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.
Kayla is a graduate of Brown University, where she earned two Bachelor's degrees, one in Theatre Arts & Performance Studies and the other in Modern Culture & Media. She has also worked for Brown University's Admissions Department. She regularly co-presented application information sessions for prospective students and learned how Brown evaluates candidates. This experience provided her with a unique understanding of what constitutes a strong college applicant. Kayla specialized in answering: "When applicants have similarly strong test scores and grades, what sets an admitted student apart from the others?"
Kayla excels at providing structure for both students and parents throughout the entire application process, turning the daunting task of applying to colleges into manageable, actionable steps. She supports her students in identifying and showcasing what sets them apart from other applicants. Kayla's past students have said that essays become easy with her guidance and have expressed gratitude for the sense of direction she provides.
Kayla is a passionate storyteller and has extensive professional experience as an actor, writer, and director. She is the recipient of the New Players Company Directing Award and the Brown University T. Carpenter Prize for Elocution.
Kayla has recently worked with students accepted at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell, UC Berkeley, Pomona College, and Emerson College, among other top schools.
Kerry holds a Master’s from Columbia University and a Master’s from Carnegie Mellon University. She has served as an international admissions consultant with multiple global companies, especially those that only hire Ivy League alumni. Kerry has worked on all aspects of admissions consulting, shepherding students through admissions season or working with special cases for over a decade. She has personally coached students accepted into prestigious institutions, such as the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, Rice University, Cambridge University, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, McGill University, and more!
After working as an adjunct professor throughout her PhD years, sometimes teaching three-hour lectures to 80 students, Kerry realized that her one-on-one work in private tutoring and admissions consulting was her greatest passion, with real-life results always visible. She loves getting to know each student as an individual, helping them figure out how to stand out and their brand, who they are, and who they want to be. Kerry loves leading students through the process, helping make it fun, alleviating anxiety, and watching their admission acceptances roll in.
Kerry excels as a coach due to her ability to navigate substantial work and pivotal life plans with a blend of humor, infusing the admissions process with genuine enjoyment and excitement. Her strengths lie in authenticity, characterized by honesty and diplomacy when offering advice and openly sharing her successes and setbacks in admissions consulting. Thanks to a rich tapestry of life experiences in academia, journalism, diverse careers, and extensive travel, Kerry possesses a unique perspective that enriches her coaching approach. She also excels in her ability to read students well for what makes them unique and how to make them stand out in the admissions process.
Furthermore, Kerry's expertise extends to a comprehensive knowledge of various schools, programs, admissions intricacies, and effective strategies. Over her years as a private admissions consultant, Kerry has learned the intricacies of the systems of the various schools. She has also learned how best to help students depending on their personalities, profiles, goals, and strengths and to let them take a lead role in their own admissions process so that they can grow into the best versions of themselves.
Moreover, as an international writer with over sixty publications in both scholarly and popular outlets, Kerry offers students an unusual opportunity to collaborate and edit with a working writer.
As a journalist and digital nomad who has lived around the world, Kerry has an immense amount of knowledge to share about places, schools, degrees, and just about anything else, too. When she’s not working, Kerry enjoys studying languages and art. Kerry is extremely into fitness and training, and the gym is her happy place for stress relief.
Marlee has a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University. She has served on the admissions teams at Northwestern University and University of Illinois Chicago. In these roles, Marlee has been a part of scholarship review committees and has been responsible for overall enrollment management, especially for international students.
Marlee is a staunch advocate for higher education and believes it is a critical access point for all students. She feels that education presents an opportunity for students to grow personally, professionally, and academically to become important members of society supporting change, innovation, and progress in the world.
This passion is what led Marlee to coach Quad applicants. Marlee is committed to getting to know her students and working with them to present their best representation of themselves. She thoroughly enjoys learning about and identifying what makes each student unique and helping them share these qualities and strengths with their chosen colleges. Her greatest strengths include helping students identify goals, create a strategic and organized plan to meet those goals, manage their time effectively, and craft powerful resumes.
When Marlee isn’t coaching, she loves to run, dance, and travel.
Max has earned a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Vermont. Max has many years of experience as an Admissions Coach and SAT/ACT Tutor. Additionally, Max has served as a Newspaper & TV Journalist, identifying compelling stories and spicing up the written prose. He feels delighted when a student can channel his/her/their authentic inner voice and cares deeply about working with young people.
