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Gaining admission to a top graduate program requires more than just strong academics—it takes strategic planning, compelling storytelling, and a well-rounded application. Doing College provides personalized guidance to help you navigate every step of the admissions process, from selecting the right programs and crafting a standout personal statement to preparing for interviews and securing strong recommendations. Whether you’re pursuing a master’s, PhD, or professional degree, we’re here to help you highlight your strengths and successfully take the next step toward your academic and career goals.

Elizabeth LaScala has successfully cultivated a network of expert consultants who are available to support specific content needs in engineering, mathematics, humanities and the sciences. This enables her to bring you the highest qualified service in specific content areas as she personally guides you through the entire admissions process.

The Graduate Admissions Process

Step 1: Elizabeth works with potential applicants to review an individual’s credentials and experience to evaluate if their current profile is strong enough to be successful. Elizabeth provides written objective and subjective reviews, paired with a specific set of recommendations.

Step 2: Each applicant is unique, and assuming the applicant’s profile is strong enough to be successful, Doing College offers the following services as needed:

  • Identifying a range of higher education opportunities for the applicant that is uncertain about academic areas of interest, aptitudes, majors, prior degrees and career paths.
  • Provide an overview of the graduate or professional school admissions process, associated timelines and standardized testing requirements
  • Develop or refine an application list that is balanced by probability of admission
  • Assist with the development and editing of personal statements, supplemental essays, short responses
  • Beyond the actual application, provide editorial support for all written materials related to recommendations, internships and employment (such as email communications, cover letters, resumes and statements)
  • Assist with interview preparation
  • Help with deferred admissions and waitlists

Contact Doing College to set up a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation with Elizabeth LaScala to discuss our services.

Doing College offers educational consulting services to students and their parents in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and greater California, as well as nationally and internationally.

"Elizabeth’s advice and support strengthened my graduate school applications considerably. I thought my background as a Native American from a non-traditional background (military veteran) was a weakness, but she helped me realize that it was really one of big my strengths. Her advice was key to being admitted to and making the final decision about several fine universities, including Tufts and University of Massachusetts Amherst. I ultimately decided to attend University of California Santa Cruz with a $24,000 fellowship, which allows me to focus exclusively on my studies."

Shawn Tsosie
PhD, Department of Mathematics
University of California, Santa Cruz

"When it came time for me to think about applying to graduate study, I had the good fortune to work with one of the best resources, mentors, and professionals in the field of educational consulting, Elizabeth LaScala. Overall, the application process to Master's programs in Genetic Counseling took me three years to fully complete, because I had several post baccalaureate courses to complete in order to be eligible for many selective programs.

Elizabeth assisted from initial brainstorming to receipt of my final acceptance notifications. She helped make the application process manageable through her near-daily insightful suggestions. Ultimately I was admitted to the majority of the programs I applied to and had many excellent options to consider."

Alena Faulkner
M.S. in Genetic Counseling
University of South Carolina

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