To put it simply: Audrey helped me achieve my dream since second grade. She allowed me to translate the jumbled-up mess of thoughts and ideas swirling around in my brain into a story that was both creative and compelling, and most importantly, presented the best version of myself without failing to maintain honesty and authenticity.
That’s exactly what Audrey stresses: authenticity. Audrey doesn’t write your story for you, she draws it out of you by getting to know your quirks and emotions, what makes you tick and what makes you laugh until you cry. Audrey makes essay-writing, what could be for some a painful, mind-numbing experience, into a life-changing, introspective series of Skype conversations during which you’re challenged to get to know yourself better.
Audrey is extraordinarily kind, an excellent writer, a creative thinker, and an artist with words; but most of all, she is an empathetic human being with a big heart. She knows you don’t have to be a nationally ranked mathematician or a musical prodigy (spoiler alert: I wasn’t either of those) to get into the college of your dreams. The best part about Audrey is that she wholeheartedly believes in you, cares about everything that makes you you, and knows that you can succeed regardless of how many accolades and accomplishments you have or don’t have.
With Audrey, I was able to craft the most genuine, endearing, and colorful picture of myself, and I can’t thank her enough for the humor, inspiration, and fun she brought into my life for several months. Audrey is a gem of a human, and I am so beyond thrilled about and thankful for the opportunities working with her has opened up for me, and surely will open up for everyone who chooses Audrey as a writing coach.
Eleanor Salkoff, Bishop Manogue High School Class of 2019 / Stanford University Class of 2023
The way that Audrey went about everything was honestly amazing. It never really felt like we were doing work—it was all inside jokes and her picking my brain, and the essays would just come together in a way I never thought I could write before. She is amazing at helping you find your personal voice in a way that creates essays far better than anything I ever thought I was capable of. At the beginning of the process, I sort of thought it was one of those “hire this person to write your essay for you,” but as we went on through the process, every single idea and word on the page (but maybe not every single punctuation mark) came from me. Some of my favorite times we had together was when we would create characters, television shows, and movies after finishing up a day’s writing. Instead of just a “see you next week” and hanging up, we would sit there and create the most outlandish characters and accents or some of the dumbest but most amazing show ideas that have ever existed. I honestly wish there was a recording of all those times—there 100% was a gem of an idea in there somewhere!
Audrey has this unique, incredible ability to make it seem like absolutely no work is getting done until BAM! All of a sudden you have everything you need to write an essay that really makes your personality and creativity shine through, even about the most mundane topics like “Why do you want to go to our school?” Never in a million years did I think my Common Application essay would really be about my first love—the Charlotte Douglas International Airport—but while all my friends and family told me that it was a ridiculous topic, Audrey grabbed onto the idea and it ended up being a phenomenal way to get my philosophy on everything from hats to life to the best meals a person can eat (toast with grape jam obviously). Audrey helped me to put myself into perspective, which in turn helped me write essays with a personal touch that I could not have written with anyone else. I can’t thank her enough for everything she did for me.
Finn Sullivan, Shawnee Mission East Class of 2022 / University of Michigan Class of 2026
Amidst a college application process that is as exciting as it is daunting, Audrey was my fearless guide. I knew she was the right college advisor for me when she pulled out a deck of spirit animal cards on the first day and together we picked a nonbinary whale out of the deck who we decided would guide us through this process. Throughout the journey—when finding a major, writing essays, and eventually choosing a college—we thought: what would Mx. Whale do? Guided by Mx. Whale’s emotional openness, compassion, and fearlessness, Audrey and I were rooted in authenticity throughout the whole process. When I began working with her in January of my junior year, I was entirely clueless about the process, didn’t know what I wanted to major in, and was even unsure of my criteria for a school. Audrey spent months helping me sort through my interests, make pro/con lists, and research schools and majors until I could begin to make sense of what I truly valued in a school. She helped me explore majors by suggesting books like The Overworked American by Juliet Schor and Gut by Giulia Enders until I decided to apply as a sociology major. This is what makes Audrey different from other advisors: I never felt categorized as a “type” of student or applicant put into a box—Audrey took her sweet time getting to know the nuances and deviations and aspirations that had been ignored or overlooked by my other guidance counselors. This meant that, not only could Audrey provide guidance on schools, majors, and programs that would appeal to me, but she could also help me find and get in touch with relevant internships and even help me turn my Bachelorette obsession into a riveting college essay topic. Audrey emphasizes authenticity in all aspects of the process, taking the time to milk out my quirky family game night stories and strange yet poignant relationship with kombucha-making in order to make sure that colleges got a vivid holistic picture in my applications. The great thing about Audrey’s process is that she meets you where you are, whether you come in with a dream school like my cousin did or had no idea as I did. Completing this process, I am thrilled to look back and truly feel like I put my best foot forward and have found my place.
