Testimonials

“Shantoba is a first-class professional. Her kindness, determination and drive made the difference in my educational outcomes. You would be lucky to have her.” - Lorenzo

"Shantoba was an absolute pleasure to work with through the admissions process, and I am so grateful for her help and support through the overwhelming number of decisions one needs to make during the college admissions process. She conscientiously spends time to get to know you as a person, asking lots of thoughtful questions and diving deep into interests and goals. By understanding what I wanted my future to look like, she empowered me to strive for those goals by ensuring they were highlighted in my essays and that I was applying for schools that were the best fit. Her highly personalized approach helped ensure I always felt supported through such a pivotal decision in my life." - Avita

"Working with Shantoba again for my MBA application felt like coming full circle—I had first worked with her a decade ago when applying to university in the U.K. Shantoba is incredibly patient and takes the time to truly understand you on a personal level. She genuinely cares, boosts your confidence, and adapts to your schedule and working style. Her guidance was instrumental in transforming my MBA essays through multiple drafts and refinements, all while navigating tight word limits and an even tighter deadline. I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with her again and can confidently say I would not have submitted the best version of myself to business school without her support." - Sema

"Shantoba supported me throughout my entire application process for KSM with exceptional dedication. She was by my side from the very beginning—with valuable tips, honest feedback, and motivating words. No matter what questions or uncertainties I had, Shantoba was always available and helped me with patience and expertise. Her ability to respond to my individual wishes and ideas and develop them professionally made all the difference. Thanks to her help, I felt well prepared and confident. And best of all, I was accepted! Thank you so much for everything—I can wholeheartedly recommend One Ambition and Shantoba in particular." - Paula

"We are delighted. We are so appreciative of all your help, your sessions were really great. Nat came back highly motivated... Many thanks again for your help, it made a big difference." - Jeremy (Nathaniel's Father)

"Shantoba's program was pivotal for me in demystifying what can be a truly daunting US college application process. From simplifying my approach to standardized test prep, to providing an effective framework for my admission essays, to issuing insight that gave me confidence and clarity around what to expect from the US college experience - the program was tremendously helpful. Most of all, I recall Shantoba's warm, personable character, and look back fondly on our time working together"

- Joshua

"I am extremely happy as I got into ED (Early Decision) too for NYU Stern; I have already accepted my enrolment and can't wait to go there!! Thank you very much for all of your help and support." - Moritz  (reacting on the day he was accepted) 

"I have been accepted into NYU and I would like to express my gratitude to Ms. Shan who has been instrumental in my college application process. I have known Ms. Shan for almost 11 years. Since the age of 7, I participated in many Fine Art exhibitions curated by her, which have helped me in building my profile. Last year, I approached her to seek help in reviewing my college essay and overall application. Through my process of re-writing my college admission essays, she taught me how to go from having a decent first draft to a meaningful admission essay. This was because she taught me how to think critically about my life and how to be honest about my life experiences. She helped me with how I should structure my essays, the choice of my words, and the overall coherence of my essays. Because of this, I was able to share my story much more clearly. In addition, she helped me describe my extracurricular activities in a better way. She helped me frame my activities in such a way that it showed growth, leadership and commitment. Throughout the college process she kept my spirits high. Ms. Shan stayed supportive and motivating throughout the entire process of applying to college. She kept my self-belief strong by truly believing in my strengths and reminding me to do the same. Even if some of my targets were very high, she would never let me feel as if they were out of reach and would always strategize a way to achieve them. I truly appreciate her help and would recommend her to any student who needs dependable counselling for college.." - Ahan

"Shantoba has been an incredible guide throughout my college application process, helping me find my voice and feel confident in my work. Thanks to her support, I received a 100% acceptance rate, including my acceptance into Parsons School of Design. She was not only a dedicated counselor but also a true friend to my family, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her encouragement and belief in me. I couldn’t have done it without her!" -Aditi

"Good news from me again! I got an offer from Penn State University...I get very excited about US offers!" 

-Jaslyn (Reacting on the day she was accepted.)

"Your tutoring of my daughter Masha polished and focused her US college applications and led to her admission to Georgetown University.  We sincerely appreciate your vast understanding of the admission process and your wise insights in matching her with the right university education." - Bob (Masha's Father)

"A few years ago, my son was navigating the challenging process of college applications after an unfulfilling experience in the UK boarding school system. We were fortunate to have Shantoba recommended to us to guide us through this crucial time as we had little knowledge ourselves of the American College application system.

With her extensive knowledge and personalized approach, she helped our son, DT identify colleges that truly aligned with his interests, personality and needs. DT ended up choosing Bates College, which turned out to be the perfect fit.

At Bates, DT majored in Psychology and Studio Art, two areas he was deeply passionate about. He not only excelled academically but also formed lasting friendships. Bates provided an environment where he could thrive both intellectually and socially, and I firmly believe that Shantoba’s guidance played a significant role in that outcome.

I unreservedly recommend Shantoba’s services to any family seeking a thoughtful, experienced, and supportive placement professional. Bates College truly made a difference in my son's life, and for that, we are incredibly grateful." - Folake (DT's Mother)

"Shantoba was pivotal in my decision to consider, prepare, apply, and then accept a place in the International Healthcare Management, Economics, and Policy Master's Program at Bocconi University, one of the best universities in Italy. I returned to the US and interned at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC. Shantoba’s support led me to my career in health policy and strategy, including, a role in Health Policy at the Department of Defense (DoD) in which I helped shape public health initiatives in Afghanistan. I was at the renowned consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton for over a decade as a Public Health Consultant.

I share all of this to say that the ripple effects of doing a Master's degree  (taught in English) in Milan, Italy has ensured that my professional brand is international, with strong domestic and international networks gained from my experience abroad. Shantoba's magic is in her absolute confidence in her students' abilities to succeed. She is a great human being with a real talent for coaching you in how to write better and how to live boldly!" 

-Chrysanthe