VerifyUni
College and Career Consulting
Mission Statement
In today's world, a college degree has become a requirement for career advancement in just about every field. Students and working professionals need to constantly learn, unlearn, relearn, reskill and upskill to adapt to and be ready for the rapidly evolving future of education and future of work. At VerifyUni College and Career Consulting we believe that every student, regardless of race, gender or economic background, deserves the opportunity to go to college and choose a career matching with his/her interests, aptitude and skills. To that end, we provide unbiased, ethical guidance and counseling to high school/secondary school/college students who are applying to Universities/Colleges for higher studies, but unfamiliar with the complex college application process. We also provide age-appropriate advice on career selection and career development strategies that are required at every stage of life. We are a team of college counselors and career advisors working together towards that common goal of making choices about education, learning and careers an enjoyable process. We bring with us a unique and broad array of experience in all phases from across the world.
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”
― Nelson Mandela
"The big secret in college admission is that there is no big secret"
― Fred Hargadon, former dean of admission, Swarthmore, Stanford and Princeton
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
― Confucius
Meet Our Team
Ritu Gupta
Certified Counsellor
I grew up in Malaysia and then moved to India, graduating with a degree in Architecture from the Indian Institute Of Technology. Later, I lived in Singapore and India, training as an educator in the Montessori and Waldorf systems, before relocating to the US where I completed my certification in College Admissions and Career Planning from UC Berkeley. Living and working in Malaysia, Singapore, India and the U.S., while putting two children through school and colleges across countries has given me unique perspective across diverse school curricula and educational systems including the IGCSE, IB and the American high-school programs. I have seen that each student's college application is unique and comes with its own promise and potential. I bring empathy, practical insights and genuine commitment to help each of my students find a college/ university that matches their distinctive background and interests.
Kindra Sampson
Certified Counsellor
Prior to completing the UC Berkeley College Admissions Advising program, I’ve had a variety of educational and work related experiences that serve me in my everyday work as a college counselor. After graduating from UC Davis (Summa Cum Laude, Psychology and Rhetoric and Communications), I completed a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. The education and training as a counselor to teens and their families has given me insight into how to best help parents and students as they face the exciting and often stressful college admissions process and the transition to adulthood. In addition to counseling, I have experience working in public relations, which honed my writing and marketing skills and at Stanford University, where I developed my research and writing skills, collaborating in a project that resulted in published scientific research. As a college counselor I have worked in both a high school setting and as an independent consultant helping students find their “best fit” schools all over the U.S. As a mom who has been through the college application process with my own children, I know the importance of using humor, empathy and compassion in my work with students and their parents.
Barbara Harris
Certified Counsellor
In addition to completing the UC Berkeley College Admissions Advising Program. I received my undergraduate degrees from Pitzer College, (one of the Claremont Colleges). I also hold an MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management (now part of ASU). I spent 20 years working in the corporate world working in Senior Roles in Brand Management, managing brands such as Cover Girl Cosmetics, Nestle Beverages and Dell Computers. I bring this strategic brand management viewpoint in reviewing a student’s file and helping them determine the best way to approach their college admissions process. As a stay at home Mom of two daughters I’ve volunteered extensively in the Lafayette School District where I discovered the joy of working with students of all ages. I also recently completed the college search process with my oldest daughter so I’ve had first-hand experience going through the process as a parent. In my spare time I also work at Las Lomas High School in the College and Career Placement office and volunteer as a College Placement advisor for national organizations such as Scholar Match and Matchlighter. My outside interests include tennis, hiking and being a “college trivia” nerd.
Why Us?
Worldwide Experience
Our team’s past and ongoing collective experiences across diverse global backgrounds enables us to provide college counselling and career guidance to our clients at various stages of their academic and professional lives.
Certified College Counsellors
Our consultants received their College Admissions training from the preeminent UC Berkeley College Admissions Planning program. All are certified College Admissions Planners.
Professional and Ethical
All our consultants belong to professional College Admission associations such as the Intl. Assoc. for College Admission Counseling and WACAC and adhere to the ethical principles and practices put forth by the NACAC.
Current
As part of our professional obligation to our clients our consultants stay up to date on all the latest trends and developments in the College Admissions world by attending conferences and workshops and touring schools, so you can be assured the information you receive is correct.
Business and Educational Experience
With backgrounds in marketing, counseling, research and public relations, our consultants bring a variety of skills sets that serve our clients well.
Personal Experience
We all have personal experience going through the college application process with our own children and are sensitive to the challenges and opportunities and how to deal with the roadblocks as they arise.
Social Responsibility
- Association for Promoting Social Action (APSA), Bangalore, India
- Aspire For Her (AFH), Mumbai, India
- Freedom Employability Academy (FEA) India Org, New Delhi, India
- Shanti Bhavan, Bangalore, India
- Windsor Fellowship, London, UK
- YMCA, California, USA
Testimonials
Ritu had taken my son under her wings, pulled him up, demanded from him, and helped him realize his potential. Without her, this journey would not have taken flight, caught speed, or reached its destination. This is a story of their partnership. Having moved to the US five years ago, we knew little about the college application process or the institution and their specializations or their rankings. She has helped us understand it, helped him understand himself better, and guided him through it all - starting from his subject selections in high school, drawing a list of ‘compatible’ institutions, helping organize his information for the various forms, helping him express and articulate his story though his essays, to turning in the applications! She was always there. She and her team have put in their all to see him make it to the institutes that topped his list. This story has a happy ending. We are indebted to her! Kudos to VerifyUni!
Madhavi Phadnis (Parent) - California, USA