Margot Hart, Sacred Heart Class of 2022 / UCLA Class of 2026
After receiving a bachelor’s degree from NYU and working in management consulting for two years, I decided to continue my education towards a master’s in economics; however, I wasn’t confident navigating through the process on my own. I didn’t have a family member or friend that had gone through the graduate school admissions process before me to learn from. I needed support researching programs for a school list, deciding whether to take a GRE, and of course most of all, conveying my motivation to continue my education through succinct writing. Luckily, many friends recommended Audrey’s consulting service based on their experience while applying to college from high school, and I’m so glad they did. Although Audrey’s core service is perfecting the language and message of an application essay, her excellence in complementary aspects of the application process cannot go unhighlighted. She researched programs that fit my academic and lifestyle wishlist, helped me decide to take the GRE to expand my opportunities, and guided me through introspective brainstorm exercises to find an emotional mission and give my essay a competitive advantage. After this process, I was set up with the foundation to evoke a personal connection with the admissions reader in all my essays. This insight and ability of coating the writing with humanity and personality is one of the reasons Audrey’s talent and service is unparalleled.
Audrey is an incredibly gifted writer, and therefore the largest benefit is received from her ability to take my ideas and turn them into eloquent, clear, succinct, and specific essays that delineate exactly the kind of student and person I am. Before writing each essay, Audrey’s guidance helped tease out a unique outline that perfectly responds to the prompt. I was set up to do targeted program research which resulted in essays specifying courses, professors, and extracurricular opportunities: another competitive advantage Audrey influences. In all my essays, each program felt my excitement about the specific opportunities I wanted to take advantage of, believed my career aspirations would increase their alumni reputation’s clout, and were constantly aware of my personal mission. By guiding the balancing act between specificity, technical language, and emotion, Audrey ensures excellence at the core of each essay. Audrey is exceptional at her job. As long as I kept her in the loop about my desired timeline and plans, there was no deadline I was nervous of missing, and the whole admissions process went by with zero stress. After weekly sessions with Audrey for a little less than 10 months, we wrote 11 essays for 8 programs, I was accepted by 6 of them, and I was awarded $54,000 in total fellowships/scholarships. This fall (2023), I will be attending UCLA’s Master’s in Quantitative Economics—my dream program—with a fellowship award, all thanks to Audrey.
Alper Karakas, New York University Class of 2020, UCLA Master of Quantitative Economics Class of 2025
Working with Audrey was absolutely amazing. She was extremely organized and planned the meetings and assignments perfectly so that I didn’t feel rushed in the slightest, yet we still managed to finish every single essay several weeks and even months before the due dates. Her fun personality made me actually enjoy writing essays for the first time (shocking!), and I felt safe and comfortable sharing my personal stories with her. Audrey will learn and appreciate every part of you, and she’ll guide you to transform your unique character into words. She is such a good listener and not once did I feel like my voice was being overpowered. I especially loved our conversation trying to somehow connect rubber duckies to computer science. I would highly recommend working with her!
Edwin He, Homestead High School Class of 2021 / University of California Los Angeles Class of 2025
I decided to work with Audrey for my college applications since she was everything the other college counselor I was looking at was not: focused on my personality and interests over just grades, invested in my extracurriculars for my own enrichment rather than just for impressing college admissions (though she still knew how to make them stand out!), and wholeheartedly interested in knowing who I was as a person. She is the holistic admissions process personified, so her students get a head start in knowing what admissions offices are looking for. She helped me translate my best qualities onto paper for my college essays: her writing practice assignments might seem really random, but actually helped me narrow down the topics I was most invested in, and honed my writing skills in a more fun, creative, grade-free environment. Over the four semesters I worked with Audrey, I always felt completely confident in the work I was doing with her. I would trust all her recommendations: from helping me pick the best topics for my Common App essay to the best vegan doughnut shop in Los Angeles!
Andrea Muliawan, St. Francis Class of 2022 / Oberlin College Class of 2026
When I first opened the Common App and added the schools I wanted to apply to, I was completely lost. I felt overwhelmed when it came to recalling and penning my accomplishments, and no matter how hard I tried my essays always lacked voice. My best friend recommended that I work with Audrey—looking back now, that was possibly the most important decision that I made during the entire application process. Audrey was everything that I could have wanted in a writing advisor and Common App navigator, if not more.
Every meeting, she was able to bring out the best in me as we worked to refine my writing skills. With her help, I was able to write stellar essays that surpassed the expectations I had in mind. Some of the lessons she taught me about writing and authorial voice carried over into my academic life, as I learned to remove passive voice from my essays and avoid vague descriptions. Every meeting I had with Audrey was driven by her ease in conversation and her extraction of the essay-worthy parts of my character (such as my multi-cultural background and quirky passions) that even I myself did not recognize.
My teachers and parents were impressed with the sudden spike in my writing skills, with my father pointing out the improved sentence structure and word choice in my essays. I myself was flabbergasted by my own newfound ease with schoolwork when my writing improved. Audrey brings out your voice in writing like no other. I had encountered many times where I felt as though I could not convey the emotions and thoughts I wanted to put down on paper; however, after my time with Audrey, I am proud to say that I truly believe I have found my voice. My time with Audrey blessed me with the opportunity to attend my dream school, the University of Southern California, where I plan to major in Economics at the College of Arts and Sciences to explore the contemporary problems of economic underdevelopment in countries around the world.
There are very few people in my life that I have met who I define as a person who is true to themselves, and I can confidently say that Audrey is one of those few people. I cannot recommend Audrey highly enough as a college counselor, friend, and overall person who has benefited me in so many aspects of my life. Beyond her infectious confidence in her ability to help you no matter how lost you feel, Audrey has something truly special: a genuine, curious literary spark, which turns every project she tackles into a showstopping one.
