Selective college admissions strategy
Founder-led advising for high-school juniors and seniors applying to UCs, Ivies, top private universities, and strong STEM programs — with a focus on science, pre-health, and research-oriented students, and bilingual support for families navigating the process in English or Spanish.
Applying to a selective university has become its own kind of project — more applications, more moving parts, and less individual attention available inside most high schools. I work with a small number of families each year to bring structure, honesty, and a scientist's eye for evidence to that project. My focus is the students I understand best: those headed toward science, medicine, and research.
Why this process is harder now
None of this is cause for panic. It's a reason for structured, individual guidance — and for setting expectations honestly from the start.
Admit rates describe how selective a campus is; they don't predict any individual student's odds. The work isn't to chase a number — it's to help a real student present real, specific, well-evidenced work to the schools that genuinely fit them.
Why work with me
The science & pre-health edge
A Harvard PhD in the biological sciences, clinical medical training at UT Southwestern, and years mentoring student researchers — I later withdrew from the MD program in 2026 to pursue a research-first path. I know what a strong science or pre-health application actually looks like, and how to help a student write about research without jargon or inflation.
The first-generation pathway
I'm a first-generation college graduate from Brownsville, Texas — Lopez High School Alumnus of the Year and a Brownsville ISD Hall of Fame inductee. I came up through selective admissions with no inherited pipeline, and I work in English and Spanish so the whole family can follow the process, not just the student.
First-generation or bilingual family? See the dedicated page →
The interview & communication lens
I served as a Harvard College alumni interviewer for South Texas applicants (2021–2025). My prior alumni-interviewing experience informs how I coach students to communicate clearly, specifically, and authentically — but it is separate from this consulting practice.
More in Ethical coaching standards.
Who this is for
Juniors and seniors aiming at selective undergraduate programs — the University of California campuses, Ivy League universities, top private universities, and strong STEM/research programs. The fit is strongest when a student is pointed toward science, pre-health (pre-med, nursing, public health), or a research-heavy major, including BS/MD-aware applicants. Families who want one experienced person across the whole season — not a rotating cast — tend to get the most from working together.
Science & pre-health applicant? See the dedicated page →
How I help
- College-list strategy — a realistic, well-balanced list built around fit, not just rankings.
- Essays — personal statement and school supplements, draft by draft; the student writes, I coach.
- Activities & resume framing — making real experience read clearly to an admissions reader.
- Research & pre-health narrative — turning lab work, shadowing, or a science project into a story without jargon.
- Interview preparation — mock interviews and feedback grounded in real alumni-interview experience.
- Timeline management — deadlines, requirements, and parent check-ins, so nothing slips.
Where AI helps — and where it does not
AI is useful for getting unstuck — brainstorming, organizing ideas, and making a blank page less daunting. But a strong application is not a polished essay; it is an honest picture of a real student.
The student writes everything. I do not write essays for students, and I will not help anyone pass off AI-generated work as their own. My role is to help students use judgment: which stories matter, whether the writing still sounds like them, and whether the whole application adds up to something true.
Packages & investment
Founding 2026 rates are available for a limited number of students while this service line is being launched.
Every engagement begins with a free 20-minute introductory call to confirm fit before any commitment.
Admissions Strategy Session — $300/hr
Founding 2026 rate
A focused session to pressure-test a college list, work an essay in progress, or talk through a specific decision.
Best for: families who aren't sure how much help they need.
Single-Application Sprint — $1,800
Up to 2 schools · capped scope
Essay coaching, supplements, activities framing, one mock interview if relevant, and final review for up to two closely prioritized applications.
Best for: one or two priority schools, early-action/early-decision support, or a focused UC application strategy.
Senior-Year Comprehensive — $9,500
Full cycle · up to 8 schools
College-list strategy, essays, activities, parent check-ins, mock interviews, and timeline management through submission.
Best for: families who want one experienced guide across the full application season, with school-specific strategy rather than generic essay review.
Research / Pre-Health Narrative Intensive
Signature add-on · available by consultation
Turn lab work, shadowing, clinical exposure, or science projects into a clear, specific, jargon-free story.
