Introducing ILUMIN Education’s New Consultant: Dr. Joseph Cichosz!

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Joseph Cichosz joining our Team!

Dr. Joseph comes to us with a wealth of experience:

1. 5+ years – Senior Admissions Counselor – Bay Area

2. 15+ years – University Educator/Advisor – US and China

3. Successfully developed customized college admission strategies for 100’s of students.

4. Worked with students admitted to Stanford, Cornell, Vanderbilt

Aside from advising and mentoring Joseph is passionate about traveling and hiking. A couple of years ago he led a group of Bay Area high schoolers to Nepal to do volunteer work! You can read more about his background here.

It’s not often that you come across someone with Dr. Joseph’s credentials. We are overjoyed to welcome him to our team!

1. What is one of your favorite aspects of working with students? 

I love to see my students develop the courage to challenge themselves and break out of their shells. Sometimes one seemingly small insignificant decision such as signing up for a homecoming committee, or attending a school club meeting can be a momentum builder that leads to fresh perspectives and new possibilities.

Emily, who I have been working with for several years, has always been an exceptional student but tended to keep to herself much of the time. With a little encouragement, she made the decision to sign up for a decorations committee at her school. A few months later with her new friends group, she co-founded a dance club that has since performed at several school events. Throughout the school year, three times a week she leads her team’s dance rehearsals. Rather than feeling fatigued, Emily clearly feels more energized and happy. This new-found confidence also carried over into the classroom where she has become more active in class discussions and often takes the lead in group projects. It has been a joy to witness Emily’s transformation and I have no doubt that this momentum will carry over into her college years and beyond. 

2. What is one insight you’ve gained from being an admissions counselor? 

Perspective

There can be times during their high school career that students can be so focused on their immediate goals whether it be overcoming a challenging class, acing an AP exam or prepping for the next competition, that they lose sight of the bigger picture. It might seem as though each accomplishment is quickly followed by a never-ending series of challenges. Over time this can affect the students mood, ability to concentrate and sap their motivation. To avoid this trap it's important to remind the student what the larger goals are not by only talking about it but through lived experiences. 

During a meeting with Sarah, one of my most accomplished students, I was shocked when she told me she was considering not going to college. She felt she had no control over her daily life and wanted her independence. After discussing her options, she chose to apply for a summer residential program at Brown University. It turned out that this small taste of college life and independence was just the spark she needed. Although college was still several years away, she could envision her future. Taking part in college tours in the spring helped sustain this excitement into the following two summers when she was accepted into COSMOS and the prestigious Boston University RISE program.  

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh experience in a new environment to broaden a students perspective and rekindle their excitement for the future. 

3. What do you want students to know? 

When putting together your potential school list can be an exciting process but be sure to go well beyond the rankings to ensure that each of these schools are a good fit for you. Whenever possible, sign up for a campus tour so you can get a feel for the overall environment. These tours are often led by students so you can comfortably ask questions about the safety of the campus and surrounding area, or what dorm life is like. But for a more unfiltered opinion I suggest you talk to students you come across on campus. Ask them what they like about the school but also what they wish could be added or improved. Check out the bulletin boards in the student centers to get a glimpse into the culture of the school. This could be your second home for the next 4 years so make sure that this is an environment in which you can grow and feel supported both academically and socially. Take photos and record your impressions. Not only will these help refresh your memory, but should you decide to apply,they will come in handy for your supplemental “why this school” essays. 

One final note, never apply to a college that you would not be happy to attend. This includes your safety schools. Imagine you received an email informing you that you were admitted into your last choice school. Would you feel relieved, or would your first thought be “oh no”? If it's the latter, don’t apply to that school. Put at least as much effort into selecting your safety schools as you do your target and reach schools. Of course these are only a handful of the many factors you should consider to create a solid school list. The time and effort you put in will pay off for many years to come. 

4. What do you want parents to know? 

I always tell my students that their parents can be a fantastic resource for material and experiences to potentially include in their college application essays. Parents will always remember how hard you worked to prepare for that competition, ace that AP exam or deliver that presentation. Students on the other hand, tend to put these experiences behind them, downplaying or minimizing the effort it took to reach these achievements. So getting the parents input in creating a list of anecdotes, experiences and achievements early on can be extremely helpful. 

However, once we move on to the latter brainstorming and early essay writing stages, it is critical that parents take a step back to give their son or daughter free rein to tell their own story, in their own voice. It can be very tempting to want to help “clean up” the early drafts, but at this stage, content and authenticity are vitally important. Relatedly,  the use of AI should be strictly limited to correcting grammatical errors. Any more than that could severely water down the student’s voice and personality. Working with a seasoned essay specialist or admissions counselor with a proven track record will make it much easier to trust the process and take that small step back.

5. What is one way you can help? 

I believe customization is key. Getting to know my students on a deeper level allows me to create a long-term plan based on their interests, personalities and goals, to name a few. This plan is adaptive and will surely change as the student develops. But addressing any potential weaknesses in their future college application is not my only focus. I also want to help place them in a position in which they can thrive while feeling supported. As a social scientist I put a lot of thought into identifying those environments in which my students can grow and prosper. Whether it be choosing a summer activity, searching for an internship or putting together a school list, I always put my students' best interests first. That said, I should mention that I also recognize that there are times when some students need a bit of a push to stay on track. 

While each year I look forward to the thrill of acceptance letter season, I truly enjoy the entire process that brought us here.