Cole is a graduate of Stanford University, where he obtained both his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. He also obtained a second Master’s at the Yenching Academy of Peking University.
Cole believes the college application process is an opportunity for students to crystallize what matters to them, what makes them unique, and what they hope to gain from the college experience. While Cole himself was applying to undergrad and grad school, he experienced this self-affirming impact of college applications. Cole understands that applying to college can be stressful. Still, it is also an incredibly exciting time and an amazing opportunity for students to think about what makes them who they are today. Professionally, Cole has worked at some of the most prestigious research institutions in the world, including the Center for Strategic and International Relations in Washington, DC. Currently, he works in tech policy with a focus on AI and other critical and emerging technologies, which allows him to further hone the analytical skills needed to help students identify and accomplish their goals.
As a coach, Cole enjoys working with applicants to determine the most important 'watershed' moments that have shaped them. His strengths include: helping students incorporate past experiences and demonstrated interests to show, not tell; outlining a clear schedule with deliverables; creating a manageable application process; and creating a warm, welcoming environment in which applicants feel comfortable sharing their worries and concerns. Additionally, Cole prides himself on his ability to empathize and connect with applicants to create a stress-free and open working relationship. Cole looks forward to applying his expertise and advice to help support Quad applicants in this journey!
Students Cole has recently coached have gotten into NYU, Stanford University, McGill University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Emory University.
Cole grew up in the Bay Area in California, the DC area, and Moscow, Russia. English is his native language, but he also speaks and reads Chinese at the intermediate-high level. Cole enjoys cooking, playing basketball, hiking, and listening to podcasts in his free time.
Cole’s Pro Tip?
It’s essential to craft an intentional, revealing, and unique narrative throughout your application that remains absolutely true to who you are and what you have done.
Corey has a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center. In addition, they have an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. Corey has served as an Interviewer at Georgetown University, where they interviewed and scored applicants. Professionally, Corey has served as an Attorney with over fifteen years of experience in public policy, including a decade of work in sexual and reproductive health and LGBTQ rights.
Corey’s interest in coaching stemmed from their own experience of applying to college as a first-generation student at a public school. They had to navigate the process solo and quickly became an expert among their friends. Corey’s guidance counselors even hung their application materials on the office walls as a template for other students! Since then, Corey has coached many students on their educational journey - whether as a teacher, an alum providing outreach, an employer mentoring interns, or a community volunteer working with youth programs.
As a coach, Corey thoroughly enjoys getting to know Quad applicants and learning about their goals. They pride themselves on being a good listener and motivating students to create what they hope to. Corey addresses any roadblocks honestly and works with students to find solutions together. Corey’s greatest strength as a coach is their approach to the application; they work with students to tackle it one step at a time while also planning ahead. This puts Quad applicants at ease, allowing them to enjoy applying to college with as little stress as possible. Corey is also a big fan of backward planning. They encourage applicants to start with what they are passionate about and what they can imagine spending their life doing - and working backward from there. At the end of the day, college admissions is very important, but it's only the first step on the road to your future.
Writing and reading are two of Corey’s main passions. They have contributed to two forthcoming books, but they also love to write just for them. Corey also loves spending time with their family, gaming, and traveling.
Corey’s Pro Tip?
An applicant might be identical on paper to many other students, but there is a lot that is unique about you that can come out in different ways in this process. What is your story? Why is this college perfect for you, and what can YOU offer to the college? Answering these questions is easily worth as much as a test score or GPA.
Darryl acquired nearly 20 years of experience working in college admissions before leading a successful college counseling office for an independent secondary school for the past 12 years. Previously Darryl was Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Tufts University, where he gained valuable insight into the world of highly selective college admissions. Darryl began his career at Union College (NY), his alma mater, in 1992, where he started as an admissions counselor and rose to the leadership role of Associate Dean.
Darryl has nationally recognized expertise and industry insights in every aspect of the college admission process. He has been featured in several admissions publications throughout his career, including the NY Times best-selling book, “Who Gets in and Why.” Darryl has an extensive network of college admissions professionals with whom he continually collaborates.
He has sat in on admissions selection for various highly selective institutions, including colleges in the Ivy League and NESCAC, like Dartmouth College and Middlebury College. Darryl has also served on selection committees for prestigious scholarships at Davidson College and Lafayette College. He regularly trains new admissions professionals and conducts presentations and workshops for organizations, including The College Board and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
At Quad, Darryl is passionate about sharing his knowledge to make the college admission process more accessible and less mysterious. He has a special interest in how the admission process is perceived from the student and parent perspective and is known for putting families at ease.
