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We are Passionate

And, collectively, we have reviewed thousands of applications!

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The Oriel Admissions team are experts in our fields.

We are former admissions officers, dedicated college counselors, creative writing specialists, academic tutors, project mentors, and more.

Meet our founder

Rona, the founder of Oriel Admissions, is dedicated to providing students and families with the knowledge and support that they need to navigate the complex process of college admissions. Rona started her admissions journey by working with the MBA admissions team at the Said Business School, the University of Oxford. Since then, she has amassed a wealth of experience working with hundreds of students and families on their own college and post-graduate journeys.

Rona loves to bring a sense of creativity, entrepreneurship, and purpose to guiding students to explore their interests in authentic and meaningful ways, infusing individuality into the application process.

Rona holds a Master of Business Administration from the Said Business School, the University of Oxford, a Master of Arts in Economics from New York University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Brandeis University.

Our team

Alyssa

Student Success Manager

Boston University

Alyssa

Student Success Manager

Alyssa has over 12 years of account management experience, spending the first half of her career in digital marketing and advertising, developing large scale campaigns for major brands. She then transitioned into the education technology sector, working for General Assembly, a digital and technical skills training provider. Alyssa has partnered with companies including Walmart, Prudential, Google, and many others to create immersive training programs tailored towards meeting their critical learning and development goals. She is passionate about the transformative power of training and education to advance careers. Alyssa holds a Bachelor's degree from Boston University. Alyssa is also a holder of multiple certificates from General Assembly programs including in Data Analytics and AI.

Joy

College Counselor

Washington University in St. Louis

Joy

College Counselor

Joy is a highly accomplished admissions coach with over six years of counseling experience. Her college counseling specialties include business, social sciences, and the humanities. Joy earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Nanjing University and completed her master's degree at Washington University in St. Louis on a full scholarship, later pursuing an MBA there. Her professional background includes working in international marketing and serving as a project manager for a creative agency, working with Fortune 100 clients. Additionally, Joy has experience advising students on applications to leading institutions in the UK, Canada, Japan, and Hong Kong. Joy is also fluent in English and Mandarin.

Dejuanna

College Counselor

Johns Hopkins University

Dejuanna

College Counselor

Dejuanna is a dedicated higher education professional with a strong passion for empowering students to reach their full academic potential. She graduated from Radford University in 2019, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Following her commitment to personal and professional growth, Dejuanna pursued a Master's in Education Leadership from Old Dominion University, which she completed in 2023. With six years of experience in higher education, Dejuanna has worked at prestigious institutions including the University of Virginia, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Throughout her career, she has contributed to fostering student success, collaborating with academic teams, and implementing programs that support student development. Dejuanna's career reflects her deep belief in helping students overcome obstacles and unlock their potential. Whether guiding students through academic challenges or providing mentorship, she strives to create environments that are inclusive and supportive, helping students set and achieve their personal and academic goals. She remains committed to advancing educational equity, making a lasting impact on the institutions and students she serves.

Rita

College Counselor

Johns Hopkins University

Rita

College Counselor

Rita has nearly 10 years of experience working in admissions at Johns Hopkins University. Throughout her experience, Rita has evaluated hundreds of applications annually, and has assisted high school students with college preparation and readiness, including review of personal statements, application essays, scholarship essays, and resumes. Before working at Johns Hopkins University, Rita worked at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a nonprofit dedicated to international education and cultural exchange. Rita is an alumnus of University of Pittsburgh where she completed her undergraduate degree, and Johns Hopkins University where she completed her masters degree.

Stacie

College Counselor

Cornell University

Stacie

College Counselor

After graduating from University of Florida Law School, Stacie worked as an attorney, started her own business and eventually went back to school to become a college counselor.  After completing a certificate program with Rice University, she began working in law school admissions for Cornell University and undergraduate admissions at the University of Florida.  Stacie has reviewed over 5000 applications and looks forward to helping students find their perfect fit educational institutions.

Jessie

Writing Coach

New York University

Jessie

Writing Coach

Jessie is a writer, author, and educator with over eight years of experience teaching creative writing and leading workshops in both large classroom and small group settings with an emphasis on individualized mentorship. She is skilled at creating interactive, play-forward, and supportive environments where students feel empowered to explore new ideas and express themselves confidently. Also the author of six middle-grade novels, all published by Scholastic, Jessie brings a storyteller’s perspective to every session. Jessie holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children from The New School.

