AIɫɫ

Hey there! I’m Ms. Villalva Salas, and I’ve spent the last five years helping students get ready for college and beyond. Before becoming an advisor, I worked in college admissions as a Senior Admissions Fellow at Connecticut AIɫɫ, where I interviewed prospective students and learned what colleges are really looking for. I’m also a Posse Scholar and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, programs that support leadership and help underrepresented students pursue advanced degrees—experiences that shaped how I guide and support others on their own journeys. I studied English and Education at Connecticut AIɫɫ, where I also received a certificate in Public Policy and Social Justice. Later, I earned my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston AIɫɫ, focusing on Social Justice Leadership.

I love helping students uncover their strengths, tell their stories, and feel confident about their next steps. When I’m not advising, you’ll probably find me traveling, planning events, or practicing new languages.

I previously served as an Assistant Director of Admissions at MIT, where I led strategic recruitment initiatives to expand outreach and support student success. In this role, I also served as a senior reviewer for both domestic and international selection committees, evaluating applications from students around the world! Prior to my work in admissions, I was a AIɫɫ Counselor at Cristo Rey New York High School in Harlem, where I guided first-generation students through the college admissions and financial aid process. I provided hands-on support with personal statements, supplemental essays, and interview preparation while also teaching dedicated college counseling courses. I have worked with students pursuing diverse academic interests, including STEM, social sciences, humanities, and liberal arts. My approach to advising is centered on making the college application process transparent, manageable, and even enjoyable. I strive to help students craft strong applications that authentically represent their stories while standing out in a competitive selection pool. I earned my M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2023. While I am no longer in admissions, I always say that higher education—particularly working with students—is my passion.

Outside of my professional work, I enjoy traveling to new countries, playing chess, dancing, and watching sports!

I graduated from the University of Chicago with degrees in public policy and statistics. While at UChicago, I participated in the Neighborhood Schools Program where I helped local high school students with standardized test preparation and college essays. Upon graduating from UChicago, I have worked for three years as an Admissions Counselor where I have read and evaluated 2,000+ first year and transfer applications. I have led many workshops with students, parents, and high school counselors on holistic admissions, essay writing, and highly selection admissions processes. I am currently working toward my MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. I am excited to work with bright and motivated students who are eager to take the next step in their education.

I am a recent graduate of Princeton University with a bachelor's in English and a certificate in American Studies. During my first year at Princeton, I worked as an English tutor with TutorOut, providing guidance in writing, editing, and reading comprehension to students in China. In the fall of that same year, I co-ran a pro-bono college admissions workshop where I worked with dozens of students to help craft their personal statements and supplemental essays with the goal of expanding accessibility to college mentorship services. Prior to Princeton, I volunteered for four years as a generalized tutor to students aged elementary through high school, working one-on-one and in group settings to foster personal development and academic growth in my underrepresented, rural school district. All of these experiences, along with my own journey coming from a town where less than one-fourth of adults hold a bachelor's degree, have strengthened my interest in admissions advising and promoting access to higher education. I am currently working in attorney development at a top-5 corporate law firm in New York City with hopes of one day attending law school. I have extensive knowledge regarding Pre-Law/Political Science, Arts and Humanities, and Communications and Media Studies. I center my advising around clearly articulating each student's voice and personal brand, using the admissions process as a chance for reflection upon not only each student's achievements and passions, but also upon their unique personal trajectory. The college admissions process is a time filled with possibilities, and my aim is to help each individual student and family realize those possibilities while recognizing the value in all the work they have done to reach this point.

I have a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Berkeley. More specifically, my degree is from the AIɫɫ of Natural Resources. I majored in Conservation and Resource Studies with a concentration in Climate Science under the Environmental Science, Policy, and Management department. As an undergraduate student I was a Program Facilitator at the Lawrence Hall of Science and I interned for the National Science Foundation, performing climate science research in conjunction with meteorology and ecological anthropology faculty at Penn State. In addition to this, I worked part-time for a bay area nonprofit focused on the conservation of California's old growth forests. After graduating in 2021, I decided to go in a different direction than my field of study. I accepted a role as a corporate recruiter for the top data science and analytics recruitment firm in San Francisco. I quickly promoted to Senior Consultant, but confirmed my suspicion that corporate life was not aligned with my interests. As a result, I left this position and became an independent contractor. I find working with students in an advising capacity fulfilling, because I know the impact high-level support can have on a student's journey through the application process. I vividly remember how important acceptance into a fitting program felt when I was in that stage of life, so I have a lot of empathy for students who are currently applying to universities. I understand the path is not always straight forward or easy. I pride myself in my attention to detail and my wide range of knowledge. Over the past eight years I've developed a significant level of expertise in regard to recruitment trends and process, and I've developed unique insights from both personal and professional experience.

