I'm Heath Pennington, a Senior College Coach with more than a decade of experience helping students navigate the admissions process to achieve their educational goals. I have worked with hundreds of learners from around the world, providing guidance on undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral applications across the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and China. I hold a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Master's degrees awarded with distinction from Goldsmiths, University of London and Central European University. I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and Theater. I have extensive experience supporting students with college strategy, research, brainstorming, and finding the right fit.

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As a trained actor (ask me about my time in Hollywood!) and longtime writer, I believe in the power of storytelling. This is the focal point around which my mentorship pivots: how can we understand and tell your story? To do so, we find your strengths, think about your dreams, and consider what your hobbies say about you. Collaborating with students and families, I help set goals to keep the journey of self-discovery that is applying to college manageable and inspiring. One of my favorite parts of this work is seeing students' confidence and sense of self grow.

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Outside of admissions work, I am an educator and scholar whose widely published research focuses on performance, communication, and human connection. Having lived, studied, and worked internationally, I enjoy helping students explore opportunities across educational systems and cultural contexts. When I'm not working with students, you can usually find me reading, traveling, attending live theater, or planning my next adventure.