Isaac is pursuing a Master's degree from Vanderbilt University. He has over three years of tutoring experience in STEM and the humanities, specializing in the ACT and SAT.
As a lifelong learner and storyteller, Isaac has spent the past decade working in many educational roles, including at nature centers, community non-profits, and in the classroom. He has also worked in mental and behavioral healthcare, offering services at a dual-diagnosis treatment facility, neurofeedback clinic, behavior analysis center, and jail.
His clinical and educational training supplements his academic abilities: his tutoring approach is a unique blend of clinical techniques and interpersonal skills combined with knowledge and expertise. Isaac’s philosophy is recognizing the whole person, not just a student. Isaac understands that each student has their own motivations, personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Recognizing these perspectives, building a collaborative approach attuned to each student’s style, and capitalizing on their motivations are the keys to success.
Furthermore, Isaac’s perspective extends to standardized testing. The ACT and SAT are knowledge tests, and he encourages students to think about how these tests are designed since it’s just as valuable as knowing the material. Being a storyteller trained in many roles has enabled Isaac to hone this skill, so he can connect to others and help them understand and tap into the proper mindsets to excel on these tests. He aims to empower students to achieve their academic (and other) aspirations!
A fun fact about Isaac is that he hates chocolate! But he loves roller skating, murder mysteries, and puns! One of his favorites? Do you know what you call an upset exam? A: Test-y.
Claudia holds a Bachelor’s from UCLA and a Master’s from Georgetown University. She has been a professional SAT/ACT tutor for almost 10 years. Students she has tutored have gone on to attend several top-tier universities, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Georgetown, Princeton, Columbia, and Yale.
Professionally, Claudia is a Clinical Research Consultant for the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In this role, she embarks on various projects with her team so that up-and-coming medications and scientific devices can enter the market. Despite having a fulfilling career in research, Claudia dedicates time to education because she wants to nurture academic interests in young students.
In college, Claudia discovered her love for traveling. She studied abroad in England for two months and then backpacked through various European countries for a month. She also volunteered in Guatemala to provide medical care for the local community, where she discovered that she would like to pursue healthcare as a career.
As a tutor, Claudia is personable and friendly. She prioritizes establishing a relationship with her students and believes a good relationship between the tutor, student, and parent/guardian is necessary for trust and effective communication. She understands that each individual is unique, so she adjusts her teaching methods to accommodate each student.
Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Claudia spends most of her time exploring the outdoors, discovering great restaurants, practicing yoga, playing the piano/guitar/saxophone, reading fiction novels, or watching anime. She is always looking for new anime to watch, so if you have recommendations, let her know!
Tom has a Bachelor's degree in Spanish, History, and Business from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Tom has over a decade of experience teaching SAT and ACT concepts and helping students prepare for their tests.
Tom began his tutoring journey at a Korean summer school and church camp in Atlanta, GA. What started as a fun summer job evolved into a passion for coaching and helping students achieve their goals. Since then, Tom has tutored hundreds (maybe thousands!) of students. He has a history of success with students at all levels, and his greatest strength is his endless supply of patience.
Applicants Tom has worked with have recently gotten accepted into several top universities, such as Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and Princeton University.
In his spare time, Tom enjoys exercise, exploration, and experimentation with cooking.
Randee graduated from SUNY Albany with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Psychology and School Guidance and Counseling from Long Island University and the College of New Rochelle, respectively. Professionally, Randee has over 21 years of college counseling experience, having coached her students at several top colleges across the country, including Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Columbia University, and Yale University.
Randee has an in-depth and personal understanding of the rewards, stresses, and difficulties involved in college admissions, which she shares with Quad students. She truly enjoys working with students and their families, helping them break down the application process into manageable steps. She is always eager to help her students through their college journey.
Her passion for working with students and guiding them through the college process shows in her positive and upbeat coaching style. She is most passionate about watching her students' growth and evolution throughout the process and celebrating their successes with them.
