master’s degrees from New York Medical College and George Washington University, where she was awarded the GWU Dean’s Scholarship. Laila has worked as an epidemiologist for over three years and has years of admissions consulting experience. Students she has worked with have been accepted to top schools, such as Brown and Johns Hopkins, and have won prestigious awards, such as the President's Volunteer Service Award and the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award.

Laila is passionate about coaching college applicants because she loves helping them uncover their passions, explore their unique strengths, and define a vision for their future that aligns with their true selves. It brings her immense joy to be part of their journey during this transformative period, guiding them through the growth and self-discovery process.

As a counselor, Laila’s strengths lie in her ability to build trust with students, creating a strong foundation for collaboration. She is an excellent listener who knows how to respond to students’ needs, concerns, and aspirations. She excels at mentoring, offering guidance and encouragement that empowers students to recognize their strengths and navigate challenges confidently. Additionally, Laila is a skilled storybuilder, helping students craft compelling narratives that weave together their past experiences, present goals, and future aspirations into a cohesive, inspiring vision.

When she is not coaching, Laila loves swimming, hiking, cooking, and baking. 

Laura holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and a Master of Arts from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Laura has also served as an Alumni Interviewer, conducting interviews for prospective students. She has helped many students gain admission to top-tier schools, including Tufts, Harvard, Northeastern, and UCSD. Professionally, Laura has served as an International Proogram Specialist at NASA. 

Her greatest learning from this experience is that applicants can spend so much time trying to fit into a mold of what they think an admissions team is looking for that they need to remember to value what they already have. The things that make them a different kind of candidate, things that they constantly try to make up for, are the part of them that has the most value to a program or school community. 

Laura understands the immense pressure students face during the application process and has developed effective strategies for managing stress and staying grounded. One of Laura's greatest strengths is her ability to help students articulate their unique strengths and accomplishments. She strives to act as a supportive mirror, helping applicants see themselves in a new light and present their best selves to admissions committees. She is highly adaptable and tailors her approach to meet each client's specific needs. Laura values regular feedback and makes adjustments as necessary to ensure that students are making progress toward their goals. 

As a coach, Laura excels at helping applicants who may feel stuck or overwhelmed with the application process. She understands that applying to college can be daunting, and her role is to help applicants see the light at the end of the tunnel. She keeps students positive while validating what a challenge this can be. Laura aims to remind students that the application process is the first step in their next big adventure. Too often, the process can lead to burnout in students who are already working hard in other areas of their life. Thus, she aims to get applicants into great colleges and ensure they start at their dream school with energy and excitement. 

In her free time, Laura enjoys pursuing her passion for improv and teaching. She is also an avid outdoors enthusiast and loves to explore new cities, whether by mountain biking, diving, or simply strolling around town. When the weather isn't conducive to outdoor activities, she is content to spend time at home with a beloved pet and a good movie.

Lawrence has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a Master’s from UC Berkeley. Professionally, Lawrence has served as an Informatics Specialist, contributing to California’s COVID-19 response at the California Department of Public Health. 

Lawrence’s passion for coaching stemmed from his own experience of applying to college, where he had little support in navigating the application process. He looks forward to the opportunity to make this process easier for Quad applicants, turning a daunting process into a manageable one. Lawrence is excited to work as a team with students; however, the heavy lifting is on them: At the end of the process, he wants Quad applicants to feel accomplished from all of their hard work!

Lawrence’s greatest strength as a coach is project management; he helps students and parents by breaking down the daunting task of applying to college into digestible pieces, creating a time-bound and manageable undertaking. He also excels at helping students recognize their strengths and convey them in their application materials.

Applicants Lawrence has recently coached have gotten accepted into several top-tier universities, including UC Berkeley, Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan.

In his spare time, Lawrence enjoys reading, hiking, camping, swimming, and learning new programming tools.

Lena has a Masters from the New York Institute of Technology. She has a wealth of admissions experience, serving as an Application Reader at New York University, the University of San Francisco, and the University of California, San Diego. She has read thousands of applications throughout her career and has participated in or contributed to Diversity Committees at colleges such as Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, and NYU.

As a proud first-generation college graduate, Lena is passionate about guiding students through this transformative journey. Recognizing that many students are navigating higher education with newfound autonomy, she finds joy in helping them make informed decisions about their future. Lena is known for her empathetic listening skills and adept problem-solving qualities, making her an invaluable resource for students and their families.

Lena's executive functioning skills ensure a seamless flow of work throughout the college application process, a critical element for success in this complex endeavor. Her mediation style has been commended for its effectiveness in navigating diverse stakeholder relationships. Having reviewed thousands of applications throughout her career, Lena has honed her ability to discern students' unique strengths and provide nuanced guidance for crafting standout applications.

Lena's track record speaks volumes about her effectiveness as a college admissions coach. Students Lena has recently coached have been accepted into several top-25 universities, liberal arts colleges, and the University of Cambridge.

In her free time, Lena is an avid runner and yogi and loves running her small business.

Lisa holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University. She is a licensed school counselor with a wealth of knowledge and over two decades of experience working with students. She also has extensive experience providing individual counseling to students and families through the academic and college planning and placement process. 

