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Brittney earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science at UC Berkeley and a Master's in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. She has extensive experience in higher education, having served on the Academic Affairs Committee at Harvard University and worked at the Student Learning Center, coaching students in writing and research methods at UC Berkeley. Brittney also worked at the Transfer Center at UC Berkeley, which gave her an in-depth insight into what schools look for in transfer candidates.
Having coached dozens of candidates over the last few years, Brittney is a specialist in selective school admissions. Her greatest strengths as a coach are helping candidates identify their strengths and effectively communicate their story as a cohesive narrative across all aspects of their application. Brittney loves helping candidates draw upon their life experiences to find a compelling, authentic story that brings out the best in them.
Brittney has been formally trained in coaching and facilitation and, as a Quad counselor, brings the art of appreciative inquiry to helping students shine from within. Students that Brittney has coached have gotten into several top schools, including Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. Brittney also enjoys helping students build storytelling, writing, and organization skills through the application process to help them succeed in the future.
In her free time, Brittney enjoys cooking, salsa dancing, and hiking with her rescue dog Odi.
Brooke has a Bachelor's degree and an MBA from Northwestern University. She is excited to work with Quad applicants and provide high-level, in-depth feedback to help students clarify their overarching narrative and concisely and impactfully present their experiences. She aims to be a "light in the dark" for students during the application process, turning complexity into a linear, actionable game plan and acting as a sounding board and thought partner for them each step of the way.
Brooke understands that college is a transformative experience and an important decision for any student or family. She takes pleasure in getting to know her students deeply to discover their aspirations and hidden strengths and understand where they will thrive. Brooke finds the application process to be a powerful tool for self-discovery and enjoys the collaborative process of crafting a unique, compelling narrative that illustrates who the student truly is.
As a supportive guide, Brooke assists students in breaking down the ambiguous and complex application process into concrete, actionable steps. She is committed to identifying key themes for a unique, authentic, and cohesive story that guides the overall application strategy. Brooke facilitates exploration and mapping out of "untraditional" career paths and helps students find new ways of thinking and talking about their strengths and experiences that contribute to their overall narrative.
With Brooke's guidance, students can present their best selves and make informed decisions about their academic futures. She deeply believes every individual has a spark, strength, and story. If students need help identifying and/or articulating their goals or what sets them apart, Brooke is eager to help.
In her spare time, Brooke loves the outdoors and enjoys skiing, camping, hiking, and fishing in the mountains near her home in Salt Lake City. She also has her own creative business designing modern sewing patterns and enjoys the multiple dimensions of entrepreneurship.
Casey holds a Bachelor's degree from NYU and has over 20 years of experience as an educator. Professionally, Casey is an Adjunct Theatre Professor at Miami Dade College, instructing virtual and in-person courses on Theatre Appreciation, Voice for the Stage, Introduction to Stage Management, and Playwriting.
Casey is passionate about coaching college applicants because her personal experience with the college application process when she was a student was both productive and positive, thanks to the assistance of her own college prep coaches. She strives to emulate that same commitment, enthusiasm and resounding work ethic to her current professional work.
Casey's strength as a coach lies in her ability to support candidates throughout each step empathetically. She is determined to help every applicant succeed and is particularly confident in her coaching skills for preparing candidates for college interviews and auditions.
With a proven track record, Casey has coached candidates accepted into prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University and NYU.
In her spare time, Casey enjoys archery, swimming, reading nonfiction books, and traveling internationally. She is also a dog lover and enjoys spending time with her furry friends, Brando and Blue.
Cathy has a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master's degree in Asian Civilization from the University of Iowa. Following her MA, she taught English in Inner Mongolia, worked for a state-run publishing house in Beijing, and then studied with two of the last surviving writers of nüshu, a writing system used only by women in a remote part of rural Hunan, research that led to her PhD in Asian Languages and Cultures: Chinese from the University of Michigan. Cathy is known worldwide for her work on the women's script as well as her elegant translations of Chinese literature into English.
With over 20 years of experience at top American colleges as a professor in Chinese literature and culture, intercultural communication, and translation studies, profoundly influenced by feminist and ethnographic approaches––and another seven years as a grassroots activist and organizer, Cathy is no stranger to guiding students in pursuit of their own goals, whatever they may be. Shaped by both academia and activism, Cathy believes knowledge should be useful beyond its own sake, so she is especially committed to helping students design and implement innovative and strategically sound research projects that can make a difference in the world.
