Princeton Admissions Counseling From Former Admissions Officers

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!

Jessica holds a Bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a Master's from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has a wealth of experience assisting students in grades 5-10 seeking admission to independent day and boarding schools nationwide. At a community-based organization, she spearheaded group training and provided individual coaching sessions for prospective students and their families. Jessica has covered various aspects of the application process, interview preparation, and financial aid applications.

Her passion is ensuring students reach their full potential by finding their ideal school. Jessica takes great satisfaction in shepherding students through the application process, ultimately helping them discover the perfect fit. Jessica's commitment to the success of her students makes her an invaluable resource for those seeking admission to prestigious independent schools.

As a coach, she excels in helping students clarify their desires and expectations for their educational journey, encompassing academic, social, and experiential aspects. Jessica thrives on rigorously evaluating schools and delving into profound inquiries to create a narrative representing each applicant, including their unique interests. She has a knack for assisting students in recognizing their strengths, allowing them to shine in their applications.

Jessica's primary goal is to structure what sometimes feels overwhelming and daunting. She takes pride in offering a nurturing environment for students, fostering reflection and thoughtfulness to empower them to stand by their choices confidently.

Her dedication has yielded remarkable results, with students gaining admission to renowned institutions such as Phillips Exeter Academy, Andover Academy, St. Paul's School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Cate School, Thacher School, Midland School, Dunn School, The Webb Schools, Chadwick School, Brentwood School, Vistamar School, The Archer School for Girls, Harvard-Westlake, Flintridge Preparatory School, Oakwood School, The Buckley School, Viewpoint School, New Roads School, Crossroads School, Sage Hill School, and many more. 

Outside of her coaching endeavors, Jessica enjoys listening to podcasts, exploring walking trails, and cherishing quality moments with her family.

Shannon holds a BA from Princeton University and a dual MBA/MA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the Lauder Institute, where she earned a full-ride merit scholarship. She boasts extensive admissions experience, having served as an interviewer for Princeton University for nine years. 

Shannon strongly believes that college is one of the most important parts of a young adult’s life—it is formative in so many different ways. Along with her admissions experience, Shannon has a strong background in data analytics, forecasting, marketing strategy, and project management. She leverages these skills to guide students in their academic pursuits, ensuring they approach their applications strategically, present their best selves, get into their dream schools, and ultimately reach their full potential.

As a coach, Shannon excels at helping students craft a compelling narrative that authentically reflects who they are and makes them stand out from the competition. She provides holistic guidance throughout the entire college journey, from selecting classes and extracurriculars to writing essays and excelling in interviews. Shannon is both empathetic and approachable while maintaining high standards. She works collaboratively with each student to connect their past experiences to their future goals, ensuring they understand and demonstrate how each school can help them achieve their aspirations.

In her free time, Shannon enjoys competitive ballroom dancing, yoga, Pilates, reading, and traveling. A fun fact about her is that she is fluent in Mandarin! 

Shannon’s Pro Tip?

Avoid vagueness in your application—it is very important to have a clear story about what you are potentially interested in pursuing, even if it may change in the future.