LISA - Key Persons

I'm passionate about helping my clients see the possibilities. As a former management and organizational change consultant, I think about the college search process much as I approach a business challenge-strategically. During my ten years as a consultant, I worked on projects ranging from strategic planning, organizational design, marketing strategy, and product portfolio strategy. After having helped companies big and small improve their performance and overcome obstacles, I went to work for a large media company and then for several small start-ups. Through so many experiences inside so many different organizations, I learned that there's always a path to get to where you want to go. It may not always be in the direction you initially thought, but with a thoughtful plan, you can get there. Since graduating from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 1996, I have volunteered my time with underserved students in NYC, Chicago and Minneapolis, helping them to navigate the path after high school and see the possibilities. For some that meant a traditional college route, but for many, we worked together to develop an alternative plan - community college, trade school, or work. Regardless of the path, I love collaborating with the kids to come up with a game plan for their education or career, and working with them to communicate their stories, whether in an application, an essay, a resume, or an interview. At College Bound Mentor, I am able to combine everything that I love doing - working with people, mentoring, education, and strategic thinking. There's nothing more rewarding for me than helping students find their strengths and take that important first step towards their futures. Abby Power heads up our Minneapolis, MN office. An experienced Management Consultant, Organizational Change Consultant and Marketing Professional, Abby has extensive experience recruiting, interviewing, hiring and training recent undergraduate and graduate students. She applies her background to help our College Bound students identify their strengths and put their best foot forward in the application process. Abby is a former alumni interviewer for The University of Michigan Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She holds a B.A. in Economics and French from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Abby is passionate about her work with our students and is pursuing a certificate in College Counseling from UCLA while serving as an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).

My work also gives me exposure to mistakes people have made choosing colleges, college majors, and personal activities and habits. College admissions counseling is a storytelling business. At times, applicants can feel that they are not special or different-however, everybody has interests, motivations, dreams and achievements they can highlight in a memorable way that connects emotionally with admissions officers. I love writing, editorial and interview coaching, and bring these skills to College Bound Mentor so clients can make the right choice for them. Alex Leventhal is based in Los Angeles and has been an industry leader in MBA admissions consulting for over 15 years. He works with MBA and college applicants from all over the world and is regularly quoted in the Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and Poets & Quants. Alex holds a BA in Philosophy from Haverford College and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He is a member of HECA and has been an alumni interviewer for the Office of Admissions at Haverford College. Prior to becoming an admissions counselor, Alex held various executive positions at Fortune 100 companies and technology start-ups. Alex is a former collegiate varsity soccer player and a 4-handicap golfer. His competitive spirit is engaged for each of his clients. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and 2 sons. He loves helping applicants become strong essay writers and interviewers.

My story has always come back to one truth: I love to learn.

I have always loved the beauty and power of the written word. As a young girl, one of my greatest pleasures was to go to the library and return home with a stack of books. I would immerse myself in distant lands and interact with people I would never otherwise encounter, marveling at the prose that brought these stories to life. Naturally, I became an English major in college, where I honed my own writing and analytical skills. At Harvard Law School, I learned to appreciate the power of writing in a different way: as a tool to effect change and persuade others. Upon graduation, I became a commercial real estate attorney at a major NYC law firm. Once again, I was exposed to a different aspect of writing. Drafting leases and other types of contracts taught me that the interpretation of a provision could hinge on the selection of a single word, requiring each sentence to be structured with painstaking care. While raising my son and daughter, I served on numerous committees within the Livingston school district. Reviewing PTA scholarship applications gave me insight into the strengths and weaknesses of various candidates, while serving on an advisory committee to the Director of Guidance gave me insight into strategies for improved student learning. I also relentlessly impressed upon my children the need to stretch their vocabularies and structure their thoughts logically, even if it meant more rewriting than they would have liked. When my son was applying to college, I found myself helping a number of his friends with their college essays. This pattern continued with my daughter's friends, and when I hired Lisa to be my daughter's college coach, it seemed natural for me to join her as an essay specialist. Five years later, I continue to take great pleasure in helping students find their voice and structure their stories in compelling and unique ways. Want to write a strong college essay? I'd love to help.

I've always had a passion for words. I wrote my first book, a collection of fables, in second grade. For most of my life I've written poems, narratives, and short stories, some of which I've had published online and in anthologies. I earned my bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence College, known for its writing-centered program. I worked as an admissions tour guide and was elected to serve on the Admissions Committee, where I read applications and participated in admissions decisions; later, I served as an admissions interviewer. In these experiences on the "other side of the desk," I learned that college admissions is not one-size-fits-all, but is guided by each school's unique learning environment and culture. In my 20s I became a mom and a writer. I wrote a monthly column called "Mother's Wisdom" and published articles in national parenting magazines, which led to a professional career in writing and editing. When my two sons-now in their 20s-were in lower school, I began teaching high school English, yearbook, and creative writing at Parker School, a private, college preparatory school in Hawaii. In my ten years there I marked up thousands of student essays, advised juniors on the college admissions process, attended visits by college reps, and chaperoned students on college tours. I always asked reps what they looked for in the essay, and I was surprised to learn that they were not all looking for the same things. As an Essay Specialist, I will help you craft personal narratives that highlight the unique attributes you'll contribute to each college's environment. I'll also share techniques from my 20-year yoga and mediation practice that will help you quiet anxiety, enhance focus, and open to inspiration. Ready to conquer college essay nerves and take your writing to a new level? I can't wait to teach you how!