Ilias Hwang, Marshall High School Class of 2021 / University of Southern California Class of 2025
I’ll start by noting that Audrey is one of the best all-around human beings I have ever met. I connected with Audrey relatively last minute in the middle of college application season (not the best way to leverage her talent), as I was feeling completely overwhelmed by the chaotic tornado of ideas and personal traits that I had to somehow channel and structure into a compelling essay (well, many essays). From the first time I talked to her, one thing became very clear: she knows exactly what she’s doing and does it exceptionally well. In addition to her invaluable help with my essays, she offered great insights into which schools would best fit me and was able to make me truly excited about other top-tier schools I hadn’t really considered before. She also showed me how to paint the best picture of myself on everything in addition to the essays (Common App activities and honors).
With Audrey, you’ll get completely distracted and talk for thirty minutes about something as random as her crazed washing machine, only to realize later you’ve given yourself a plethora of topics to write about without having to go through the excruciatingly dull—and very difficult—process of thinking about what makes you unique. Those gems come out simply by talking to her. Having a conversation with her is a wild ride—she gets you to open up by telling you something completely weird and random about herself, so that by the end of a few sessions you’re talking to her like you’ve known her for years. Yet it’s truly genuine.
Despite her amazing track record, it may come as a surprise that in no way does Audrey write essays for you. Rather, she has an extraordinary talent for getting you to realize what makes you unique without her writing a single sentence. She REFUSES to use previous successful essays as an example because she realizes the idiosyncrasies that every person has; to attempt to gain inspiration from another would only result in confining yourself (this is my favorite policy of hers, by the way). Not only do you craft original and authentic essays, but the constant practice and feedback she provides makes you such a better writer and thinker. I looked at some of the writing I had done shortly before I worked with her and it was unrecognizable.
Most importantly, Audrey is a true, authentic, kind and incredibly interesting person. She possesses a real desire to see you succeed and will do everything in her power to help you get there. She won’t offer “counseling” that makes you nothing more than a cookie-cutter applicant, but will fully invest herself in you and support you writing essays that memorably portray who you are.
Because of this, I am beyond honored to call Audrey my friend and unconditionally give her my highest recommendation. She helped me truly discover myself, revitalize a lost love for books, get every Sunday started with an hour of constant laughter, and to accomplish what was amorphous ambition just a few months ago. Audrey believes in you, she will go the extra mile for you, and she knows what it takes to get into the school of your dreams (hint: it’s not Math Olympiads and a 4.0 GPA). Working with Audrey will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.
Aidan W., Thomas Jefferson High School Class of 2020 / Princeton University Class of 2024
I had struggled with how to support my son in the college application process without being overbearing or projecting my own biases into his process. I had done a bunch of research and had a decent college list but the variations (in-state/out-of-state, SAT/no-SAT, early/regular decision, essays) were dizzying. I turned the reins over my son and Audrey. They did the research, selected colleges and majors, planned the application schedule, etcetera. He diligently worked through the essays and revisions that Audrey assigned. The results were remarkable; they would not have been possible without Audrey.
Maneesh D, father of a member of the UC Berkeley Class of 2026, Global Studies BA
Working with Audrey for graduate school applications has been one of the few good things that happened to me in 2020. When I first started, I had no idea what I wanted to write about or what colleges were even looking for in an essay. I normally have a hard time opening up to people, but Audrey was able to break me out of my shell immediately because of her charismatic charm. While asking me prompts and questions about my future academic goals, she helped me reflect and gave me insight into who I am. We talked about my life story and goals at such a deep level that was translated into my essays, which I would not have been able to do on my own.
Audrey won’t write your essays for you, but rather she’ll challenge and teach you to turn your thoughts into well-worded, coherent essays that reflect who you are and what you stand for. She works at such a high level of professionalism and is truly the best writing coach I have ever worked with. She gave the best writing advice and constructive criticism, was always reliable, and an amazing communicator. During my time working with her, she helped me with a scholarship application for a UCLA Extension program, and I ended up being one out of two selected to receive the scholarship.
My favorite thing about Audrey is the level of care she gives to her students. She is easily one of the most empathetic and supportive individuals I have ever met. I genuinely believe she was more excited about my scholarship than I was, and that showed me how deeply she cares about her students and their success. Audrey was not only a mentor but also my friend, and she was always there to listen to my problems and give me advice. She was the support system I didn’t know I needed and I am beyond grateful to have been able to work with her. I cannot recommend her enough!
Lucy Li, Loyola Marymount Class of 2019, Psychology MA/PhD TBD
Audrey was my fairy godmother during medical school applications. I was completely lost and had no one to turn to especially during COVID times. Typically, I get nervous when I meet with counselors but she made me comfortable. We could go off for thirty minutes talking about random topics that really eased my mind during the day. I absolutely despised writing a personal statement (and it took me months) until I met Audrey. I completely rewrote an essay with her and created something that I am truly proud of. She helped me reflect on my inner self and I learned things about myself that I’ve never realized before. She was my absolute savior during this app cycle and accommodated my needs–especially during unemployment in COVID and when I needed extra sessions to polish my application before submission. She is absolutely worth it and has the best movie and food recommendations (“The Farewell” and New Leaf kale salad). I honestly don’t know how I could’ve crafted this personal statement without her. She believed in my capabilities when no other counselor could. I can’t thank her enough!