David is a former admissions officer at Brown University who is currently based in South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University with a dual concentration in History and Biomedical Ethics. David has had a long and successful career both in and outside the admissions world. After working for a large law firm in Washington DC for a year, he attended Cornell Law School graduating with a Juris Doctor in Public Law. Following his graduation from law school, David served in the United States Navy as a Judge Advocate for three years on active duty while stationed in Great Lakes, Illinois, and Newport, Rhode Island. David worked as an attorney for the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service following his military service. After that, he practiced immigration law for over ten years.
After a long legal career, David transitioned into his true passion: higher education to help undergraduate students find engaging internships and post-graduation positions and assist them with applications to top colleges. He started at Northeastern University, heading the pre-law office, where he made decisions on which pre-law students to admit and helped them get accepted at top law schools. In addition, he taught hundreds of international students in a professionalism and career readiness course designed to prepare them for working in the United States.
Following his work at the illustrious Northeastern University admissions office, David ran a program for student veterans at the University of Massachusetts Boston, helping students prepare and gain admittance to highly selective colleges. Having found his niche in providing one-on-one advising to students, David returned to his Alma Mater to work as an Admission Specialist for the Brown University admission office. At Brown, David was responsible for evaluating thousands of applications and making admissions committee recommendations. In addition, he was also responsible for all merit scholarship reviews and has an in-depth understanding of what highly selective schools such as Brown are looking for when making scholarship decisions.
Outside of work, David tries to keep up with his three amazing children, the oldest in graduate school in Shark Biology and youngest attending college in Film Studies. He often spends weekends exploring the Carolina Lowlands and nearby Islands for unique beaches and foods. Originally from the Boston area, David is a lifelong Red Sox fan and continues to follow the team closely. David is currently trying his hand at starting a small orchard with the hopes of someday making small-batch jams and wines.
Demi has a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science & Policy with a Minor in Political Science from Duke University. She has also earned a JD from The University of North Carolina School of Law. Professionally, Demi has worked closely with the Academic Advising office at Emory School of Law. Her most significant learning from this experience is that there is no perfect candidate alone; each candidate comes together with the incoming student body to form a great class. Some candidates had more experience while others had a better academic record, but the incoming class was always whole.
Demi's passion for coaching stemmed from the help she received when applying to college herself. Based on her environment and situation, she did not have the resources to go to college. However, she had mentors who helped her at every step; they encouraged her to participate in pre-college programs she wasn't sure she qualified for, and they encouraged her to sign up for competitions she never dreamed of. Most importantly, her mentors believed there was no limit to what she could do and were willing to get her where she needed to go. Demi understands the difficulties of applying to college, and her goal is to help applicants have options on where they go to college and beyond.
Demi's greatest strengths as a coach include helping Quad applicants look through their experiences in a non-intrusive way to see the best version of themselves and articulate it in their application materials. She is also a great listener and takes extra steps to ensure the entire family feels involved and comfortable during the process.
When Demi isn't coaching, she enjoys drinking international teas, gardening, hiking, and spending time with her husband and cat.
Dominique earned a BA in anthropology with a minor in Hispanic studies from Dartmouth College, while completing STEM coursework required for the pre-medical track. After completing her undergraduate studies, she was selected for the prestigious Teach for America program. She then completed a Master of Arts in teaching with a concentration on special education from Relay Graduate School of Education. She has four years of teaching experience and many years of admissions consulting experience.
Dominique served as an interviewer for Dartmouth, submitting reports about students’ character, academic and extracurricular engagement, and overall professionalism as part of the admissions committee's assessments. She advised a group of students throughout their four years of high school, assisting with class and extracurricular selection, SAT prep, essay editing, and scholarship applications. She also mentored them on how to choose the best schools to attend based on award letters, prestige, major-specific programming, and school culture fit.
Over the years, she has helped students get into top institutions such as UCLA, UC Berkeley, Emory University, Rice University, Northwestern University, and more. She has also guided students to achieve remarkable milestones, such as earning spots in the US Presidential Scholars Program, becoming National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, participating in UC Davis Pre-Med Programs, and securing positions as counselors at Sunrise Day Camp.