Cathy loves guiding students through processes of intellectual inquiry. She shares students' excitement at discovering how their interests intersect with issues and fields they may never have heard of before. Cathy's favorite part of teaching is mentoring students, and she can't wait to share the joys of learning with QRI mentees.
As a coach, Cathy attunes to students as whole people. Having witnessed how high-achieving students can push themselves past their limits, she understands the value of basic well-being. Her goal is to help students find and maintain a true center as they prepare to head off to college, excited to explore all the possibilities before them and fully ready to take them on.
Chad has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a minor in Cognitive Science from UCLA. Chad has worked in UCLA’s transfer admissions, reviewing transfer requirements, applications, and personal statements. Professional, Chad has worked as a Market Research Manager at a large marketing firm and as a Senior Consulting Analyst at Mercer.
After going through cancer and being homeschooled his senior year of high school, Chad started at community college before transferring to his dream school, UCLA. This experience made him realize how invaluable it was to have mentors help him navigate the application process and is what led him down the path of mentoring college applicants.
What Chad loves most about coaching is helping students achieve their goals and become the best version of themselves. Chad believes that entering college is a pivotal moment for students, being a stepping stone into the adult world. It’s there that they’ll create lasting experiences, learn more about themselves, and discover their career path. Chad is keen to make an impact and help guide students along their journey.
As a coach, Chad is skilled in creating timelines and breaking down the application process into manageable steps. He also understands that it can be challenging for students to describe their personality, strengths, or career goals in their applications. Chad’s strong interpersonal skills and extroverted personality allow him to easily connect with students, providing a friendly and comfortable setting to allow for introspection.
Students that Chad has recently coached have gotten accepted at several top universities, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Cornell University.
In his free time, Chad can be found lifting weights at the gym or, as an avid traveler, visiting a new place. He loves to listen to music, particularly EDM and Hip-Hop, and frequently goes to festivals such as Coachella and EDC. He enjoys watching basketball, football, and movies, particularly film franchises and thrillers.
Chad’s Pro Tip?
Having the grades shows that you are studious, but having strong extracurriculars demonstrates your interests and passions outside the classroom. Admissions officers love well-rounded individuals.
Charles has a Bachelor of Science from Mercer University and received his MS and PhD from Texas A&M University. He has over 12 years of experience serving as a mentor and advisor for students in research and academia.
Charles is presently a university professor, research consultant, and tech advisor. He has worked with students from various backgrounds, from high school to entry-level college students, graduate students, and working professionals. Students that Charles has worked with have gone on to attend various prestigious colleges and universities, with many pursuing careers within the tech sector.
Charles is passionate about helping others realize the beauty of learning and science. He looks forward to the opportunity to work with any young scholars seeking the guidance of another young, experienced researcher.
Charles' coaching approach is rooted in his belief that an effective mentor understands the significance of building strong relationships with their mentees. He feels it is essential to take the time to get to know mentees by learning about their strengths and weaknesses and understanding their goals and aspirations. This approach allows him to tailor his coaching and advice to the unique needs of each mentee, providing the support and guidance they need to succeed.
As a QRI mentor, Charles understands the importance of fostering growth and development in mentees. He helps students achieve growth by providing constructive feedback, encouraging self-reflection, offering guidance and support, creating a safe and supportive environment, and celebrating successes. Charles believes that offering specific feedback on strengths and areas for improvement can help students develop a deeper understanding of their abilities and areas where they can improve. By asking thoughtful questions, listening actively, and guiding students to reflect on their experiences, he helps them gain new insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
Charles hopes to instill in QRI students a lifelong love of learning and a constant desire to improve and grow. By doing so, they can succeed in anything they set their minds to.
Chisun has a Bachelor's degree in Medical Sociology from Boston University and a Master's degree in Public Health from Yale School of Public Health. Professionally, Chisun has spent 30 years as an executive in healthcare management and has served as a Regent for the American College of Healthcare Executives at a regional level, where she helped chapters across 14 states promote, advance, and integrate diversity and inclusion at the C-suite across healthcare organizations. Additionally, Chisun has served as VP of Operations for the U.S. Department of Defence and as a Director for the U.S. Navy.
