A more
personal path
to college.
College admissions can feel confusing, stressful, and weirdly secretive. Miss T helps students and families cut through the noise with clear strategy, honest guidance, and a process centered on the whole student.
Hi, I’m Shay! Miss T to my students.
College admissions can feel confusing, stressful, and weirdly secretive. I think it shouldn’t be. After twelve years counseling teens across three continents — and as a trained UCLA admissions reader — I’ve come to believe the best applications come from the students who know themselves best.
So that’s where we start. Not with a school list, not with a resume. With you. What lights you up. What motivates you. What you’ve quietly been good at since you were nine. The rest follows.
Three Ways to Work Together
Full Application Support
The works. School list, essays, activities, interviews, financial aid, decision-making. We meet bi-weekly in spring of junior year, weekly in the summer and fall of senior year, and as needed after that, through May 1st.
Essay Coaching
For students who have their list but need a thought partner on the writing. We build voice first, drafts second. Our goal is to tease out the central themes of your story, and share it in the strongest way possible.
Single Session
A la carte sessions, designed for 1-2 specific things on your mind — interview prep, a Common App question, a school visit debrief, a decision letter. Show up, talk it out.
A process built around the whole student.
No two timelines look exactly alike — but every engagement moves through these four chapters.
The free consult
A relaxed first conversation — getting to know the student, what matters to them, and the goals they're working toward. For the student, the parent, or both.
Getting to know you
Long-form conversations, a values exercise, a look at the transcript. We end with a written portrait of the student the rest of the work builds on.
Building the plan
School list. Essay topics. Activities narrative. A calendar that's actually sustainable. Parents get clear updates; students keep the lead.
Apply with confidence
Drafts, revisions, submissions. We pace it so nothing happens at 11 PM the night before.
Twelve years. Three continents.
I’ve worked with high schoolers in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Dubai — sitting across from students wrestling with everything from the UC system to the IB diploma to “my parents and I disagree about Engineering vs. Theater.”
I’m a trained UCLA Undergraduate Admissions reader (and a proud alum — go Bruins). Through my school-based roles, I’ve met with hundreds of college admissions reps, both U.S. and international, which means I know how the rooms actually work — and how to help your student show up in them, as themselves.
“My favorite part about counseling is helping students find their why.
Students and parents on what it’s like to work with Miss T.
What we really appreciate is that she doesn't just edit his essays. She asks the right questions and helps him dig deeper into what he is trying to say, while still making sure the essay sounds like him. Our son really enjoys his sessions with her and always comes away with new ideas and a clearer direction.
Shalyn saw my child through every step of the process and guided her in a confident, supportive way. I have two more children going through this — and I'll absolutely be working with her both times.
She didn't write my essays. She asked me better questions until I wrote something I actually meant. I still re-read it.
The questions families ask first.
Not seeing yours? Bring it to the 15-minute consult — that’s exactly what the call is for.