The Harvard Arab Alumni Association and the Harvard Society of Arab Students invite you to a workshop on diversity, graduate school opportunities, and maximizing your college experience! The workshop will be lead by HAAA Director Hamada Zahawi, who has 10+ years of experience as an Admissions Consultant and interviewer.
When: Thursday, February 7, 2019 @ 7pm Where: CGIS South S010: TSAI AUDITORIUMCopyright © 2024 All rights reserved by Write Track Admissions
Area(s) of Expertise: College, Graduate, Law, Scholarships/Fellowship
Overcoming an Admissions Hurdle:
Going through the law school application process during COVID was like navigating a maze blindfolded! The pandemic complicated everything, especially with the financial strain it brought along. I found myself juggling applications and LSAT prep all while dealing with the uncertainties COVID threw our way. As a first-gen American, I didn’t have much support to lean on. Plus, I was wrapping up my grad studies in another country where lockdown measures meant all classes were virtual—it felt like I was swimming against the tide! Despite all the odds stacked against me, I kept pushing forward. I ultimately received admissions offers from Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, UVA, Georgetown, UPenn, and Berkeley, among others. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance and flexibility in the face of adversity: there are always unique ways to solve new problems!
Fun Fact: I’m an aerialist- you can usually catch me on the weekends spinning 7 feet in the air on a steel hoop. 🙂
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College and Scholarships
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
The SAT and ACT exams were more difficult than I could have imagined! I took each test about three times and, no matter what I did to study or prepare, I kept getting the same score (a score that wasn’t anywhere close to what the top schools were asking for). However, although my scores weren’t the best, I made my essays and interviews the best they could possibly be. I didn’t let a low score take away from the great high school experience that I had and all the other things that I was proud of. Harvard agreed, and several other top schools did too. I believe that no matter what hurdle you may face, you can push through it with all the other things you’re proud of – and I want to help you do that.
FUN FACT:
I was an extra in a Meryl Streep movie! You can find me as “girl holding fruit” (an Academy Award-worthy performance) in Netflix’s The Laundromat!
Area(s) of Expertise: Communications, Marketing, Partnership Development
Overcoming an Admissions Hurdle:
Preparing for the GRE was a major hurdle for me during the admissions process. The pressure to achieve a high score felt overwhelming, especially since I was balancing work and other responsibilities. I struggled with test anxiety, which made it challenging to perform at my best despite thorough preparation. However, I remained determined and focused, utilizing every resource available and finding effective strategies to manage my anxiety. Ultimately, my hard work paid off, and I achieved a score that allowed me to get into the program I wanted.
Fun Fact: I’m an avid tennis player, and I have an English Bulldog named JLO
Area(s) of Expertise: College and Scholarships
Overcoming an Admissions Hurdle:
It’s extremely nerve-wrecking to know that everything you’ve worked for is determined by one application process. Every time you’ve sweat a test, practiced for extracurriculars, and even dealt with difficult people — all your hard work is captured in this two-dimensional application of just words. That really scared me. I felt like there was so much to my personality I wanted to convey and it honestly felt like a puzzle to do so. Also, I wasn’t really applying with the best test scores or had cured cancer or anything, so I was pretty unsure about my application. Honestly, it wasn’t until I got to Harvard that I finally understood I shouldn’t have been so anxious. Colleges invest in you as a person, not just in your ideas. I looked at my admissions file and my international relations focus/academic history/extracurriculars were interesting to officers, but it was really my personality they cared about. I think that’s the missing element of college consulting. I learned it’s not about doing the “right things,“ it’s about having the right essay and interview to reflect what you do and who you are.
Fun Fact: My hair is currently hip-level long
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Scholarships
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
When I was in high school, it seemed like my entire life was building up to my college application. I needed to show who I was as a person, my academic potential, and my capabilities in a short application that would be openly judged by college admissions officers. It felt like a rejection of my application was equivalent to a rejection of who I was as an individual. Even after I spent dozens of hours pouring over every aspect of my application, turned in my essays and completed my interview, and was accepted into Harvard University, I still did not fully understand the college application process. After my first semester of college, however, I realized that colleges were not looking for perfect scores, presidents, and working bees. Colleges wanted potential, and people who are passionate about what they do. I hope to help others find their potential and showcase what they are passionate about. Ultimately, it is your passion, not a perfect GPA, that will move your admissions officer.
