Meet Azaari!

S. Azaari Mason, College Counselor

In a college counseling career spanning seven and a half years, Azaari's students have been admitted to a variety of selective colleges and universities, including Cornell, Columbia, Yale, MIT, UChicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Duke, Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, Georgetown, Emory, Boston College, USC, UCLA, Pomona, Carleton College, Occidental College, Wake Forest, Tulane, and NYU. 

Azaari’s unique perspective comes from having worked on both sides of the admissions desk—first as a Senior Admissions Officer at the University of Florida, where he grew his recruitment territory by 25% in his first year, and later an Associate Director of College Guidance at the University School of Milwaukee, where he counseled 120 Upper School students.

Raised in Kingston, Jamaica, and having moved to the United States for high school in 2008, Azaari brings a distinctive understanding of the challenges facing diverse student populations. His territory at the University of Florida was primarily rural and under-resourced, with two-thirds of his schools designated as Title I, serving predominantly low-income, first-generation, and minority students. This experience fostered his ability to connect authentically with students across the full spectrum of academic achievement and college readiness. Azaari has developed expertise working with students across multiple categories, including those focused on STEM fields, highly selective colleges, undecided students, first-generation college students, athletes, and transfer students.

Azaari's counseling philosophy centers on meeting students exactly where they are in their journey while finding ways to propel them toward success. His approach extends far beyond application mechanics to focus on genuine personal development and self-discovery. 

As Azaari puts it:

I take a lot of pride in meeting young people wherever they are in their journey, while focusing on finding ways to propel them and set them up for success. I used to tell my students that "if the only thing you've learned from me is how to prepare for college, then I have failed you." The depth of this work goes beyond just preparing students for an application process, and I believe my vast array of experiences have equipped me with a skillset to elevate anybody who is willing to do the requisite work.

Currently working on his first book while maintaining his passion for music composition, Azaari writes R&B songs and enjoys singing (admittedly off-key). When he's not guiding students through their college journeys, he can be found cooking Jamaican cuisine, traveling, working out, or seeking his greatest source of peace—spending time near bodies of water, whether that's getting out on the water or simply finding tranquility by the shore.

Education & Experience

Associate Director of College Guidance, University School of Milwaukee 

Independent college advisor 

Senior Admissions Officer, University of Florida

Professional Organization Memberships

NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling