COUNSELING
FROM OUR HIGHLY EXPERIENCED COACHES
Selecting and applying to a college can be a confusing and daunting task. PA College Prep offers college admission consultation to help demystify the process.
PA College Prep
COUNSELING
PA College Prep’s counseling program provides students with the guidance and insight necessary to make the best decisions regarding the college selection and application process. This is achieved through a multi-faceted approach:
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GPA Evaluation
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Standardized Test Preparation and Analysis
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Course Selection Analysis
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Extracurricular Activity Strategizing
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College Selection
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College Application Essay Assistance
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Application Assistance
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Vocational Guidance
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Interview Practice and Strategizing
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Final College Selection
Become a great college applicant with our successful College Application Counseling. Contact us to make a FREE 30 minute counseling appointment today!
OUR TEAM
Our Counselors
Chris Bonneau
Director of Counseling
• B.S. in Communications from Boston University
• Award-winning professional writer
Though accepted at an Ivy League university, Mr. Bonneau opted to study at Boston University - an institution that better served his academic interests in Communications and provided him with a near-full scholarship. Since moving to California in 1995, Chris has been a prolific, award-winning writer (of screenplays and educational texts) and an accomplished teacher and counselor. He has taught at a number of highly regarded academies throughout the Los Angeles area and has even written an in-depth guide to the SAT Writing section.
Chris has helped more than 4,000 students with the college selection and application process. During this time frame, he has guided students through more than 10,000 college statements. Many of the students that Chris has counseled have gone on to Ivy League and other prestigious universities.
Rob Choi
College Counselor
Writing Coach
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B. A. in Political Science, University of California, Irvine
Over the past 20+ years, Rob has taken his experience in law, entertainment, literary work, and more to guide more than 1,500 students in crafting over 25,000 personal statements and supplements that genuinely express the best qualities of each applicant. He's sent studetns to all the Ivy Leagues and many more of the top universities. On the whole, the majority of his students have been accepted tp at lease one top 100 university under his guidance.
Mimi Liu
Pre-Med College Counselor
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Current Family Medicine resident physician
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M.D. from University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine (USF MCOM)
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B.S. in Cell and Developmental Biology from University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Mimi interviewed at 7 medical schools and attended USF on a partial scholarship, where she interviewed pre-medical students for the admissions committee. She also volunteered at the student-run free clinic, founded the student organizations Medical Mandarin and Asian American Pacific Islander Mentorship (AAPIM), and published research, among other accomplishments. During her time at medical school, Mimi truly excelled and earned multiple scholarships, grants, and awards. Her efforts culminated in the 2023 Golden Bull Award, one of USF’s highest honors given to students who encompass the spirit and values of USF by exemplifying exceptional leadership and service.
Mimi is passionate about helping students navigate both the college and medical school admissions process, particularly because she struggled to find high-quality advising when she was a student. She has successfully mentored dozens of students throughout the years. Mimi enjoys guiding students throughout the application process, especially when it comes to developing a personal brand. She has advised many students who have been accepted to highly ranked colleges and multiple medical schools.
Vanessa Green
College Counselor
Writing Coach
CA Teaching Credential in English
M.A. in English
Ms. Green brings more than 20 years of experience in K-12 education, serving as a college essay writing coach for more than 15 years and an English teacher for more than 10 years. Holding both a CA Teaching Credential and an MA in English, she is passionate about lifelong learning and growth. Her counseling and teaching approach is holistic; she supports her students socially, emotionally, and academically. Above all, she believes that every student has the ability - and the right - to learn. When planning and writing personal essays, Vanessa is encouraging, energetic, and meticulous, creating a safe space for students to explore and draft responses to application questions. Her goal is to ensure that students' college application essays clearly address the prompts, capture the students’ personalities and voices, and amplify students’ strengths. To date, Ms. Green has helped students get into prestigious schools like Yale, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, USC, NYU, UCLA, UCB UCSD, etc.
