NOTE: As of May 2019 I will be closing The College Matchmaker and no longer offering college counseling services in order to pursue other ventures. I am leaving my website up as a resource for college applicants. My blog archive is still available to the public, and my books remain available for purchase. 

My Philosophy

I am not just a counselor to the students I work with, I’m an advocate, coach, and in many cases, a friend.

Unlike many people in this industry, I don’t believe the best way to get through this process is by instilling fear in parents and students every step of the way. I truly believe the process of applying to college can be one of the most fulfilling experiences one can have.

I help my students figure out who they are so we can then develop a list of colleges that fit them and their unique personalities. Some of my students choose large public universities, others like the private research universities, and many students end up leaning towards smaller liberal arts colleges. I get to know my students, and together, we develop a college list so that they can be excited about every school where they apply.

Once we have a list, I work with my students every step of the way so they can develop a world-class application. We create a master plan for teacher recommendation, standardized test scores, and personal interview techniques. And then, we talk about how to craft a personal narrative in an application that will stand out, and we develop essay concepts that will make them shine.

The students I’ve worked with have come from all over the United States and from many countries around the world. If you are interested in learning more, visit my counseling page.

Success Stories

Giselle was an economics student at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile in Santiago, Chile when she decided she wanted a different kind of education. She was attracted to the liberal arts model adopted by many American universities where students were allowed to explore a wide variety of fields outside of their focus area. After working with Pallas, she transferred into Harvard University from which she recently graduated.

Matt attended a public high school in Massachusetts. He was a great student and dreamed of attending a top college, but he didn’t know where to start. With Pallas’ help, he built a solid and comprehensive college list and refined his college applications. He ended up gaining acceptance to a number of top universities and eventually chose his dream school, Brown University, where he is now a student.

Zhoushu attended an international school in Yokohama, Japan. After deciding he wanted to study in the United States, he contacted Pallas to help him figure out where he should apply. Being so far away, he had no opportunity to visit colleges before submitting his application. Pallas helped him refine his college list, and today he is a freshman at the University of California – Berkeley.