Akash Patel, College Counselor
Akash Patel’s journey into college counseling is rooted in firsthand experience navigating the complexities of higher education. A first-generation college student, Akash knows what it means to forge your own path—and he’s spent more than a decade helping others do the same. His students have gone on to attend some of the most selective institutions in the country, including Columbia, UC Berkeley, University of Virginia, University of Michigan, NYU, UT Austin, UNC Chapel Hill, and Penn State
Akash’s counseling draws on his deep experience across a remarkable breadth of roles that include working as an attorney, an advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a mentor with an independent college advising firm, and the founder of Aspiring Americans, a nonprofit organization that supports undocumented students in reaching higher education. His advocacy in education earned him the Award for Special Service in Education from the NAFSA Association of International Educators. His written work has guided major federal immigration regulations and earned him accolades like the Hubert H. Humphrey Award for Service to America and the National Immigrant Justice Center’s Rising Star Award.
But it’s his work with students—helping them translate their goals, passions, and lived experiences into personal statements and future plans—that fuels Akash’s professional fire. Whether mentoring undergraduates, law school hopefuls, or future doctors through the admissions process, he helps students find stories that resonate and earn acceptance into the schools where those stories will continue to unfold.
As Akash describes it:
“One of my favorite parts of working with students is helping them identify their passions and tell their story. Everyone has something meaningful to share—they just need help crafting a narrative that feels true and powerful.”
Outside of work, Akash enjoys kayaking, hiking with his dog, watching movies, and obsessing over his favorite show, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Education & Experience
University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
University of Oklahoma, B.A.
Essay coach and advisor, Rice University
Graduate student instructor, University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Teaching assistant, University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences
Independent college admissions consultant
Senior Advisor; Regulatory Counsel, United States Department of Health and Human Services
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of the United States
Washington, D.C.
Professional Organization Memberships
NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling
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