Guidance for where you’re going

From someone who’s been there

I was one of those students who got labeled “high-achieving.” I had good grades, a bad haircut, horrible sleeping habits, a questionable sense of fashion, and a calendar filled with extracurricular activities.

Yet when it came time to apply for colleges and scholarships, I felt like I was anything but “high-achieving.” Staring at each blank application, I felt overwhelmed and unprepared. I lost sleep over deadlines and spent hours at the kitchen table poring over essay drafts. **TMI alert** One time I even puked before going into a scholarship interview. True story.

My problem was simple. I had the ingredients for a winning application, I just didn’t have the recipe.

Lucky for me, I found people who did.

My Story

Me graduating from college on May 4, 2017. (Star Wars Day!)

With the support of mentors and teachers (and my amazing parents!), I overcame my chronic application anxiety and ultimately achieved my academic dreams. I attended my dream school on a full ride and graduated debt-free. As an undergraduate, I was selected among a thousand candidates for one of ten Fulbright fellowships to Scotland. After college, I landed my dream job teaching North Carolina history.

As a classroom teacher, I frequently advised my students on college applications and vocational discernment. I critiqued essays, edited resumes, and offered in-depth interview coaching. As the acceptance letters began to pile up, I realized that I was moving the needle—not just for students, but for their families, too. In 2022, I saved my clients and their families over $100,000 in college tuition.

I went from panic attacks in the car to scholarship checks in the mail.

Along the way, I learned how to create an application that stands out.

As an academic success coach, I use my first-hand experience as a successful applicant to help extraordinary young people achieve their academic dreams while gaining valuable skills that will last a lifetime. Working with me means forming a collaborative partnership to turn your academic dreams into reality.

I know what it takes to create a winning application because I’ve created them. I know what it takes to stand out because I’ve stood out. I know how to help you achieve your dreams because I achieved mine.

Let’s turn your academic dreams into reality.

-DA