Nichelle Passanisi, College Counselor
Nichelle has worked on both sides of the desk: she has read tens of thousands of college applications in admissions and personally guided hundreds of students through the college admission process as a college counselor. She understands the qualities that help an applicant shine in the admissions process and she thrives in helping students define a strong, authentic academic path that tailors to their interests and passions while challenging them in new and exciting ways. Her students have been admitted to schools such as Stanford, Yale, and Duke.
With nearly two decades of experience, Nichelle is particularly adept at breaking the college admissions process into manageable pieces for both students and parents. Her patient, encouraging approach ensures students feel supported at every step of the process, from uncovering the best means of exploration in college research to the clear and methodical submission of their final applications. She brings humor and joy to each interaction, and if you ask her what her favorite part of this work is, she will quickly and effusively answer that it is the opportunity to deeply connect with students. When Nichelle is not meeting with students or digging into the latest admission trends, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and dog named Rico.
Education & Experience:
Former Associate Director of College Counseling, Sonoma Academy
Former Freshman Application Reader, UC Berkeley & UC San Diego
Former Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Dominican University of California
M.S. Education, Dominican University of California
B.A. Global Studies, University of California Santa Barbara
Professional Organization Memberships
NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling
Ready to tackle the admissions process?
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