College Admissions Counselors

Hello there! I’m Meilin Obinata, a Senior College Admissions Counselor at Insight Education!

I thrive on guiding students through the exciting journey of self-discovery, whether they’re navigating the realms of open-source software or exploring the wonders of photography. Based in the vibrant Bay Area, my roots trace back to the foggy hills of Aptos High School and the inspiring landscapes of UC Santa Cruz, where I earned my B.A. in Mathematics. Later, I ventured to The Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, fueled by a full-tuition scholarship, and emerged with a Law Degree (Juris Doctor – J.D. Degree).

Before delving into the world of education, my professional journey led me through diverse experiences in technology, business incubation, government, and non-profits. Collaborating with scientists, artists, lawyers, teachers, activists, engineers, and entrepreneurs across various sectors has uniquely equipped me to envision the limitless possibilities that lie ahead for my students.

As a College Admissions Counselor since 2012, I have cultivated an in-depth understanding of local and international schools, including familiar Bay Area schools like Monta Vista High School, Lynbrook High School, Cupertino High School, Saratoga High School, Gunn High School, Palo Alto High School, Mission San Jose High School, and many more. Whether orchestrating application sessions with the allure of pizza, brainstorming essay ideas on a whiteboard, or guiding families through college lists, I’ve honed effective methods to simplify destress the college application process and am eager to share them with your family.

I firmly believe that education is a dynamic and creative pursuit, a lifelong journey of growth and discovery. My approach involves active listening, creating a nurturing space for students to explore new ideas, and helping them discern what truly matters in defining their identity.

The success stories of my students speak volumes, with acceptances into prestigious undergraduate and graduate programs across the nation and internationally. From UCLA and UC Berkeley to Brown University and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, my students have left an indelible mark on countless university campuses.

For those of you brave and thorough souls, here is a more thorough list: Columbia University, Cornell University Engineering, Carnegie Mellon College of Computer Science, Boston University Combined Medical Program (BS/MD) which has since been suspended, University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Purdue University, UC Berkeley Global Management Program at the Haas School of Business, NYU Stern School of Business, University of Chicago (undergraduate and MBA), Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California (USC), USC Marshall School of Business (undergraduate and MBA), University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, Seattle – Honors Program, Washington University at Saint Louis, The University of California (all nine undergraduate campuses) and California State University campuses, University of Arizona, Arizona State University (ASU), University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Santa Clara University (SCU), Pitzer College, Case Western University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Hampshire College, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Savannah College of Art and Design, Colgate University, Pennsylvania State University (PSU), Michigan State University (MSU), Rutgers University, The State University of New York (SUNY), and Evergreen State University.

My students have also been accepted into selective summer internships and programs of which I have listed a few here: SIMR (Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program) at Stanford University, UC COSMOS, Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop, Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference, The University of Chicago Research in the Biological Sciences.

I look forward to collaborating with your family, offering insights, and making the educational roadmap smoother for your child. Let’s embark on this exciting adventure together!

Hello!

I’m Chelese Belmont, a Senior College Admissions Counselor at Insight Education—and proudly the longest-tenured member of our counseling team outside of ownership.

For more than twenty years, I’ve been helping students craft powerful college applications and personal statements that open doors to their dream schools. I do this work with heart, grit, creativity, and a touch of humor. I’m known for being a straight shooter who earns the trust of teens quickly, connects deeply with families, and never stops advocating for my students. Whether we’re brainstorming essays or mapping out a college list, I meet students where they are and push them to uncover their authentic voice and present their very best self.

I’ve had the privilege of guiding students into the Ivy League, top UCs, elite liberal arts colleges, and highly competitive national universities, as well as selective graduate and doctoral programs. Over the years, my students have earned admission to some of the most sought-after schools in the country, including Duke, Georgetown, Northwestern, Pomona College, Stanford, UT Austin, the University of Michigan, UC Berkeley (including the prestigious EECS program), Carnegie Mellon University, UCLA, UC Davis and all of the UCs, the University of Chicago, Harvard University, USC, Babson, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, NYU and NYU Stern, the University of Oregon, the University of Arizona, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia, the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), MIT, and McGill University in Canada, among many others.

