PrepNow Tutor - Matt L.
An admissions consultant since 2002, Matt earned his BA in psychology with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his MS in psychology with distinction from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Matt first started academic counseling at Santa Barbara City College, where he helped countless students gain admission to their top-choice universities until he transitioned to his role as a private admission consultant for both high school and college students. In addition to his counseling work, Matt has twenty years of experience teaching college psychology and success courses and has worked as a director of student success programs, which culminated in his college winning two national awards for innovation.
"It has been a wonderful journey to help students achieve their college, professional, and personal goals,” Matt says. “I am passionate about connecting with and motivating students to be the best they can be." As a mentor, Matt is a great listener and problem-solver who is thrilled to help students find their direction in life and connect with their unique voices and true selves. “My goal is not just to help students get admitted to top-tier universities but to also help them find the right college fit and set them up for life success,” he says. “I help students successfully attain their college goals and develop into confident, motivated, and mature individuals ready to tackle any future challenges."
Matt has an in-depth background in the complicated college admissions process and extensive experience with Ivy League colleges, top engineering and STEM universities, and competitive public and private California universities. He has worked with international students, athletes, and students seeking admission to competitive art, music, and theater schools. Matt’s focus during counseling sessions is mentoring students on presenting themselves in the most compelling ways by listening to their stated goals and helping them consider all of their possibilities. Matt's goal for his students is to become "not only highly qualified applicants but the best individuals that they can be.” During the consulting process, students become more organized and responsible, which improves their grades, test scores, and extracurricular resumes.
Matt remembers one student whose path seemed straightforward, but who he ultimately helped expand his awareness of his interests and talents. "When we first met, Dylan stated unequivocally that he wanted to be an accounting major and follow in the footsteps of his father, a CFO for a large firm," Matt says. "We did many self and career assessments, and these showed interest in not only business but in helping others and possibly doing teaching or counseling. My professional assessment, and my intuition, showed that he might have a passion for teaching. I mentioned this to Dylan while continuing to support his stated goal of a business major. In the course of planning for business, I also answered questions he had about teaching. I directed him to activities (career information, informational interviews) that could give him more in-depth information about the profession." Dylan was ultimately accepted to a prestigious business school, completed his business degree, was accepted into Teach for America, and recently earned his master's degree in education from Johns Hopkins. Matt says, "He is now teaching middle school and absolutely loves it!"
When he's not working with students, Matt enjoys spending time with his family, surfing, backpacking, fly-fishing, reading, writing, doing yoga, and meditating. Matt's advice for graduates: "College can be the best time of your life if you manage it well! It is a time of future possibility and growth, of finding your identity and developing lifelong relationships and friendships, of finding a meaningful direction and a career that you love!"
