"In the asymmetrical battle of college admissions,
Maya is the secret weapon."
- David Molner (Loomis Chafee parent)
Bespoke college coaching, outstanding college materials
2024 Results
+$100,000+ in merit scholarships
About
I'm Dr. Maya C. Popa
As an educational consultant who has taught across three divisions, I have a unique sense of a student’s trajectory from high school to college and beyond. I draw on my backgrounds as a professional writer, PhD, high school English teacher and college professor to holistically coach students through the college process. My students improve as writers and get into their dream schools.
My writing has been featured in the Guardian, the Atlantic, the NYTimes, the Nation, the TLS, and elsewhere. I have over a decade of experience teaching English at the Nightingale-Bamford School, where I direct the Creative Writing program. I am on faculty at NYU and have guest-lectured at Barnard College and Oxford University.
Students work with me to:
1
Highlight their strengths, interests, and achievements in a unique and impactful way
2
Finalize an ambitious and balanced college list that aligns with their profile and long-term goals
3
Oversee conceiving, writing, and editing an outstanding Common Application Essay and Supplements
4
Submit ahead of deadlines and apply for merit scholarships
5
Prepare for college interviews
Colleges expect applicants to:
Given the increasingly competitive nature of admission cycles, it's essential to approach the college process with a vision and strategy.
Speak authentically on their cultural background and approach to diversity
Illustrate their intellectual curiosity and achievements
Reflect on their future goals and aspirations
Demonstrate a strong fit with each institution’s curricular and extracurricular offerings
This isn’t just an exercise in strong writing
It's about articulating a vision, demonstrating the value of what you bring to a community, and how you will uniquely contribute to the school’s culture, while illustrating clear alignment with the institution's academic values and mission.
"Thank you so much for your work with our son. His classmates also had essay consultants; after reading their essays, he said he could tell that you provided better direction. Please keep us on your roster for our daughter."
- Browning Parent, 2024
Past Gen Z Prep Acceptances