Samantha Calaguas, Boston University Class of 2019 / Touro University California, Osteopathic Medicine
Working with Audrey was an extremely enjoyable experience. Audrey split the work I needed to do each week into manageable chunks so I could get everything done while putting in my best work. If I had one week where I didn’t accomplish as much as I had hoped to, Audrey never got upset with me but instead worked with what I was able to finish. I learned an incredible amount about myself through this process. I had seen my brother go through the college application process two years before and he ended up at an elite school so I felt a lot of pressure to do the same. While Audrey gave me the space to research elite institutions, she also made a point of digging into what I really wanted to do instead of what I felt pressured to do. At each meeting, we talked in-depth about my interests, anything new in my life, and how I was feeling. We also talked extensively about why I wanted to major in psychology, which was something I hadn’t really thought about before. Doing so allowed me to realize what I truly wanted in a school, which helped to alleviate some of the pressure I felt to attend an elite college. Audrey’s method of essay-writing gave me much more than an essay and an acceptance. It gave me a much deeper understanding of who I am. We spent countless meetings before we began working on the essay talking about what I was interested in. Through this process, I didn’t feel like I was searching for something to write a college essay about, but rather I was writing an essay because I had a lot to say.
Audrey and I connected on a deeply personal level and she gave me the attention that a normal college counselor would simply not be able to. She fully engaged in our conversations, empathized with everything I said while also offering her own perspectives, and sought to understand me as a person, separately from my college interests. By listening to what I was saying and being engaged, Audrey made me feel heard and understood, which allowed me to open up and share a lot about myself (a lot of this stuff ended up in my college essays!). One moment that was difficult but necessary was when I had been working on my Common App essay for two months and started to reconsider everything I had written. I instead wanted to write about how I loved to cook pasta; I felt I could connect different parts of the cooking experience to various aspects of my character. Audrey went on to say how that was a very generic essay while the one I was already working on was incredibly unique and one that no one else would have. However, Audrey said I was still free to write a draft and she would read it. This was a transformative experience for me because I had begun to doubt myself a lot during the process and felt like there were so many different people telling me to do different things and I was so easily swayed which caused me to feel like I wasn’t in control of my own college process. However, this moment with Audrey really helped me refocus and block out all the cacophony. Ever since I was little, I have been obsessed with the Royal Family because my grandmother is English. I have stacks of magazines about Kate and William and have stood in the Welsh rain to meet Prince William. My college essay was about Princess Diana and how she’s become a role model for me. Additionally, I’ve always wanted to go to school internationally because I’ve grown up traveling with my family and have been intrigued by living outside of the United States. Next year, I am attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where both William and Kate went. It feels like a full-circle moment to tell people I’m going to St Andrews when I’ve spent my life drinking tea every day, obsessing over the Royals, and dreaming of going to school in the UK.
Caroline Witeck, Potomac School Class of 2022, St. Andrews Class of 2026
If you ever feel lost or are experiencing writer’s block during your college application process, I highly suggest going to Audrey! I went to her during a time when I felt extremely stuck while I was applying to graduate schools and upon the first session, she was able to help me flush out key ideas that were missing from my personal statement. In the end, I was really proud and satisfied with how my personal statements turned out and I truly believe I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. Overall, I highly recommend her—she’s the best!
Charis Chiu, Loyola Marymount Class of 2020 / University of California Los Angeles, Journalism
At the very beginning, I wasn’t keen on the idea of having a private college counselor. Like every 16-17 year old teenager, I wanted the independence to conquer this new venture by myself. Then I had my first meeting with Audrey. Right away I was put at ease, any concerns washed away, and I realized how valuable it would be to have one on one sessions with an unbiased mind.
I remember feeling that I was ahead of the game and confident in my essays every single month in our first semester because I had Audrey. The amount of comfort and peace of mind that confidence brought me is unmeasurable. Together we waded through level upon level of stories, thoughts, and feelings to reach a level of depth in my writing that I’m not sure I ever would have reached alone. I’m so glad that I had Audrey to kindly talk through, contemplate and organize everything in my mind to eventually create concise, creative, and authentic essays.
Audrey helped me cultivate essays that truly spoke to who I am and appealed to the colleges that would be the best fit for me. On top of everything, Audrey has a wonderfully uplifting and understanding personality that you just can’t help but look forward to seeing. Every single conversation I had with her was filled with genuine interest and a bright perspective on my own quirks. I honestly can’t imagine getting through the college application process without her. Well I can, but it would have been HORRIBLE. Join Team Audrey!! And you will without a doubt be writing essays that you look back on for years saying “wow I wrote that?!”
Tiye Kurtz-Miott, Alameda Science and Technology Institute Class of 2020 / University of California San Diego Class of 2024
Audrey has been the guardian angel of my application process. She is a bright inspiration, a powerful but not over-imposing guide, and most of all an empathetic companion who always helped still the stormy waters of stress and illuminate a concrete path to ascend the Everest that seemingly characterized my admissions process.
I started working with Audrey later than normal, but her transparency, confidence-inspiring structure, decisiveness, and beaming kindness immediately led to a special relationship that always lit up my day and empowered me–we just clicked. I never felt like Audrey was planting ideas in my mind that didn’t stem from my own thoughts, and she truly worked with me, not for me, which allowed me to find my best and own voice. As a writing coach, her numerous specific tips helped me block out third-party descriptions of myself and focus on precisely what I thought of myself alone, which in turn brought the most authentic and vivid illustrations of my life into the words of my essays.
