Make Your
Reach
a Reality
Meet Marcella
I started my career working in the admissions office at the University of Chicago, my alma mater. Later, I joined UC Berkeley's Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology program—where we accepted only 2% of applicants. I founded HelpWithApps.com to help students maximize their chances of admission to the nation's most selective universities. In 2021, Alex joined me in counseling students—contributing his Stanford admissions experience. In 2022, 25 of our students were admitted to their top choices—with 22 total students admitted to a "top 10". And with each student, we look beyond universities' rankings to ensure the best possible academic, extracurricular, and cultural fit. We hope we can be part of your success story, too.
Contact Marcella and Alex
Testimonials
Marcella really understands the admissions process, as she previously worked in selective admissions offices. More importantly, Marcella cares about her students as people and not just numbers. She didn't pressure me into doing anything I didn't want to and was encouraging and respectful of my interests and passions. She checks in with you, offers support in any way she can, and most importantly, she is there to support you. I gained more confidence in myself, and it translated to more impactful and genuine activities and writings.
- Woo, admitted to Stanford,
class of 2025
“
Marcella isn't simply an essay editor who looks at your essay briefly and moves on. She introduced me to strategies that I truly feel increased my chances of admission. I always felt like Marcella was putting 160% effort in her edits. She was there for me at 2 am, editing essays. She always took in my input and never threw away ideas. I really felt like I was presenting the best version of myself as I applied to college, and I couldn't have done it without Marcella.
- Maggie, admitted to Duke, class of 2025
“
Before working with Marcella, the number of essays and deadlines were daunting, and I was unsure how to convey my interests and experiences in a cohesive manner. Marcella really helped me convey my experiences in an authentic and genuine way—and this reflected in essays I was proud of. Marcella is so kind and encouraging, and she really takes the stressful elements out of the college app process.
– Suhani, admitted to Stanford, Duke, Dartmouth, Northwestern,
UChicago, Columbia, and Penn, class of 2025
“
Welcome
I love sharing my knowledge and experience with students and their families. Above all, I love discovering a student's strengths, helping to overcome their weaknesses, and seeing the joy on their faces when they see their dreams realized with an acceptance to their favorite university. I hope I can share that with you and your family as well.
