MELIORA

If you sign up with Ray Hong as your college counselor, you’re not getting just a college counselor. You get an adviser, a teacher, and a friend all in one.

 

We spent the first few meetings getting to know each other—he assured me that he doesn’t take into account any of the statistics such as GPA and academic scores before he takes in a student. That’s one of the many things that makes Ray stand out from other counselors. While others may be looking for the best and brightest Ivy League-bound students to boost their “credibility,” Ray looks for someone who is focused and determined. Each meeting was deeply personal, as I confided in him various facts about me that I would never tell another, and he took each experience and transmogrified them into ideas for essays I would never have thought of. I knew nothing about the college application process before I met him—but in a couple of months, I was easily finished with all of my essays, feeling completely satisfied with how they turned out.

 

Fast forward to April of 2019: here I am, an upcoming freshman at Johns Hopkins University.

 

R. J. Johns Hopkins University ‘23

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Going on my college application journey with Ray was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made for myself. He helped me get a realistic grasp of what colleges I should aim for and was very thorough throughout the entire process. Preparing for the applications as early as i did (spring of junior year) with Ray definitely eased my load first semester of senior, allowing me to focus on my studies and keep up my GPA. Ray was very empathetic to my personal story and helped me shape my essays in a way that would appeal to college admissions officers. He never let me stop revising an essay until it was perfect. With his guidance my application process progressed smoothly and successfully.  His experience with and vast knowledge about the college admissions process is assuring and should be reason enough to give him a call.

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S. Y. Northwestern University co ‘23

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Humility. Selflessness. Devotion. These are the words that come not only to my mind, but to the minds of any of Ray’s students. What makes Ray unique is not his honesty or consulting advice; it’s his devotion, genuine care, and expertise in the field. His main goal isn’t to promise admission into any university, but to provide a service that helps the student progress and succeed in life during and after college. Ray gives students perspective, unlike any other service that spoon feeds students to become dependent on others. It is through Ray’s service that students can find success from within themselves as his philosophy is to give the proper tools and guidance that will help students strive toward independence. His philosophy is refreshing and a necessary change to “cash cow” institutions that promise admissions into Ivy Leagues. If there is a promise that Ray’s services can give, it is that students will walk away with a mindset that will ultimately prepare them to effectively confront and overcome future obstacles they’ll face.

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N. Y. NYU co ‘23

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It was such an honor working together with Ray. I first got to know Ray during the summer, right before I entered junior year. He was the English teacher for the SAT preparation academy that I went to. In the beginning, I didn’t really enjoy the classes; having to go to SAT classes during the summer was a real bummer. However, Ray made my time there bearable. He is really nice and funny and he really cares about you and your learning experience. Plus, he explains concepts so that they are easy to understand. My grammar really improved after having him as my instructor. When senior year came around, I was lucky to have Ray as my college essay consultant. As a first generation college student, this process was very difficult for me. However, Ray was there to guide me, step-by-step, through all of the essay writing process and really helping me find things about myself. He really wants his students to succeed and I am so thankful to have been one of his students.  

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L. Y. USC co ‘22

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Working with Mr. Ray Hong was truly an experience. I say that it was an experience because the time I spent working with Mr. Hong was more than just a brief meeting every Thursday afternoon. He challenged me to think deeper, farther, and more clearly. In a time and place where life seems to be moving too fast and you truly have no idea what your next step is, Mr. Hong gave me the time and sense of direction that I needed to focus on my narratives and my future. He never once enforced his own opinion or thoughts, but rather, gave me his patience and time, so that I could develop a clear narrative of myself. Being a great educator is an important aspect to his style, but I feel that he contributed the most to my success as a student by giving me his respect and his time, truly teaching me to hold myself accountable for the decisions I decide to make. All of this was offered to me in that brief meeting every Thursday afternoon and it was because he truly cared about me, not just as a student, but as a person.

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N. L. Boston College co ‘22

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I worked with Director Ray for my college essays and applications. I wouldn’t be able to be where I am if it wasn’t the conversations we had about stories of my life. He guided me to look inward of myself and revealed many facts that were hidden behind my stories. I gained a lot of confidence as a writer and as an applicant because he genuinely supported and encouraged me to take each step that I thought I would never able to take.