I will always cherish my time working with Audrey, the undying optimism and confidence she inspired within me, and the lessons she taught me along the mountain path we climbed together. Developing my friendship with her was the first of two highlights during my admissions process (getting into Cornell was the second)!
Mark S., Cornell University (College of Engineering) Class of 2024
I don’t even know where to begin. Audrey is the most amazing human being you’ll ever get the chance to interact with. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her help. She is not only an amazing college counselor and tutor, but a fantastic friend. While the words and ideas were all mine, Audrey helped me write college essays that were professional, yet personalized and fun! She is a fantastic listener and always has amazing stories to tell. I can’t count the amount of times we went over our time limit just talking about life and happy things. Audrey has the perfect balance of professionalism and getting town to business, and having fun and chatting. She is always there for you, whether it’s getting into college or picking out a prom dress. She is so down to earth, intelligent, and (to my surprise when I met her in person) quite tall! Audrey truly gives the best advice and is an absolute gem. I’m so jealous of all the high schoolers who get to begin their journey with her. Thank you so much, Audrey, for everything you’ve done for me! 🙂
Dilara Ezer, The Harker School Class of 2019 / Reed College Class of 2023
I began my senior year with absolutely no clue how to approach the daunting task of completing and submitting college applications. Looking back on my experience, I’m not sure what I would have done without the help of Audrey. I am now happily committed to the USC class of 2022 and owe a great deal of it to her amazing help. She was communicative, always on time, fun and easy to talk to, and a great motivator. I could go on and on about all the amazing qualities she has, as she is truly a superhuman. If you’re looking for a good college counselor but don’t want to leave your house, look no further! I was a bit skeptical at first as I thought I might have less motivation to do my work, but Audrey makes it easy to tackle and nowhere near as stressful. Looking back on my experience, I know I owe her a great deal for helping me get through this overwhelming period of high school. Thanks Audrey!
Graham Peeps, Palo Alto High School Class of 2018 / University of Southern California (Marshall) Class of 2022
Aside from being a great person to talk to, Audrey has been such a big help with my transfer essays. This is my second time going through this process and I felt so much less stressed having Audrey to help revise all my sentences and give me ideas for answering the essay prompts. I can say from my past experiences that this was much more personal and effective than other college counseling services in the Bay Area, even with just the three sessions I had with her. Looking at my final essays, I know that I wouldn’t have been able to streamline them and get them to the quality that they are at now without Audrey’s help! I would 100% recommend her services to anyone applying to college, whether you’re in high school or looking to transfer.
Shifali Kerudi, Evergreen Valley High School Class of 2018 / University of California Berkeley Class of 2022
Audrey played a fundamental role in assisting me through the daunting process that is college admissions and helping me shape the way I want colleges to see me. I can affirmatively say that my Common App essay would be completely different if not for Audrey’s mentoring. While this may sound like someone else is doing the work and corrupting the personal aspect of college essay writing, Audrey abides by her rule that all writing, down to every last letter, comes from the student. In our 64 page document of essays and activity descriptions, every sentence is directly from my personal effort. Another important rule is that all college admissions material stays between mentor and student, meaning not even parents are involved. This was especially crucial for me because I doubt my main essay could have turned out the way it did if my parents had the opportunity to review it. This confidentiality strengthens the individuality of the college admissions process because essays are the primary method that colleges use to distinguish students and when only two people ever get to see them, the student is able to be more genuine and personal in their writing. Having Audrey as a mentor really helped me stick to a structural schedule while I would likely have otherwise procrastinated until I was frantically writing essays with no time left for reviewing my work. Even so, Audrey is lenient with her assignments so if you have a particularly busy week, she is more than willing to push back deadlines to accommodate. Knowing I got into my number one college choice, it’s easy to think Audrey was just a temporary factor that enabled a student to pay their way into college. However, she provided positivity and instilled much-needed confidence in my writing, both characteristics that carry into my future. In addition, some of the essays I wrote, coupled with Audrey’s feedback, allowed for inspiring insight into who I am. This journey of discovery is something I will strive to never forget. In the end, Audrey provides relatively unfamiliar and unfocused students such as myself a streamlined structure, allows them to express and explore themselves in their personal way, all while using her extensive knowledge on college admissions to inform them which aspects to change or focus on.
Alex Wang, Pioneer High School Class of 2019 / University of Michigan Class of 2023
I could not have finished my graduate school applications without Audrey. She was a wise, thoughtful, caring sounding board throughout the process and she gave me the experienced, objective eye on every decision I had to make. She provided the perfect balance of support and constructive criticism to transform my jumble of thoughts about my experience and goals into a streamlined, emotionally compelling personal statement. She helped me present myself in the most professional, honest, endearing, and attractive light. I would highly recommend working with her to clarify your personal and professional goals. I will take her advice with me as I apply for grant funding and other opportunities beyond college as well!
