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".
Allan graduated from Cornell University with Cum Laude honors in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a concentration in Energy and Economics. After completing his bachelor's degree, he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Allan founded an admissions consulting program as the President of a national honor society at Cornell University. He also acted as an admissions mentor at a local high school. As an admissions ambassador, Allan provided feedback to the admissions board on the potential candidate's fit with the school. With over ten years of experience as an academic counselor, he has helped his students gain admission to Cornell University, the University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Texas, among many others.
As a first-generation college student, Allan has first-hand experience with how challenging and confusing the admission process can be. This fuels his passion for supporting and guiding his students through the application process. As a coach, he takes a personalized approach–highlighting each applicant's strengths and individuality. He is adaptable and flexible when it comes to what his students need, regardless of what stage in the application process they're in. Allan excels in helping his students develop a robust applicant profile that speaks to what admissions officers are looking for in an ideal candidate beyond test scores and grades. He helps his students turn their shortcomings into strengths, allowing them to shine through.
With his Quad students, Allan breaks down the application process into more manageable steps. He helps his students understand the rationale behind each aspect of their application–specifically, why the colleges ask specific questions and what they want to learn about the students. This, in turn, gives his students the opportunity to build a more meaningful and intentional application. Through coaching prospective college students, Allan hopes to pass on his knowledge and experience to ensure that his students can more easily manage the college application process. He finds great joy in seeing his students' and their families' happy faces and tears when they receive acceptance letters from their dream school. Allan ensures that his students feel confident in their application and works hard to get each of his students to that state of mind and having fun along the way.
When Allan isn't coaching, he mentors high school students and young professionals on career and professional development. He also enjoys playing competitive badminton–and winning!
Allan's Pro Tip?
Students often think they need the perfect resume and breadth of experience to be a competitive candidate. While having these experiences under your belt can be an asset, you can always find strength in your application through your weaknesses and shortcomings, making you much more resilient and competitive throughout the application process.
Amanda has a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a Master’s in Education. She has over 14 years of counseling experience, having coached her students at top universities such as Dartmouth College, Cornell University, and Georgetown University, among others. Amanda also holds a certificate from Columbia Business School’s Executive Education Developing Leader’s Program.
Amanda is a strong project manager; she meets every deadline and ensures it feels doable for her students and their families. She is also highly perceptive and can understand her students’ strengths and character to tell powerful stories that showcase these character traits. Amanda has applied these skills with her Quad students by helping them develop strong essays and resumes, coaching her students through interviews, and ensuring that their applications are impactful. Amanda knows how important getting into college is for her students; she hopes to honor the importance of this process through her work ethic, commitment, and follow-through.
Her passion for working with students and guiding them through the admissions process comes from her experience of getting into her dream school. Amanda has spent her entire career working in education because she knows how powerful education is as a tool for transformative change. Spending time with her students – hearing their stories, learning more about their skills and passions, and being part of their educational, professional, and civic journeys – is incredibly special to her. She is committed to her students and wants to see them have their moment in the sun when they receive their acceptance letters.
When Amanda isn’t coaching, she loves reading books, starting book clubs, volunteering, kayak, and playing trivia.
Amanda’s Pro Tip?
It’s most important to reveal who you uniquely are as a student. This will allow you to connect powerfully with admissions staff and build personalized strategies for each element of your application.
Amina holds a Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and currently works as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company. She has over 6 years of admissions counseling experience, taking applicants through the process from drafting a college list and writing the Common App essay and supplements to drafting extracurricular lists and preparing for interviews. Amina has also coached low-income first-generation students in Brooklyn, New York, through Princeton University's Brooklyn College Awareness Program. Students she has coached have been accepted into Harvard, Yale, Brown, Cambridge, Oxford, Duke, UCLA, and UPenn, among others.
