Alan Shusterman
Student Reflections
The following reflections are from Asian students I’ve supported through the college application process, including essay development, interview preparation, and broader application guidance.
“The session we had, where you went through my full resume and application to help me align my narrative, was incredibly insightful. Your specific advice and rephrasing help on my Harvard and Princeton essays truly gave me clarity on how to present my story cohesively….
Thank you again for your kindness and support, and for being a part of this wonderful journey. I am so excited for this next chapter in New Haven!”
Student attending Yale University.
“In a world where everything moves so fast and often lacks deep reflection, you were the only teacher who asked to look at my resume and personal background to deeply understand my essays before giving feedback, even when it meant the lesson would last longer than expected and take away from your break time.
Your approach genuinely changed the way I see writing, not only as something that needs to sound polished or perfect, but also as a way to reveal the deeper layers of myself.
Your thoughtful perspective on choosing colleges also had a meaningful impact on me. It honestly changed the way I looked at the college process. Before, I mostly focused on rankings, but you helped me realize how much the environment, community, and personal fit actually matter.”
Student attending Michigan State University Honors College.
“I believe you are an exceptional teacher. I have worked with many different teachers previously. While they possessed high expertise, I hated the process of writing. However, as a teacher, you have changed my view.
Your approach was totally different. You always prioritize understanding who I am as a person, my interests, goals and ideas. Our conversations build a great connection between the student and teacher, making me feel comfortable sharing my ideas and concerns.
This principle further applies in our writing process. As a computer science student, my extracurricular activities are often filled with jargon and technical ideas that are hard to understand. Indeed, my previous teachers mostly fixed my grammar and sentence flow while avoiding touching the core idea. However, you always asked questions about every detail of my technical projects and patiently listened to them. You even went above and beyond to discuss and explain your feedback to my essay to ensure you get the correct idea. Hence, your feedback was always very clear, accurate, and helped to strengthen my argument.
You have also encouraged my creativity in my writing style. A lot of teachers stick to a certain writing structure. Instead, you suggested I try out multiple approaches to my essays and pick the one that fits best. When working with you I felt that my ideas and voice were not being replaced but instead raised to a higher level.”
Student attending University of Waterloo CFM; also admitted to University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, & University of Alberta.
“Personalization and Connection — these are the two words I would use to describe Mr. Alan's teaching style. He has been very helpful in preparing me for 2026 US college interviews by providing insightful questions and simulating how an interview would go. He genuinely values spending time getting to know students and finding unique approaches that work best for each individual. It has truly been a pleasure for me to get to know and work with Mr. Alan. Highly recommend yall “
Student attending Stanford University.
"Working with Alan was a refreshing experience. He had the ability to spot unique details in my story that I wouldn't have noticed myself; he helped me bring out elements that made my essays truly feel like they belong to me and are distinct from others. He was very friendly and open to hearing my opinions, making the whole process feel much more natural and collaborative."
Student attending University of Minnesota Twin Cities, on a generous scholarship; also admitted to University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, & Carleton College.
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You really helped me stay focused and direct while writing the college essays, especially when I got too flowery with my language or just rambled on. My writing has definitely improved to be more concise and straight to the point now. The process felt more like an open conversation, which helped me avoid hyperfixating on writing and instead build a convincing narrative, which is what college essays are all about.
Student attending University of Massachusetts Amherst.
“I remember feeling really listened to while talking with you. You created such a warm and comfortable atmosphere. You genuinely have the vibe of a very trustworthy and kind grandfather figure, and that made me feel really safe and relaxed opening up to you.
At that time, I was honestly struggling a lot with self-doubt after my early round decisions. When you complimented my essay and encouraged me, those words lifted me up more than you probably realized. They genuinely gave me motivation and helped me believe in myself again during a really difficult moment.”
Student attending Denison University on a $72K scholarship; also admitted to Duke University and University of North Carolina.
“What stood out most was how you highlighted my strengths in writing instead of focusing only on mistakes. Many teachers tend to focus heavily on errors and ask rapid follow-up questions that can feel a bit overwhelming. While I understand that approach, I found your feedback style much more motivating. It made me feel more confident and excited to continue improving my writing.”
Student attending Fordham University.
“I still look back on our essay sessions with a lot of happiness. After much consideration, my family and I have decided I will be attending NUS…. I truly enjoyed our lessons because they weren't just about writing; our casual conversations really helped me improve my speaking skills, which proved very useful during my interview for NUS.”
Student attending the National University of Singapore (NUS); also admitted to the University of Michigan & University of Texas, Austin.
“I GOT INTO STANFORD! Thanks to your advice, suggestions, and edits, my Stanford essay impressed the admissions team, which landed me an Alumni interview and a spot at the school. I owe you a lot, and will always remember your support.”
Student attending Stanford University.
“Thank you again for the time you spent working with me on my Harvard essays. Even though I didn’t end up getting in, the process itself turned out to be incredibly valuable. It pushed me to think more clearly about my own story and express it in a way I hadn’t done before, which helped me a lot beyond just that one application.
I’m happy to share that I’ve been accepted to the National University of Singapore. In many ways, I wouldn’t have gotten there without what I learned from working with you.”
Student attending the National University of Singapore (NUS).
“Working together, you guided me in improving my vocabulary and organizing my writing to be more coherent and structured. Throughout the process, my thinking and writing also improved thanks to your topic suggestions and practical tips that made my essays clearer and more effective.”
Student attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).
“While the essay-writing process was stressful, I’m really glad we had the chance to speak during it. I appreciated being able to share my experiences and thoughts with you so openly.”
Student attending Bryn Mawr College.
I really appreciated all the time you spent helping me with my essays and getting to know me throughout the application process. Your advice honestly helped me a lot, and I’m very grateful for it.
Student attending Rutgers University Honors College.
I was just thinking about our sessions the other day. Your encouragement truly gave me the confidence I needed to get through those final, stressful weeks of the application season. Thank you for being such a bright spot at the end of my application journey.
Student attending University of Buffalo (SUNY).
“Thank you for all your support and kindness throughout this process. I was really impressed that you wanted to understand me more fully as a student and person instead of just looking at my supplemental essays separately. Your feedback was detailed and thoughtful, and I can really tell that you cared about giving students thorough comments and suggestions.”
Student attending the National University of Singapore (NUS) on an ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship.