Ben Kim
Ben Kim
College Essay Specialist
With nearly twenty years of experience in college admissions, Ben mentors students to compose essays that amplify their passions and authenticity. He believes listening and empathy play vital roles when helping student-writers craft compelling narratives that demonstrate voice and commitment.
Ben completed his undergraduate education at Emory University. He has guided student-writers to acceptances at the most competitive and rigorous institutions in the world, including MIT, Cornell, Columbia, UPenn, Dartmouth, Yale, Northwestern, Georgetown, UChicago, Duke, Berkeley, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Wash U, Emory, Georgia Tech, BU, Amherst, Williams, USC, and more. His students' summer program acceptances reflect that same level, with acceptances to Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), TASS, UPenn, USC, Stanford, and COSMOS. Additionally, his students have been awarded merit scholarships from Wash U, Vanderbilt, Emory, USC, and UVA.
With the team at ILUMIN, Ben and his students diligently endeavor, draft after draft, for that moment when everything coalesces: when a student’s uniqueness shines, when their goals gain clarity and purpose, and when they realize what is possible.
As of late, Ben has been fascinated by mukbangs and the oldest professional sport in the world, sumo wrestling. During his free time, Ben loves bopping around town with his two dogs, Dill and Pickles. His third dog, if his wife allows, would be named Chips.