Matthew Frankel, College Counselor
Since earning degrees in comparative literature and bioengineering from Stanford University, where he was nominated for the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships, Matthew has spent his entire career working with students, including stints teaching writing courses at UC Berkeley and English at Don Bosco Cristo Bay High School. Before joining Collegewise, Matthew was a sought-after independent college counselor whose students were accepted to a variety of selective colleges, including Johns Hopkins, Cornell, University of Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, Rice, University of Michigan, NYU, University of Virginia, Georgetown, UT–Austin, and George Washington University.
Experience has taught us that much of the stress and anxiety families experience around college admissions can be diffused when students and parents feel heard. Great college counselors make concentrated efforts to demonstrate—in both words and actions—that they understand what students and parents are going through. This is where Matthew shines as a college counselor. As he puts it:
"My counseling superpower is making people feel understood. For my students, that includes knowing what they value, what makes them angry or annoyed, their anxieties, the little things they can talk for hours about, the kind of life they imagine for themselves in the future, and the things they feel that might not be getting through to their parents. For parents, that includes knowing the reasons behind the expectations they might have for their student, the values that inform their desire to give their child a college education, and the fears and concerns they have for their student's future."
In Matthew, Collegewise families will find a counselor who creates a sense of partnership that’s bigger than the transaction of expertise. Students like Matthew. Parents trust him. Both parties see him as a wise expert, a patient teacher, and a willing advocate who genuinely wants the best for everyone involved.
Education & Experience
UC Berkeley, graduate work in comparative literature, recipient of The Berkeley Fellowship.Stanford University, B.S., B.A. with Honors, recipient of the Top Honors Thesis Award from the Division of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and the Golden Award for Excellence in the Humanities.
Freelance college admissions consultant & tutor.
12th Grade English teacher, Don Bosco Cristo Rey.
Graduate student instructor, UC Berkeley.
Ready to tackle the admissions process?
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