As a first-generation college student and former teacher and advisor in the public high school setting, Dominique understands the immense value of having a dedicated guide through the complexities of the college admissions process. Aware of the anxiety that often accompanies this journey, she enjoys helping students and families break it down into manageable steps. She believes every student has a story that can bring their application to life and loves helping them craft compelling and authentic narratives to complement their test scores and grades. She has extensive experience mentoring students who are interested in STEM-focused careers, such as medicine.
Dominique excels at providing personalized support to each student. She begins by understanding their family’s background and experience with the college admissions process and identifying their specific concerns. From there, she develops a tailored plan that aligns with the student’s and family’s expectations and goals, and she continually checks in to ensure they’re receiving the precise help they need. As a coach, her greatest strengths lie in helping students refine their stories through multiple rounds of editing and feedback on their essays. She guides students from brainstorming to the final draft, dedicating significant time to this process. Her detail-oriented and direct feedback is always accompanied by explanations to help students improve with each essay they write.
Outside of coaching, Dominique enjoys weight lifting, hiking, running, snowboarding, traveling, and attending concerts in her free time. She also likes listening to indie pop/rock music, classic rock, or electronic music and spending time with her family, friends, and golden retriever, Norma.
Dominique’s Pro Tip?
Telling a compelling story in your personal statement is very important! There are certain notes your essay must hit to score highly in all of the different buckets that admissions committees use to score it.
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Emmanuel earned a Master’s degree from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. He has spent the last eight years as a college and career counselor, collegiate seminar teacher, and 12th-grade advisor at Noble Schools, a nonprofit organization running 17 charter public high schools in Chicago.
With nearly ten years of coaching experience, Emmanuel has helped 1,600+ students navigate their college admissions journeys. Students he has coached have been accepted into Northwestern University, Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Notre Dame, among others.
Emmanuel received Noble Schools' Distinguished Teacher Award for the 2023 cohort and is now a member of the Noble Schools' Board of Directors. He was the first college counselor and college seminar teacher to receive this very selective award, which acknowledges instructors with excellent track records for teaching and results.
Emmanuel’s passion for coaching stems from his love of helping students and families make informed decisions. He enjoys walking students through the entire application process from beginning to end, including breaking down financial aid award letters for students and their families. His desire is to provide a safe space for students to be vulnerable and build strong, healthy, and trusting relationships with adults. He seeks to learn from students as much as they learn from him, realizing the knowledge and greatness they bring to college communities.
Emmanuel’s greatest strengths are his relationship-building skills, listening, organization, essay editing abilities, problem-solving, FAFSA knowledge, navigating college portals, interpersonal communication, and constructive feedback. Furthermore, he excels at supporting students in graduating from high school and successfully transitioning into college and careers.
When he’s not working, Emmanuel enjoys a variety of activities. He attends concerts, goes to the movies, bike rides, drives down Dusable Lake Shore Drive, engages in community service, and travels.
Admissions Counselor - Brown University
Gabriel has a BA in Economics and International Relations from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. At Brown, Gabriel was a leader within the Brown International Scholarship Committee, partnering with the Admissions Office in efforts to recruit international students and source funding for international student scholarships. In working with the Admissions Office, Gabriel provided application feedback to numerous prospective students from around the world and different socioeconomic backgrounds and helped them prepare for interviews. Gabriel is also an experienced alumni interviewer for Brown, interviewing a variety of prospective students from Latin America for admission. Beyond undergraduate admissions, Gabriel also possesses extensive experience in graduate admissions for top MBA programs. Through these experiences, Gabriel has worked with dozens of students and gained extensive training in application development and review and interview coaching.
As a college admissions consultant, Gabriel seeks to gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of students' stories, strengths, and interests to design a compelling applicant persona and coach students to write structured, thoughtful, and authentic essays. Throughout the process, Gabriel works on building meaningful connections with students and their families to build trusting relationships.
Gabriel has also built nearly a decade of experience in strategic positioning, storytelling, and persuasive writing through his roles across finance, management consulting, and branding at companies like Goldman Sachs, LVMH, and Oliver Wyman.
Gabriel is based in New York and loves to exercise, play volleyball and cook in his free time. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Gabriel has a Bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s from New York University. With over a decade of experience as a counselor, he has helped over 3,000 students navigate the college application process, receiving acceptances from the country’s top universities, including Cornell, Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Duke, and Stanford.
