Great Expectations only hires a mere 1-2% of its applicants — our staff is made up of the most experienced, educated, friendly, and charismatic education experts out there.

Carlynn W

ClassicCollege Counselor
EducationEarned a B.A. in Plan II (Honors Liberal Arts) and Italian from the University of Texas at Austin with minors in Classics and Religious Studies; earned a M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School; earned a B.F.A. in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design
HobbiesCooking/baking/eating, hiking, reading, visiting galleries and museums, experimental animation
Test Prep
Academic Subjects
General Strengthsorganizational skills, creative writing, study skills, reading comprehension, technical writing, literary analysis, college-level courseworksummer enrichment planning, major advisement/selection, editing and proofreading college essays, resume review/evaluation, course selection for high school, college research and advisement, course selection for undergraduate programs, humanities programs, college list building, arts & music Masters and Ph.D. programs, highly selective colleges/universities specialization, extracurricular/resume development, application review, personal statement brainstorming and composition, arts & music programs, liberal arts school specialization, art portfolio building and review, visual arts programs, BFA programs, studio art programs
Related ExperienceExtensive personal experience applying and gaining acceptance to extremely competitive academic programs; 2+ years developing workshop and arts enrichment curriculum for underserved children in South Boston; 5+ years teaching art and design in a variety of contexts to both children and adults; 5+ years writing professionally in a variety of formats and contexts; 15+ years as an award-winning freelance illustrator with a specialization in children’s books and editorial work; significant exhibition record in galleries and group shows; animations selected for screening in film festivals and showcases; working artist with a studio practice in Los Angeles; vast experience both conducting and receiving professional portfolio reviews, especially in a peer-to-peer context

Chelese B

Founder's CircleAcademic TutorCollege Counselor
EducationEarned a B.A. in History from UC Berkeley with honors; earned an M.F.A. in Theatre from The Actors Studio Drama School
HobbiesPhotography, hiking, yoga, baking/cooking, watching/making movies, traveling, writing
Test Prep
Academic SubjectsAmerican Literature, British Literature, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & CompositionUS History, AP US History
General Strengthsorganizational skills, study skills, literary analysis, students with learning differences, college-level coursework, students with ASDinternational student application process, summer enrichment planning, major advisement/selection, editing and proofreading college essays, social science programs, resume review/evaluation, transfer student application process, pre-college summer programs, course selection for high school, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs, UC specialization, non-traditional student application process, college research and advisement, course selection for undergraduate programs, humanities programs, business school applications, social science Masters and Ph.D. programs, Cal State specialization, foreign college/university application process, college list building, film programs, public health programs, STEM Masters and Ph.D. programs, arts & music Masters and Ph.D. programs, highly selective colleges/universities specialization, high school selection, transcript analysis, extracurricular/resume development, application review, personal statement brainstorming and composition, arts & music programs, business programs, medical school applications, humanities Masters and Ph.D. programs, scholarship search (merit-based aid), liberal arts school specialization, interview skills, art portfolio building and review, dance programs, visual arts programs, BFA programs, performing arts programs, classical performance and composition music programs, contemporary music programs, film, television, and digital media, acting programs, studio art programs, video game design programs, architecture programs
Related Experience15+ years counseling experience & tutoring experience; conducted presentations to Los Angeles high school students about the college application process; volunteered with the Young Storytellers to bring creative writing and arts to underserved youth in Los Angeles; tutored in Oakland/Berkeley after-school programs and taught SAT prep classes; filmmaker (10 years), actress (15 years), former competitive dancer (20 years)

Christine L

ClassicCollege Counselor
EducationEarned a B.A. with honors in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Ethnic Studies at Brown University; currently working towards a PhD in Sociology at Cornell University
HobbiesHiking with my dog Hiccup, swimming at my local neighborhood pool, biking around the San Francisco Bay Area, writing and journaling, reading theory-heavy books, cooking plant-based foods, acrylic painting, propagating plants
Test Prep
Academic Subjects
General Strengthsacademic writing, technical writingsummer enrichment planning, major advisement/selection, editing and proofreading college essays, social science programs, financial aid (need-based aid), resume review/evaluation, pre-college summer programs, college audition preparation for performance tracks, UC specialization, college research and advisement, course selection for undergraduate programs, humanities programs, social science Masters and Ph.D. programs, college list building, course selection for Masters and Ph.D. programs, highly selective colleges/universities specialization, extracurricular/resume development, application review, personal statement brainstorming and composition, humanities Masters and Ph.D. programs, liberal arts school specialization, interview skills, art portfolio building and review, visual arts programs, BFA programs, performing arts programs, career assessment tools
Related ExperienceExtensive college counseling experience to students in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as to high school students in Brown University's pre-college summer program at the Leadership Institute; 4 years of training in a pre-professional, conservatory-style theater program at a public arts high school in San Francisco, including preparation for arts college auditions; background in working with marginalized students (BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, first-generation, low-income)