FUN FACT:
I love to try new hobbies. It would be hard to find something I have not tried before!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Graduate, Medical School, Scholarship & Fellowships
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
My experience navigating the intricacies of college admission as a recent immigrant in the United States and as the eldest daughter in a family unfamiliar with U.S. higher education was a daunting task at first. With limited knowledge and guidance, the process seemed like an insurmountable hurdle until my junior year of high school. I immersed myself in research and sought advice from mentors and peers. I eventually gained the insights and skills needed to craft an effective college application and turned what once began as a journey of uncertainty into a success story!
FUN FACT:
I love staying active; I play tennis, bike and roller skate often!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
Management, Operations, Customer Relations
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
When taking the GRE, I struggled with high levels of test anxiety and did not get the scores that best represented my aptitude. I worked to submit a great application with strong writing samples and secured one of three spots in an excellent graduate program with a teaching fellowship.
FUN FACT:
I love the arts. I’ve played every woodwind instrument except the oboe and have experience in percussion and piano.
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Business School, STEM
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
When I started applying to business school, I didn’t have a strong sense of the main “story” of my application. I wrote an entire four-page essay, and after reading it, I realized that the entire thing needed to be scrapped. I then took the time to think about my experience and my unique contributions to a school, which helped me refine my application and get into my dream school! I’m excited to work together to help you tell your story.
FUN FACT:
I love the arts. I’ve played every woodwind instrument except the oboe and have experience in percussion and piano.
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
Law School
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
University of California – Berkeley Law has always been a dream school. However, being admitted was extremely difficult, in no small part because I was an out-of-state applicant. On my first time applying, I was rejected and enrolled at Northwestern School of Law instead. But something didn’t feel right. I withdrew and re-applied to Berkeley Law a second time and was rejected again. This time, I decided to pursue my studies at the University of Michigan School of Law. While there, I applied yet again to Berkeley Law, this time as a visiting student, and thankfully, my persistence paid off as I was admitted!
FUN FACT:
I love traveling and languages. The past three summers I spent time in Barcelona learning Spanish and taking in the incredible culture!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
Graduate School
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
I remember going through the college application process as a student and struggling with my personal statement. I have always found it difficult to talk about myself, especially in an environment as seemingly sterile as an application essay. Luckily for me, I had a great network of teachers, guidance counselors, and family who directed me during the process. The best advice I received was framing my essay around something I cared about or enjoyed, using that as a way to explore deeper themes. I ended up writing about playing Halo with my friends, an essay that explored how to create a community out of shared interests. I would not have been able to write that essay without the help and support I received, and I hope to offer the same to anyone I work with!
FUN FACT:
In college, Steph Curry once help me move into my dorm room.
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
Law School
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
I was at the lowest point in my life when I was applying to law school. My brother was fatally ill, my personal life in shambles, and my motivation at rock bottom. I was going through the motions of writing my law school admissions essay when I bumped into Hamada (WTA’s Founder), with whom I occasionally played soccer — and Hamada lit a fire under me. He taught me the value of storytelling, and motivated me to write MY STORY. That was the first time I had thought about my life as a powerful story — and that story got me into my dream school (and more). I’m now part of the WTA team because I’m a WTA alum.
FUN FACT:
As a side gig to being a lawyer, I occasionally perform stand-up comedy — last performing at The Punch Line comedy club in San Francisco!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Graduate School, and Law School
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
As I enjoy dipping my toes in several different areas at once, I’ve always struggled to put together a coherent narrative that best captures my journey and interests. For example, when applying to college, I had to explain why I decided to spend hours in a week in a microbiology lab while spending my weekend volunteering for local political campaigns. I then faced the same struggle when I tried to explain why a law school bound public policy major needed to study Islamic Studies in the UK under a Marshall Scholarship. I ultimately realized that your story and/or niche don’t need to be programmatic in order to be inspiring, coherent, and effective.
FUN FACT:
I love learning languages and I’m currently learning Persian!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
Law School
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
For my law school application, my resume was lacking in some respects, but I was able to write a compelling personal statement detailing the adversity I had overcome in my own life. It is not enough to have a compelling story. I learned what matters is your ability to communicate it and demonstrate why your story makes you a desired member of your future campus.