Amina’s passion for coaching college applicants is driven by her own experience of applying to top U.S. universities as an international applicant. She was applying from Pakistan, did not have a lot of guidance initially, and felt quite lost. Ultimately, she decided to work with a college counseling firm who patiently helped her understand the process. The team ensured her genuine voice, passions, and interests shone through her application, and she was accepted to Princeton University through single-choice early action. Now, Amina wants to pay this forward. She believes many students with immense potential could use generous and competent coaches to help them realize their ambition of gaining admission into a top college, and she wishes to be that coach for them.
Amina believes her single greatest strength as a coach is her empathy. She realizes that college admissions can be an incredibly stressful experience, and it can feel like one's entire future hinges on a single decision. As a coach, she likes to remind students that there are more options than they realize. She also believes in gently nudging students rather than being harsh or critical. Amina works hard to give students a safe space to express themselves authentically. She gives detailed, actionable, and honest feedback and truly believes that applying to colleges can be enlightening and empowering. Amina would love to accompany students on this extremely rewarding college admissions journey. She knows how it feels and would love to give applicants the support they need to demonstrate their full potential in their applications!
Outside of coaching, Amina really likes spending time with her family and dog. She has lived in four countries and has friends scattered all over the globe, so she loves to catch up with them virtually. She has also recently fallen in love with reformer Pilates and has added that to her workout routine in addition to cycling and hiking. Lastly, Amina loves good food and good music!
Anthony has a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from the University of Chicago. He also has earned a Master’s Degree and a Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from Harvard University. While at Harvard, Anthony served as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies. He interviewed prospective students interested in majoring in Classics and the humanities and wrote letters of evaluation for the admissions committee. Professionally, Anthony has over ten years of experience as an educator.
Anthony’s passion for coaching stems from his drive to ensure that deserving students get access to quality education, regardless of their background. Anthony knows how valuable guidance during the college admissions process can be, especially for those with limited means or those who lack access to formal guidance. He strives to do everything in his power to help students access quality education and unlock their full potential.
When it comes to coaching, Anthony’s greatest strength is his ability to holistically approach students as human beings, identifying their premier qualities derived from every facet of their lives that have contributed to their growth and development.
When Anthony isn’t coaching students, he enjoys woodworking, especially the notion of creating sophisticated objects from raw materials.
Arianna is a counselor at Quad Education and has been on the admissions team at Dartmouth College. She loves being able to help guide students and lessen the anxiety that the process causes. Arianna likes to inspire students and help them reach the goals they were unsure were attainable prior.
Arianna was heavily involved in interviewing candidates at Dartmouth, leading to her greatest learning in admissions: interviewing a candidate is just as much on the interviewer as the interviewee. Later in her admissions journey, she realized how this also applies to other aspects of the application. If you search for the candidate to fail, they will, but if you have no expectation, then the candidate's performance will be their own. Arianna incorporates this philosophy into her coaching style as a consultant at Quad.
Arianna is an expert at guiding students throughout the application process. She really enjoys helping students determine their strengths, guiding them through each step in an understandable way, college list creation, and helping students discover their theme to utilize for their application and personal essay. Although she loves helping all students, she is particularly passionate about helping diverse and POC candidates, STEM, LGBTQ+, women, and disadvantaged candidates.
Arianna loves to play the violin, learn languages (she's currently working on Portuguese and Italian), and write poetry and short stories.
Brennen graduated from the University of Southern California and has earned two Master’s degrees from the University of Denver and University of Washington. He has over three years of experience helping students apply to college, seven years of experience in higher education, and 15 years of tutoring experience. Brennen has helped 500+ students gain acceptance to their dream schools, including prestigious private schools, the Ivies, and the UCs. Of the multiple students Brennan has coached, two went on to become Olympic gold medalists, and three have been drafted to the NFL–he has tutored 10% of USC's NFL draft picks since 2016! Additionally, he is also a member of the invite-only Harvard Business Review's Advisory Council.