When it comes to coaching, Chisun feels that it is a privilege to partner with students at this pivotal time of self-reflection and discovery. Building a relationship of mutual trust and respect, actively listening to students and parents, and understanding their interests and goals are at the core of Chisun's coaching philosophy and practice. She enjoys helping young adults take stock of their life experiences, skills, and accomplishments, clarify their interests and solidify a thoughtful, authentic narrative that best represents their unique story.
Chisun likes to serve as a trusted agent, expert, and friend when working with students and parents. She enjoys developing a mutual plan, timeline, measurable action steps, and deliverables to keep everything on track. Chisun guides with clarity and simplifies the application process into manageable, actionable steps while setting realistic goals and expectations.
Chisun's feedback is honest and grounded in reality, noting gaps and areas for improvement. She loves keeping on top of colleges and helping students understand each college's critical factors for success; its personality, culture, and environment. Ultimately, Chisun helps students stick to priorities and helps them find the best fit where they can position themselves to thrive, grow, and succeed.
As a coach, Chisun excels at helping parents and students break down the application process into manageable steps. She also prides herself on her ability to actively listen to students to understand who they are and help them weave all this into a strong, authentic, compelling narrative. Chisun carefully and thoughtfully reads through applications and is detail-oriented and thorough in her reviews and feedback. People often tell Chisun that they appreciate her positive energy, enthusiasm, and encouragement while being data-driven, practical, and realistic.
When not engaging with students, Chisun enjoys creating garment and textile designs and products, tending to a succulent water-wise garden, baking sourdough breads, cooking new recipes, or exploring DIY projects. She loves the outdoors, and her bucket list is to visit and hike at 25 major national and state parks in the US!
Chisun's Pro Tip?
When crafting your application materials, it is critical to stand out and write a compelling story of who you are and what you offer. Saying what you think people want to hear is a disservice, and those reading your application will likely find it uninteresting. Being your true authentic self is the most important!
Chris has a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA. Additionally, he has also worked as an admissions committee member for undergraduate and graduate school applications at UCLA.
Having worked as an educator and lecturer with many driven pupils, Chris genuinely enjoys having discussions with his students about their futures and learning about the place in the world they want to carve out for themselves as they mature. Chris is most excited to build a meaningful discourse with his Quad students about how to get into college while figuring out what they want in life and how best to achieve that moving forward. He deeply values his role as a coach and understands that learning from a mentor is a vital asset in the college application process. He aims to help his students tactically prepare for their college journey, giving them the space to craft a sense of who they are in a way that would help them succeed in the future.
As a coach, Chris’s greatest strength is working with students holistically, helping his Quad students synthesize different elements of their life, skills, and experience to create a unified vision of who they are and what they can bring to a school. Chris possesses various academic and professional life experiences–pursuing multiple passions within seemingly disparate fields of interest. His breadth of experience makes him highly perceptive to his students’ needs, working with them to bring out a sense of what makes them unique, what matters to them, and how they can better shape their lives.
When Chris isn’t coaching, he is creative writing, building his YouTube channel, traveling, exercising, and learning more about history and current events.
Chris’s Pro Tip?
Admissions committees assess differences amongst an extraordinarily competitive applicant pool and have a clear picture of what sorts of applications genuinely stand out. As an applicant, it is essential to understand how to craft your story through effective writing styles, self-described life trajectories, letters of recommendation, and the overall personal tone of your application to stand out.
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.
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!
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.
Corey has a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center. In addition, they have an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. Corey has served as an Interviewer at Georgetown University, where they interviewed and scored applicants. Professionally, Corey has served as an Attorney with over fifteen years of experience in public policy, including a decade of work in sexual and reproductive health and LGBTQ rights.
Corey’s interest in coaching stemmed from their own experience of applying to college as a first-generation student at a public school. They had to navigate the process solo and quickly became an expert among their friends. Corey’s guidance counselors even hung their application materials on the office walls as a template for other students! Since then, Corey has coached many students on their educational journey - whether as a teacher, an alum providing outreach, an employer mentoring interns, or a community volunteer working with youth programs.