FUN FACT:
I own an African Grey parrot, he is very talkative!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Scholarships
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
Entering the college application process as a student with an eclectic range of seemingly unrelated academic and personal interests, I found essay writing to be incredibly overwhelming at first! I struggled to pinpoint a singular experience to talk about in my personal statement and whenever I did pick one, even my best drafts somehow felt incomplete. Pressured by fast-approaching deadlines, I eventually took a new approach. After doing some soul searching and determining what aspects of myself/my life felt most important at heart, I began writing about each separately: my passion for physics and teaching, my first rock band, my childhood creative writing escapades, and so on. Through countless experimental writing sessions, I steadily accumulated small pieces of clarity–a paragraph here, a sentence there–that captured me partially but authentically; figuring out the underlying narrative connecting these snapshots then became an exercise in self-reflection and self-discovery. By the time I pressed those long-awaited ‘Submit Application’ buttons, I had a body of writing that took readers on a tender journey through the most cherished pockets of my identity. And I ended up getting accepted to every school I applied to!
FUN FACT:
I used to sing in a rock band in high school and am working on a solo music album right now.
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
Law School
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
I worked for a little over seven years before applying to law school, and the many positions I held and businesses I started at this time were substantially unrelated to my interest in practicing law. I was worried that my reasons for applying would not be credible, given such an unconventional career path. Nevertheless, I leaned into these experiences to craft a profile that made me a more complete candidate than I would have been had I not worked to this extent. I talked about how anxious and timid I was graduating from a college, and how my first sales job in Manhattan helped me build confidence, forcing me to learn how to connect with people I meet for the first time; I explained how the real estate firm I co-founded and led taught me to be self-motivated and responsible for the development and success of other agents; I shared how working as an interpreter for a nonprofit organization that specializes in helping African immigrants in New York fueled my interest in immigration law. Essentially, I told my story authentically, and was able to show how these experiences would make me a better law student and, ultimately, a better lawyer.
FUN FACT:
I co-own a cajun seafood restaurant in Brooklyn, NY. If you’re ever in town look us up – we make the best fries in town!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College and Graduate Admissions
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
When I was applying for college as a first-generation student, I faced a big challenge. I didn’t know much about the application process, and my test scores weren’t great. But I didn’t let that stop me. Instead, I focused on my passion and wrote a heartfelt personal statement. I shared my personal background, genuine experiences and dreams, showing the admissions team who I really am. My hard work paid off, and I not only overcame the obstacle but learned how to write my story in all my admissions statements. Now, I’m on my way to being a Ph.D!
FUN FACT:
I enjoy exploring botanical gardens!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Graduate School, Scholarships
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
University of Chicago was my dream college because I loved learning and wanted to go to a school that emphasized learning for its own sake. My grades, however, while good, were not great, and my college admissions advisor told me UChicago would be a reach. When I was deferred after applying early admissions, I wrote a letter to the admissions committee explaining why, exactly, UChicago was my dream school and included an essay about my upbringing that demonstrated my ability to be both thoughtful and critical. My undergraduate experience and my years working in academia have led me to believe that far more than grades, your ability to express yourself, to demonstrate passion, and to ask the right questions are the greatest indicators of your ability to succeed in college and graduate school.
FUN FACT:
My decision to study Hindi for my language credit in undergraduate led to a degree in South Asian Languages and Civilizations and five years living, working, and conducting research in India with non-profits and academic institutions!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Business School, Graduate Schools
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
As a public servant with nonprofit and government experience, I had a nontraditional MBA background, and I had to find ways to explain my work (and my contribution to the MBA community) to a very corporate school like Wharton.
FUN FACT:
I was a volunteer EMT in DC from 2017 – 2021. This included the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
College, Law, MBA
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
Each time I applied to college, graduate school, and law school my standardized scores were in the 50th – 60th percentile. Despite taking the SAT, LSAT and GRE several times, the scores simply did not reflect my efforts or true aptitude. I knew I could not get into a top program without an outstanding application including a bulletproof addendum and a unique personal statement. Thankfully in each case I was able to extensively research and artfully craft an application that not only helped get me over the admissions hurdle at top programs, but also receive funding for my studies!
FUN FACT:
I am obsessed with traveling. To date I have traveled to 150+ countries and attended 7 Soccer World Cups!
