Testimonials
Aranza, Stanford Univeristy
"As a first-generation student, I believed I was going to be alone throughout my college enrollment process, as I was throughout my education. However, Joanne created a new reality and helped me pave a brighter future for myself. She rescued me from endless nights of confusion and despondency through her wise words of encouragement. I wish I could repay her for all the help that came out of the warmth of her heart and the brilliance of her intelligence. Without Joanne, I wouldn’t be relieved of the worries of loans with my full ride to Stanford University. Go Cardinals!"
Keller, Northeastern University
"Joanne has been amazing in helping through the college application process, I don't think I could've done it without her. She's pushed me to stay on track and has helped me immensely in editing my essays and helping me find viewpoints I hadn't thought of before. College admissions terrified me, but Joanne broke them down into smaller pieces, which helped tons."
Nezar, University of Michigan
"Having Joanne as my college coach/advisor was the best thing that has ever happened to me! Joanne kept me on track with all sorts of deadlines - college applications, scholarships, and even financial aid! I was having trouble writing my personal statement and Joanne helped me first by coming up with a topic, then helped me edit it until it was perfect!"
Siri, Cornell University
"When I was applying to colleges, I had a list of a few "dream schools" - schools that I would have loved to attend but never thought I would be accepted to. I had fairly average grades and test scores, so I knew the essay would be a crucial element of my application. Joanne worked through the Common App essay choices with me and helped me articulate how my experiences and goals would make me a valuable addition to those "dream schools." I truly think Cornell would have tossed out my application were it not for my essay, and I could not have written it without Joanne's coaching and pointed questions."
Erik, University of Oregon
Recipient, Foreign Language Area Studies Scholar, 2013
David L. Boren Scholar, 2015
"I've worked with Joanne on a range of writing assignments, from college admissions personal statements, to statements of purpose for scholarships that have funded language learning, overseas study, and exchanges with government programs. In all of these, Joanne helped me explore my strengths and motivations, brainstorming different ways to express them through concise written statements. Writing about oneself is often a messy process, and it takes at least one other pair of eyes to help a person truly bring their best self forward. Throughout this process, Joanne was a patient and understanding coach, and I'm happy to say that our work together helped me gain admission to some of my top university choices, as well as win several prestigious scholarships (Boren, FLAS, NSLI-Y). "