Coffee with a Counselor: Rana H.

Empowerly counselor Rana H. knows the highs and lows of applying to college well, having faced the process on her own as a student. Now a preeminent expert on education, Rana decided to provide the helping hand she never had. She shares her knowledge directly by counseling teens facing the college and career decision process today. With unique insights and a wide scope of experiences, Rana helps her students truly begin to shine.

Ready to get deep with Empowerly counselor Rana H.? Curious to learn more about her approach to admissions and top advice for high school students? Let’s get started!

This interview is Installment 14 in our Coffee with a Counselor series. To read more profiles like this, check out other posts right here on our blog and subscribe to our newsletter!

Rana has over eight years of experience in college counseling in the US and internationally. She earned a graduate degree in College Counseling from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is an accredited college counselor and Certified Educational Planner from the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners.

Rana has helped students apply to universities in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe. Her students have gained admissions to Columbia, UChicago, the UCs, and many other top colleges and universities throughout the United States and internationally.

“I got started as a counselor right after earning my master's degree. I served one year with College Possible, an AmeriCorps organization that helps low-income students get to and through college. Then I worked in high schools, both in the U.S. and internationally,” Rana said. “I heard about Empowerly through social media. It had tons of good reviews online so I decided to apply to offer my services.”

What experiences make Rana a great counselor?

“When I was younger, my high school did not offer a university counseling program for students. I had no idea what I wanted to study, where I wanted to go to university, and what post-secondary options would be a good fit for me. Through trial and error, I made it through university. 

Reflecting on my experience, I wish I had someone to guide me and help me make better choices. Today, I try to be the person I needed growing up and be there for my students.

In my nine years as a college counselor, I have worked with students from different backgrounds, cultures, and academic levels. These experiences allowed me to develop the skills to listen to my student's needs, help them identify their strengths and interests, and build a plan to reach their goal of being admitted to university.”

“An effective counseling approach is based on having the student be comfortable working with me. I enjoy sharing stories about my high school and university experiences, especially the struggles I had and how I overcame them. My students need to understand that it is normal to be unsure or nervous about what is next and that with my support and guidance, they can figure out their future and be successful.” 

“Four years ago, I met a student who was then in grade 9. He wanted to study in the U.S., but he was attending a school outside of the U.S. and English was not the primary language of instruction at his school. There were two main challenges: the student's English level was low back then and the school offered no extracurricular activities that could help him build a strong application. 

First, I encouraged the student to enroll in English classes outside of school to strengthen his language skills. Second, I asked him to train for the SAT since the start of grade 10. By using free online platforms, and over two years, he managed to raise his score from 850 to 1510. Third, I encouraged him to work in his father's business during the summer and learn skills from the employees. He even attended a selective summer program before grade 12 that allowed him to develop knowledge about his field of study and strengthen his language and writing skills in English. 

Today, the student was admitted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying business. He even earned a full-ride scholarship. This success story emphasizes the importance for students to identify their interests early on and to pursue these interests through work, volunteering, and summer programs.”

“I've learned the power of encouragement. A few words of support can significantly boost a student's confidence and motivation. It's a reminder of the impact teachers and counselors can have beyond academics.”

“The most important skill you must develop is organizational skills. Students must follow a timeline to be ready to apply to university, and, understandably, students may struggle to balance their school work with extracurricular activities. Working with a coach can help them organize their days, weeks, months, and years so they can achieve their goals while minimizing stress and anxiety.”

“Building skills is more important than remembering facts. Thanks to the internet, we can find information about just everything and while knowledge is important, your personality is what will make a difference in your life and other people's lives. It is therefore important to develop skills, such as problem-solving, time management, communication, and creativity. These skills are transferable and if one day we want to change the industry where we work, knowledge is easy to find, but skills are what success is built on.”

The phenomenal counselor community at Empowerly understands the importance of each unique student’s journey. To start, all you have to do is ask. Book a free consultation below to receive a customized recommendation for your college application plan.