ACADEMICS:
AREA(S) OF EXPERTISE:
Law School, College, Graduate School
OVERCOMING AN ADMISSIONS HURDLE:
My LSAT score was lower than the recommended minimum score of 170 for admissions to Harvard Law, and I worried that, because my GPA was not a 4.0, I would not stand out as a political science major. I was very grateful to receive support from mentors and law school students who knew how I could explain the connections between my passions and the education I wanted out of law school. I applied to one law school and got in. I am excited to be a resource for you to find your potential in higher education at the best school for you.
FUN FACT:
I love the arts, including theater and dancing. In college, my friends helped me direct a play at the American Repertory Theater in Boston.
Secondary Education & Extracurricular Development (SEED) is geared to help 10th graders with all the academic mentorship, extracurricular guidance and social support through your own personal counselor to maximize high school and pave the path towards college. This is a 3-4 month process.
This is a Comprehensive service for college applicants ready to start their college applications. We will help you craft powerful and personal essays and application materials tailored and perfected for each college in the U.S., Canada and the UK (UCAS)*. This service will not only paint you as an exceptional candidate, but will be the ‘pen-dropping’ quality you need to stand out from the 10,000s of other applicants! This is a 2-3 month process.
*Note, the U.S. Common Application is billed as an ’Individual School Package’ and not as part of any single school application.
Please Contact Write Track for personalized package prices and timeline
College Application Preparation Process (CAPP) is aimed at rising 12th graders before applying to college to provide you with a strategic profile review of your candidacy and to map out the journey from school selection to financial aid guidance, so you hit-the-ground-running when you actually start your college applications. This is a 2-3 week process.
COMPASS (11th Grade): College Orientation & Mentorship Pre-Application Services (COMPASS) is aimed at 11th graders and provides all the academic mentorship, extracurricular guidance, social support, and pre-college planning you need to build your story, strength your profile, and be the “best high school college candidate possible!” This is a year-long process service.
The right school and a great story is only half the battle; you need to ensure that you can effectively translate that story onto paper in a convincing and articulate manner to become a top choice candidate. Our experts are published authors who have helped applicants turn complex and confusing ideas into jaw-dropping statements that truly reflect who they are.
“Write Track showed me the ways I could re-work my essay so that I conveyed everything I wanted to about myself in a coherent and convincing way.” ~ Kevin S. (Admitted Yale Law)
Once you have identified your top choice schools we help you with the most difficult part of the application: discovering and telling your story in authentic, articulate, and effective manner using the WriteStory philosophy. Storycrafting is an art that we have truly mastered with over a decade of admissions experience working with over a thousand of applicants from over 30 countries!
“To get into a top school … you need a hit-me-over-the head-this-is-amazing story. Write Track will provide that edge!” ~ Sara A. (Admitted Berkeley Law)
The application process is often very confusing for applicants. To respond to this need, Write Track has created numerous online resources (newsletters, podcasts, blogs, videos, webinars) as well as a proprietary service for our College, Law, and MBA clients: Application Preparation Process (APP). This unique service will provide you with all the guidance and resources you need to succeed in your applications.
“Write Track gave me the tools and advice I needed to make my complete application impressive.” ~ Rita G. (Admitted LSE)
Academics:
Area(s) of Expertise: MBA
Overcoming an Admissions Hurdle: Coming from a nontraditional background, I had almost no idea about what it takes to get into a top MBA program. Therefore, my biggest hurdle was communicating my experience in a way that would convince MBA admissions committees that I can excel both in business school and the private sector. To do this, I spoke with several people that also possessed nontraditional professional backgrounds and who were in or had completed business school to glean which parts of my experiences to highlight given my present and future goals. Doing so ultimately helped me to receive offers from several top business schools!
Fun Fact: During my first year at Stanford, a few of my classmates and I would take over the empty MBA lounge on Saturday nights, shut the doors, close the blinds, and blast instrumental hip-hop beats. After cranking up the bass, we would freestyle for hours!
One of the main issues facing clients that can derail the whole application process is time management and sticking to key deadlines. We not only help you strategize an effective timeline from the start but also coach you through the whole process, even when life gets in the way! We do not rest until you submit an outstanding application in a timely fashion!
“Write Track really helped me out of a jam by keeping me focused and aware of deadlines.” ~ Farina B. (Admitted Stanford MBA)
