Expert Admissions and Visa Consulting Services
Guiding you to success in international education
Expert Admissions and Visa Consulting Services
Guiding you to success in international education
Services - United States Visas
Narrative
100% of my students whose families signed up for admissions packages have gotten their US visas approved. Why? I believe it's because I help them craft a narrative: what motivates them to study, why they applied to a set of universities, what they will study, and what they plan to do after they graduate. Unlike agents who work on volume, I work with students to get their narrative right the first time. If time allows, I am open to working with students who need help with the visa process, and I can help them build their narrative as well.
Social Media Review
Although disclosure of social media identifiers has been part of the visa application process, the vetting of social media is now ubiquitous and less cursory. I have been providing social media review services for nearly a decade to make sure there is no content or activity that could derail a visa application. Having grown up in the United States, I understand what content may be concerning.
This review can also be helpful during the application process, as admissions officers may also check social media.
Form DS-160 Assistance
I assist applicants with filling out the United States Online Nonimmigrant Application Form (DS-160). In particular my input can be valuable for employment descriptions and, where applicable, explanations of past denials.
Interview Preparation and Mock Interviews
I've successfully prepared hundreds of students from dozens of countries for visa interviews. I help applicants craft and understand their narrative for presentation in the right context. I use a mock interview technique I've developed over the past decade that lets interviewees build on their strengths and quickly remedies weaknesses.
Several of my posts about interview preparation are among the top search results on Google and Reddit.
Services - Undergraduate
Profile Evaluation and Package Customization
I conduct a profile evaluation to determine if I can help an aspiring student meet their academic and professional goals, as well as the family’s expectations. I also try to get a sense if the student would be a good fit to work with me. I work with students across a range of academic goals, but I am selective with the families I work with on the basis of fit. I value a positive relationship with each student and family.
I help each family to decide which of my application packages would be best, customizing my offer as necessary. I try to make sure parents are paying only for what they need. I try to offer the best value regardless of a family’s budget.
This can happen at any time from eighth grade onward, but the sooner, the better! I recommend getting started no later than April of the year of application, as the final high school summer is important.
Success Plan, Profile Building, and Personalized Attention
After a family signs up, I conduct a Success Plan meeting where we discuss strategy for academics, testing, extracurricular activities, essay-writing, letters of recommendation, and interviews. I help applicants develop and refine their intellectual interests outside the classroom, pursue leadership positions, and think critically about community, social, and environmental initiatives. We will also come up with a preliminary school list based on academic, professional, financial, geographic, and other considerations. I provide each family with a Success Plan, accessible on Google Docs, that outlines the process with suggestions for activities and a personalized timeline including recommended testing dates and anticipated application deadlines. I assist with summer program applications, internship submissions, “cold emails” to university faculty to make connections and learn about academia, and other profile-enhancing preparations.
I meet regularly with students and their families to make sure they are following the Success Plan, and we adjust as necessary. Families who purchase packages may communicate with me and get advice via text or email without having to schedule a dedicated session.
The Success Plan meeting is scheduled at the family's earliest convenience, and my support continues throughout the entire admissions process.
College Shortlisting
I meet with the applicant and their family to understand their goals in more detail. Using a combination of data analytics using a comprehensive proprietary database, personal experience as a student at two elite universities, and my extensive network, I help each family arrive at a college list, including which colleges (if any) an applicant should apply to in an early round.
1. Unlike traditional college counselors, I do not divide colleges into categories such as “safeties,” “targets,” “reaches,” and “dream schools.” This is because (1) the selectivity of colleges is on a continuum and (2) time spent debating which category a school may fall into is time not spent working on a strong application.
2. The goal is to develop a school list that makes sense based on statistical analysis, expert opinion, and each applicant and family’s resources.
3. After the school selection session (typically 1-1.5 hours), I will usually provide a “long list” of schools that would suit the applicant’s and family’s needs, and guide the applicant to resources that can help them decide whether a particular school is right for them.
4. After the family researches individual schools (and I answer inquiries as needed), we will finalize a college list. Depending on ambition, goals, and resources, applicants may apply to anywhere between six and 30 schools.
5. An important component is which school(s) a student should apply to early decision (a binding commitment), early action (non-binding application with an early deadline and notification date), regular decision, and rolling admission as appropriate.
I will usually finalize the school list after a student has received test scores they feel reflect their abilities. Because test scores may strongly influence whether admission is likely or feasible, it may be several months between the “long list” and the shortlist. The final shortlist may be completed as early as June or as late as December!
College Visits and Online Engagement
If a family has the opportunity to visit colleges, I advise on which ones are worth visiting, how best to travel, and what questions to ask on campus tours and in campus-based interviews. I especially love helping plan road trips! I also advise applicants and families on which online information sessions would be helpful in the application process — and which would be a waste of time).
College visits may take place whenever convenient for a family. For students with a school break in May, this is an ideal time. Students who attend an academic program at a college often choose to visit other colleges at the conclusion of their program.
Application Assistance
A student may be required to complete several applications, including the Common Application, the SCOIR “Coalition” application, the OUAC (Ontario Universities Application Center), the UK UCAS (Universities and Colleges Application Service), the joint University of California campus application, ApplyTexas, and other including those specific to MIT and Georgetown University. I help each student navigate each application’s particular requirements and quirks in formatting and length limits. I make the daunting extracurricular activity section simple, as I have experience helping students write literally thousands of activity descriptions! Working on this section helps give me a detailed understanding of each student’s experiences and interests, which serves us well during the next steps: the essays!
Applications typically become available in September, but a good deal of work may be completed before that.