As a coach, Gabriel leaves no stone unturned in the process. He is incredibly passionate about working with students and their families students to develop and execute their college application strategy. His experience working in college recruitment sparked his mission to work directly with students and families throughout the application process. He is deeply inspired by watching students grow as they find their best fit and gain acceptance to their dream schools.
Gabriel’s greatest strength as a coach is his ability to help students and their families understand the application process and help them manage expectations. He understands that navigating this process with care and understanding can make or break the application process for families. Gabriel also excels at helping Quad students create well-balanced college lists and present themselves as ideal candidates through essay building, editing, and polishing.
When Gabriel isn’t coaching, he enjoys spending time with his family, working out, and working on home projects.
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.
Michael graduated summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. He owes much of his success as a tutor to his time at UMichigan and his rigorous course load. After achieving a 99th percentile score of 1530 on the SAT, Michael launched his tutoring career, guiding students nationwide to excel on both the SAT and ACT—he has over three years of tutoring experience.
Michael strongly believes that succeeding on the SAT and ACT is more than just studying content—it's learning how to think, especially on exams where the same concept could be tested hundreds of different ways.
As a coach, Micael excels at adapting his approach to their learning style. He is friendly, patient, and genuinely wants to see each student succeed. He ensures he is readily accessible and goes above and beyond to support students in achieving their academic goals.
In his free time, Michael enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and cross-country skiing. He is also an avid traveler and has visited Portugal three times.
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Alice holds a Bachelor's degree from UCLA and a Master's from The University of Chicago. With over seven years of tutoring experience, she has honed her skills in test preparation, specializing in the SAT and ACT.
Alice is a dedicated educator passionate about guiding students toward academic success. Having worked in various tutoring agencies since completing her undergraduate studies, she has developed a unique approach to instruction. Alice excels in connecting with students, whether in a classroom setting, small group, or one-on-one, both in-person and virtually. Her strength is breaking down complex problems into manageable steps, making even the most overwhelming tasks approachable.
Her goal extends beyond preparing students for tests; she strives to instill a deep understanding of the subject matter, ensuring students can apply these concepts beyond the classroom. With a motto of meeting students where they are, Alice is committed to guiding them through their academic journey, helping them achieve their desired test scores and beyond.
Outside of tutoring, if Alice isn't reading a book in one of the many cafes in the Chicagoland area, she is exploring the rich food and music scene Chicago has to offer. She likes to attend intimate shows and eat good food with good company!
University of Pennsylvania - Bachelor's
Matthew is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an accomplished academic tutor and college admissions consultant with a wealth of experience and a passion for helping students succeed. Matthew has achieved a perfect score on the ACT and SAT subject tests and specializes in the mathematics and science sections. He also serves as a tutor and teaching assistant in various STEM subjects, including data structures and algorithms, machine learning, linear algebra, and calculus.
Matthew’s achievements include qualifying for the American Invitational Math Exam (AIME) four times during high school. He also served as a teaching assistant for Olympiad math courses at a renowned summer camp and has a deep passion for teaching higher-level mathematics.
One of Matthew's most notable accolades is his recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar by the Department of Education, one of the highest honors awarded to only 161 high schoolers nationwide.
Outside of academics, Matthew currently works in quantitative trading. He can offer valuable insights and guidance to students interested in pursuing careers in quantitative finance and software engineering.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Matthew has lived in Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Australia, where he bartended, surfed, and coached tennis. He's passionate about finding personal development through traveling, and he’s also a creative enthusiast in electronic music production.
Duke University - Bachelor's
Saumya graduated from Duke University, where she received the AB Duke scholarship. She has over a decade of tutoring experience, mostly focused on the ACT and SAT. Saumya taught her first math class when she was 14 years old and has been tutoring ever since. Professionally, Saumya works at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a clinical researcher in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. She leads several initiatives to improve reproductive health equity, and in her free time, she is an adolescent health educator. Her passion for education and access to education drives everything she does.
Saumya started tutoring the SAT/ACT shortly after taking the tests herself in high school. While preparing for the exams, she learned tips and tricks that helped her "crack" the exams and wanted to pass this information on to others. Saumya believes there is a clear difference between understanding the content tested on the SAT/ACT and how to take the exam. Instead of just teaching "exam hacks," Saumya loves helping students understand the "why" behind the solution and then employing exam hacks to help them solve problems more quickly.
Saumya loves teaching and seeing students reach their "breakthrough" moment. She is excited to get to know Quad students and help them through this process!
