College admissions & tutoring with Kristi Wu
Let's get you to the email that starts with “Congratulations.”
I'm Kristi, a USC grad based in Los Angeles. I work one-on-one with high schoolers on the parts of applying nobody really teaches you: picking schools, figuring out what to write about, and getting the essays right.
Office of Admission
Dear ,
Congratulations!
On behalf of the admission committee, I am delighted to offer you a place in the Class of 2031. Your application told us exactly who you are, and we can't wait to meet you.
Dean of Admission
2031
What we work on
Whatever part of applying is stressing you out.
Admissions strategy
We build a school list that actually fits, map out every deadline, and make sure your activities point in the same direction instead of reading like a random list.
Essays
Brainstorming, outlining and a lot of revising. The Common App essay plus every supplement. I push on the ideas; the words stay yours.
SAT & ACT prep
Start with a diagnostic, then spend time on the sections that will move your score the most. Timed practice and honest review.
Tutoring
High school math through calculus, AP Computer Science, and general study habits. Homework help or rebuilding the basics.
How it starts
First,
We start with a free 20-minute call. You tell me where you are and where you want to end up.
Then
I send you a short written plan: what to focus on, in what order, and roughly how many sessions it takes.
After that,
We meet over video. After every session you get notes and a clear next step.
A note from Kristi
Hi! I graduated from USC with a B.S. in Computer Science and Business Administration. These days I'm a consulting and business development associate at a strategy firm in Los Angeles.
At USC I co-founded Due, a homework-help app, through the LavaLab product incubator. I also read a lot of my friends' college essays, and later their younger siblings' too.
Most of those students were already doing the work. What they needed was someone to tell them which of their stories was the good one, and to say so when a draft wasn't there yet.
That's what I do now. I work with a small number of students at a time, and I do every session myself.
Kristi
Good questions
When should we start?
Junior year is ideal for strategy and test prep. Essays usually start the summer before senior year. If you're later than that, there's still plenty we can do.
Is this online or in person?
Online, over video. Drafts and notes live in shared docs so nothing gets lost.
How much does it cost?
There are hourly sessions and packages. We'll figure out which makes sense on the free call once I know what you need.
Can you guarantee I get in?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who says they can. I can promise a stronger application and a lot less stress getting there.
Book a call
Let's talk it through.
20 minutes, free, over video. Tell me where you are and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help.
Free intro call with Kristi
20 min
Video call
November 2026
Times are shown in Coordinated Universal Time.
Pick a day
Highlighted days have open times. Choose one to see what's available.
Rather write? kawu@usc.edu