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Natalie brings a dozen years of professional experience in higher education and college access work -- balancing leadership positions at access organizations, college advising, and admissions. She has evaluated over 15,000 applications for selective colleges coast to coast, having begun her admissions career at her alma mater, Occidental College.

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In addition to providing college advising services, Natalie is a nonprofit strategy consultant. For over a decade, Natalie has been a catalyst for college access and success, leading teams and organizations committed to educational equity and making college possible for all. As an agent of change, she led The TEAK Fellowship through a season of scaling their program, providing exceptional students from low-income backgrounds with educational opportunities.

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At The Wonderful Company, she led a team of 40 coaches and peer mentors supporting 1,000 scholars from California’s Central Valley to overcome systemic barriers to college success. A Los Angeles native, Natalie holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Occidental College, where she was a Centennial Scholar.

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She earned a Master's degree from Teachers College Columbia University, where she studied Education Policy with an emphasis on the high school to college transition. Natalie also completed Harvard’s Institute on College Admissions Counseling in 2017. She is a member of NACAC, NPEA, and NCAN.

Shahab has a Master's degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a PhD from the University of Virginia School of Architecture. While at UVA, Shahab served on the admissions committee for the Master in Urban Planning program, reviewing and evaluating applications and making admission recommendations. He has also worked as an educational consultant for over five years, coaching college applicants seeking admission into top-tier architecture and design graduate programs in the US and the UK.

Shahab is passionate about coaching college applicants because he believes higher education is a powerful tool for unlocking personal and professional potential. He believes that college allows individuals to expand their knowledge, develop their skills, and become more successful in their chosen career paths. 

As a coach, he enjoys helping students find the best fit for their academic and career goals by guiding them through the college application process and helping them make informed decisions. Shahab aims to help students create an application package highlighting their unique strengths and accomplishments and providing the guidance and support they need to achieve their goals. Possibilities are limitless, and Shahab wants every student to grasp their full potential.

Shahab's greatest strength is his ability to help individuals understand themselves, their strengths, and their passions. He also understands the stress and pressure of the application process, having gone through it himself several times. Shahab has developed a refined ability to coach people through challenging times. He feels individuals are unique with their own life experiences and perspectives. Instead of asking the question, "Which candidate is more qualified?" He seeks to understand the critical contributions each individual has to offer.

Shahab has helped several students gain admission to top-tier schools, including Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, MIT, Yale University, Cornell University, Washington University, University of California, and UC Berkeley.

When Shahab is not coaching, you can find him painting, drawing, visiting art exhibitions and museums, and planning vacations.

Michael has a Bachelor’s degree from NYU, where he was extensively involved in the admissions process. At NYU Tisch, he served as an Admissions Reader in the Dramatic Writing department, formulating detailed recommendations on whether candidates' writing was up to par with the program's standards and whether or not they should be admitted. Michael also served as an Administrator for both the Student Affairs/Graduate Admissions department and the Department of Design for Stage and Film and as an Assistant to the Chair at the Clive Davis Institute. In these roles, he played a critical administrative role in scheduling interviews and organizing applications, including checking for requirements and liaising between applicants and the department to ensure applicants turned in all forms, essays, and portfolio materials. 

Moreover, Michael had the opportunity to coach college applicants through the Tisch Summer High School program, where he guided students through the department's admissions process and provided support and guidance on personal growth and potential shifts in interests.

With over 14 years of consecutive experience studying and working within higher education, Michael has developed a deep passion for coaching college applicants. He finds great excitement in the college application process, recognizing it as a transformative and pivotal moment in a student's life. He understands the mix of independence, rich learning opportunities, and daunting challenges that come with this stage. Having witnessed this moment from various perspectives, he is driven to help students find their unique voice in the application process. Michael believes our voice is a powerful tool that remains within our control, even when other factors seem uncertain. Guiding students to access and channel their voices into compelling college applications brings him immense fulfillment.

Working in admissions has taught Michael valuable lessons about the diversity of student bodies and the importance of recognizing each student's unique qualities. He appreciates that even when candidates possess similar qualifications, their combinations of strengths and weaknesses create distinctive profiles. This understanding fuels Michael's belief that every student deserves a fair chance, and he sees it as his responsibility to help students articulate why they deserve admission through their powerful voices.

As a coach, Michael's greatest strengths lie in his ability to help students access their voices and express themselves effectively through well-written college admissions essays. He also assists students in identifying their strengths by engaging in conversations about their interests and encouraging them to pursue those passions in their academic studies and extracurricular activities. Additionally, he helps students find excitement in exploring various college options, guiding them away from fixations on what they "ought" to do and instead encouraging them to embrace their individuality.

Kindness and good-heartedness are integral qualities he brings to his coaching. Michael believes the college admissions process is not solely about achieving admission to a preferred school but also about self-discovery and personal growth. He considers it an honor to assist applicants during this transformative journey and aims to make it an exciting experience for them, with his enthusiasm and positive energy shining through.

When he’s not coaching, Michael indulges in his passion for writing, honed through his education at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He enjoys developing new story ideas and working on various writing projects. Additionally, he finds pleasure in watching movies and attending live music performances.