With Nina’s expertise and care, I was able to write numerous, standout college essays and meet multiple application deadlines (17 in all, if I recall). This was accomplished through insightful brainstorming sessions, identifying my strengths, and assistance with the (potentially grueling) essay editing process. In the end, I was admitted into my dream school, USC. I can never thank Nina enough.

(Current student, USC)

I started working with Nina during my junior year of high school. She spent time getting to know me. In addition to creating a brag sheet, we worked on a short list of colleges and narrowed down possible majors. Once I had identified the colleges that were a good fit, we started the application process. Although this sounds impossible, I really enjoyed working with Nina on my college essays. I looked forward to our meetings together brainstorming their topics and themes and creating first drafts. She asked me questions that opened my mind and made me feel good about myself and she pointed out my accomplishments. Also, it was great when my parents would ask me how my applications were coming along, as I could provide them with updates instead of making something up. I didn’t even mind meeting with Nina on the weekends—we had a lot of fun working together.

Although I had a weighted GPA of over 4.0 in high school, my transcript showed one failed course, so I never thought I would get into my dream school, UCSD. Thanks to Nina, that wish came true. Once I was onboard, she helped me find ways to present myself as an interesting applicant through the essays and actions related to my proposed major, and she made sure that I stayed on deadline. Furthermore, Nina is one of the most kind and considerate people I have met and worked with. Applying for schools is stress-producing, and Nina made the process as easy as possible. I now work for a tech startup, earning in the 93% percentile for my age group (now, 25 years old). Indeed, the lessons in organization and self-awareness she mentored have carried into my adult life. Thank you, Nina!

Nina’s expert assistance was essential to the success of my daughter’s college planning and application process. Initially, I chose Nina based on her proven track record, and later impressed by her collaborative process and unerring attention to detail. Indeed, I truly believe that my daughter could not have completed this process to her satisfaction without Nina’s assistance (especially with 23 college applications!). In addition to helping with multiple essays, Nina also helped my daughter define her next steps through self-reflection and articulating who she is, which was integral to this undertaking. Furthermore, as a busy, entrepreneurial single mom, knowing that my daughter was in experienced hands was a huge weight off my shoulders. And when my daughter was accepted into UC San Diego, a “reach” school for her, and with a sizable scholarship, it was a very proud moment for her and the entire family.

Nina guided both my son and daughter through their college applications. In each case, she made the process easy, especially considering the issues unique to divorced parents and two households. Her assistance removed the pressure on either of us to oversee whether our children were meeting their deadlines. What I also appreciated about her assistance was helping my kids transition to making their own decisions about their futures. Furthermore, the feedback I received from them during their months of collaboration with Nina was consistently positive. They never complained about meeting with Nina, and when she assigned “homework” between meetings, they followed through. I was also given the impression that they felt more comfortable discussing essay topics, etc. with Nina as a neutral, trusted mentor. For these reasons and more, I recommend Nina to anyone who is looking for guidance and expertise with the college application process. I feel so grateful for her hard work and the great colleges that my kids were accepted into.