Max is passionate about guiding students through the college admissions process — from requesting recommendation letters, and editing resumes to crafting heartfelt essays, strategizing over Early Decision versus Regular Decision, and weighing financial aid packages.
Max’s greatest strength as a coach is his ability to establish a personal-professional rapport with his students. He partners with Quad applicants to break down tasks, working systematically to overcome any fears surrounding the college application process. Max also uses his journalism chops to interview the student and solicit essay-ready insights.
Students Max has recently coached have gotten accepted to Princeton University, Yale University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Columbia University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Duke University, University of Chicago, Washington University, and Northwestern University.
In his free time, Max enjoys pushing himself to the limit at CrossFit and running half-marathons. He also likes to read novels and non-fiction and sit in a coffee shop arguing politics with friends.
Max’s Pro Tip?
Don’t underestimate the importance of brutal honesty in the essay writing process. Students need to be blunt and write profoundly and deeply.
Megan is a tenured admission professional with over a decade of experience in selective college admissions. Most recently, she has served as the Director of Recruitment & Enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University. Additionally, she has worked at the University of Puget Sound as an Assistant Director of Admissions, Cornish College of the Arts as an Admissions Counselor, Florida State University as an Admissions Assistant, and College of William & Mary as an Admissions Liaison.
Years of experience in admissions have helped Megan realize that admission committees are not always looking for what you think they are! It's not all about grades or test scores but rather a holistic understanding of a student and their institutional fit.
Megan’s greatest strengths as a coach are helping students understand themselves and what they want, separate from what they believe is the best career choice or what someone else may tell them they want. Megan truly believes there is a school out there for everyone who wishes to attend college.
In her free time, Megan likes to read, foster cats, train dogs, and maintain a creative practice.
Michelle holds an MBA from Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management. She has served as a Student Admissions Advisor and Interviewer at Cornell University, reviewing student applications for admission and conducting prospective student interviews.
Michelle is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and takes pride in seeing their hard work and dedication lead to successful outcomes. Her greatest strength as a coach is in using her project planning skills to help parents and students organize the application process into achievable steps while guiding students to create a strong individual brand and cohesive application package. She takes a personalized approach to coaching and is committed to her student's success. Michelle enjoys every step of the college application process, from school selection to preparing for interviews.
During her time on the admissions team, Michelle learned that students are viewed as more than their greatest academic, scholastic, or extracurricular achievements. She understands that a student's entire application package matters, and strategically submitting a well-rounded, cohesive admissions package and having a well-prepared interview can make all the difference.
Michelle's coaching has resulted in numerous acceptances to top-tier universities, including Cornell University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD, and Georgetown University.
When she isn't coaching, Michelle enjoys traveling both internationally and domestically. She and her family spend a lot of time outdoors, taking advantage of the great Florida weather and beaches, especially when they can bring their Frenchies. Michelle is also a season ticket member of the Tampa Bay Lightning and enjoys attending as many hockey games as possible.
Naiara was born in Brazil and raised in Somerville, MA. She attended Somerville High School, where she played soccer and tennis. She then attended Tufts University on a Doris York Scholarship. Naiara was the first recipient of this scholarship, which provided full tuition to girls from Somerville who attended Somerville High School for four years, graduated in the top 20% of their class, and demonstrated financial need. Naiara was the first generation to attend college in her family. While at Tufts, Naiara majored in International Relations with a focus on global conflict and cooperation in South Asia and the Middle East.
She took classes in many subjects, ranging from sociology, anthropology, and political science, to biological anthropology, astronomy, and French. Naiara played intramural soccer with friends, she was part of the multicultural organization of students at Tufts, and she was a peer mentor at the Latino Center. She also studied abroad in Paris during her junior year. After graduating, Naiara worked as a college adviser at Somerville High School, where she worked with hundreds of students on their post-high school education plans. Naiara worked with students to figure out what they wanted to do post-high school, helped them create lists of potential schools, and helped them craft personal statements and school-specific essays.
Naiara's goal was to provide overall support and guidance to high school juniors and seniors by listening to their specific needs and wants and helping them craft a plan that made sense for them. She also planned a college campus visit and tour for every first-year student to introduce them to the concept of college. Naiara then became an admissions counselor at Tufts University, where she worked for two years. While at Tufts, Naiara worked with and read applications from students all over the country and the world (specifically South America, which she also traveled to for work). Other than reading and evaluating thousands of applications, Naiara was part of diversity recruitment which included hosting a wide range of students on campus.
