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Purvi Mody: Head of College Counseling

Hello, I’m Purvi! 

As a Co-Founder and Head of College Counseling at Insight Education, I have the incredible privilege of helping students discover who they are, define their goals, and bring their college dreams to life. I have always believed in the transformative power of education, and after more than 27 years in the college admissions field, my passion for this work has only grown deeper.

My journey began in 1998, when I started working privately with students on SAT prep and college admissions strategy. In 1999, I joined Achieva College Prep (later acquired by Kaplan/The Washington Post), where I designed and launched the Jump Start Program for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders—an initiative that remains close to my heart. Since then, I’ve had the honor of working with more than 2,000 students, guiding them not only through the intricacies of college applications but through the formative years of their academic and personal development.

My students have been admitted to top universities across the country and around the globe—places like Stanford, Harvard, Brown, Columbia, Yale, MIT, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, UT Austin, and the University of Washington. Internationally, I’ve supported students earning admission to Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and Imperial College in the UK, as well as the University of Toronto, McGill, Waterloo, and UBC in Canada. Each success story is a reminder of how powerful it is when students are matched with the right schools and empowered to tell their stories authentically and boldly.

My counseling philosophy is simple but deeply personal: help each student find the schools that are the best fit—academically, socially, and emotionally—and then guide them in presenting themselves in the most honest and compelling way possible. Whether I’m working with a middle schooler just starting to build the foundation for high school success, a freshman exploring passions and clubs, or a senior fine-tuning a personal statement, I approach every interaction with care, strategy, and heart.

Over the years, I’ve also worked closely with families navigating transitions between middle school and high school, as well as those exploring graduate programs, including law and medical school. No matter the stage, I love diving deep with students and helping them build the confidence and tools they need to thrive. I am also an active member of WACAC (Western Association for College Admission Counseling), where I continue to stay engaged with developments in higher education and the college and university admissions landscape both in the United States and Internationally.

I graduated with honors from UCLA with a BA in Psychology, and minors in Education and Business. I later earned a Master’s in Education from the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Stanford recently honored me with the Governors’ Award for exemplary and long-standing volunteer service to the university. I will also be joining the Stanford GSB Alumni Association (GSBAA) Board of Directors effective September 2025 for a three-year term. I am inspired, excited and humbled to join the GSBAA!  

What truly drives me every day, is my connection with students. I thrive on their energy, ambition, and resilience—and I consider it a great honor to be part of their lives during such an important chapter. Helping a student discover their voice, their purpose, and their path forward is what makes this work so meaningful to me.

When I’m not reading college essays or strategizing summer internship plans, you can usually find me cheering for the San Francisco 49ers, watching a Stanford football game, or enjoying a musical in San Francisco with my family. My oldest son is now a freshman at Menlo-Atherton High School, and my two younger boys, ages 10 and 7  (future Insighters!), are in elementary school. Time really does fly!

If you’re looking for someone who will guide your child with wisdom, dedication, and genuine care, I would love to speak with you. Let’s work together to make your child’s college admissions journey one filled with clarity, confidence, and possibility.

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What Are Insight Students & Parents saying?
  • Insight became synonymous with the word “home”. We flocked to the Insight office every chance we got and worked until we couldn’t think anymore. We felt at home with the […]

  • Insight helped me significantly with College Planning and 1:1 SAT prep. Ajit and the staff helped me find universities to apply to that fit me in many different aspects including […]

  • My daughter got admission into her first-choice college at UCSB a few days ago. We are so excited!!! I know I am a mix between a helicopter and tiger parent, […]

  • Insight Education’s tutoring services are top-notch, and Jennifer is an exceptional tutor! My daughter worked with Jennifer to prepare for her SATs, and she improved her score by an impressive […]

  • I liked the structured method by which Zach approached the whole admission process. First, there was research into colleges to make a list, then a rigorous back and forth on […]

  • Priya was absolutely amazing to work with! We are thrilled that our son got into his top choice for college at LMU for the undergraduate business program. We couldn’t have […]

  • Thank you so much for helping me formulate my thoughts into words and help me write my essays. I got into Ut Austin for biology – still waiting for the […]

  • I just wanted to thank you again for your help during the college admission process. My family and I have been scrambling to figure out the process for years, and […]

  • I really couldn’t have gotten to Harvard without you. In shock. Thank you x10000000000000! I have the best college counselor in the world!

  • I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time out of your day to organize a meeting with me and help me in writing my summer program essays. […]

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