Academy
Our Counselors
TJ
Counselor/Tutor
TJ has been advising, consulting, and tutoring students in the Palos Verdes Peninsula for the last ten years, giving him an intimate knowledge of the area and its student population. TJ has successfully guided hundreds of students through the ever-confusing labyrinth of college admissions and high school curriculum. Having studied in prestigious institutions himself, TJ understands the rigorous preparations that are needed to not only gain admissions, but also to succeed once the student begins his/her studies. TJ has master’s degrees in biochemistry and public policy from UCSF and Columbia University, respectively. TJ has also earned a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. In addition to his extensive technical expertise, TJ’s ability to empathize and relate to students has garnered praise and trust from both students and parents.
Education
MA, Columbia
BS, UCSF
Major
Public Policy
Biochemistry
Language
English
Korean
Counseling Since
2009
Luke
Counselor/Tutor
Born and raised in Palo Alto, California, Luke ventured to the East Coast for two years at Harvard College before transferring to Stanford University, where he earned his B.A. in English. Since 2003, he has helped hundreds of students achieve academic excellence. An expert in SAT and ACT prep, he has helped students increase, on average, 200 points in SAT and 4 points in ACT. A seasoned college counselor, he is particularly proud of the many students he’s helped gain admission to colleges which they thought were beyond their reach, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, Brown, MIT, and many others. He believes studying and college planning should feel empowering and efficient, and works hard to give his students a sense of personal mastery and independence.
Education
BA, Stanford
Major
English
Language
English
Counseling Since
2003
Ji
Counselor
Ji received her Ph.D. in education from USC. Ji’s research focuses on understanding and assessing how students succeed in college. Ji has published in peer-reviewed journals, including Higher Education, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Journal of General Education, Innovative Higher Education, and Journal of International Students. Applying research to practice, Ji started advising students since 2010. She is passionate about helping students not only get into but also succeed in college. Before coming to the U.S., Ji was a college English teacher, and received her BA and MA in English from Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China.
Education
PhD, USC
MA, BA, HUST, China
Major
Education
English
Language
English
Mandarin
Counseling Since
2010
Cammy
Counselor/Tutor
Cammy is a lifelong educator and earned her BA in Communications (UCLA), EdM (Harvard University), and JD (Loyola Law School). She applies the skills and knowledge she has acquired over 30 years in the field of education. She has served as a teacher, counselor, and administrator in K-12 schools and universities and reviewed thousands of college and graduate school applications. Cammy has helped countless of students and their families successfully navigate through the maze of the college admissions process and gain acceptance to top private and public colleges of their choice. Cammy also specializes in interviewing prep for college and graduate admissions and mentoring students in their transition from high school to college.
Education
EdM, Harvard
BA, UCLA
JD, Loyola Law
Major
Education
Communication
Law
Language
English
Mandarin
Counseling Since
1996
Lucinda
Counselor/Tutor
Lucinda is a graduate of Milton Academy and The University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, she earned a bachelor’s degree in French literature, graduating with honors. After college Lucinda entered the book publishing industry in New York, working for companies such as W.W.Norton, Doubleday, and HarperCollins. She is a published translator from French to English of works of fiction and nonfiction. Lucinda has taught ESL and worked as an essay coach since 2017. Writing is her passion, and she is dedicated to teaching her students how to write winning, distinctive essays for both college admissions and competitions.
Education
BA, Penn
Major
French Literature
Language
English
French
Counseling Since
2017
Justin
Counselor/Tutor
Justin graduated from Tufts University, majoring in History and minoring in English. After tutoring high school students for four years in New York City, he began working at The New York Times as a news assistant and freelance contributor. During his tenure there, he earned his Master’s in Journalism from NYU. After moving to Los Angeles, he began writing for the LA Times and a number of other publications. He is passionate about helping students navigate the potential rigors of applying to college; both in demystifying the world of standardized testing and helping them express themselves through their writing. Additionally, he is a touring and recording musician and brings a sense of creativity and collaboration to his lessons, believing that students learn best when they are empowered.
Education
MA, NYU
BA, Tufts
Major
Journalism
History/English
Language
English
Counseling Since
2017
Sukyoung
Counselor
Sukyoung became fascinated with the admissions process while working at the UCLA Undergraduate Admissions office while she was a student there. After graduation, she worked in finance and entrepreneurship and sold her first company at the age of 25. She has earned a certificate in college counseling from UCLA and is currently a masters candidate at Harvard Graduate School of Education and graduate research assistant with Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is deeply committed to college access and success and helping students on their journey to becoming happy and intelligent adults. Sukyoung loves working with middle and high school students and helping them find the right passion projects that will set them apart. She understands the stress that young students may be under and strives to help them find balance while encouraging the importance of mental health.
Education
BS, BA UCLA
Ed.M, Harvard
Major
Biology, Anthropology
Language
English
Korean
Counseling Since
2016
Liu
Counselor
Born in Providence, Rhode Island and raised in Jacksonville, Liu attended a public school for a year in Chengdu, China and private school in Florida before applying to Phillips Academy Andover in 2015. He graduated from Phillips Academy in 2020 in the top of his class cum laude and now is back in Providence studying Environmental Science and East Asian Studies at Brown University. Liu has helped many students and peers younger than him develop a well-rounded, personal, and passionate narrative to achieve their goal of admission to top colleges and private schools. With plenty of recent experience increasing standardized test scores, interviewing effectively, and editing and crafting excellent essays for independent high schools and colleges, Liu is friendly and ready to help students upgrade their applications.
Education
BS, Brown
Major
Environmental Science
Language
English
Mandarin
Counseling Since
2020