Lisa's passion for her work lies in nurturing and guiding students through the transformative journey of self-discovery. Her commitment to assisting young minds in identifying their strengths, acknowledging their weaknesses, nurturing their passions, and charting potential life goals is unwavering. Lisa's genuine enthusiasm encompasses every facet of the college admissions process, from the initial acquaintance with students to the art of portraying their unique qualities effectively to an admissions committee to the exhilarating moment when an application is ready for submission. She is wholly dedicated to every step of this exhilarating journey.

Known for her exceptional ability to establish meaningful connections with the students she serves, Lisa goes the extra mile to help them put their best foot forward in their college endeavors. Her innate counseling abilities assure students that they can openly share their concerns, and she is committed to working collaboratively to address any challenges that may arise. Her sterling reputation is rooted in her capacity to alleviate the stress and anxiety often associated with college planning and placement, going to great lengths to foster strong relationships with students and their families.

Lisa's track record boasts numerous success stories, with the students she has guided securing admission to prestigious institutions such as Cornell University, UPenn, Yale University, Harvard University, and Columbia University.

Beyond her professional commitments, Lisa revels in quality time spent with her two daughters, her parents, and her cherished canine companions. When she isn’t enjoying a family gathering, you can find her unwinding with Netflix.

Mackenzie holds a Bachelor’s from Occidental College and earned her teaching credential at 

California State University. She also earned a CLEAR teaching certificate from Concordia University. Mackenzie previously served as an Admissions Counselor at Caltech, recruiting internationally and reviewing students’ files. She has a decade of teaching experience and has helped many students approach the college admissions process. Students she has coached have been accepted into several prestigious institutions, including MIT and UC Berkeley.

Mackenzie’s passion lies in helping students and families navigate the complex college admission process because she understands how getting into the right school makes people unstoppable in their academic and professional careers.

Mackenzie’s greatest strengths include being an excellent listener and helping people see the best versions of themselves. As a teacher, Mackenzie spends all day inspiring people to believe in their capacity, and she enjoys helping Quad students do the same. Mackenzie also excels at helping students with organization and prioritization.

In her free time, Mackenzie plays strategy board games, goes on hikes, and has fun chasing after her two small children. 

Margarita has an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is driven by a deep passion for guiding aspiring students through the transformative journey of college. Recognizing college as a pivotal life-changing experience, Margarita finds fulfillment in assisting applicants in discovering the ideal college environment to flourish, grow as individuals, and realize their dreams.

With a steadfast commitment to uncovering the core of each individual's story, Margarita thrives on helping applicants craft compelling narratives that resonate with college admissions officers. Her enthusiasm lies in delving into the unique experiences of students and strategically positioning them to shine brightly in the competitive admissions landscape.

Bringing a wealth of experience as a marketing executive with years of business acumen, Margarita's strengths lie in skillfully marketing individuals and their stories to present them in the best possible light for college admissions. She views the college application process as a substantial exercise in personal marketing, emphasizing the importance of standing out in a crowd. Margarita eagerly looks forward to helping applicants articulate the most fitting and impactful stories from their life experiences.

Margarita's track record as a college admissions coach speaks volumes, with students she has coached securing acceptances from prestigious institutions such as Harvard and Stanford.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Margarita enjoys the thrill of sports, particularly tennis and pickleball.

Marina received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. After her undergraduate studies, Marina received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She has since worked as a research analyst for some of the world's most reputed companies including Yahoo!, The Kraft Heinz Company, Hyatt Hotels, and Facebook.

Additionally, Marina has participated as a member of the admissions committee at the University of Chicago and as an interviewer at both UChicago and UPenn. Within these positions, she reviewed college application packages and interviewed candidates, providing recommendations to the final admissions committee. She has coached many college applicants who have achieved admission at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago, among others.

Marina is passionate about helping her students determine their strengths and bring them to life through a well-thought-out application strategy. She loves to help her Quad students tell their unique stories through their applications and is energized by helping students create something they are proud of.

Marina believes the skills students can develop during college application can be life-changing. The application process allows candidates to honestly reflect and craft powerful and clear stories that are meaningful for their college applications, future careers, and personal lives. Marina has had many wonderful mentors that helped her find her path, and she dedicates herself to doing the same for her students.

In her spare time, Marina makes children's books that sing in different languages. She also loves working on puzzles with her husband and two young kids, going for hikes with their dog, and travelling.

Marina's Pro Tip?

Being honest about our failures can be incredibly powerful! Dedicating time to reflection and building self-awareness is one of the keys to a stand-out application and to getting the most out of the college experience.

Marisa earned a Bachelor's degree from Yale University and an MPH and JD from the University of Michigan. She was a part of the admissions team at Yale University, where she wore several hats. Marisa was a recruitment coordinator, senior interviewer, and senior presenter at Yale.

During this time, she organized admitted students' days, shared institutional thought leadership with prospective families, organized and conducted campus tours, interviewed prospective students, and subsequently provided input on admissions decisions.

Through her experiences, Marisa has learned that there is no perfect never-heard-before answer; the best answers are honest answers. She brings this philosophy to Quad as she helps students craft unique answers. Marisa's main strengths as a coach are her ability to help candidates stay organized, identify and highlight character traits through writing (i.e., showing, not telling), and patience as she works with students to perfect every part of the college application. Marisa enjoys baking, hiking, and spending time with furry friends in her free time.