Randee is well-versed in every aspect of the application process, from resume building to interview prep to SAT and ACT prep to NCAA eligibility and disability services. She prides herself on being a lifelong learner, constantly updating her knowledge of college admission trends and practices.
When Randee isn't coaching, you can find her spending time with family and friends, attending her kids' sporting events, traveling, cooking, baking, and seeing Broadway shows.
Zina has a Bachelor's degree in Theater Studies from Yale University and a Certificate in College Counseling from Columbia Teachers College. As a National Merit Achievement Scholarship Winner, Zina believes in education's power to create infinite opportunities. She has worked at Yale University as a part of the admissions team, corresponding with prospective theater studies students to answer questions and give personalized department tours. With over ten years of experience as an academic tutor and mentor, Zina has developed a deep understanding of the admissions process and what it takes to succeed. Whether working in career readiness or education access, she loves helping students of all ages reach their full potential and express their points of view.
Throughout her college career, Zina has had incredible opportunities to travel, study her passions, and create art – and she is passionate about helping young people access these opportunities. Zina believes that the self-reflection and organizational skills students learn through college application will serve them during college and beyond.
As a coach, Zina prides herself on building strong relationships with her students by asking questions that help them grow, not just as applicants or test-takers but as people. Zina has coached international and domestic high school students through the college application process and has worked with current college students on graduate school, internship, and job applications. Her greatest strengths as a coach include providing accountability, essay editing, resume editing, SAT and ACT prep, and interview prep.
With Zina's guidance, her students have gained admission to several top colleges across the country, including Harvard University, Stanford University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Northwestern University, Georgetown University, and Duke University, among many others.
In her spare time, she enjoys writing, traveling, cooking, and trying to find the best restaurants in New York City.
Zina's Pro Tip?
The admissions process is a two-way street. Students should think hard about what they want in a college to show how their perspective aligns with the school they're applying to!
Andy has a Master’s degree from UC Irvine and has over a decade of experience in SAT, ACT, and GRE tutoring. Andy loves to see learners push themselves out of their comfort zones and gain the confidence to reach their goals. In working with students of all backgrounds and abilities, from first-generation students to children of Ivy League alumni, their favorite tutoring moments are when candidates spot patterns in tests and therefore realize they have the skills to ace the ACT or SAT. This is why Andy focuses on strategy first, personalizing each learning plan to the candidate's unique strengths and goals.
Andy is passionate about helping students understand different ways to approach a problem or understand a concept - there's never one right way because everyone learns differently. They are skilled at helping students spot the differences between what they learned in classes at school and what to pay attention to on a standardized test. Andy also likes creating graphic organizers and other tools to help applicants stay organized and break the work down visually. Nothing makes them happier than congratulating a graduating senior – especially one who was nervous at the beginning of the school year – and seeing the excitement in their eyes when they talk about what's ahead of them.
Andy's greatest strengths as a tutor include empathizing with students, respecting their learning styles, and developing customized tools and strategies to help applicants stay organized and focused. Andy has helped students gain acceptance to several prestigious schools, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, and Northwestern University.
Outside of their work, Andy enjoys walking around Los Angeles, learning about local history, reading, and watching horror movies.
Dahlila received her Bachelor of Arts from UCLA. Following her undergraduate degree, she pursued a Master’s in Higher Education Administration and Organizational Structure and Counseling at Boston College, where she held a position as a Admissions Counselor and an Admissions and Financial Aid Assistant.
Dahlila has since acted as an admissions counselor for top universities in the United States, namely the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and UCLA. In addition to coaching and counseling prospective students, Dahlila has played an integral part in creating rules, regulations, and best practices in undergraduate and graduate admissions across various departments and fields of study. With her experience, she has coached college applicants formally and informally, gaining her students admission into UCLA, Columbia University, and New York University, among others.
Through her close participation in college admissions, she understands the value of excellent storytelling and views the college admissions process as a time of self-inquiry and exploration. Dahlila is passionate about helping students, parents, and families through this process. She believes this is a transformational period in a person’s life that allows them to truly evaluate what they want from higher education while simultaneously creating a vision for their futures.