Outside of professional pursuits, Saumya loves spending time with her dog, Mallard. Mallard is a 10-year-old rescue and has always had the name Mallard, but Saumya thinks he was named because of his duck noises. Mallard will sometimes say hi through Saumya's computer screen! Saumya also loves trying new coffee recipes, playing guitar, and singing.
Tersoo is pursuing a Bachelor’s from Princeton University, where he excels and consistently holds a 3.9+ GPA. He is deeply passionate about education and learning in his personal and professional life, having undergone training as a tutor at Princeton's Learning Center. He broke the 1500+ threshold on his first and only SAT attempt, so he’s no stranger to a rigorous, skill-based approach to preparing for this exam.
Tersoo has a rich understanding of learning psychology which he constantly leverages in his pursuit of studying Computer Architecture and Quantum Engineering. Above all, Tersoo takes the utmost pride in his work as an SAT tutor as he seeks to enrich his clients with knowledge on tackling the SAT conceptually and time-efficiently.
While Tersoo is deeply academic, aspiring to attain a PhD in Computer Architecture, he also holds many creative interests, notably in fashion, graphic design, music, and photography. Whenever he is back home in Calgary, one of his favorite activities is finding vintage clothing at his local Goodwill with friends. He also prides himself in physical health as an avid weightlifter and recreational athlete.
When Tersoo isn’t studying, drafting new pieces for his up-and-coming clothing brand, or listening to music, you'll find him attempting a new squat PR or playing pick-up soccer with grad students.
Emory University - Bachelor's
Gabriella holds a Bachelor’s degree from Emory University. She is an expert in SAT and ACT test prep and is experienced in tutoring students one-on-one and teaching SAT workshops.
Gabriella’s passion for tutoring grew while working part-time in elementary school classrooms as an undergraduate. Since then, she has been committed to supporting students in their academic growth and helping them achieve their goals.
Gabriella approaches test prep by targeting students’ weakest subject areas and arming them with the necessary strategies to improve their comprehension and pacing on the test. As a positive and patient tutor, she builds on students’ foundational knowledge while also building their confidence. Her goal is to convert her students into empowered test takers by providing them with all the tools and support they need to succeed. Gabriella’s methods have produced positive results and feedback from students with increased scores and confidence.
In her spare time, Gabriella enjoys reading, writing, singing, and spending quality time with friends.
A biomedical engineer by training, Zach developed a passion for global health and emergency medicine after becoming licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) through the United States NREMT. He has since worked with emergency medical response teams in Missouri, Arizona, and California, and earned certifications in FEMA Incident Command and Management Systems (IS-100/200/700) as well as EMS instruction through the National Association of EMS Educators. In 2018, Zach co-founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization LFR International, with the goal of alleviating the global burden of traumatic injury in low- and middle-income countries.
Since 2012, he has had experience with executive structuring and nonprofit management through Play it Forward , a 501(c)(3) organization, as a member of the Youth Advisory Board. He has developed several biomedical devices including a low-cost prosthetic, and a univentricular assist pump, as well as conducted metabolomics research at the UCLA Semel Institute of Neuroscience.
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
Undergrad: Amherst College
4th Year Medical Student at University of Michigan Medical School
I played cello on radio as part of an interview with WEMU about the University of Michigan Life Sciences Orchestra.
Whit is a 2020 graduate from the University of Michigan Medical School, where he was involved in student government, joined the Path of Excellence in Medical Ethics, and was Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan Journal of Medicine, among other activities.
Prior to medical school, he studied at Amherst College, earning a BA with Distinction while double-majoring in Mathematics and Economics. He conducted research at the University of Michigan's Michigan Cardiovascular Outcomes Research and Reporting Program (MCORRP), played in the Amherst Symphony Orchestra, and qualified for the NAQT National Tournament with Amherst College Quizbowl.
While in medical school, Whit decided to pursue a career in healthcare policy, electing not to continue to residency. While this puts him in a small minority of MDs without further clinical training, his nontraditional path affords a unique perspective on the key decisions facing students who may not know exactly what they want as they head into the medical school applications process.
Whit enjoys board gaming, crossword puzzles, and cooking.
Medical School: UCSF
Undergrad: Harvard College
MD Candidate at UCSF
I learned how to cut my own hair several years ago, and I also help cut other people's hair occasionally! A minor dream of mine is to run an informal barbershop for my colleagues when I work in a hospital/clinic.