I love language and how it developed differently in different regions. I majored in International Studies at Oglethorpe University and had the opportunity to live in Austria and in Switzerland while in college. I continued to explore foreign cultures during my first career with a global airline. Working as a language of destination flight attendant, and later as an instructor for employees from around the world, I was able to examine the disparate ways in which ideas can be expressed. For me, writing and editing is not a chore, but a challenge. It is fun! However, while encouraging the writing process with international students, and later my own children, I came to realize just how difficult arranging words into ideas can be for so many writers. I began to explore writing techniques that allow frustrated students to express themselves more easily and with more confidence. For many students, just the idea of writing their essay is overwhelming. If I can help eliminate the stress of the process, a true story can evolve. For all students, the college essay is about telling their story. For students with a unique approach to academics, this story, and this opportunity to illustrate their learning style is both critical and challenging. I joined College bound Mentor to help these students celebrate their differences.

I've always loved to read-fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, you name it-so I feel fortunate that I've been able to enjoy a career working with the written word. I took my first journalism class as a Communications major at Fairfield University. My professor, who was the advisor to the student newspaper, encouraged me to write for the paper and I found that I loved contributing features on campus events and profiles of people in the community. Additionally, I minored in Spanish and spent a semester at the Spanish-American Institute of International Education in Seville, Spain where I was immersed in Spanish language and culture and travelled around Spain and to other countries. After graduation, I took a job as an editorial assistant at Family Circle where I had the opportunity to learn from some of the most accomplished editors in the magazine industry. I later moved on to an associate editor position at Child before becoming a senior editor at LHJ.com. After nearly a decade as an editor on staff, I made the leap to freelance writing and editing. Since then, I've contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications including Real Simple, Better Homes and Gardens, Bridal Guide, Scholastic, Parents and Woman's Day. I coauthored the book "New Etiquette for Today's Bride," and I've created content for a roster of corporate clients from national retailers to healthcare companies. Most recently, I have been editing nonfiction books, helping experts in various disciplines share their expertise with readers in a compelling way. Throughout my career, the common thread has been my love of the written word and of telling stories in an engaging way. A writer myself, I understand how daunting a blank page can be. As an editor, I love guiding writers to their best work and helping them showcase their unique perspective and voice. We all have a story to tell. I can't wait to help you tell yours.

As a history major at Brandeis University I was drawn to learning about different stories from folklore and mythology. Most of my undergrad career was spent hunting down obscure tales and analyzing storytelling structure. After earning my Master's Degree in Education at Boston University, I taught English as a Second Language with a particular focus on writing skills. As part of the process I've worked together with students to learn editorial skills to revise and improve their work over several iterations.

Rose Hulman is a great school for students who desire a highly personal, hands on learning environment and are not only passionate about STEM majors, but also curious about larger issues. They should also be content in a largely male environment in a rural location. Rose Hulman Institute of Technology http://cbmentor2018.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cbmlogofinal.png College Bound Mentor https://collegeboundmentor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/RoseHulman_MoenchHall.jpg 200px 200px

I've always been a story fiend. As I kid, I ploughed through hundreds of books: I couldn't stop until I knew what happened. I had that same enthusiasm for good movies, bad TV, and the one side of the conversations I could hear eavesdropping on my mom's phone calls as I pretended to read in the living room. I like listening to people's stories as much as the ones I read or watch. I think is because my trial-lawyer dad was such an amazing storyteller.

Although our identities are ever changing, here are some that are at my core: wife, mother, daughter, oldest sister, loyal friend, College Bound Mentor, English teacher, varsity tennis coach, lifelong tennis player, amateur poet, avid reader, food enthusiast, novice improv comedian, occasional guitar and ukelele player, theater lover, and contagious laugher. I share this with you because as in the college process, we decide which parts of us we share and what interests we find most compelling. All of them are significant, and at the right college, will all be appreciated. Stefanie Forman has extensive experience teaching middle and high school English at both a charter school and at an esteemed college-preparatory school in New York City. Additionally, she was a varsity tennis coach and wrote numerous letters of recommendation for her team members. Stefanie helped spearhead an advisory program at her most recent school, recognizing that emotional intelligence is as crucial for students' success as academic excellence. Prior to finding her passion for education, she had a two-year stint in the public relations world where she helped companies communicate their stories to the public. She is excited to join College Bound Mentor so she can continue to help students embrace their passion and curiosity while finding a new home for them to thrive. Stefanie holds a BA in English and a minor in Writing from Washington University in St. Louis and an MA in Teaching of English from Teachers College at Columbia University. She recently moved back to her hometown, Westfield, NJ, with her husband and daughter. She is an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).