She also assisted in creating a bridge program for first-generation students. Using the advocacy skills she learned as an admissions counselor, Naiara applied to law school and attended Suffolk University Law School. She was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2016 and currently works as an attorney for the state of Massachusetts.
Students that Naiara has recently coached have gotten accepted at several top-tier schools, including Harvard University, Georgetown University, and Emory University.
In her free time, Naiara loves watching soccer (and playing when possible), traveling, and spending time with her nieces.
Dr. Nick was a former admissions officer at Vanderbilt University and an application reader for the University of Pennsylvania. In his roles at Vanderbilt and Penn, Dr. Nick evaluated more than 7000 applications and set the admissions committee strategy for the school across majors and applicant demographics. Dr. Nick also organized the Vandy Alumni Interview Program, where he managed a team of 50+ interviewers across the U.S. to drive a rigorous selection process for the school.
Dr. Nick is a graduate of an independent school and has devoted his career to helping students navigate the admissions process. He has a B.A. in History and Anthropology and an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt, a College Counseling specialization from UCLA, and an Ed.D from the University of Houston. Dr. Nick has also worked as a Director of College Counseling in several school communities, co-wrote a book on college admissions, and taught adult learners at Rice University. Additionally, he has given many presentations at high schools and national conferences on the details of the admissions process.
At Quad Education, he takes his passion for higher education to support students from various backgrounds and interests. He has helped many students get into some of the most competitive programs in the nation, obtain prestigious scholarships, and choose the school that is the best fit for them. Through his humorous nature, Dr. Nick prides himself in building a solid rapport with students and helping them bring out the best version of themselves. He likes to work closely with candidates to focus on creating a competitive candidacy for the top schools while helping foster important relationships through the right confidence-building initiatives.
Pamela has earned a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a PhD from Stanford University, where she served in admissions as an Application Reader. In this role, Pamela made admissions decisions and was part of a 40-person committee. This experience gave Pamela a profound understanding of institutional priorities, class balance, and the nuanced factors influencing admission decisions. Professionally, Pamela is an Admissions Interviewer at Stanford University School of Medicine.
As a first-generation international student, Pamela understands the challenges applicants face without access to resources. This personal history fuels her passion for ensuring that aspiring students are well-informed about the expectations of college admissions officers, recognizing the often opaque nature of the process.
With a background deeply rooted in education and academia, Pamela has witnessed the transformative power of learning throughout her professional life. She strategically emphasizes the importance of working hard and smart, instilling a holistic approach to the application process in her students. She navigates the complexities of the admissions process, acknowledging that merit is not the sole determinant.
Pamela's impressive track record speaks volumes, as applicants she has coached have gained admission to prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Duke, Penn, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, UCLA, Berkeley, Emory, Vanderbilt, and many others.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Pamela leads an active lifestyle immersed in nature, residing in the woods and engaging in hiking, rock climbing, running, and various outdoor pursuits. Complementing her coaching role, she dedicates time to teaching in prisons and volunteering as a Search and Rescue aid.
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.
Vanderbilt University - Master's
Isaac is pursuing a Master's degree from Vanderbilt University. He has over three years of tutoring experience in STEM and the humanities, specializing in the ACT and SAT.
As a lifelong learner and storyteller, Isaac has spent the past decade working in many educational roles, including at nature centers, community non-profits, and in the classroom. He has also worked in mental and behavioral healthcare, offering services at a dual-diagnosis treatment facility, neurofeedback clinic, behavior analysis center, and jail.
His clinical and educational training supplements his academic abilities: his tutoring approach is a unique blend of clinical techniques and interpersonal skills combined with knowledge and expertise. Isaac’s philosophy is recognizing the whole person, not just a student. Isaac understands that each student has their own motivations, personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Recognizing these perspectives, building a collaborative approach attuned to each student’s style, and capitalizing on their motivations are the keys to success.
Furthermore, Isaac’s perspective extends to standardized testing. The ACT and SAT are knowledge tests, and he encourages students to think about how these tests are designed since it’s just as valuable as knowing the material. Being a storyteller trained in many roles has enabled Isaac to hone this skill, so he can connect to others and help them understand and tap into the proper mindsets to excel on these tests. He aims to empower students to achieve their academic (and other) aspirations!
A fun fact about Isaac is that he hates chocolate! But he loves roller skating, murder mysteries, and puns! One of his favorites? Do you know what you call an upset exam? A: Test-y.
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.