Anne Rene Brashier, B.A. University of California Irvine / University of Southern California (M.F.A. Cinematic Arts) Class of 2021
There are many people who have vast ideas and can write well, but only a small percentage can be accurately described as “exceptional.” I would place Audrey into this category. This year I finished writing my first book and much of the content was so deeply personal that I just could not bring myself to bring on an editor; I feared losing my voice. Of course, most, if not all people who have written books will tell you that YOU MUST get an editor. I’m stubborn and pushed forward, alone. One particular chapter of the book, perhaps my most expository, had me stuck. I ignored it for weeks, until I no longer could. I just couldn’t get the ideas to flow…so I decided to bring Audrey on to help me get over this annoying hurdle. She not only got me over the obstacle, but her “intervention” truly rebooted my writing. Her editorial style went above and beyond what I ever expected–her thorough editorial review focused on idea cohesion and synthesis, coherence of delivery, depth of communication, and authenticity of voice. Her notes were thoughtful and rich with reasoning, recommendations, and suggestions. Audrey never made me feel that my writing was deficient, even though she is a far better writer than me—and I am completely okay with that. Most of all, she understood, and did not compromise my voice—her editorial style shape-shifted to expertly and seamlessly flow with the unique style of my prose. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone else who is so skilled, so attentive, and so intellectually committed to writing excellence.
Akello Stone, author of Seeking Selfdom in the Age of Selfies
The last two years of high school were tough for me, especially because of a change in curriculum. With all the extra work piled up day by day, I really didn’t think I could get through it all. When my mom suggested taking help for my essays, I wasn’t open to it because I thought I didn’t need help and I could handle it by myself. Also, it was expensive in terms of the Indian Rupee. But honestly, Audrey really made everything better. As a professional, she really knows how to handle time constraints and can help students write award-winning essays! She makes writing look effortless and that’s something I will always envy. As a person, she’s just perfect. She’s a friend I really wish I had throughout my life and some advice and comments she’s shared with me about being myself and opening up to others will stick with me forever and I want to thank her so much for that. It’s even more precious because the advice came from an unconventional source. In the end, she reduced my burdens and that’s all I could appreciate in anyone and I am extremely glad that I decided to take these essay sessions with her. In my opinion, she’s really worth the money 🙂 Hope you make wonderful memories with her just like me!
Megha Shastry, Greenwood International High School in Bangalore, Karnataka Class of 2020 / Purdue University Class of 2024
Audrey is such a wonderful counselor! She was always there for me, rooting for me and helping me stay positive. She really helped me flesh out my ideas and communicate my story through my essays. She was with me through all the ups and downs (there were a LOT of essays to write), and she was always happy to give more feedback. She was very flexible and was able to work with my busy schedule. Besides essays, she also gave me tips on starting independent projects and she helped me stay on top of things. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Evan Wang, Cupertino High School Class of 2018 / University of California Los Angeles Class of 2022
Audrey Hannah is a beautiful human being, in every way you could interpret that word, and this is why. She realizes the importance of numbers (grades, SAT scores, etcetera), but more importantly she values and helps bring out the most important element in any college’s admission process: YOU. That’s right, I said it. You are more important than your grades. Despite what you may think, colleges care if you eat rainbow rolls with your ex or just happen to like pans or even if you’ve done Shakespeare in drag. Whatever your own personal quirks and stories are, Audrey will help you realize just how much they define you as a person. Admissions officers are not looking for human shaped supercomputers, they are looking for real people. Also, if you ever need help with just, you know, life, Audrey is THERE for you. She doubles as an unofficial therapist and is better than anyone you’ll find in some fancy office. Audrey likes dried mangoes. I do too. Join the club.
Emre Ezer, The Harker School Class of 2017 / New York University (Tisch) Class of 2021
Audrey supported me in my choices all the way! She is always super flexible, so I never had problems with changing my mind and Audrey helped work through all my options. With Audrey, I always stayed on top of everything: she’s super organized and has good reminders for deadlines. Not only is Audrey extremely insightful, she’s also funny and entertaining; I always looked forward to our meetings! Whether I needed to advice on what to write or just needed to vent about the stress, Audrey always listened. There’s definitely no going wrong with choosing Audrey as your college counselor!
Sabrina Z., Monta Vista High School Class of 2017 / Carnegie Mellon Class of 2021
Audrey is an amazing college counselor. During our meetings, she helped me see new perspectives regarding my experiences and how I could fit them into my writing. She kept me on track while I was juggling schoolwork, competitive dance, and college applications. Not only did Audrey help me with my essays, but she also calmed my anxieties about college and the life that lay ahead me. She is one of the most positive people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with. I always looked forward to our sessions, which were productive, yet entertaining. I would definitely recommend Audrey to anyone and everyone!
Hazal Gurcan, The Harker School Class of 2017 / University of California, Irvine Class of 2020
I had such a great time working with Audrey for my college applications that I came back to her the second time for my application to business school. She not only helps you write an essay with feeling and character, but she also helps you learn so much about yourself throughout the process. I would not have gotten through this without her help and support, even when I sent her a panic email the day before the deadline. I would highly recommend her.
Catherine Tang, Los Gatos High School Class of 2015 / University of California, Berkeley Class of 2019
Thank you so much for guiding me to write an essay that unlocked a creative side of me that I had never seen. The essay that we worked on together is probably the piece of writing that I am most proud of to this day.
