My College Compass
College advising for ambitious students building a life, not just an application.
Strategic guidance across academics, extracurriculars, college selection, and applications. I help students make thoughtful decisions, develop clear direction, and take increasing ownership of their path.
The student should own the journey
I believe preparing for college is part of a much longer process of becoming an adult, not simply a destination to optimize for. My role is not to engineer a student’s path or make important decisions on their behalf.
Instead, I help students understand their options, weigh tradeoffs, and make thoughtful choices with increasing independence.
The goal is not simply a stronger application. It is a student who understands their own priorities, can advocate for themselves, and moves forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Who I Work Best With
Intellectually Curious
Students who are curious, engaged, and willing to take ownership of their decisions. They don't need to have everything figured out, but they should be ready to think seriously, ask good questions, and participate actively in the process.
Supportive Families
Parents and guardians who want to be informed and involved while giving their student room to develop independence, judgement, and confidence.
Global Partners
Schools and organizations seeking thoughtful, student-centered advising, workshops, or strategic guidance informed by experience across different educational systems and cultures.
How I help
Direction
Strategy
Narrative + Voice
Academic and extracurricular planning that builds a coherent intellectual trajectory, with courses and commitments aligned to long-term goals.
College list and application planning focused on fit, positioning, and thoughtful execution.
Essay and interview development that helps students articulate their perspective, values, and intellectual identity with clarity and maturity.
Benito Nishizawa Rodríguez
Benito is an experienced academic advisor with nearly two decades of work across education, admissions, student development, and college counseling. After earning his BA in Cultural Anthropology from Harvard in 2010, where he also worked in the Harvard Admissions Office, he went on to work at Google and several startups. Since then he has worked directly with students and families across more than 45 countries.
His Mexican and Japanese heritage, together with years of cross-cultural work, informs a student-centered approach focused on judgment, independence, and thoughtful decision-making. His goal is to help students build not only strong applications, but the clarity and confidence to navigate what comes next.