Maxwell is currently working as a medical assistant in Massachusetts during his gap year while applying to MD programs. Maxwell studied Computational Neuroscience with a minor in Ethnicity, Migration, Rights at Harvard for undergrad. His teaching experience started in high school as a teaching assistant and tutor for chemistry, biology, and math courses. In college, he was a course assistant for an advanced integrated science class and a tutor/afterschool counselor for children in Boston's Chinatown. Maxwell has over a year of MCAT teaching experience, both working with students 1-on-1 and co-teaching larger classes.
He's excited to make the MCAT at least a little more fun and engaging by thinking about conceptual connections and real-world applications! Maxwell's also happy to answer any questions about applying to medical school as a first-generation college and medical student.
Medical School: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D School of Medicine
Undergrad: Grand Valley State University
MD Candidate at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D School of Medicine
I am serving as a Christian missionary in Spain this Spring. I am fluent in Spanish, and love hiking, running, craft coffee, and studying theology.
In December of 2021, Kayla graduated with distinction from The Fredrick Meijer Honors College at Grand Valley State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science with an emphasis in Microbiology and a minor in Spanish. While there, she was accepted as a junior at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D School of Medicine, through the early acceptance partnership (EAP) track. She was the only student in her cohort to be accepted to the EAP class of 2026.
Kayla earned the Grand Valley Award for Excellence and The Presidential Scholarship, which covered the full cost of attendance. She was nominated for the I Am Grand Valley Award, which highlights students’ commitment to leadership and on-campus initiative, three years in a row. In addition, she was selected by the faculty of the Department of Biomedical Science as a graduate of distinction - an honor attributed to less than 2% of the graduating class.
During her time as a student, Kayla served as the president of the Ethics Bowl Team, and was proud to represent her university at national competition twice. She was actively involved in undergraduate research, and completed her honors thesis on role of carbonate in mediating yeast to hyphae conversion in the pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. She then went on to conduct immunology research at The University of Iowa.
Kayla has been a tutor for over 6 years, and is passionate about crafting personalize success plans for her students. After taking the MCAT in September, 2020, she went to develop a six-week study program, which she taught online during the height of the COVID19 pandemic. She also offered numerous one night CARS crash course sessions, in addition to tutoring college biology, microbiology and genetics. She was the top tutor at The Grand Valley Tutoring Center in 2021, having conducted over 250 sessions in one semester. She has served a diverse range of students, including veterans, adult-learners, and those with disabilities.
Once in medical school, Kayla plans to pursue an academic distinction in global medicine and public health, as well as continue research in infectious disease and immunology.
Medical School: Perelman School of Medicine at UPenn
Undergrad: Columbia University
MD Candidate at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
I am an avid baker and love trying out new restaurants/dessert spots! I am a classical pianist and amateur biker!
Katherine graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2020. She is currently in her first year at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Katherine was inducted in the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi, and received the Robert Edward Reiss Award in Chemical Engineering for outstanding promise in biochemical engineering.
In college, Katherine conducted clinical research at the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center and the New York Presbyterian Neurological Intensive Care Unit. Katherine was a teaching assistant for chemistry lab and lead a clinical research program at the Mt. Sinai hospital system. She also served as president for her Greek organization and was a pianist in a classical chamber ensemble.
In medical school, Katherine has already joined clinical research projects, community clinics, and interest groups. She is interested in pursuing a career in a surgical subspecialty. Katherine is actively involved in the admissions process as an interviewer and has spent much of her time mentoring others applying to medical school. Over the years through tutoring, teaching and mentoring, Katherine has been passionate about helping others. Having just recently gone through the medical school admissions process herself, she is dedicated to helping others navigate applying, and she is very excited to work with students.
Medical school - UT Southwestern Medical Center
Undergrad - University of Kansas
Grad student at University of Pennsylvania
I was the ranked as the fourth-best pole vaulter in the state of Kansas when I was a senior in high school.
Joseph grew up in a small town in Kansas, where he was the only student from his graduating class of ~70 to “make the leap” to a legitimate, 4-year university.
Fast forward four years: Joseph graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Neurobiology, addended with an awkwardly long list of honors. For instance, in his junior and senior years, he received the annual award recognizing the biology department’s top student, per faculty consensus. In addition, he was also honored with more than a handful of semi-redundant accolades for “excellence in biomedical research”. Outside of the biology department, Joseph was named as 1 of 20 University Scholars in my graduating class of >5,000 students. Concurrently, he worked jobs as a teaching assistant in biochemistry and physiology courses, and played an integral role in establishing a pre-med advisor faculty position within the university’s honors program. Joseph also published a first-author study elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying a phenomenon of paradoxically prolonged vasoconstriction largely responsible for downstream infarctions secondary to vascular insult.
