From Admissions Challenges to Guiding Success: My Journey in Education and Mentorship

Hi there! If you weren’t referred to this site by someone who has used my services in the past, I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce my own educational background and share how my unique experiences might provide some guidance for your own admissions journey.

During my senior year of high school, I initially planned to apply to U.S. universities. However, due to financial constraints, I had to focus solely on schools that were need-blind for international students. These included Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Dartmouth, and Amherst College. Although I was ranked within the top 10% of my class, my school had never sent anyone to an Ivy League institution before. This made my school profile relatively weak, and my GPA might not have carried much weight in context. While I scored in the upper 2200s on the SAT, I knew that stellar standardized test scores alone wouldn’t be enough to gain admission to these highly selective universities.

Nevertheless, I applied Early Decision to Amherst College. Unfortunately, I was deferred and ultimately rejected. At that point, I began to consider applying to Korean universities, even though I was only Korean by citizenship and had never lived there. While I was exploring my options, I had a conversation with a close Korean friend who was in a similar position. Despite being valedictorian of my class, he had been waitlisted and eventually rejected from Boston College. However, he shared that he had received a full-ride scholarship from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Intrigued by his choice to apply to an Asian university, I began researching Anglophone universities in Asia.

What I discovered surprised me: universities like the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) had tuition costs that were significantly lower than those of U.S. institutions, yet they were internationally ranked higher than any Korean university. Realizing the opportunities available, I quickly submitted my application to HKUST. To my delight, I was accepted. Given the timing in the application cycle, I wasn’t able to apply to other top-tier Asian universities, but I was thrilled with my HKUST acceptance and decided to enroll.

My time at HKUST shaped not only my academic journey but also my perspective on global education. After completing my undergraduate degree, I pursued graduate studies at Yale University, where I was immersed in a rigorous and transformative environment. At Yale, I honed my analytical and leadership skills, gained invaluable exposure to global perspectives, and solidified my passion for education and mentorship.

After Yale, I began my professional journey as an essayist at AAA Uhak, where I worked with students on their admissions essays. Through dedication and a desire to help my students succeed, I gradually worked my way up to become a Director. In this role, I oversaw teams, developed strategies, and supported students and families through the complex admissions process.

Building on the experiences and insights I gained at AAA Uhak, I established Kim Consulting to continue empowering students to achieve their academic dreams. My journey—from navigating admissions myself to guiding others on their path—has given me a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by international applicants. Today, I use these experiences to provide personalized and strategic support to every client I work with.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to the possibility of working together to achieve your goals.