Alan Chien, St. Francis High School Class of 2015 / University of California Los Angeles Class of 2019
If you’re just glancing through these testimonials, then I’ll just say that Audrey helped me get into my first choice college! But more importantly, she supported me every step of the way with fantastic essay insights that improved my writing in general, hilarious inside jokes that took the pressure off the whole process, and genuine encouragement that gave me the confidence to even think about applying. With Audrey’s smart time-management and insightful feedback, the application process was honestly so much easier than I imagined it to be. If you don’t know where you want to go, or have no idea what to write about in personal statements, or even if you are feeling at all stressed about applying, just talk to Audrey! She makes everything better!
Cristina Llacer, Leland High School Class of 2016 / New York University (Stern) Class of 2020
Reaching out to Audrey for counseling was one of the best choices I made throughout my entire high school experience. Not only does she clearly know what she’s talking about, thinks through everything, and gives as much guidance you could ask for, but she’s also extremely caring and supportive. She listens carefully to every word you say and helps you truly understand what’s important to you. I looked forward to every meeting with her – each one was fun, illuminative, and productive while she was always reliable, motivational, honest, and driven. I can’t say enough good things about my experience with her. Anyone who chooses Audrey will love working with her.
Isabel Llacer, Leland High School Class of 2016 / University of California Berkeley (Haas) Class of 2020
Audrey is no average college counselor. She treats the college admissions process as a chance to not only reflect on accomplishments but also on what each individual has to offer to any given campus. She supported all my ideas and really made the best out of each and every one. Every session with her was an opportunity to vent, brainstorm ideas, and learn more about myself. I can easily say that I have no regrets whatsoever with how the whole experience turned out because I was blessed with the chance to work with such a creative, energetic, and Mindy Kaling-loving individual! All the best to the class of 2021 and beyond; you are in capable hands.
Selin Oczelik, The Harker School Class of 2016 / Duke University Class of 2020
Audrey’s very straightforward process of helping me create a great essay was very helpful for me to make applying for college breeze. Without her help, I would be pretty lost, so I am extremely grateful I had someone experienced in order to put me on the right path. Audrey’s very amiable personality also helped a lot with the process. I was able to just talk for thirty minutes detailing the stress of having four APs to study for or my frustrations with carefree teenagers during the pandemic, and she’d be fine with continuing the conversation before we turned our heads towards improving my very lackluster writing. Audrey’s humanity with me turned her into more into a friend rather than a mechanical robotic person being paid for a writing counseling service. Whether it be her excellent ability to search for the mistakes in my essays and line my work with green suggestion bars in my Google Doc or the detailed conversations about the impending doom of the world, having Audrey as my counselor is one of the best things that happened to me.
Brandon Vo, Irvington High School Class of 2021 / Boston University Class of 2025
Audrey is a great counselor for college. She planned my schedule out so I could work on my applications as efficiently and stress-free as possible. She helped me brainstorm ideas for my essays and used my personal interests to spark new thoughts. Furthermore, she helped me revise my essays into masterpieces that lead me to get into all the school I applied to. I ended up finishing my college applications weeks before the deadline, allowing me to relax rather than stressing out about finishing an essay the night before the deadline, which many of my classmates did.
Nima Aminzadeh, Saratoga High School Class of 2020 / California State Fullerton Class of 2024
I had the privilege of working with Audrey for three months during my MBA Application process. Audrey lead and project managed the whole process, making sure the seemingly daunting and large task was broken down in to a sequence of manageable tasks. Her systematic approach allowed me to remain focused on my daily work, and prevented me from compromising on my performance elsewhere. Audrey was fully engaged; always focused and attentive. She made sure the difficult conversations were being held and that I remained well out of my comfort zone, constantly exploring new possibilities and fresh ideas. She made sure we had the best possible thought process in place and that I was authentic and sincere. She always kept in mind the “big picture” imperatives of the application and at the same time relentlessly focused on the details that would make the difference. She cared. With Audrey’s support I completed the best possible application package I could have. Through our sessions, I observed my critical thinking and writing skills improve, and more importantly I now feel a stronger sense of self and a stronger sense of purpose. The preparation for my MBA application has turned out to be a transformational journey in its own right. Audrey was instrumental in this transformation.
Jonathan F., B.A. Columbia University / M.B.A. TBD
Audrey was the most important mentor throughout my senior year. As a counselor, she will organize the amazing bundle of awesomeness that you are into a nicely sealed, uniquely designed, stand-out college application. She is always available to contact about questions, worries, writers blocks, inspiration, favorite TV shows, you name it. And as a person, she truly cares about her students dreams and aspirations, and will keep you engaged and excited through every meeting. After just one meeting with Audrey, I knew I had made the right choice.
Adi Zimmerman, Homestead High School Class of 2016 / University of California Berkeley Class of 2020
Audrey has helped me immensely throughout the college application process. At first, I had hobbies and interests I wanted to write about such as solving puzzles and coding, but I wasn’t really sure where to get started. Audrey really helped me with brainstorming ideas and getting my thoughts out. I had a habit of going off track or including unnecessary information and going off-topic, and Audrey helped me cut down and perfect my essays. She kept me on track and by the end of the process, I felt that my essays reflected my personality as a whole and while also including my hobbies and passions. It was great being on schedule while all my friends were scrambling to complete their applications the day before the deadline. Audrey is very responsive, always has a positive attitude, and genuinely wants to help everyone get into their dream school. I would highly recommend her as a college counselor!
