Consultant Bio
Gavriella Semaya began writing and editing professionally as an undergraduate at Harvard University, where she majored in sociology and twice earned a coveted summer internship at the award-winning magazine BlackBook. Gavriella further honed her communication skills while working for the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Center for Public Leadership. She covered HKS events for the center’s website and also assisted the admissions committee of the Zuckerman Fellows Program, which supports candidates pursuing careers in public service at HKS, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Upon graduating from Harvard, Gavriella began a 12-year career in the fashion industry that included a variety of roles at companies both large and small. Gavriella earned her MBA from Cornell Tech, the cutting-edge MBA program that pairs MBA and computer science students to focus on technology and entrepreneurship. Along the way, she has coached countless colleagues on their oral and written communication skills and guided others through the application process—and eventual admission—to top undergraduate and graduate programs. Gavriella lives in New York City, where she is also a certified personal and executive coach.
Company Information
At CollegeMission, we are passionate about great writing. Writing remains one of our most powerful technologies, a foundational tool for understanding ourselves and our world and for connecting with one another. Being able to write honestly and compellingly about oneself benefits anyone throughout their life, whether they are applying to college or graduate school, seeking a job, wooing investors or clients, or even trying to get a date online.
While writing well is an essential skill, it’s not an easy one to acquire. Writing about oneself can be particularly challenging, but this skill is often not taught in depth in schools. At CollegeMission, we aim to bridge this gap. We work closely with our clients to craft admissions essays that will stand out in the application process and help them end up at colleges where they will thrive. Along the way, we strive to help them develop foundational skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. And because deep personal reflection is a key part of this process, we hope that clients will also walk away with a better awareness of who they are and what they would like to accomplish with their education.
In short, our primary focus is on helping our clients get into the right college for them. In addition, we’d also like to equip them with skills and self-awareness that will help them make the most of college once they arrive on campus. If we can also have some fun along the way, even better.
The college application process can be stressful for parents and children alike. Many well-meaning and motivated students procrastinate because of the emotional weight of the task. Our expert consultants can help both parents and applicants turn a difficult process into a pleasant and productive one.
There are as many ways to learn to write as there are writers, but one-on-one instruction is the gold standard and the core of our business. Working with a group of peers can also be a wonderful way to grow as a writer. We offer boot camp workshops for students just embarking on their college application journey and can also craft custom small-group offerings for your child and their friends, or for a school organization or other community group.
Menu of Services and Associated Costs
Location: Newton, Massachusetts, United States
Email: gavriella@collegemission.com
Website: http://collegemission.com