1:1 Online AP Tutoring Designed to Exceed Every Student and Family’s Unique Needs

Cole is a graduate of Stanford University, where he obtained both his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree. He also obtained a second Master’s at Yenching Academy of Peking University.

Cole believes the college application process is an opportunity for students to crystallize what matters to them, what makes them unique, and what they hope to gain from the college experience. While Cole himself was applying to undergrad and grad school, he experienced this self-affirming impact of college applications. Cole understands that applying to college can be stressful. Still, it is also an incredibly exciting time and an amazing opportunity for students to think about what makes them who they are today. Professionally, Cole has worked at some of the most prestigious research institutions in the world including the Center for Strategic and International Relations in Washington, DC.

As a coach, Cole enjoys working with applicants to determine the most important 'watershed' moments that have shaped them. His strengths include: helping students incorporate past experiences and demonstrated interests to show, not tell; outlining a clear schedule with deliverables creating a manageable application process; and creating a warm, welcoming environment in which applicants feel comfortable sharing their worries and concerns. Additionally, Cole prides himself on his ability to empathize and connect with applicants to create a stress-free and open working relationship. Cole looks forward to applying his expertise and advice to help support Quad applicants in this journey!

Student’s Cole has recently coached have gotten into Stanford University, McGill University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Emory University.

Cole grew up in the Bay Area in California, the DC area, and Moscow, Russia. English is his native language, but he also speaks and reads Chinese at the intermediate-high level. Cole enjoys cooking, playing basketball, hiking, and listening to podcasts in his free time.

Cole’s Pro Tip?

It’s essential to craft an intentional, revealing, and unique narrative throughout your application that remains absolutely true to who you are and what you have done.

Les has earned a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, where he also served as an Admissions Associate. His greatest learning from this experience is the importance of viewing the college application process as a simple pie chart with three key slices: academic life, involvement in or with a community, and personal story. Each of these slices is viewed equally for the top 20 schools, meaning one’s personal statement holds the same weight as their high school transcript in the decision-making process.

Les understands that the admissions cycle is a jarring experience. In fact, his challenging journey to college is what sparked his interest in coaching students. Even though he attended a high school recognized as a college preparatory school, Les found it troubling how minimal access he had as a high school student to college counselors, SAT and ACT prep, and information about private institutions outside of the state.

Moreover, during his college application cycle, his college counselor highly suggested he keep his college search within a more “reasonable” scope. He spent countless weeks and hours crafting his applications and was accepted into 14 of the 18 universities he applied to. Les was the first in his high school to attend Stanford. He is passionate about guiding students and parents through this process to ensure their success!

Les’s greatest strengths as a coach include helping candidates develop and execute a project plan and timeline, identify a list of schools tiered for maximum success and admission reassurance, and highlight their strengths and voice in their essays. Additionally, Les is highly skilled in interview preparation, helping students curate a stellar resume, and tailoring essays to fit the expectations for each desirable school choice.

In his spare time, Les loves going on runs along the San Francisco harbor and Golden Gate Park. He also enjoys listening to NPR politics and the Wall Street Journal report in the morning. His interests include cooking new recipes, reading, talking to friends and family, and developing himself professionally!

Les’s Pro Tip?

Admissions officers want a well-rounded candidate they can argue for before a committee of their peers! Bring your voice. Bring your story. Bring your insight. Your essays hold the key to your potential spot at the school of your dreams.

Maddy has a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University. With a major in Government and a minor in French, her studies focused on political theory and philosophy, French literature, language, culture, and politics. Following her undergraduate degree, Maddy pursued a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Public Health from Drexel University. 

Maddy loves learning about what students are passionate about and how they can translate these interests into research projects. With years of experience as a coach, she has a thorough understanding of the college application process through the eyes of the student and uses her expertise to guide students from all backgrounds.

Throughout her education, Maddy worked closely with Cornell’s admissions team as both a Student Admissions Ambassador, giving information sessions and tours to prospective Cornell students and their families, and as an Alumni Admissions Ambassador, meeting with students who have applied to Cornell and then briefly evaluating them for the admissions committee. After these roles, she spent several years working in academic and other support roles with high school students in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Ithaca, NY. In addition to her work with admissions committees and high school students, she spent several years working with applicants from underrepresented backgrounds (e.g., candidates of color, low-income applicants, and first-generation students) in post-secondary planning. 

As a mentor, Maddy empathizes deeply with her students– allowing her to cater to each student’s experience. She excels at helping QRI students determine their strengths and break down the complexities of the research process. In her many years of experience working with young people, she is driven by their enthusiasm to explore and create opportunities through research. She truly enjoys being a part of their growth by sharing what she has learned from her personal and professional experiences.