In addition to college admissions, I also help students gain entry into highly selective summer programs and internships that give them both a competitive edge and a sense of direction. My students have been accepted to programs such as Penn’s Management & Technology Summer Institute and LBW, Boston University RISE, Stanford SIMR, COSMOS, CSSSA, Yale Young Global Scholars, UC Santa Barbara RMP, UC Santa Cruz’s Science Internship Program (SIP), UC Irvine x GATI, the University of Michigan’s Ross Business Academy, and world-renowned music intensives at Tanglewood and Interlochen. They’ve also secured internships with Boeing, Google, Greenspring Associates (a venture capital firm), the ACLU, and state and local political offices.

Before rejoining Insight Education full-time, I served as Director of College Counseling for a large educational organization where I led a team of 25 counselors while still managing my own caseload. Earlier in my career, I worked as an SAT instructor, AP tutor, and test-prep curriculum developer—including writing practice materials for the redesigned SAT. And yes, I’m that person who loves brainstorming Common App essays and parsing test questions for fun.

My path into education began at UC Berkeley, where I graduated with Honors in U.S. History in just three years. While at Cal, I mentored junior high and high school students in Oakland and discovered my passion for helping young people find their voice. After Berkeley, I earned my Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University, which sharpened my storytelling instincts and deepened my ability to help students express themselves with clarity, confidence, and creativity.

When I’m not working with students, I’m also a professional actress, screenwriter, and independent film producer. My creative life fuels my counseling—I know what it means to take risks, chase bold ideas, and fight for a spot at the table. I bring that same tenacity and resilience to every student I work with.

In my free time, you’ll find me hiking, baking, experimenting with resin art projects, indoor rock climbing (I’m braver on the wall than I am on a rollercoaster), walking my dog, and fully embracing my role as the doting aunt who loves to spoil her nieces and nephew.

If you’re looking for a counselor who is experienced, strategic, and deeply invested in your child’s success, I’d love to meet you. Let’s take the next step together!

Hi, I am Priya. I am very glad to be a part of the counseling team at Insight and hope to be working with you soon.

I have been a native of the Bay Area for the past 35 years and have lived in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Palo Alto. My family and friends work in Silicon Valley, so I am very aware of the ever-changing landscape that makes up technology. That being said, my own education and background has been very varied; prior to becoming a college admissions counselor, I worked as an Integrative Health Coach and had the pleasure of coaching some of the senior executives in the Valley. After my MBA, I was employed as a consultant at one of the top consulting firms in the country; this experience was a revelation to corporate America and extensively enhanced my exposure to the product industry. Subsequently, I worked as an events coordinator on the UC Berkeley campus where I met a wide range of intellectuals, all of whom kept me constantly learning. After that, with over 30 years as a yoga practitioner and teacher, I dabbled at being an entrepreneur when I ran my own yoga studio in Berkeley.

My journey towards becoming a college admissions counselor started in 2014 when I had to support my high-functioning son for his college applications. He graduated college with a degree in the classics and my daughter graduated with a BS in computer science. Even prior to this however, I had been working with students with their essay writing and editing for undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. work. My experience as a parent made me aware of the stress that surrounds the college application process, and I decided to get certified as a college consultant because I felt that each student bought something unique to the table and needed to be treated as an individual with his or her own strengths.

I always go out of my way to know my students, so I can support them in a way that works best for them. Working on their activities and summer plans is a great way for me to understand their academic, creative, athletic, and social skills. This also helps when we research colleges that best fit the student’s personality, goals, and needs. Additionally, knowing that the essays provide the foundation of a strong application, I like to spend time brainstorming ideas and I encourage students to keep enhancing each draft with subtle nuances that help in transforming an essay from good to great. I feel that I can handle any situation in a very grounded manner, and always bring a calm presence to the consulting sessions.