As a coach, Corey thoroughly enjoys getting to know Quad applicants and learning about their goals. They pride themselves on being a good listener and motivating students to create what they hope to. Corey addresses any roadblocks honestly and works with students to find solutions together. Corey’s greatest strength as a coach is their approach to the application; they work with students to tackle it one step at a time while also planning ahead. This puts Quad applicants at ease, allowing them to enjoy applying to college with as little stress as possible. Corey is also a big fan of backward planning. They encourage applicants to start with what they are passionate about and what they can imagine spending their life doing - and working backward from there. At the end of the day, college admissions is very important, but it's only the first step on the road to your future.
Writing and reading are two of Corey’s main passions. They have contributed to two forthcoming books, but they also love to write just for them. Corey also loves spending time with their family, gaming, and traveling.
Corey’s Pro Tip?
An applicant might be identical on paper to many other students, but there is a lot that is unique about you that can come out in different ways in this process. What is your story? Why is this college perfect for you, and what can YOU offer to the college? Answering these questions is easily worth as much as a test score or GPA.
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.
Dan is a graduate of Stanford University, where he obtained his MBA. He has several years of professional experience in the education sector as an admissions coach, technologist, and teacher. Dan spent 6 years on Google’s education team, where he built tools used by thousands of schools across the country.
Dan also has extensive experience helping college candidates get into their dream schools. Dan likes to use the power of coactive coaching to help Quad applicants uncover their top strengths so they can craft engaging stories that highlight those strengths in a compelling way. He is a big appreciator of the value of authenticity and helps students reflect, turning seemingly small moments into memorable anecdotes. Above all, Dan is focused on using the problem-action-impact framework to make every word of students’ application materials count.
Candidates that Dan has recently coached have been accepted to Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, among other top schools.
With a passion for continuous learning, Dan finds himself glued to ‘The Great Courses’ when he isn't coaching students. He is also an outdoor enthusiast, regularly running, hiking, mountain biking, and camping.
Dan’s Pro Tip?
Sometimes it seems counterintuitive, but a humble awareness of your shortcomings can be one of your most endearing traits.
Darryl acquired nearly 20 years of experience working in college admissions before leading a successful college counseling office for an independent secondary school for the past 12 years. Previously Darryl was Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Tufts University, where he gained valuable insight into the world of highly selective college admissions. Darryl began his career at Union College (NY), his alma mater, in 1992, where he started as an admissions counselor and rose to the leadership role of Associate Dean.
Darryl has nationally recognized expertise and industry insights in every aspect of the college admission process. He has been featured in several admissions publications throughout his career, including the NY Times best-selling book, “Who Gets in and Why.” Darryl has an extensive network of college admissions professionals with whom he continually collaborates.
He has sat in on admissions selection for various highly selective institutions, including colleges in the Ivy League and NESCAC, like Dartmouth College and Middlebury College. Darryl has also served on selection committees for prestigious scholarships at Davidson College and Lafayette College. He regularly trains new admissions professionals and conducts presentations and workshops for organizations, including The College Board and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
At Quad, Darryl is passionate about sharing his knowledge to make the college admission process more accessible and less mysterious. He has a special interest in how the admission process is perceived from the student and parent perspective and is known for putting families at ease.
David has a Bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a Master's degree from Washington University in St Louis. As a coach, David is extremely goal-oriented and receives great satisfaction in seeing students succeed. He believes in the college admissions application process's transformative nature and educational value as discrete from classroom education. The college application process is a tremendous opportunity to discover vital aspects of students' interests and ambitions. The more rigorously one engages and commits to the college admissions process, the more rewards one yields in self-discovery.
David's greatest strengths as a coach include his extreme acuity to detail and fierce command of language. With a keen focus on his candidates' holistic profiles, David can quickly identify their strengths and determine the best ways to form a compelling and persuasive case for each applicant's respective candidacies. Additionally, David is extraordinarily adaptable, works well under pressure, and can synthesize elements of a candidate's background into guiding approaches to college application documents.
Applicants David has recently coached have gotten accepted into Columbia University, The University of Chicago, The University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, Georgetown University, Washington University in St. Louis, New York University, and The University of Virginia.
David is a major foodie, and when he's not reading or working on a manuscript, he loves to survey new or exciting restaurants, bars, and cafes in Saint Louis or New York.
David's Pro Tip?
Admissions officers must be clearly guided toward a candidate's most persuasive strengths in the application; strong candidacy alone does not create successful candidacy. Rather, a cogent presentation of one's strengths is essential.
