I’m Meilin Obinata, Senior College Admissions Counselor at Insight Education — and one of the few counselors you’ll meet who holds both a mathematics degree and a law degree!

That combination isn’t accidental. It reflects how I approach everything: rigorously and strategically, but always in service of the human story at the center. Numbers tell me what’s possible. Language tells me who a student actually is. My job is to help them bring both together into an application that is honest, compelling, and impossible to overlook.

I’ve been doing this work since 2012, and I came to college counseling through an unusual path — one I’m genuinely grateful for. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Mathematics, I built a career that took me across technology, business incubation, government, and nonprofits, working alongside scientists, artists, lawyers, teachers, activists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. That breadth wasn’t a detour. It gave me something I consider one of my greatest assets as a counselor: a real, firsthand understanding of how many remarkable lives a well-educated, curious person can build. When I sit with a student who isn’t yet sure what direction they want to go, I’m not guessing at the possibilities. I’ve seen them, lived alongside them, and I love helping students start to imagine their own.

I then earned my Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law on a full-tuition scholarship — an experience that sharpened my thinking and deepened my appreciation for careful, persuasive argument. It also reminded me what it feels like to be evaluated on your ability to make a compelling case for yourself. That’s exactly what a college application is, and I know how to help students make theirs.

Over the years, my students have earned admission to some of the most competitive programs in the country: Columbia University, Cornell University Engineering, Carnegie Mellon College of Computer Science, Brown University, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley’s Global Management Program at Haas, NYU Stern, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, USC Marshall, the University of Michigan, UIUC, Purdue, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Washington Honors Program, and all nine UC undergraduate campuses, among many others. I’ve also guided students into wonderful fits at RISD, Savannah College of Art and Design, Hampshire College, and Pitzer — because the right school looks different for every student, and I take that seriously.

Beyond admissions, I love helping students build the kind of profiles that start opening doors well before senior year. My students have been accepted to the Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR), UC COSMOS, the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop, the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference, and the University of Chicago Research in the Biological Sciences, among others.

I know the Bay Area high school landscape deeply — including Monta Vista, Lynbrook, Cupertino, Saratoga, Gunn, Palo Alto, Mission San Jose, and many others across the region — which means I genuinely understand the academic environments, grading contexts, and competitive pressures your student lives with every day. That context matters, and I pay attention to it.

My approach starts with listening — really listening. I create space for students to think out loud, explore what they actually care about, and find the thread that connects who they are to where they want to go. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter applications, and I’ve never met a student who was as one-dimensional as their first draft tried to be.

Outside of work, I’m an avid photographer and a devoted open-source enthusiast — which probably tells you something about how I see the world. I like capturing things as they truly are, and I believe the best tools should be accessible to everyone. I’m also a proud Bay Area native with deep roots in the Santa Cruz area, and I’ll always have a soft spot for Aptos where it all started.

Your student has a story worth telling well. I’d love to help them tell it.

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 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! 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.