UChicago Admissions Counseling: Boost Your Chances Of Admissions Success

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Allan's Pro Tip?

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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.

Christopher is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and The University of Chicago. Christopher has also worked with the admissions committee at The University of Chicago, reviewing applications, assessing essays, and conducting interviews.

When it comes to coaching, Christopher loves helping Quad applicants realize their strengths, gain confidence in their decision-making, and reach their ultimate goals. Exciting, nerve-wracking, scary, and rewarding are all fitting words to describe the college application process. Christopher appreciates that this journey can be an emotional roller coaster but knows it’s always worth it!  

His greatest strength as a coach is discovering unexplored balance. He excels at highlighting the uniqueness of the boy who feels ordinary, finding the right fit school for the quirky girl, accentuating the creative side of the math nerd, emphasizing the personal connections within large group activities, building confidence in the insecure, and tapping into a vulnerability of the self-assured. Christopher believes that humans are multifaceted creatures; he shines at painting a colorful and nuanced picture to capture who they truly are.

Students Christopher has recently coached have gotten accepted into several top-tier schools, including Brown University, Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, UPenn, Cornell University, and Dartmouth College.

When Christopher isn’t coaching students, he enjoys “unplugging” in nature, taking improv comedy classes with his wife, and riding roller coasters with his teenagers. He is a Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and runs a website “geeking out” on SEO strategies.

Isabel is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the University of Chicago. She has extensive experience guiding college aspirants through the process. Isabel understands that the college application process can be discouraging, and parents and students can feel lost in such a crowded applicant field. She strives to help push past those anxieties and keep the process in perspective. Isabel enjoys realizing all students’ unique qualities and talents and seeing them rise to their full potential, wherever that may lead them!

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As a coach, Isabel aims to get to know a candidate personally to help them determine their strengths. She loves drawing out candidates’ self-knowledge and encouraging them to be themselves. As a highly organized individual, Isabel enjoys helping families plan the application process to ensure all the components are manageable. Isabel is also proactive about communication at every step of the process. She ensures that parents and students are on the same page, fostering a mutually supportive and secure working relationship.

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Isabel’s favorite part of the application process is the personal essay, where applicants can highlight not only what they’ve accomplished but who they really are. Isabel’s priority is to make this process rewarding, challenging, and hopefully fun. In the competitive college admissions process, it can be easy to lose sight of every individual’s uniqueness and inherent worth. Working on the essays with Quad applicants is a great way to stay grounded while keeping long-term goals in mind.

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Applicants Isabel has recently coached have gotten accepted at many top universities, including Brown University, NYU, and Cornell University.

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When Isabel isn’t coaching, you can find her reading, watching movies, and going out with friends. She also has a variety of hobbies, including paper crafts, embroidery, and “snail mail.” She plays the guitar and loves live music and art. Recently, Isabel has been spending time walking and biking along Chicago’s beautiful lakefront with her partner.