Demi has a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science & Policy with a Minor in Political Science from Duke University. She has also earned a JD from The University of North Carolina School of Law. Professionally, Demi has worked closely with the Academic Advising office at Emory School of Law. Her most significant learning from this experience is that there is no perfect candidate alone; each candidate comes together with the incoming student body to form a great class. Some candidates had more experience while others had a better academic record, but the incoming class was always whole.
Demi's passion for coaching stemmed from the help she received when applying to college herself. Based on her environment and situation, she did not have the resources to go to college. However, she had mentors who helped her at every step; they encouraged her to participate in pre-college programs she wasn't sure she qualified for, and they encouraged her to sign up for competitions she never dreamed of. Most importantly, her mentors believed there was no limit to what she could do and were willing to get her where she needed to go. Demi understands the difficulties of applying to college, and her goal is to help applicants have options on where they go to college and beyond.
Demi's greatest strengths as a coach include helping Quad applicants look through their experiences in a non-intrusive way to see the best version of themselves and articulate it in their application materials. She is also a great listener and takes extra steps to ensure the entire family feels involved and comfortable during the process.
When Demi isn't coaching, she enjoys drinking international teas, gardening, hiking, and spending time with her husband and cat.
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.
As a consultant at Quad and a former admissions committee member at Harvard, Donovan is passionate about helping students from all over the world realize their true potential. One of the most important things he learned through working in admissions is emphasizing depth over breadth. Many incorrectly assume that universities want a well-rounded student, whereas they're actually seeking a well-rounded student body. Informed by this understanding, Donovan helps students demonstrate expertise and develop a focused, cohesive narrative across their applications, which are incredibly important to top-tier schools.
Donovan also has an in-depth understanding of the importance of school-specificity in each application, as every school values different things. Having produced more U.S. presidents and Nobel Prize winners than any other university, Harvard, for example, tends to place greater weight on leadership qualities among applicants. Adjacent to Palo Alto and in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford values an entrepreneurial spirit and calculated risk-taking more than many schools. Thus, it's imperative that supplemental essays are tailored to a school and its characteristics, something that Donovan is passionate about helping students with.
As a former varsity collegiate rower recruited to Harvard's heavyweight crew team, Donovan has helped countless students excel in their sport and successfully navigate the athletic recruiting process. He likens his approach to that of a coach and thoroughly enjoys working with ambitious student-athletes. Having pursued cutting-edge STEM research and competitions throughout his career, Donovan likes building passion projects with students and is particularly interested in working with students who want to solve problems using STEM. At Quad, Donovan aims to be an approachable, accessible ally and is more than happy to work with students of all backgrounds.
In his spare time, Donovan writes screenplays, teleplays, and sketch comedies. He enjoys reading nonfiction psychology books and loves board games like Catan and Monopoly. Apart from this, Donovan hangs out with his bearded dragon and is considering getting a giant breed dog soon.
Dorien is a graduate of Colgate University and the University of Pennsylvania. Dorien has extensive experience both as an admissions coach as well as as an admissions professional. Dorien served as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment at Syracuse University, an Application Reader at Swathmore College, and an Undergraduate Student Advisor at Case Western Reserve University. While serving on admissions teams, Dorien was responsible for reading applications, interviewing prospective students, coordinating campus visits and events, training admissions volunteers, and making scholarship decisions. She also has experience coaching students on all aspects of their college experience, including major exploration, academic/study skills, engaging in campus life and opportunities, and other areas of adjustment to college life.
As a coach, Dorien believes that building a positive, trusting relationship with Quad applicants is essential. She is an active listener, allowing her to get to know her students on a deeper, personal level and give individualized advice. She thoroughly enjoys coaching students through multi-phased processes in a way that does not overwhelm them but also gives them ownership over their own decisions each step of the way.
In terms of strengths, Dorien has clear oral and written communication skills, which she hones in on while helping Quad applicants draft and edit their essays as well as other personal documents for the application process.
When Dorien isn’t coaching, she is an avid reader (with a healthy dose of binge TV watching for balance), loves to cook and try new recipes, and travel both in the US and abroad. She also has both a dog (a dachshund mix named Ellie) and a cat (named Athena)!
Dorien’s Pro Tips?
Don't tell admissions officers what you think they "want" to hear; they can tell! This won't help to make you more "admissible" and certainly won't result in a good-fit school at the end of the process.
