Carina Cruz
Online College Advising
About Me
Background
My college journey began way before I started applying to college in 2012. My mother was pregnant with me in the middle of her senior year at CUNY Hunter College and, being the Queen she is, still graduated with her Bachelors seven months later. I was five when I used to sit at the back of my dad's journalism classes at CUNY City College, playing the solitaire and pinball machine games that were all the rage on those clunky Gateway computers to pass the time. I was seven when he received his Bachelors degree.
​
As I got older, however, my college journey was no longer one that centered around my parents. After receiving the support of a community based organization and great mentors along the way, my path left the New York City public school education system and took me through the world of elite private school education (LREI'13 and Brown University'17) where very few people looked or talked like me.
​
It wasn't until this last year, as I supported college seniors through their college application process at the same community based organization that I graduated from, that I realized that world was a lonely and confusing one. Though this was hard, I felt grateful to have made it through those challenges in a way that I could use those experiences to better support and prepare my students.
​
My Approach
My advising approach reflects my own journey, an approach in which our process together is centered around the student's voice, something that I wish I could have had more of as a young Afro-Puerto Rican woman in uncharted territory for my family. I advocate for my students while coaching them to advocate for themselves. Students that I have advised have been accepted to top CUNYs, SUNYs and private universities including Babson College, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Ithaca College, NYU, St. Johns University, Swarthmore College, Syracuse University, Wesleyan University, Yale University, and many others.
​
My student-centered approach is one that I'm proud of and I hope to influence more educators to have the students' voice at the forefront of their decision-making. I look forward to being a part of your family's college journey!
​
Yours in solidarity,
Carina
One on One College Advising
Through regular video chat sessions and open communication, our time together will be spent determining best fit colleges for you + your family and setting next steps for how to get you there.
Areas of Support
Personal Statement Writing
College List Building
Self Advocacy Coaching
Individualized Advising
Sliding Scale Rates
In an effort to make college advising more accessible, I am offering sliding scale rates. This means the rate you pay is determined by your household income.
Specialties Include:
College Affordability
First Gen Student Support
Low Income Student Support
CUNY + SUNY App Support
​
Knowledge is power.
Arm yourself with information as you start to go through your process
Follow me @collegeadvising4all for higher education news, weekly profiles on different colleges + universities and quicks tips for being a stronger applicant!
tiktok
Follow me @collegeadvising4all for weekly videos about where to start with college research, writing a compelling personal statement, developing a strong + balanced college list and so much more!
COVID Updates
In our current situation, where a lot is unknown and constantly changing, follow me on all accounts for regular updates about how COVID is affecting college admissions!