Ally Kaleshi
College Counselor
Writing Coach
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B. A. the University of Southern California, Health and Human Sciences, minor in Occupational Science, Summa Cum Laude
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U.S. Department of Education Presidential Scholars Nominee, George M. Pullman Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Ally Kaleshi is a distinguished college counselor and education consultant in Orange County, who is known for her thorough and dedicated expertise in successfully advising college applicants in their admission journeys to the most prestigious academic institutions in the United States including Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, The University of Chicago, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania University of California, Berkeley, and Duke University.
Since 2017, Ally has guided students and families on every aspect of the college admissions process. Having been awarded over $500,000 in merit awards throughout her own college application cycle, she has since served as an evaluator and reader for prestigious merit scholarships. Ally leverages her depth of experience to guide high achieving students in their pursuit of academic scholarships.
Laura Hwang
Assistant Director of Counseling
College Counselor
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M.A., Social Psychology, San Francisco State University
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B.A., Psychology, University of California Irvine
Ms. Laura Hwang is a dedicated and compassionate counselor specializing in social, developmental, and behavioral psychology. As a former IUSD PTA board member of various leadership roles and an IPSF liaison, she is an adept expert in the public school systems, particularly in Irvine and Tustin, with additional proficiency in the private schools of Southern California, who navigates students by bringing in rich local educational resources. In addition, she possesses expertise in navigating the educational paths of athletes. Ms. Laura has led many students in securing admission to the UCs and the reputable private colleges.
With a capability for effective communications to motivate, Ms. Laura warmly guides and inspires her students in her counseling sessions. Specializing in cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapies, her dedication extends beyond academics, as she trains highly effective teenagers, fostering values of character building. Her holistic approach not only supports students' personal, academic, and social growth but also encourages resilience, empowering them to reach their full potential. Ms. Laura's consistent commitment has established her reputation as a trusted and effective counselor in the community.
Jack Zhang
STEM College Counselor
Passion Project Coach
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B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, minor in global engineering studies
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M.S. in Product Design from Carnegie Mellon University
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Long term study broad at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany (ranked #3 for engineering in Germany)
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E.I.T certified engineer
Jack Zhang is a passionate STEM counselor and passion project coach, who is known for his friendliness and professionalism working with students of all ages. Jack is a mechanical and product design engineer by trade who has over 15 years of STEM experience under his belt. He has vast industry experience across consumer electronics, aerospace, and automotive working with companies such as Apple, Boeing, and EV startups.
During his undergrad, Jack was a key member of the solar car club at his university competing and winning at the national level. He is also familiar with other STEM student clubs such as Formula SAE, Formula Baja, EV Club, Rocketry Club, etc. Jack was also a former School of Mechanical Engineering Student Ambassador at Purdue University. He gave campus tours to admitted students and their parents in helping to make their final college decision.
Andy Luong
STEM College Counselor
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B.S. in Biochemistry at UCLA
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M.S. In Biomedical science at UCSD
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Four years of research experience in the Cardio Surgery Lab at UCLA
Mr. Luong started his counseling career with helping underclass students navigate their class choices and find research opportunities at UCLA, which further deepened his understanding of the academic landscape.
Since completing his studies, Mr. Luong has dedicated himself to helping students achieve their academic and professional goals by offering personalized guidance and support. Through his expertise and dedication, he has helped numerous students gain acceptance to prestigious institutions such as Brown, Stanford, Boston University, UCLA, UCSD, and UC Berkeley.
Maria Garcia
College Counselor
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B.A. in Psychology, Vanguard University
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M.A. in Education, Pupil Personnel Services
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M.A. in Educational Leadership, Administrative Credential
Mrs. Garcia obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology from Vanguard University with a merit scholarship. She then completed two Masters degrees at Azusa Pacific University. She has excelled for 23 years in the field of education as a college counselor and vice principal. She has counseled students in top public and private schools in California, South America, and Asia. Mrs. Garcia has traveled numerous times to China and worked with students and families directly in the college application process. Her passion for helping students reach their full potential and enter Ivy League Universities and other prestigious institutions is what fuels her.