As a coach, Dahlila has a great ability to listen and give detailed, streamlined feedback based on desired outcomes, particularly as it relates to writing and personal statement essays. Knowing the value of having a message within the application process, she helps her Quad students skillfully develop and craft their stories. Dahlila’s greatest strength is helping her students see the greatness already within them, allowing them to build a narrative that genuinely and impactfully reflects who they are during the admissions process.
In her spare time, Dahlila loves writing short stories and composing music. She is also deeply passionate about neuroscience, space, and metaphysics.
Dahlila’s Pro Tip?
The ability of a student to tell a story is one of the most captivating keys to the admissions process. Admission counselors read hundreds to thousands of applications during the season, many of which are the same. A reviewer can tell if an applicant is different from the rest within seconds, so being able to capture a reviewer’s attention authentically is a special skill not just in college but in life.
Shane has a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University. He has served as an Undergraduate Admissions Council Coordinator at Harvard. Shane has also served as Harvard's ambassador to the Stowe School in England as Director of United States College Counseling. In this role, he supported the top applicants at the school by helping them create their college selection list and craft unique applications that allowed them to stand out in the admissions process.
Professionally, Shane has worked with the Miami Dolphins football team and has built a digital marketing agency to help visionary businesses connect with and impact their audiences.
Shane believes that while stressful at times, the college application process is a beautiful opportunity for students to reflect on their past experiences and share their unique stories. As a former teacher at a British boarding school, Shane is passionate about helping Quad applicants discover their unique skills and stories so they can confidently stand out during the admissions process. He achieves this by helping students build a clear schedule to navigate deadlines, easing stress, and helping students create their best possible applications. Nothing is more fulfilling to Shane than helping Quad applicants realize their potential and be rewarded with amazing college options.
Shane's greatest strengths as a coach include: simplifying the application process so it feels less stressful and more manageable (and even fun!), helping candidates determine their unique strengths and most compelling stories, and creating a warm, welcoming environment where students feel safe, supported, and encouraged. Additionally, Shane confidently helps students determine the best fit for them based on their specific interests.
Applicants Shane has recently coached have gotten accepted at several top-tier schools, including Harvard University, Yale University, Dartmouth College, Brown University, and Cornell University.
In Shane's spare time, he enjoys playing basketball and lacrosse, having played both at the varsity level in high school and club level in college. He also loves reading (mostly non-fiction and psychology books), writing, and playing the guitar (Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen!). Shane also spends a lot of time traveling because he believes it's the best form of education. He's coordinated RV trips to the national parks out West, a Route 66 trip from Chicago to Los Angeles, and numerous international adventures to expand his horizons and learn about different cultures.
Dominique has served on the admissions team at Dartmouth College. She is also a graduate of Dartmouth, where she studied Anthropology and Hispanic Studies. In the past, Dominique has worked with the Dartmouth admissions office on initiatives to give insights to prospective students and families insight into the opportunities available at the school and what the campus culture was like. She has also served as an interviewer for the college, conducting interviews of undergraduate applicants and then rating students, submitting reports about their character, academic and extracurricular engagement, and overall professionalism, as part of the Admissions Committee's assessments.
Through her work in admissions, Dominique realized the importance of telling a compelling story in the personal statement and developed a solid understanding of all of the important notes that the essay should hit to score highly in all of the different buckets that admissions committees use to score it.
Dominique is deeply passionate about education and has four years of teaching experience. After completing her undergraduate studies at Dartmouth, she was selected for the prestigious Teach for America program.
During her time as a teacher, Dominique also has extensive mentorship experience. She had an advisory group of students that she coached through all four years of high school, helping them choose classes/extracurriculars that make sense for their goals, in addition to helping with SAT prep and editing essays and scholarship applications. She also mentored them on how to choose the best school to attend based on award letters, prestige, major-specific programming, and school culture fit. Dominique enjoys hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and attending concerts in her free time.