The Top Tier Admissions Advantage: Chris’ Story

Welcome to our new blog series, where we’ll spotlight the journeys of a few of our students who have successfully navigated the college admissions process with our guidance. Through these stories, you’ll hear firsthand how our expert counseling not only helped students gain acceptance to top universities like Harvard but also shaped their academic and professional paths.

MEET CHRIS, HARVARD GRADUATE & TTA TUTOR!

1. How did your experience working with Top Tier Admissions prepare you for the college application process and ultimately contribute to your acceptance into Harvard? 

As a high school student, my experience of working with Top Tier’s team of counselors and tutors was invaluable. Top schools receive tens of thousands of applications each year. Most students who apply to top colleges are qualified. The majority of applicants have impressive grades and standardized test scores. Creating an application that stands out in that field is a real challenge. Top Tier helped me to highlight in my college application my achievements and goals for college in a compelling way. In my case, the guidance I received from TTA made all the difference.

2. Our students become a part of the TTA family and we remain invested in their lives long after they graduate from high school! Can you share specific examples of how the relationships you built with TTA counselors enriched the guidance and support you received?

Most recently, my relationships with Top Tier counselors contributed to my professional life in a big way, as I returned to Top Tier as a tutor. However, my TTA counselors kept in touch with me long after we had completed our formal work together. They were genuinely interested in my college experience and my plans academically and professionally. I think that says a lot about TTA and their real investment in their students. It’s a big reason I came back to join TTA. I am tremendously grateful for that support.

3. Since you were accepted to college, you’ve accomplished some impressive feats. How do you think your college admissions journey influenced your current academic and professional pursuits?

More than anything, the college process helped me to identify the questions and subject matter that inspires me to learn. As such, it had a foundational role in the choices I have made academically and professionally. The TTA counselors were experts at facilitating this process, helping me to draw on my experiences in and out of the classroom and to better understand what really motivates me as a student. This is consistent with TTA’s mission which, in addition to facilitating academic excellence, is to nurture each student’s authentic love of learning. In college, I majored in English and American History. I know the work I did with TTA has been instrumental in shaping the choices I have made both in college and in my professional career.

I’d also like to emphasize the tremendous educational experience that Top Tier offers in terms of professional development. At Top Tier, I learned how to interview, write a resume, and communicate professionally. It’s hard to overstate the value of these skills. My work with TTA prepared me not only for college but also for life. This is thanks to the coaching I received from TTA’s exceptional team of counselors.

4. What advice would you give to prospective students considering working with a private college counselor? How can our approach and expertise make a significant difference in helping students achieve their college and career goals?

Preparing for college is the first step in your broader academic and career trajectory. TTA counselors will help you to cultivate and define your unique strengths and interests as a student. They will also help you to learn the concrete skills you need to succeed academically and professionally. 

To give an example, TTA counselors have excellent resources and recommendations for summer programs and independent study. This summer, I had students enrolled in collegiate-level programs from neuroscience and rocket engineering to Roman History. Programs like these are tremendous learning experiences. Take advantage of opportunities like this! Also, remember that your TTA counselors can be a resource for you long after you enroll in college. Never hesitate to reach out.

5. You are now paying it forward as a tutor working with Top Tier Admissions. What have you enjoyed most about your work with students on the other side of the process?

Certainly, the most rewarding part about tutoring with TTA is seeing the real progress my students make toward reaching their academic and collegiate goals. At Top Tier, I specialize in standardized test prep. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know each of my students both as people and as learners and helping them to build the skills they need to excel. Seeing meaningful growth in my students during our work together is always a rewarding experience.

Finally, I always look forward to hearing from former students and learning about where life has taken them after TTA. Keep in touch! We are always thrilled to hear from you.

Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and Literature from Harvard University. He graduated from Harvard in 2016 and subsequently studied English as a graduate student at the University of Oxford, UK. As an undergraduate and graduate student, his academic focus was on the intersection of English, history, and social and political thought, with a particular focus on the American South. At Harvard, Chris also rowed the Varsity Lightweight Crew. 

Following graduate school, Chris has taught SAT and ACT courses in both one-on-one and classroom settings. At Top Tier, Chris specializes in Standardized Test prep, working with students enrolled in Top Tier’s private counseling programs and Application Boot Camp.