Applying to college takes research, thoughtful self-reflection, and, most importantly: TIME. Don't rush the process.
Elgin has a Bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College. With 10 years of experience as an educator, he has worked extensively with high school students in a counseling capacity to determine their strengths and help them find colleges and universities across the country. He also has an extensive background in helping students write resumes and essays, research and contact schools, obtain letters of recommendation, seek scholarships, and prepare for interviews.
Elgin is passionate about guiding and empowering college applicants to enjoy the process and learn more about themselves and their experiences. He has a talent for connecting with students, developing student profiles, and following up with students regularly. His experience working with high school students and seeing some of their struggles is incredibly relatable and makes him want to support students as much as possible. He understands that this time in a young person's life is critical, and it is important that they are informed and have a chance to get to know who they are as individuals.
One of Elgin's greatest strengths is building strong relationships with students and families to determine their goals and experiences. He enjoys getting to know applicants and discovering how their experiences have shaped who they are today. Elgin is also skilled in analyzing schools to determine the best fit for students. He loves helping applicants research different schools and find potential paths to achieve their goals.
Applicants Elgin has recently coached have been accepted into several top-tier schools, including Dartmouth College, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University.
Outside work, Elgin enjoys sports, movies, outdoor activities, and spending time with his family.
Eli completed his Bachelor’s degree at Columbia University. Following his degree, he acted as Columbia’s Dean’s Assistant and Interview Program Coordinator. In this position, he oversaw the interview process and provided training sessions for new and returning interviewers. He was also involved with special scholar programs, meeting prospective students and their families. With his extensive experience as a coach and admissions officer, he has helped his students gain admission into their dream colleges.
Eli has always been passionate about higher education and the college experience, which drives him to share his knowledge with prospective students. His passion drives him to help his students achieve their academic goals by coaching them through their college application timeline and ultimately building an impactful application. As a coach, Elie understands the significance of a holistic application. He ensures that his students are well-organized and equipped to manage and ace each part of the application process. He excels at identifying what qualities make a student shine through during the application process beyond the numbers.
When Eli isn’t coaching, he enjoys travelling, reading, and playing music.
Eli’s Pro Tip?
Making sure you’re organized early in the admissions process will allow you to develop a better idea and understanding of your end goals and make the most of your college experience.
Ellen graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University. Having personally gone through the college application and transfer process, Ellen brings a unique perspective on the challenges students face and how to overcome them. Professionally, she has served as a Communications Executive at BNY Mellon and an Investment Banking Analyst at J.P. Morgan.
Ellen's active listening skills and passion for learning about applicants enable her to help students shape their stories meaningfully and authentically. She understands the immense pressure that applicants and their families experience and is committed to making the process as smooth and memorable as possible.
Ellen's coaching approach is centered on tailoring her guidance to meet the individual needs of each applicant. Her strong organizational skills and time management abilities ensure that the process remains transparent and on track, despite the many demands on students' time.
As an expert in written responses, Ellen takes great care to ensure that every submission is of the highest standard. She is a skilled brainstormer and is always eager to help students showcase their best selves through writing. Her encouraging and optimistic personality makes her an ideal partner and cheerleader throughout the college application journey.
Ellen is committed to supporting students and their families throughout this process and takes their trust in her very seriously. Her goal is to help each applicant shine and achieve their college dreams.
Outside of coaching, Ellen enjoys spending time with her dog Ava, practicing yoga and Pilates, attending ballet performances, and improving her culinary skills.
Emily has a Master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught Biochemistry to pre-med students. She also reviewed several applications drafted by pre-med students and wrote recommendation letters. Additionally, she has helped numerous students looking to pursue graduate programs identify their strengths and passions and recommend suitable programs.
As a project manager at Kaiser Permanente, Emily has gained valuable insight into the application of STEM findings in the real world. This role has also provided her with exceptional organizational skills, allowing her to break down the application process into manageable steps and utilize tools to help applicants meet various deadlines.
Emily's passion for coaching students stems from the challenge she faced as a college applicant in determining her strengths and passions. This experience motivates her to guide applicants to identify their strengths and passions and tell the best stories in their college applications.
In her free time, Emily enjoys exploring dog-friendly restaurants and spending time with her furry companion.
