College Admissions Guidance for UAE Students: Your Path Toward UK/US Schools

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.

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.

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.

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".

Josef has a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and has almost a decade of experience as an admissions coach, reviewing hundreds of applications. Josef's involvement in higher education admissions allows him to keep a finger on the pulse of the industry's latest changes and trends. One of his most significant learnings is the difference between an on-the-fence application and an accepted application: proving passion without actually using the word "passion."

Josef's journey to coaching began while tutoring his younger sister and mentoring students while he was in middle school. He has implemented coaching strategies from his state- and nationally-recognized football coaches over the years, some of whom are now coaching on the collegiate (NCAA) and professional levels (NFL). Josef is very competitive by nature, likely from 12 years of playing football and competing for a national championship senior year of high school! He loves the challenge of helping Quad applicants get into the best (and best-fit) programs and schools in alignment with their goals for how they envision themselves making a positive impact on the world. 

Josef is passionate about coaching Quad applicants and places significant importance on bringing his best version to coaching sessions. Similarly, he strives to push applicants to put their best selves forward when crafting their applications and essays. Josef's greatest strength as a coach is helping students find the intersection between their passions and talents. Josef enjoys forming strong bonds and deep connections with Quad applicants, creating a safe and comfortable space for them to share their narratives. It is in the depths of some of Josef's students' dearest hobbies that he's found some of the most endearing stories around which to craft their narratives and establish their unique differentiators. 

Students Josef has recently coached have gotten accepted at Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Dartmouth College, Columbia University, Brown University, UPenn, Cornell University, Stanford University, and MIT.

When Josef isn’t coaching, he enjoys writing screenplays for movies and TV pilot scripts for shows. He also likes making music, doing karaoke, and exercising.

Josef's Pro Tip?

Those who are the best at what they do are constantly driven by pure passion for doing whatever it takes to be their best. Finding that balance between talent and passion is thus pivotal in paving the way for optimal quality of life in college and beyond.