Three months after graduating from KU, he began medical school at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. This is where Joseph felt he really refined a lot of the studying and test-taking strategies he expects to explore en route to masterminding an individualized game plan with every nuance uniquely dedicated to identifying and exploiting the challenges (aka, opportunities) wedged between you and your full potential- which, in his experience, frequently exceeds students’ initial goals.
He has also been an MCAT tutor for three years; helping over hundreds of students crush the overly lengthy exam and, ultimately, get into medical school. All these years of MCAT tutoring have uniquely positioned him to guide future physicians along what is ubiquitously regarded as the most treacherous segment on the truly lifelong journey of medical education.
Undergrad: University of Alabama
Master's: University of Alabama
Research Specialist at Medical University of South Carolina
When I am not working, I am working on my antique truck, cycling, cooking, or watching Alabama football!
Harrison graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Alabama in the spring of 2021. During his four years in college, Harrison completed his undergraduate degree while simultaneously enrolled in an accelerated master's program, enabling him to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Master of Science in Biology in the same four-year stint.
Additionally, Harrison was awarded the University of Alabama’s Presidential Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship; the Grantland and Louise Scholarship for outstanding performance as a microbiology student; and full funding for his graduate research project. Throughout his time in college, Harrison was both involved in and led a variety of integrative research projects that investigated topics such as deforestation and the neuroendocrine stress response, sex change in hermaphroditic fish, and the interplay of disease and microbiome assemblage.
His participation in these projects earned him first, second, and third authorship in prep on three different publications. Outside of the classroom and laboratory, Harrison co-founded an organ donation awareness club, obtained an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license while enrolled in classes, and tutored local students ages K-12. Over the course of his preparation for the MCAT, Harrison focused on collecting a variety of high-value, low-cost resources and crafted a study plan that was unique to his needs.
After achieving his goal score in the 97th percentile on the MCAT, he decided to pursue tutoring as a professional endeavor. Harrison’s tutoring system centers around open communication with his students that allows them to work together to diagnose problems, curate detailed MCAT preparation plans, and compile pointed content review. He looks forward to working with you, side-by-side, as you achieve your goal score and gain admission into your dream medical school!
Undergrad: St. John's College
Full-time GRE tutor
I perform with the sketch comedy group Punchline Loading in New York City.
Audra is a GMAT/GRE tutor based in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of experience teaching hundreds of students both one-on-one and in the classroom, Audra helps business school and graduate school applicants maximize their testing performance with personalized instruction focused on their areas of need. Audra has achieved a 98th-percentile score of 750 on the GMAT and a 335/340 on GRE. She loves sharing her knowledge and helping each client reach their potential!
Audra received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland in 2013. The degree is equivalent to a double major in Philosophy and the History of Mathematics and Science, and a double minor in Classics and Comparative Literature. She is currently attending the online Master of Computer and Information Technology program at the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Audra enjoys reading and performing with the sketch comedy group Punchline Loading... in New York City.
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Undergrad: Northwestern University
3rd Year Medical Student at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Cinical Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General Hospital
I once lost my wallet on a trip to DC and had to beg 3 TSA agents to let me on the flight back home with no ID.
Akhil was raised in the Greater Chicago and Philadelphia areas. Beginning in high school, he worked as a tutor for Kumon Learning Center, performed hepatocellular carcinoma research at the Baruch Blumberg Institute, and became certified as an EMT. He then attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and graduated with a degree in Economics and Biological Sciences with a Concentration in Neurobiology as well as a Certificate in Leadership. During his time at Northwestern, he participated in peer-tutoring, basic science research, and was the President of the largest cultural organization on campus. In addition, he was an active member of the dance community, serving as the captain for the University’s bhangra dance team. During his senior year, he worked as a Business Analyst for ExplORer Surgical, a surgical startup in Chicago that solidified his passion for pursuing orthopaedics in the future. Following graduation, he matriculated to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and obtained his MBA at the Fox School of Business at Temple University.
