My Approach

What I bring to this work is fundamentally different from traditional admissions counseling. Many counselors operate primarily as editors and define expertise by volume — how many students they see, how many drafts they produce, how quickly they can “polish” essays. I don’t believe volume equals skill.

I operate as a strategist. My role is to help students understand their experiences, articulate how they think, and develop a coherent narrative identity that can be positioned intentionally across the entire application. Editing is only one small part of this process.

The core of the work is strategic positioning: shaping how a student is understood by selective colleges and ensuring that every component of the application supports that understanding.

From that foundation, several commitments shape my work:

1. I take a deliberate, structured approach.

The process is organized, clear, and steady. Students always know what we are working on and why. This structure helps them feel grounded and able to think deeply.

2. I focus on understanding the student before any writing begins.

I pay attention to how a student thinks, what they notice, the questions that drive them, and the experiences that have shaped their perspective. This informs every essay we develop.

3. I use narrative and reflective methods to help students articulate their ideas.

Rather than chasing “content,” we uncover meaning, patterns, and the student’s intellectual throughline. This leads to essays that feel genuine and coherent.

4. My feedback is strategic and structural.

I don’t provide surface-level edits. I help students build essays with clarity, organization, reflective insight, and a strong narrative framework.

5. I aim to humanize the process.

Admissions can feel overwhelming. My role is to provide calm, clear guidance that reduces pressure and helps students understand their own thinking, not to amplify urgency or competitiveness.

6. I support families with clarity, not fear.

Parents often approach the process with understandable concerns. I provide transparent explanations of what matters, what doesn’t, and how selective admissions actually works so the student can focus on thoughtful, authentic work.


Intentional, individualized advising leads to better thinking, better writing, and a more grounded experience for everyone involved.