Brennen is passionate about coaching college applicants because he loves helping students reach the next level, meeting students where they are, and helping them achieve their academic goals, no matter what! Brennen enjoys having the opportunity to work with students of all types. Seeing one student apply to Harvard, Pomona, and Yale one day and seeing another student apply to Georgia Tech, USC, and UCLA the next is the joy of being able to help diverse populations. This is one of the main reasons he enjoys working with students worldwide to apply to excellent schools and get great degrees that match them to successful careers.
As a coach, Brennen’s greatest strengths are that he’s kind, encouraging, fun, knowledgeable, and a journeyed consultant. He is currently pursuing his third Master's degree, so he understands the higher education scene extensively and is a West Coast University savant. He has personally taken the GRE, LSAT, and GMAT and has an extensive track record of helping students strengthen skills, applications, profiles, resumes, interview performance, and more.
Outside of coaching, Brennen is an avid music fan and has all the good jams! He also loves reading and writing and has written nine books (mostly academic) since 2012. You can also find Brennen watching and attending sports games and watching funny and informative reels/videos online from content creators who are queer, of color, or have disabilities.
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 graduated with summa cum laude honors from the College of the Ozarks, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. He has been actively involved in the education realm since 1999; he began tutoring in 2005 and successfully owned and operated his tutoring business, HELP Tutoring, from 2009 to 2020. He has tutored approximately 500 students over the last couple of decades. David’s enduring commitment to tutoring stems from his joy in witnessing students succeed and the realization that tutoring is a powerful avenue to facilitate that success. David specializes in tutoring at all levels of math, up to Calculus 1 and SAT and ACT prep.
Motivated by a passion for inspiring students and helping them unlock their potential, he strongly believes that having a caring mentor invested in students' success yields benefits beyond the academic realm. As a tutor, David actively engages in his students' educational journeys. His genuine care for their success is evident from the start, as he assists them in charting a clear path to achievement. Employing a direct and uncomplicated tutoring style, David effectively identifies what truly contributes to student success and what doesn't. He identifies the root of students' challenges and fills in any learning gaps. Beyond immediate academic concerns, he emphasizes the broader perspective, aiding students in recognizing the significance of their education—whether it be meeting graduation requirements or acing standardized tests.
David ensures students grasp the real-world applications of these concepts and the enduring advantages of mastering them for long-term success.David excels at customizing his tutoring approach to suit the age and specific needs of his students. He has discovered that maintaining a blend of casual yet professional interaction is most effective, particularly when working with teenagers.When he’s not tutoring, David enjoys spending time with his wife and six kids. He also enjoys playing Madden football and has been DJing at various gigs for the past eight years.
Randee holds a Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany and Master’s degrees from Long Island University and the College of New Rochelle. With over 20 years of experience as a professionally trained SAT and ACT tutor, she has guided 250+ students to excel in their standardized tests.
Randee’s extensive background gives her a deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs involved in the SAT/ACT prep process. Her passion for mentoring students and helping families navigate the journey shines through in her approachable and upbeat tutoring style. She knows that the path to success starts with building confidence and breaking down seemingly larger tasks into manageable steps. Randee aims to make learning engaging and stress-free by infusing enthusiasm and encouragement into her sessions. This tutoring style ensures students approach these high-stakes exams with calm determination.
As a tutor, Randee excels at meeting students where they are. Whether they are just beginning their test prep journey or aiming to refine their skills to achieve a top score, she customizes her approach based on each student’s unique needs and skill levels. Fluent in all sections and question types of the SAT and ACT, her sessions focus on delivering clever strategies, practical techniques, and test-specific tips to build students' confidence, knowledge, and preparedness to excel on test day. Her lifelong learning mindset also ensures she stays ahead of the curve on test prep strategies, making her an invaluable resource for students aiming to reach their full potential.
Aside from helping students achieve their SAT and ACT goals, Randee loves spending quality time with family and friends, attending her kids’ sporting events, solving puzzles, traveling, soaking up the sun at the beach whenever possible, and enjoying Broadway shows. Her well-rounded interests and personable nature, combined with her love for learning, problem-solving, and making a difference, make her a relatable and inspiring coach for students and families alike.
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.