Jaden Wei, Irvington High School Class of 2021 / University of Wisconsin Madison Class of 2025
I had a wonderful time working with Audrey. Bottom line, she knows what she is doing. A character of energy, motivation, and a sprinkle of wonder. I trust her 100%. If you want a counselor that gets things done when it needs to be done, a counselor that looks out for you, and a counselor that reaches out to help you in whichever way possible, you just met your perfect match.
Eric Chiu, Lynbrook High School Class of 2015 / University of Pennsylvania Class of 2019
Words cannot describe how lucky I was to work with Audrey on my writing! Always bubbly and optimistic, she can seamlessly cultivate your thoughts and translate them into cohesive sentences. Every time I worked with her, I knew I was in good hands. Audrey is there to guide you through periods of writer’s block and epiphanic moments – and everything in between! She’s not only been a counselor or mentor to me, but also a close friend – I’ve always had a smile on my face when working with her! Audrey is simply the best in writing and life advice; a fun, dynamic spark of personality that often brought me solace and appreciation for the reflecting process of college applications. She’s dedicated in caring for her students and an incredible life adviser! I couldn’t have asked for more when working with her – she’s the best!
Austin Lai, The Harker School Class of 2015 / University of Chicago Class of 2019
You’re the awesome person who single-handedly got me back into reading again. I vividly remember you saying “If you can read this stuff, you can pretty much read anything” in regards to the boring SAT articles. Trust me, you were definitely right about that! What you taught in class, I still apply every time I read something. I have been reading anything I can find that correlates with my major in political science. I really want to get involved in environmental policy, and I apply the active reading skills that you taught me to grasp the content better when reading on that subject. It helps drop me into any moment and I am able to almost experience what the book is describing to me. I find that active passion vital if you really intend to improve the health of our world. Hopefully this testimonial can help show more of your awesomeness that you share with your students.
Sebastian Arceo, Rancho Cucamonga High School Class of 2017 / Loyola Marymount Class of 2021
When we found Audrey we were already late. We had already tried a well-known college coaching firm and came away very disappointed. The essays our son Michael had written with their guidance sounded generic and didn’t sound like his real voice; the essays sounded like they were specifically crafted to hit on the typical admissions bullet points. They sounded fake and superficial. And this was no cheap firm, the cost was very high. So we asked friends for help and luckily one of our friends had recently used Audrey for her two kids and she raved about her. Turns out that Audrey is always in high demand, so when we contacted her she had long since filled up her schedule for the season. But she was kind enough to meet with Michael, and they hit it off right away, and she found a way to fit him into her schedule.
Let me say, we are so grateful, and feel so fortunate to have found Audrey. She was so kind and supportive to Michael. They would brainstorm together, laugh together, she got to know the real Michael, and then she helped him to put his authentic self into words. To tell the universities who he really is, his passions, his dreams, and that’s what the colleges really want, to know the REAL you, to find the best fit for you. Thanks to Audrey, his essays were now in his own voice, his authentic self.
By far the best fit for Michael was Brown University, so he applied for Early Decision and was accepted! So by mid-December Michael could relax and know he was going to his first choice, best-fit, dream school. He was really able to connect with Brown through his essays thanks to Audrey. Also our niece has been working with Audrey since the summer before 11th grade and she has truly blossomed. Her writing and academics have grown by leaps and bounds. Now she is so excited and motivated for the future and ready to apply to college this coming fall with Audrey’s help. I really can’t recommend Audrey highly enough. She is so kind to the kids, and brings out their very best for their college essays. She’s just awesome. 🙂
Tony DeLaurier, parent of a student at Brown University, Independent Concentration AB
You are one of the favorite persons in our family’s conversation, so I feel we are old friend already. We really appreciate all your effort to help our son’s college application and we are so impressed what you did that we could not do as first generation of immigrant. Thank you, from the bottom of our heart.
Henry Hong Zeng, Los Altos High parent of a student at the University of Virginia, English BA
Yvonne and I want to express our gratitude for your tremendous helps and support during Charlie’s application process. In these few months, you guided him to learn about his own strengths and personalities that were kind of vague for him in the past, to develop many ideas for his essays from a very personal level, and to show him fresh perspectives towards life and his future. We also really appreciate the time you spent to edit Charlie’s applications beyond the weekly Skype meeting, and to help him get into his dream schools.
Zhirong Huang and Yvonne Li, Lynbrook High parents of a student admitted to Stanford and MIT
It’s our best decision to have you in this application season! I heard lots of complaints from other mothers about the pressure and stress, but I did not feel it. I know it is all because of you! I read my son’s essay and felt his improvement! I have told my friends all about you! Thanks again for helping us!
Selina Zhang, Cupertino High parent of a student at University of California Los Angeles, Computer Science and Linguistics BA
Audrey is well-educated in what high schools and colleges are looking for, particularly in the competitive Bay Area. As both a person and a tutor, Audrey exudes presence connecting with and deeply caring about her students. I would highly recommend Audrey for tutoring and coaching in English, writing (essays or creative), coaching of public speaking, and the college admissions process and applications. Audrey brings new meaning to the word unique.
Gail Myers, St. Francis High School parent
You’re a) qualified b) insanely charismatic c) brilliant d) fun e) great with kids. You are a fantastic, sought-after counselor and you’re an incredible asset to our team.
Daniel Sonderegger, Assistant Director of HS2 Academy, Northern California