In medical school, he continued to teach, mentor, and advise undergraduate students. He currently serves as a USMLE Step 1 tutor for Inspira Advantage. He conducted interviews for prospective undergraduate applicants and served as an advisor for prospective medical school applicants. Throughout medical school, he pursued orthopaedic surgery research at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute and Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, and was able to publish his research and abstracts. He has over 20 abstract presentations and publications, many of them as first author. He received a 257 (~95th percentile) on USMLE Step 1 and is currently on his clinical rotations.
Altogether, he has been teaching a wide range of subjects for more than 10 years and has tutored for several board exams including the SAT, MCAT, and USMLE Step 1. He has a strong commitment to education and mentorship and believes that hard work, passion, and a willingness to ask for help are the keys to reaching one’s goals. He understands the complexities of the medical school admission process, and wishes to work closely with his students to form an individualized plan and provide personalized attention and guidance.
He is currently a third-year medical student and is interested in pursuing a residency in orthopaedic surgery. He recently completed a prestigious orthopaedic research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. In his free time, he enjoys basketball, trying out new recipes, rooting for the Sixers and Bears, and discovering new coffeeshops in Philadelphia. BEAR DOWN!
UCLA - Bachelor’s
Georgetown University - Master’s
Claudia holds a Bachelor’s from UCLA and a Master’s from Georgetown University. She has been a professional SAT/ACT tutor for almost 10 years. Students she has tutored have gone on to attend several top-tier universities, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Georgetown, Princeton, Columbia, and Yale.
Professionally, Claudia is a Clinical Research Consultant for the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In this role, she embarks on various projects with her team so that up-and-coming medications and scientific devices can enter the market. Despite having a fulfilling career in research, Claudia dedicates time to education because she wants to nurture academic interests in young students.
In college, Claudia discovered her love for traveling. She studied abroad in England for two months and then backpacked through various European countries for a month. She also volunteered in Guatemala to provide medical care for the local community, where she discovered that she would like to pursue healthcare as a career.
As a tutor, Claudia is personable and friendly. She prioritizes establishing a relationship with her students and believes a good relationship between the tutor, student, and parent/guardian is necessary for trust and effective communication. She understands that each individual is unique, so she adjusts her teaching methods to accommodate each student.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Claudia spends most of her time exploring the outdoors, discovering great restaurants, practicing yoga, playing the piano/guitar/saxophone, reading fiction novels, or watching anime. She is always looking for new anime to watch, so if you have recommendations, let her know!
Harvard University - Master’s
With a Master's degree from Harvard University, Eric is a supportive and effective tutor focused on helping students achieve their academic goals. He has over seven years of tutoring experience, working with students from diverse backgrounds, educational goals, and personalities.
Specializing in ACT studies, Eric has traveled the USA giving full-day lectures to schools of students on how to ace the ACT. He has studied psychology (including test construction/test making) and is ready to give students specific help on individual questions and test-taking tips that make taking the ACT much easier. So whether students aim for mastery, just enough for their dream school, or just a little advice, Eric is always happy to meet and work with students to achieve their goals.
When Eric isn't tutoring, he studies for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and plays board games. He loves board games, probably too much. Okay, too much (says his wife). Oh, and he makes a mean cheesecake.
UC Irvine- Master's
Andy has a Master’s degree from UC Irvine and has over a decade of experience in SAT, ACT, and GRE tutoring. Andy loves to see learners push themselves out of their comfort zones and gain the confidence to reach their goals. In working with students of all backgrounds and abilities, from first-generation students to children of Ivy League alumni, their favorite tutoring moments are when candidates spot patterns in tests and therefore realize they have the skills to ace the ACT or SAT. This is why Andy focuses on strategy first, personalizing each learning plan to the candidate's unique strengths and goals.
Andy is passionate about helping students understand different ways to approach a problem or understand a concept - there's never one right way because everyone learns differently. They are skilled at helping students spot the differences between what they learned in classes at school and what to pay attention to on a standardized test. Andy also likes creating graphic organizers and other tools to help applicants stay organized and break the work down visually. Nothing makes them happier than congratulating a graduating senior – especially one who was nervous at the beginning of the school year – and seeing the excitement in their eyes when they talk about what's ahead of them.
Andy's greatest strengths as a tutor include empathizing with students, respecting their learning styles, and developing customized tools and strategies to help applicants stay organized and focused. Andy has helped students gain acceptance to several prestigious schools, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, and Northwestern University.
Outside of their work, Andy enjoys walking around Los Angeles, learning about local history, reading, and watching horror movies.