After working in this industry for the past twelve years, I have had the pleasure of seeing my students do well at colleges like Johns Hopkins, UIUC, Syracuse, LMU, Georgetown, NYU, Cornell, Yale, Amherst, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Boston University, Northeastern, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC San Diego, Rice, CMU and many more. The positive emails that I receive from parents and students after the application process are very heartwarming. I absolutely love to know that my students are happy and thriving.

On a personal note, I am an enthusiastic amateur golfer and an avid yogi. When I am not working with students, I enjoy long walks, watching TV shows, meeting friends, and trying out new restaurants.

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 am also a member of the Stanford GSB Alumni Association (GSBAA) Board of Directors. I am inspired, excited and humbled to serve on 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.

Hi! My name is Jason Katz and I’m a proud Bay Area native—born in Berkeley and grew up in Palo Alto. I love working with students, especially on their college application essays. By carefully crafting their college application essays, students become more introspective and learn a lot about themselves. Nothing makes me happier than to see their smiling faces when their essays are in final draft form, and they know they have done their best work.

After graduating from Palo Alto High School, I headed off to NYU. However, after two years at NYU in New York City, and a summer and a semester at NYU’s amazing campus in Florence, Italy, I was tired of the New York winters and homesick. So, I transferred to Santa Clara University where I earned my B.A.

Having agonized through my original college application process as a high school student, without the help of an independent college counselor, but then working with an independent college counselor throughout the transfer application process, I know firsthand what a difference working with a college counselor can make. My transfer application process was significantly more organized, efficient, and less stressful.

Therefore, after graduating from Santa Clara, I knew I wanted to pay it forward and become an independent college counselor. I began interning with the independent college counselor that helped me with the transfer application process, and I also enrolled in UCLA Extension’s Certificate Program in College Counseling. After completing my Certificate and my internship, I started my own independent college counseling business in Redwood City. Throughout the years I ran this business I also wrote more than 165 college admissions/college life newspaper columns for The Palo Alto Daily News (many of which were also published in the online edition of The San Jose Mercury News).

Next, I went back to school and earned my master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. After earning my master’s, had a few different jobs, but nothing that I was as passionate about as helping students, which is why I am so excited to be back in the college admissions field, working for Insight Education, specifically helping students with their application essays. I look forward to meeting you to work on the writing process!

When I am not writing or helping students with their college application essays, you can find me hanging out with family and friends, traveling, exercising, rooting on all the Bay Area sports teams, or taking long walks with my rescue dog, Posey (named after the San Francisco Giants’ catcher).

Hello from Massachusetts! My name is Brian Nanos and I’m an Essay Specialist with Insight. Originally from New Jersey, I bounced around the country before my wife and I settled in the suburbs of Boston. We live there now with our two kids. 

I graduated from Trinity College with a degree in English with a focus on creative writing. I went on to Northwestern University and earned my Master’s Degree in Journalism with a focus in news writing and reporting. 

This is my first year as an Essay Specialist with Insight. In my previous career as a newspaper reporter and editor, I covered hearings on Capitol Hill, but also school committee meetings and bake sales in suburban Boston. I wrote hard-hitting news stories and lengthy features but also designed the layout of the paper and edited submissions for clarity and grammar.

After a hiatus as a stay-at-home dad, I’m excited to use my writing and editing training to help students achieve their education goals. My goal is to help students use their personal statements and essays to express their personalities, strengths, and interests in ways that a simple resume can’t capture.   

I currently live on the North Shore of Massachusetts. When I’m not reading and editing college admissions essays, I’m usually at home with my two children. I spend a lot of my time helping them with their remote learning classwork, taking them to the beach and the zoo, and baking them homemade pizzas.