Sima Belmar, PhD
Life is hard. Applying to college shouldn't be.
About
After over a decade working with high school students on their college applications, & with UC Berkeley undergrads as a writing professor, I have learned that students thrive when approached with a combination of rigor & compassion. I help students get to know themselves by guiding them through a process of self-reflective storytelling.I tailor stress-free and joy-centered assistance to a limited number of students throughout the entire college application process, including preliminary assessments, college & activities lists, major selection, HS course selection, resumes, application review, financial aid/scholarships, &, most importantly, essays.Note to parents: It is my mission to really get to know your child, to build trust so that you can take a step back from the process and leave it to me to help them find their way.
SERVICES
My full service college admissions consulting package includes:
*preliminary assessments (values, interests, learning/study style)
*college list (finding the best fit)
*high school & concurrent enrollment course selection
*summer program & internship advising
*activities list (extracurriculars)
*major selection (how to navigate college websites)
*essays (brainstorming & extensive feedback on common app, UC, & supplemental essays)
*standardized testing plan
*resume
*application reviewI also offer essay writing boot camps, financial aid/scholarship guidance, & workshops for parents.I start with students as early as freshman year & as late as fall semester senior year. I also offer writing coaching to undergraduate & graduate students.
REVIEWS
I am very grateful to have worked with Mrs. Belmar and have been accepted Early Decision into Columbia University. She responds very quickly and provides consistent and constructive feedback on how to improve essays as well. --Mia S. (Columbia)Sima has been extremely helpful in my medical school application process so far. She helped me a few years ago when I was applying to universities as a high schooler and made the process a lot less stressful as she was always ready to discuss ideas and provide prompt feedback. I'm glad I reached out to her again! --Navya A. (UC Berkeley > UCSF)Sima's guidance made me feel completely at ease and in control of my college application process. She was always honest, kind, and encouraging. She got to know me well, and helped find schools that fit my interests and strengths. I dug deep with her, and discovered things about myself through the process. I cannot recommend her enough. I couldn't have done it without her. Her support didn't end with my college essays. She helped me with my acting reel,and Valedictorian speech. If you want an enjoyable college experience, work with Sima. --Alethea D. (UC Berkeley)The best part of having Dr. Belmar looking over your shoulder during the college essay-writing process is her ability to manage the consistency of your writing without ever becoming creatively invasive. Even the most subtle flaws will be picked up on and discussed, but it remains your job to organically compose revisions, be it the first or tenth time in a row. Rereading papers reviewed by Dr. Belmar never feels foreign, as she brings out words that were within you all along. --Eric M. (Princeton)I really recommend Sima Belmar for your essays. She is amazing! I send her all the students I work with in college coaching and they are all satisfied way beyond their expectations. --Sixtine Gontier (college & career coach)
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