I was in great need of a college counselor because one, I am an only child, and two my mother is an immigrant which means she was not too familiar with the American college process. In addition, I also had no idea where I wanted to go and what colleges would be “a good fit” for me. So when Dave and I met, he very much started working with a blank slate. Dave did a wonderful job selling my strengths and assets to a variety of colleges. Our first meeting together, Dave asked me the normal questions such as GPA, SAT scores, and extracurricular activities. Next meeting, he asked me what I wanted. All I knew was I wanted to major in Psychology and go to a college/university in a semi-urban environment. I also wanted a school with a good reputation that would set me up well for my future desire of attending law school. Dave not only help me decide what would be the “right” schools to apply to, but he very much helped me with the very feared and dreaded essay questions. He helped come up with topics that conveyed what type of applicant I was, personality wise and so forth, and also how I was different from every other applicant, and why I would be a good asset to the school.
Not only did Dave help me with college selection, but he also helped me with college financial issues which he discussed with my mom. Dave was very good with college selection and college applications because he took the time to get to know me. Because of this, him and I were very successful into getting me into many colleges and also helped me pick the one that fit best. I applied to about 10 colleges like UC-Santa Cruz, USC, Oberlin, Lafayette, Pitzer, Vassar, among others; I only got denied from about 2, waitlisted on 2 and was accepted by all the rest.
I now attend Occidental College. After all was said and done I very much feel Occidental was the right pick for me. I immediately got very involved once I entered Oxy. I was invited to participate in the Multicultural Summer Institute (MSI), a writing intensive summer program in which participants receive 4 academic credits. I am a member of the Occidental Women’s Soccer Team, a member of Dance Theater Production, and a member of Black Student Alliance. I just recently returned from doing a semester abroad in Havana, Cuba. I have received the Kenneth T. and Eileen Norris Scholarship. I have an on-campus job where I work at the Dean of Students Office. I was elected Sophomore Senator for Associated Students of Occidental College (ASOC) – student government. I was also a member for Dean of Occidental College Search Committee, where I, along with selected peers, met to interview applicants for the Dean of College. As a diverse group, we represented students and provided a formal suggestion of which candidate would best fit the college. I used to be a volunteer tutor to middle school students. Last summer I had an internship at Bet Tzedek Law Office of Social Justice.
Dave was very good and helpful at the college selection and college application process that I hope I can use his great skills again with my law application process. I would highly recommend his services without any qualms. Thank you very much for everything.