Best for: science and pre-health applicants with real experience to write about.
Why the school caps exist: strong applications are not built by copying the same story across more schools. Each school needs a different version of the student's narrative — what fits, what to emphasize, which essays matter most, and how interview preparation should be tailored. The caps keep the work personalized, realistic, and high-quality.
Each package has a defined scope so you know exactly what's included. Additional schools, extra draft rounds, additional parent meetings, scholarship essays, BS/MD applications, and urgent turnaround are billed hourly unless included in writing.
How the process works
- Free intro call — 20 minutes to understand the student, the goals, and whether I'm the right fit.
- Strategy & plan — we map the college list, the timeline, and what each application needs to show.
- Drafting & coaching — essays and activities, draft by draft. The student writes; I coach and edit.
- Interview & polish — mock interviews and a final review before each deadline.
Parent communication is built into the process through scheduled check-ins and reasonable between-meeting updates. Additional calls, urgent timeline changes, or expanded school lists can be added hourly when needed.
Ethical coaching standards
Good admissions help has clear lines. Mine:
- The student is the author of every application material — I coach, question, and edit; I do not write essays for students.
- No admission guarantees. No one ethical can promise an outcome; I help a student put their best, most genuine work forward.
- For minors, I work with the parent or guardian as the primary point of contact, and treat all materials as confidential.
I am an independent educational consultant and am not affiliated with Harvard College Admissions. My prior Harvard College alumni-interviewer role was separate from this practice and conferred no admissions influence, confidential information, endorsement, or preferential access. I do not represent Harvard College Admissions or guarantee admission outcomes.
New to this? How to choose a college admissions consultant →
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee admission?
No — and be cautious of anyone who does. I help students present a strong, honest application; each university makes its own decision.
Do you write the essays?
No. The student is always the author. I coach, ask hard questions, and edit line by line — but the words and ideas are theirs. Admissions readers are good at spotting writing that doesn't sound like the student's own voice.
Can students use AI while working on applications?
AI can help brainstorm or organize early ideas, but it should never replace the student's own thinking, voice, or writing — and policies vary by school, so follow each one's rules. In my advising, AI is a tool, not an author: the student stays responsible for the ideas, language, accuracy, and authenticity of everything they submit.
Are you affiliated with Harvard Admissions?
No. This practice is independent and unaffiliated with Harvard College Admissions. My prior alumni-interviewer role gives me perspective on how applicants communicate — not influence, endorsement, or confidential information.
Can you work with Spanish-speaking parents?
Yes. I'm bilingual and run the process in English or Spanish, so the whole family can follow it — not just the student.
Do you work remotely?
Yes — by video anywhere, and in person in San Diego and Coronado.
How early should a student start?
Junior year is ideal for comprehensive support, but I take on focused work at any stage, including seniors mid-cycle. Earlier means more room to shape activities and research; later, we focus and prioritize.
What if my student is applying mostly to UCs?
That's a common and strong fit. The UC application is its own format — test-blind, with four personal-insight questions instead of a single essay — and rewards specific, well-evidenced writing over polish. We build for that directly.
What if my child doesn't get into their top-choice school?
That's why we build a balanced list from the start. Selective admissions is never fully predictable, even for excellent students — so the list always includes schools where your child can genuinely thrive. If a decision doesn't go the way you hoped, we regroup: compare offers, weigh a waitlist where it's worth it, and keep perspective. One decision isn't a verdict on a student's future.
What if my child doesn't get into any school?
A balanced list makes that very unlikely, and I'll say so directly if a list is too reach-heavy or a student is starting late. If options are still needed after the main cycle, the system is more flexible than most families realize — NACAC's annual College Openings Update lists accredited schools still accepting applications, and Common App offers Direct Admissions pathways. These are legitimate routes, not failure routes.
Book a free 20-minute intro call or get in touch
Pre-health or pre-med bound? Free guide: should you apply now or take a gap year? →
No admission outcomes are guaranteed; the student remains the author of all application materials.