Personal Essay Brainstorming, Outlining, and Editing
After completing the extracurricular activity section of the Common App (typically a 1-2 hour process), we complete the Common App/SCOIR essay in a period of 10 days to two weeks.
1. I conduct a brainstorming session using interviewing techniques I learned as a lawyer in litigation and trial practice. The goal is to elicit the most interesting and relevant information in a short amount of time. I will typically conduct a two-hour session, sometimes supplemented by a third hour if necessary.
2. At the end of brainstorming, I provide a paragraph-by-paragraph outline (typically 5-7 paragraphs) for the student to follow for the first draft.
3. The student writes the first draft, and I remain available during the process to answer questions and clarify points in the outline.
4. After one week (shorter if closer to deadlines), I review the first draft and provide a “four-point review” with respect to structure, tone, content, and writing mechanics—a rubric I developed as a Senior Submissions Editor at the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law & Economics. We also use AI tools to evaluate essay strengths and weaknesses and critically discuss the merits of those insights.
5. The student revises the essay or writes a second draft based on my feedback.
6. We meet again, typically after three more days. If the essay still needs a lot more work, I provide an additional round of feedback and recommendations.
7. Once the student produces a strong draft (typically the second or third), then I edit the essay together with the student in real time. Each change must be approved by the student. This process takes longer than simply returning an edited essay, but it results in the applicant developing their writing skills and better understanding their strengths and weaknesses.
I usually recommend that undergraduate applicants complete the Common Application in the July-August timeframe, unless they are engaged in an experience that is likely to be relevant to their personal essay.
Supplemental Essay Brainstorming, Outlining, and Editing
If prompts are available, we work on the applicant’s supplemental essays as their schedule allows. Similar to the personal essay process, I provide outlines for each essay for the applicant to follow easily. The brainstorming and revision process is typically shorter, although some applications like those for Stanford, MIT, and the University of Chicago may take two weeks or longer to complete.
a. We complete any additional essays such as ones that ask about hardship, COVID impact, gap year, or education interruption.
b. For those applying to University of California campuses, we will usually work on the four required essays after the main personal essay, even if a student is applying to other colleges first.
Supplemental essay writing happens throughout the time period between August and January. The latest deadlines for competitive colleges are typically on February 1.
Letters of Recommendation
We discuss strategies for letters of recommendation and points for the applicant’s teachers and counselors to include in their letters. If a recommender has asked the applicant to draft language for their letter, we discuss how to make the language original, authentic, and impactful. We will provide direct support in drafting if ethical considerations allow it. I can help school officials draft a School Profile, which is optional but very helpful in helping admissions committees understand the academic and extracurricular offerings of a high school and the context of the student’s accomplishments.
This process typically happens August through October in order to complete it by Early Decision deadlines (early November).
Former Admissions Officer Review and Proofreading
I review completed applications together with a former Ivy-league admissions officer (typically the Common Application with up to three college-specific supplemental essays). The process is meant to simulate the real review process as closely as possible. The purpose is to identify any red flags or weaknesses remaining (including signs of AI) and get an overall sense of our expectations for the admissions cycle. Students may submit specific questions for the former admissions officer to answer. After the review, students receive an evaluation including feedback academics/testing, extracurricular activities, essay quality, personal characteristics, and prospects for admission at their desired universities. If changes are recommended after the review session, we modify the appropriate sections of the application.
I conduct a final review of each application included in a student’s package before it is submitted to ensure stylistic and linguistic consistency, as well as look for potential signs of AI authorship. I draw on my extensive proofreading experience at publications such as the Columbia Daily Spectator and the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law & Economics. There are still mistakes that AI doesn’t catch! I pay attention to detail in punctuation that may be indicative of AI tool use.
This takes place in late October (before Early Decision deadlines) and late December (before early January deadlines). The last deadlines for competitive colleges are in early February.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
I assist applicants and their families with required financial aid applications and documents. I provide guidance on how to report finances appropriately to maximize scholarships while not compromising admissions prospects. I also help families decide whether to apply for financial aid in the first place, and at which colleges. I help students identify school-specific and external scholarships that may reduce the cost of education.
This happens concurrently with applications (starting in October) and 1-2 weeks after private-school deadlines (beginning of January).
Interview Preparation
I help students sign up for interviews at colleges that offer the option, as well as reply to interview requests. I conduct a one-hour interview pep session covering common interview questions and equipping applicants with the skills and confidence they need to ace the interview! I apply my lawyering skills and use my cultural familiarity to help students feel comfortable speaking with alumni of top colleges. By this time, they’ve usually been working with me for dozens of hours already! I also conduct mock interviews to help students apply for English proficiency exams if appropriate.
Many liberal arts colleges offer interviews as early as September. For Early Decision and Early Action applications, this happens in mid-to-late November. For Regular Decision, interviews may be conducted any time between January and the end of March.
Post-Application Support, Decision-Making, and Post-Enrollment Support
I assist and support applicants and families with anything else they may need in the process, including dealing with high school officials, responding to inquiries from colleges, assembling required documentation, negotiating financial aid, and adjusting strategy based on new developments.
After applicants get decisions, I help them and their families evaluate their options to best achieve the applicant’s goals, again using my proprietary database that draws on both free and paid sources published by reputable organizations and the US government. I carefully weigh factors such as professional opportunities, geographic considerations, academic offerings, extracurricular activities, quality of facilities, international community, quality of life, and more.
Once the accepted applicant enrolls in a program, I assist with any additional applications such as special housing or honors programs.
Finally, I advise on the transition to the US, and the admitted student goes off to college!
All results for fall admission are typically received by the first week of April, and students have until May 1 to choose a college. I'm usually very active during this time!