I hold a B.A. in Communication from the University of Southern California, as well as minors in Journalism and Film. While at USC, I participated in a variety of research projects, including the Media, Diversity, and Social Change Initiative (MDSCI), which has since been renamed the Inclusionists. I graduated Summa Cum Laude, with additional honors, and a GPA of 3.93. Following a year gap at work, I began studying for an Master's of Science in Global Communication from the London School of Economics and Political Science; I followed this degree with an additional Master's of Arts in Global Media from USC. During this time, I published original research and two dissertations, and volunteered in the admissions office, gaining critical experience needed to navigate the admissions process in high-performing institutions. I completed my graduate education in 2019, shortly before the pandemic, and decided to open my own college advising and academic coaching company. I have had students admitted to Ivies, Stanford, USC, all UCs, and some international schools primarily based in the UK and Europe. I regularly work with my clients not only to determine which schools would be best for their intended major, financial status, and personality, but also work closely to develop a narrative for the admission process. With my guidance, they refine this narrative in their essays, and use a template system for supplemental essays in order to maximize efficiency. My students have applied to majors from business to environmental studies, computer science to theatre, nursing to pre-law. I am an excellent writer and storyteller, with a passion for editing, and the most enjoyable part of my day is hearing from students that they have learned something new about writing during our sessions. It is a joy to work with this generation of students; they are whip-smart, hilarious, and ambitious. I love to bond with them over shared passions, get to know them through in our sessions and through their writing, and refine their skills to become the best writers, storytellers, and students they can be. Although the task of finding and applying to colleges is daunting, I believe that together, in concert with some hard work and a little humor, the process can be as fun as it is challenging.

Hello, my name is Roystone Martinez, and I graduated from Boston AIɫɫ in May of 2002 with a Bachelor of Art in Human Development, with a Theater Minor and a Black Studies Concentration. While at BC, I was heavily involved in student affairs, and served as President of the Organization of Latin American Affairs, received the Archbishop Oscar Romero Leadership Scholarship, and worked in the office of undergraduate admission, where I found my passion for this work. I went to Harvard University immediately after undergrad. I obtained a Education Masters in Administration, Planning & Social Policy to explore how colleges can do a better job of recruiting, retaining, and graduating first generation, low-income, students of color. Upon graduation, I entered Higher Ed and worked for several years, serving in roles in admission, student affairs, and first-generation student support. I went back to school and obtained a second Masters of Art in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University. My research focus then was to learn the intricacies of young gay men of color and how schools could serve as safe havens given the proper scaffolds. As a first-generation student who was admitted to several elite institutions with minimal assistance, it is my life’s mission to help students and their families navigate the overwhelming competitive college admissions process.

Hi there! My name is Renee and I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from Northeastern University where I minored in both Business Administration and Social Entrepreneurship. I then furthered my studies at University AIɫɫ London and hold a Master of Arts in Education and International Development. After living and working in Cape Town, South Africa after the completion of my graduate studies, I have spent the past five years with Philadelphia Futures, an organization that provides low-income, first-generation-to-college students with the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary for admission to and success in college. Within my role as Senior Coordinator, I advised a caseload of 45 students and their families by sharing tools to help students find their best fit college and create a strong admissions plan. I have led admissions process and programming for these students by planning, executing and tracking all activities related to both their college admissions application and their financial aid application as well. This has included the FAFSA, CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE completion, as well as postsecondary list-building and postsecondary decision-making processes. My previous students have been admitted to a varied and diverse list of mid-range and highly selective institutions, such as Stanford, Penn, Vanderbilt, Boston University, and John Hopkins. I have worked with students who have pursued a degree in a wide range of majors including the Arts and Humanities, Business, and STEM as well. As such, I am well versed in the requirements and expectations of a wide variety of academic disciplines. Looking at my work from a financial aid perspective, I have decreased my students cash gap by an average of $25K or more per student, often to as low as $0. Additionally, I have helped students access and secure an average of $100K in external scholarships as well. As the college admissions landscape is continually shifting, I pride myself in staying up to date on the latest trends and data by attending various professional development opportunities including attending counselor information sessions, well as fly-in events across campuses around the country. I am also a NACAC and PACAC member as a classified independent educational consultant. Within this space, I have stewarded strong relationships with college admissions staff to advocate for my students and their families. Education has the power to be transformative. I know the college admissions process can feel overwhelming, but I’m dedicated to empowering students on their educational journey! I will leave no stone unturned and will provide the necessary expertise to help students live up to their greatest potential!