 

J. K. UCI co ‘22

 

My year of writing college application essays with Ray can be described in three words: trust the process. My first meeting with Ray signified the beginning of a long, but unforgettable journey. The first few meetings consisted of discussing potential main ideas for my essays. Once the topics were decided, the most strenuous part of the process came: actually writing the essays. Ray advised me to spill all my thoughts onto a blank Google document, and from there on, he guided me in portraying a clear storyline in my essays. Near the end of the process, Ray helped me put the finishing touches on my essays, and after several months of meeting, I had finally finished. Throughout months of constructing and editing multiple drafts, I realized that Ray was more than just a college essay tutor; he was a friend I could talk to about my hobbies and struggles. Ray’s understanding of the stress I was going through at the time made my college application process less stressful. I truly would not have completed my college applications without Ray’s assistance. My time with Ray not only improved my writing ability, but it also enabled me to trust myself and the process that is laid out for me.

 

J. N. Whitman College co ‘22

 

I first worked with Ray (teacher) in high school for SAT writing. There was never a dull moment in class; he wanted to connect with the students. Ray cares about his students and actually wants to build a relationship with each one. My sessions with Ray wasn’t just about learning how to write or editing college essays. He took the time to learn about me and listen to my stories. The outcome of this was not only a competitive essay, but also a more personal, unique product rather than one that follows an overused format. Ray is confident and has years of experience that can help any student succeed.

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Y. H. Columbia University co ‘21

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College application is not just about embellishing what’s on your paper. It is about choosing the place that you will learn, grow, and become independent as an adult. Ray is fully aware of this fact and is very passionate about knowing his students and finding their best fit. What I learned from his consulting was not just about writing pretty essay; it was about realizing who am I as a person and understanding what I am capable of. There are lot of places that can improve your academics, but it is rare to find one that truly cares about the bigger picture of your life.
 

S. Y. University of Michigan co ‘20

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Working with Ray was an asset in my college admission process. Ray helped me craft my life story on paper in a way that communicated depth, determination, and purpose. My essays were determining factors in my college admissions. I would highly recommend for a highly articulate and insightful man like Ray to be in any senior’s corner. There is no other counselor out there that cares more for his students than this man.

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E. K. UCI co ‘20

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저에게는 Ray 선생님을 만난것이 정말 큰 행운이었습니다. 유학생이며 군대 복무까지 마치고 온 저에게 있어서, 편입을 앞둔 가장 중요한 시간에 Ray 선생님을 만났습니다. 거두절미 하고, 첫째로 Ray 선생님의 접근방법이 저에게는 너무나도 와닿았습니다. 오랜 유학생활로 여러 학원들과 대학 컨설턴트 들을 경험한 저에게는 Ray 선생님의 접근방식이 너무나도 새로웠습니다. Ray 선생님은 일단 학생을 100프로 이해하시려고 합니다. 선생님께서 해주신 말씀중에, 자신은 너희라는 상품을 이쁘게 포장해주는 사람이라고, 에세이 안에는 진정한 너희가 들어나야 한다고 말씀해주셨습니다. 시간을 더 투자하셔서 라도 그 학생의 본질과 가치를 찾아내시려고 합니다, 그래야 좋은글이 나온다고. 많은 이야기와 공감과 배려를 통하여 저를 완벽히 파악하시고 저의 스토리를 들어주시고 같이 웃고 슬퍼해주셨습니다. 신기하게도 에세이는 정말 마음에 들게 틀이 잡혀갔고, 온전히 제 자신을 에세이에 표현할수 있었습니다. 막바지에는 너무나도 친해져서 현재까지도 형 동생 하며 연락하고 동네에서 가끔만나 커피도 같이하고 밥도 같이 먹으면서 인생을 같이 만들어가는 동반자로서 저에게 도움을 많이 주시고 계십니다. Ray 선생님과 함께한, 어떻게 보면 제 인생에 있어 가장중요한 시간을 Ray 선생님과 보내어서, 원하던 학교에도 붙고, 졸업후 멋진 인생을 계획하고 진행중에 있습니다. 감사합니다 선생님.  

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J. A. UCI co ‘19

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