Thea

Writing Coach

University of Michigan

Thea

Writing Coach

Thea is a writer, teacher, and editor based in the Bay Area. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Mills College and a Master of Fine Arts in fiction writing from the University of Michigan's Helen Zell Writers' Program, where she was a 2019-2020 Postgraduate Zell Fellow. As a teacher, she has taught writing at the professional level at the Attic Institute in Portland, Oregon and the University of Michigan. She has been the recipient of the Henfield Prize, a Hopwood Award, the Kadsan Scholarship in Creative Writing, and Michigan Quarterly Review's 2024 Lawrence Foundation Prize; as well as fellowships and scholarships from Yaddo, In Cahoots, and the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference. Her short stories appear or are forthcoming in the Southern Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, the Missouri Review, Hopkins Review, and Indiana Review. She is currently a 2024-2025 Steinbeck Fellow at San Jose State University.

Kendra

Writing Coach

University of Pennsylvania

Kendra

Writing Coach

Kendra is a writing coach based in Philadelphia with over ten years of experience working in higher education admissions. She has worked with students in various roles at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Drexel University, and Saint Joseph's University. A passionate writer since childhood, Kendra loves helping others refine their essays and prepare successful higher education applications. Kendra holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Nonfiction Writing and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration, both from the University of Pittsburgh.

Lindsey

Application Manager & Project Mentor

Cornell University

Lindsey

Application Manager & Project Mentor

Lindsey is a former reader for Cornell University College of Engineering. In her role, she evaluated hundreds of applications and candidates across the United States. She has also served as an interviewer for undergraduate candidates to the university. She received her Bachelor of Science in Operations Research Engineering from Cornell, her Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Chicago, and her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Lindsey is currently a Vice President at The Stephens Group, a private equity firm and family office with over $1B in assets under management. She brings over a decade of experience driving operational excellence and value creation with portfolio companies, focusing on industrial distribution, manufacturing, and SaaS businesses. In her role, she leads initiatives to enhance organizational performance, increase profitability, and unlock growth across the firm’s investments. Prior to her current role, Lindsey spent seven years as a consultant at BCG, Accenture Strategy, and Kurt Salmon, serving Fortune 500 clients in the retail, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Originally from Princeton, NJ, Lindsey graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South. She enjoys reading, watching tennis, diving, and traveling the world!

Ellie

Academic and Test Prep Tutor

University of California, Berkeley

Ellie

Academic and Test Prep Tutor

Ellie is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies and Spanish & Portuguese. With nine years of teaching and tutoring experience, Ellie has dedicated her career to helping students excel academically and develop lifelong learning skills. As an online SAT and AP test prep instructor, Ellie has successfully guided hundreds of students in SAT preparation as well as in AP English, AP History, and AP Spanish courses. Graduating from Canyon Crest Academy, a nationally ranked high school in San Diego, Ellie completed 13 AP classes, including AP Calculus BC and AP Art History, and scored 1510 on the SAT. This intensive high school experience has not only equipped her to tutor AP subjects effectively but has also helped her empathize with students' challenges and aspirations. Ellie believes in fostering not only academic success but also essential skills such as effective study habits and time management. Her approach to tutoring empowers students to not only thrive in advanced high school courses but also to excel in college and beyond.

Tanner

Academic and Test Prep Tutor

University of Texas at Austin

Tanner

Academic and Test Prep Tutor

Academic and Test Prep Tutor Tanner College: University of Texas at Austin A thoughtful and deliberate tutor, Tanner is open and honest in his communication and genuinely enjoys helping others succeed. He holds a Bachelor of Art in geology from Gustavus Adolphus College, a Master of Science in geological sciences from East Carolina University, and a certificate degree in environmental geology and hydrology from East Carolina University. He was the recipient of the Chester Johnson Honors Geology Scholarship and a research grant award from the Geological Society of America, as well as named president of Sigma Gamma Epsilon. After earning his Masters, Tanner spent 6 months at sea aboard an oceanic research expedition exploring volcanism and seismology in the north Pacific and Antarctica. He is continuing this work as he pursues his PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. Tanner has been a private tutor since 2017, working with high school students on ACT/SAT prep, AP physics, AP chemistry, and a variety of other math and science subjects. Tanner’s tutoring style promotes the critical thinking and problem-solving strategies required to work through any problem independently and helps students to grow in their confidence.

