Meet Andy Nguyen
Hello, I’m Andy Nguyen. My hometown is Perris, CA. I am very familiar with Common App, UC, and CSU. I have experience with FAFSA and California Dream Act. Fun fact about is I'm in the UCLA Solid Gold Sound Marching Band!
Bio
What colleges have your students been admitted to?
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), UC Berkeley (Cal), University of Southern California (USC), UC Davis, UC San Diego (UCSD), UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), UC Santa Cruz (UCSC), Cal State Fullerton (CSUF), Cal Poly Pomona (CPP), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO), Cornell University
How do you help students build a balanced college list?
By asking students their preference on campus culture, student population, academics, sports, location, living factors, finances, and other relevant things, I help students find schools that are great fits for them and their personalities.
What factors do you consider besides GPA and test scores?
I look beyond the classroom to the full picture of a student’s life, including jobs, clubs, and extracurricular activities. These experiences carry real weight and reveal far more about who a student is than test scores and GPA alone.
How do you help students brainstorm personal statement topics?
I help students find their personal statement topics by starting with their life stories rather than the standard admissions prompts. Students write freely about their experiences first, and then we work together to shape those stories to fit specific prompts. This approach lets their essays feel more authentic and creative instead of formulaic.
How do you communicate progress with parents?
I keep parents informed through a series of checkpoints along the way, beginning with rough drafting and continuing through essay completion. This way, you always know where your student stands and what comes next
I help students search for scholarships using a variety of online resources, which include local, regional, and national scholarships. This broadens their options and helps them find opportunities that fit their strengths, background, and goals.
How do you help students search for scholarships?
I would advise by stating how at most selective universities, the typical admitted student has a GPA well above 3.8, so a 2.8 puts the student well outside the usual range. It isn’t impossible, but it’s a long shot, and the student and parents should hear that early. I would frame it as “this is a reach, so here’s how we build the strongest possible case, and here’s the full range of paths to get there” which keeps the conversation honest without crushing motivation.
A student has a 2.8 GPA, but wants to attend a highly selective university. How would you advise them?
To strengthen their application, I would inquire about their personal lives, as most students who say they do nothing actually do a lot. Many times, these students are balancing family responsibilities and jobs, which carry a great deal of weight on a college application. Furthermore, many of these students pursue personal interests, which, when deeply explored, can reveal curiosity, initiative, and a sense of purpose that no list of clubs could capture. From there, we can turn these experiences into a clear, compelling story that shows admissions readers who the student truly is.
A student has excellent grades but no extracurricular involvement. How do you strengthen their application?
What do you think families misunderstand most about college admissions?
What I think families misunderstand most about college admissions is that GPA and test scores are no longer the only major factors for top schools. Strong academics are essential, but they are the baseline, not the differentiator. To be admitted, a student must also be distinctive: someone with genuine depth in what they care about, a clear record of initiative and impact, and a story that shows admissions readers who they are beyond the numbers.
University of California, Los Angeles, CO 2029. Major: Math of Computation
Education
College Admission Counselor Experience
1+ years as a college admissions counselor
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10th
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College
Grade Levels I Work With