Our Mission

Your story matters. We're here to help you tell it.

For First-Generation, Low-Income (FGLI) students, college essays can be one of the most challenging - and important - parts of the application process. These essays offer a powerful opportunity to share your background, identity, and voice directly with admissions officers.

As FGLI students and alumni who have successfully navigated this process, we understand the barriers many students face - especially when quality guidance is often reserved for those who cannot afford it or meet strict academic criteria. That's not what we believe in.

Unlike other programs that require a high GPA or a lengthy application process, we do not screen students based on grades, test scores, or extracurricular involvement. If you are an FGLI student, you will receive our support - period. We believe every student deserves the chance to feel confident and comfortable in telling their story, no matter where they come from or what their transcript looks like.

Too often, talented and deserving students are turned away from free college advising because they do not meet arbitrary academic cutoffs. We reject that model. We are committed to ensuring no FGLI student is excluded from the opportunity to access free personalized college essay guidance.

Our program is - and will always be - entirely free. We pair each student with a mentor who shares their background and understands the unique challenges of the college application journey.

Together, we will help you craft essays that reflect your experiences, your voice, and your future.

You are more than your GPA. You are your story. And it deserves to be heard.

Learn more about our team below.

Our Team

Founders

Brandon Avendano

Brandon Avendano is committed to both supporting and empowering the FGLI community as best he can. He graduated from Brown University with Sociology and Economics. Brandon is a LEDA, HSF, and Gates Scholar. Currently he is an Associate at Strategy& (PwC) in their Boston, MA office aligned to the Tech, Media, Telecom (TMT) sector.

Cecile Schreidah

Cecile Schreidah is passionate about uplifting first-generation and low-income students through storytelling and mentorship. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in Infectious Epidemiology, a major she designed to explore the intersection of history, public health, and biology in the context of infectious diseases. Now an incoming medical student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Cecile aims to continue to advocate for educational and health equity.