Take A Step Toward Your Future With Expert UC Berkeley Admissions Counseling

Trinh earned a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was a recipient of the prestigious Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarships, awarded to the top 2% of entering undergraduates. Then, she pursued an MA from San José University. Trinh has over seven years of mentoring and admissions experience, including serving as an undergraduate advisor and application reader on the admissions committee at UC Berkeley.

As part of the UC Berkeley admissions team, Trinh reviews applications to ensure they meet all the minimum requirements and assesses whether applicants have the potential to succeed at UC Berkeley. As an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, Trinh provides academic advising to students, including guidance on degree requirements, graduation eligibility, and academic progression. Additionally, Trinh has experience reviewing and making scholarship decisions. She has a strong understanding of what makes a scholarship application compelling—both in structure and in content.

Growing up in a first-generation household, Trinh did not have any guidance at home to help her apply to colleges. Fortunately, she connected with counselors who helped her navigate the admissions process, and with their support, she got accepted to her dream school—UC Berkeley. This experience showed her how life-changing the right support and resources can be in the college application process. 

Trinh’s personal experiences sparked a deep passion for higher education, particularly in college admissions. After earning her MA, she went on to help many students get accepted into top schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, and UC Irvine. Trinh finds being part of a student’s journey—from the uncertainty at the beginning to the excitement of receiving acceptance letters at the end—incredibly rewarding. She loves knowing that she’s helping students lay the foundation for future success.

One of Trinh's greatest strengths as a coach is helping students recognize their true potential. She’s able to guide them in seeing the strength and resilience they already have, qualities that can make their college applications stand out. She is adept at building strong, genuine relationships with students and their families, which helps create a comfortable space for them to open up and share their stories. Trinh is deeply passionate about helping students succeed and is always willing to go the extra mile, whether that means finding additional resources, gathering information, or anything else to ensure each student builds a competitive application. 

In her spare time, Trinh loves getting outdoors, exploring new hiking trails, and strength training in the gym. She is also a huge foodie and loves checking out new restaurants and trying different types of cuisine from all over the world.

Trinh’s Pro Tip?

There is so much more that goes into a strong application than test scores. It’s important for applicants to show genuine passion, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose. Applications are reviewed holistically; a student’s background, experiences, and growth are all taken into account, not just their numbers. 

Ifeanyi holds a Doctor of Education from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley. With over 14 years of experience mentoring students from elementary school through college, he has helped hundreds of applicants gain admission to top institutions including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, UPenn, UChicago, Northwestern, USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and more.

In his role as a college readiness specialist, Ifeanyi has consulted with principals, teachers, and school counselors to design systems that support student success. His work centers on helping students from all backgrounds access and excel in higher education, with a focus on building structures that not only prepare them for college entry but also support them through degree completion. His curriculum development and educator training tools have impacted thousands of students.

Ifeanyi believes that every college applicant brings unique dreams, values, and passions to the table. He thrives on helping students articulate their goals and discover what truly drives them. As a coach, Ifeanyi leads with empathy and understanding, prioritizing open and honest dialogue so students feel comfortable showing up as their full, authentic selves. He is supportive of students' visions for themselves and excels at transforming student goals into concrete action plans that help them stay on track. 

Ifeanyi is passionate about watching students grow in confidence throughout the application process and is committed to helping them find colleges that will maximize their potential. Whether it’s building a strategy or crafting a compelling narrative, he ensures each student puts their best foot forward with purpose and clarity. He is eager to work with Quad Education students and celebrate their achievements.

Outside of coaching, Ifeanyi enjoys nature, spending time at the beach, playing basketball, hiking, and following his favorite football and basketball teams.

Shannon holds a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. With extensive experience in admissions and education, she served as an alumni interviewer at Harvard for over 14 years and sat on the admissions committee at St. John’s College, where she reviewed applications and conducted interviews with prospective candidates. Shannon has helped students gain admission to top universities, including Harvard, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Yale, UChicago, and others.

In addition to her work in admissions, Shannon has held several notable roles in academia, including serving as a Fulbright Program Officer and grant writer at the University of California, San Diego, a graduate student instructor at UC Berkeley, and an assistant professor at St. John’s College. She finds great fulfillment in helping students discover the ideal match between their interests and education or uncovering opportunities they never knew existed. 

As a coach, Shannon believes that crafting a coherent story about yourself as a student and learner is key to succeeding in the application process. Leveraging her experience and passion for writing and editing, she excels at helping students master the art of storytelling—a skill that will serve them throughout their lives. With her deep expertise, Shannon knows exactly how to guide applicants in writing personal narratives that not only help them gain admission to their top schools but also secure competitive external funding. She loves to help students find the perfect match when it comes to school selections and their unique interests, and enjoys shedding light on new and exciting opportunities. 

In her free time, Shannon enjoys crocheting, cooking, writing children's books, restoring old dollhouses, woodcarving, working on getting her pilot's license, and spending time with her six-year-old.

Shannon’s Pro Tip?

Ultimately, colleges are interested in what kind of student you'll be in the classroom and after you leave. It's crucial to use your application to demonstrate that you'll be intellectually curious, actively engaged, and committed to learning throughout your college years and in your post-grad life.