Uncommon App Guide

Personalized, virtual college counseling —
your Common App deserves to stand out 🌱Now accepting students for the Class of 2027!

What Students & Families Say

"Working with Maya has been an absolutely wonderful experience for both my daughter and our family. She made every session something my daughter truly looked forward to. Maya is very knowledgeable and she walked us through every step all the way to submitting the applications. Thank you Maya for all that you have done!"
– Parent, Class of 2026"Maya gave my daughter so much support and confidence. She looked forward to every meeting to share what she had done."
– Parent, Class of 2026"Everything from friendliness, knowledge and communication. Couldn’t possibly get any better."
– Parent, Class of 2026"Maya communicated exceptionally well throughout the process. She was clear, responsive, and always available to answer questions."
– Parent, Class of 2026"We received fantastic updates and feedback after every session. A couple of times reached out with questions and Maya was very responsive."
– Parent, Class of 2026“We’re so grateful to have received substantial scholarships. From essay writing to choosing schools and applying for scholarships, you supported us in so many ways. Thank you again.”
「スカラシップもかなり頂けて、本当に有難い限りです。 エッセイの書き方から、大学選び、スカラシップの申請についてなど、本当に色々と教えて頂き、大変心強く、助かりました！重ね重ねお礼を申し上げます。」
– Parent, Class of 2025“Maya supported me throughout my entire college application process. Before, I felt unsure on how to create my activities list, select the right majors, and what to write about. She took time to get to know me, helped me understand anything I didn't, and made sure I was comfortable and ready for the college application journey."
– Student, Class of 2026“I felt like I had 100% support throughout the entire process, and Maya gave me clear instructions and outlines to work with. This helped me get all of my ideas onto a page and know what things to include in my application.
– Student, Class of 2026"Maya was a huge help with my essays. She noticed things I hadn't thought about and gave me ideas that made my writing so much better."
– Student, Class of 2025

Reflection Comes First

Why are you going to college?What do you actually want to spend four years (and possibly a lot of money) doing?In a world that’s changing fast, it’s more important than ever to build self-awareness and make strategic choices.Plus, it's the key to writing strong essays and applications!

Essay Coaching

Essays often tip the needle in admissions decisions, and they’re your chance to stand out beyond grades and test scores!I love talking with students about their ideas, passions, and backgrounds, and helping them figure out how to turn those into essays.

Money Matters

I’ll help you find scholarships and make smart, financially-aware decisions about what’s worth investing in.Additionally, I believe college guidance shouldn’t only be available to those who can afford it. That’s why I share free resources online and offer sliding scale pricing.Each year, I work with a few students at a reduced cost. Just reach out,
I’m happy to talk!

Support Across Languages and Identities

¡Hablo español! 日本語も大丈夫です。
I’m fluent in English, Japanese,
and Spanish!I love working with international and multicultural students.I’ve worked with students from all backgrounds: queer, neurodivergent, low-income, first-gen, BIPOC, international, and more.Your identity matters in this process, and I create space for you to explore it.

Results

Here are just a few of the amazing things my students have done:College Acceptances
Columbia · Brown · NYU · Carnegie Mellon · University of Southern California · Claremont McKenna · UC Berkeley · UCLA · UC San Diego · UC Santa Barbara · UC Davis · UC Irvine · UC Riverside · UC Santa Cruz · Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo · San Diego State University · Northeastern · Boston University · Macalester · Occidental · Carleton · Case Western · Franklin & Marshall · University of Washington · Ohio State · Penn State · Clemson University · University of Hawaii · University of Utah
…and more!Academic & Creative Achievements
Won hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships
Applied to universities abroad
Applied to BS/MD programs
Conducted cancer research
Volunteered abroad
Created a short film about queer friendship
Researched accessibility in public transportation and presented to the city council
Hosted story circle for LGBTQ+ youth and created care packages

Let's Talk!

I offer individual sessions and packages. Includes personalized prep and support between meetings.

• Reach out to book a free consultation!