Julia

Career Coach

Julia

Career Coach

Julia MS, CPCC is your resident Career Clarity Coach. A counselor by trade, a corporate trainer by choice, and a mentor by calling, she has spent over 20 years observing human behavior in the workplace. Leading talent, hiring talent, training talent, and now as the head of Purpose Geek Solutions LLC, it is her passion and purpose to help people find career fulfillment at every age and stage, from just discovering their path to experienced professionals looking for change.

Becky

Career Coach

Becky

Career Coach

With over 20 years of experience in career coaching, job search strategy, career and job counseling, work life and wellness, Becky is passionate about coaching individuals toward achieving success, balance and fulfillment in their lives and careers. Throughout her career, she has helped hundreds of coaching clients. Becky’s approach to coaching is to serve as a thinking partner to individuals wanting to improve their path forward. With a goal-oriented approach, Becky enjoys working with students to discover their strengths and to translate them into a career path.

Carrie

Career Coach

Carrie

Career Coach

Carrie is a personal and professional development coach who brings over 20 years of corporate experience in hiring and career development to her collaborative coaching approach. Ms. Morris has worked with some of Fortune 500’s leading companies, advising them on best hiring practices and the competitive candidate landscape. Ms. Morris has extensive experience in understanding the results of neuropsychological and psycho-educational evaluations, using these results to engage in targeted career design, while incorporating the results of career centered assessments to carefully pinpoint career paths that match abilities, interests, personalities and values. She has a passion partnering with college-bound and graduate students helping them better navigate the organizational & career exploration process, with an understanding and appreciation for their preferred learning style, agility and most authentic expression of their developing leadership style in the workplace.

Alison

Wellness Coach

Alison

Wellness Coach

Alison specializes in helping students manage stress, anxiety, and test performance to reach their full potential. With over 2,000 hours of training in functional health coaching, breathwork education, and life coaching, she provides personalized, science-backed strategies to enhance focus, emotional regulation, and resilience. By integrating evidence-based breathwork, nervous system regulation, and holistic wellness practices, Alison equips students with the tools they need to stay calm, confident, and perform at their best—both academically and personally.

Need some more help? Here are some answers.

View all FAQs

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Get in touch to learn more.
We would be happy to help!

Will my child work with the same counselor during the entire process?

All students will have a primary college counselor as well as a team of professionals available to support them. The Oriel Admissions team includes SAT and ACT tutors, academic tutors, career coaches, project mentors, and writing coaches who will work with students to build a holistic set of skills. Oriel Admissions goes above and beyond to ensure that each student is paired with a college counselor who aligns with their unique needs. If a student ever feels the need for a different fit, the team is committed to facilitating a seamless transition to another counselor. The same is applicable for the other members of the Oriel Admissions team.

How many students do your counselors work with?

Our counselors intentionally limit the number of students they work with to ensure each student receives the highest level of personalized support. A counselor will only take on a new student if they have sufficient time in their schedule and will refrain from accepting additional students once their capacity is reached.

How is Oriel Admissions different from other college counseling firms?

Oriel Admissions provides a highly personalized, boutique service to students and families. We care deeply about building relationships and we keep in touch with many of our clients, even after they have begun their college careers.

Our approach to college counseling mirrors the holistic nature of the application evaluation process. We want students to build a wide range of skills so that they are better prepared to succeed in high school, in college, and beyond. With our full suite of services, we are well equipped to help students excel throughout their educational journeys.

For students targeting selective colleges, students are expected to dive deep into a field of interest and we specialize in finding ways for students to stand out. We advise on pursuing entrepreneurial projects, passion projects, self-directed research, finding internships, and other unique opportunities.

Our team is another factor that sets us apart. All team members are carefully selected for their extensive experience and passion for working with students. Our team members are not only experts in their fields but also highly responsive and approachable. They are strong communicators who take the time to get to know each student personally.

Students benefit from the collective insights of multiple team members, each bringing a unique perspective and skill set to the table. This team-based approach allows us to offer well-rounded guidance that helps students feel confident and prepared.Our team’s dedication to student success is at the heart of our work and we are proud to support students and families through this important journey.

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