What I enjoy most about coaching - be it in sports or in college prep - is watching people develop in ways they never thought possible. Helping them achieve goals they didn’t even know they had. Through my mentoring experiences, I’ve learned just how important it is to have someone who knows not only the subject area (be it baseball or essay writing), but who knows the mentee. It is that mix of expertise that allows for the most productivity and growth. A successful mentor is not going to have a single formula they use for each individual student; rather, they develop a smart strategy for each individual’s personal background, goals, learning style, etc. And that’s the approach I take every time, blending my strategy consulting experience, my admissions knowledge, and my relentless pursuit of getting to know each of my students on a very personal level.

My role when working with students is to serve as a sounding board for ideas, to push them to dig deeper when developing those ideas, and to inspire them when they’ve hit a wall in this overwhelming and exhausting process. As someone who has been through the Ivy league admissions process, I know how high the stakes are and the effort it takes to be successful.

As a coach, I get my students involved in the activities that excite them. Standardized tests and grades are a big component of the application process but it’s certainly not everything. I consider it my job to make sure students are firing on all cylinders: grades/test scores as well as extracurriculars, sports, and leadership positions. And I want them to have fun throughout it all. Because if they’re not enjoying something, they’re not going to do it.