Our approach is grounded in James E. Hughes Jr.'s five-capital framework. Learn more about our collaboration with the Jay Hughes Foundation
“The greatest risk to a high-achieving student isn't a rejection letter. It’s arriving at the destination without a sense of self.” — Lorna Gray, Founder
CORE PHILOSOPHY
Our Story
- The Shift in Focus: We prioritize the milestones that modern education often ignores: authentic motivation, sound judgment, and the ability to articulate a personal mission. The result is a student who doesn't rely on pressure to perform, but instead directs themselves with clarity.
- Upstream Intervention: Resilience is not built in a single summer. We partner with families to cultivate independence long before the college pressure begins, starting as early as age three. When challenges come, students do not shut down or drift. They engage, decide, and adapt.
- The New Definition of a "Win": Our students get into the world’s best schools. That is a given. The real outcome is a young person who enters those gates able to think independently, sustain motivation without external pressure, and make decisions about their life with confidence.
EXPERTISE
Interface brings together advisors with experience across elite admissions, family advisory, and developmental psychology. This includes former admissions leaders, senior educators, and specialists in motivation science and identity development, all focused on one outcome: preparing students not just to succeed, but to lead.
Lorna Gray
President and FounderLorna Gray
President and Founder
Lorna Gray is the founder of Interface and the architect of its approach to Generational Development. She brings years of experience advising families across the United States and Asia, where she observed a consistent pattern: students were being prepared for admission, but not for what followed.
Lorna brings a rare combination of cross-cultural fluency and intuitive judgment. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, she has spent her career helping families navigate both educational systems and generational expectations.
Her approach focuses not only on outcomes, but on developing the individual behind them. She is known for her ability to recognize underlying potential, clarify direction, and guide students toward long-term growth and responsibility.
Ashley Nieblas
Chief Operating OfficerAshley Nieblas
Chief Operating Officer
Ashley Nieblas is Chief Operating Officer at Interface, where she leads the operational strategy and systems that support the firm's growth, consistency, and long-term impact. Her work sits at the intersection of mission and execution, ensuring that Interface's high-touch model is matched by the organizational clarity and infrastructure required to sustain it.
Ashley brings over a decade of experience in education leadership and operations. Before joining Interface, she served as Chief of Staff at Collegewise, where she led company-wide strategic planning, supported cross-functional execution, and developed operational frameworks that strengthened both team performance and client experience.
She is known for translating complexity into structure and helping organizations scale without losing the quality, trust, and human focus that define their work. Ashley earned her B.A. in History from UCLA and holds an M.F.A. in Writing.
Dr. Tiffany Noel
Senior Director of Learning and Leadership DevelopmentDr. Tiffany Noel
Senior Director of Learning and Leadership Development
Dr. Tiffany Noel is Senior Director of Learning and Leadership Development at Interface, where she works at the intersection of college counseling, writing strategy, and student development. An interdisciplinary educator and scholar, Tiffany brings more than 15 years of experience leading undergraduate and graduate programs, publishing scholarly research, and presenting at national and international conferences.
Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to transformational learning, culturally responsive practice, and the development of students as thoughtful, self-aware communicators.
At Interface, Tiffany helps students build narrative clarity across every part of the application process, focusing on how students communicate who they are, what drives them, and how they are growing. She is known for fostering narrative coherence, intellectual depth, and strategic alignment across student work.
Pia Sahni
Senior Director of Counseling OperationsPia Sahni
Senior Director of Counseling Operations
Dr. Pia Sahni is Senior Director of Counseling Operations at Interface, where she oversees counseling quality, team development, and the student and family experience across the organization. She brings a strong background in higher education, mentorship, and interdisciplinary learning, with experience working closely with students and counseling teams across the globe.
Pia earned her PhD and Master’s degree in American Studies from Brown University, where she taught courses in American history and literature, Asian American studies, and interdisciplinary cultural analysis. She received her BA in English and Women’s Studies from Wesleyan University. Throughout her academic career, she focused on helping students make meaningful connections across disciplines, identities, and intellectual interests.
Before joining Interface, Pia served as Director of Counselor Management, where she led counselor development, maintained counseling quality, and worked directly with students navigating highly selective admissions processes. Her students earned admission to many of the world’s most competitive universities, including Top 20 institutions.
At Interface, Pia is known for her thoughtful leadership, intellectual rigor, and ability to build strong relationships across counselors, students, and families. Her work reflects Interface’s broader commitment to helping students move beyond external achievement toward deeper clarity, confidence, and long-term growth.
Julie Ho
Director of Global Sales & MarketingJulie Ho
Director of Global Sales & Marketing
Julie Ho is Director of Global Sales and Marketing at Interface, where she leads the firm’s growth strategy and shapes how Interface connects with and supports families throughout the admissions and learning journey. She holds an MBA from Cornell University and brings experience across consulting, high-growth startups, and enterprise organizations.
Her work focuses on building structured, relationship-driven approaches to growth in complex, high-trust environments. She is particularly focused on creating thoughtful, personalized experiences that support students and families through important life decisions.
At Interface, Julie is known for her collaborative style, strong judgment, and ability to bring structure and calm to high-stakes moments. She ensures that each family feels seen, supported, and set up for success from first contact through every stage of the engagement.
Keith Gramling
Director of Admissions Strategy & CounselingKeith Gramling
Director of Admissions Strategy & Counseling
Keith Gramling is Director of Admissions Strategy and Counseling at Interface, where he helps students and families navigate the admissions process with insight, care, and a deep understanding of how colleges make decisions. He brings more than 25 years of experience in admissions and college counseling, including over 20 years at Loyola University New Orleans, where he led the Office of Admissions and oversaw both domestic and international recruitment.
Throughout his career, his central focus has remained the same: helping students identify their goals, understand their options, and move forward with confidence and purpose.
Since joining Interface in 2015, Keith has worked closely with Chinese and other international students, guiding them through thoughtful, well-informed application decisions within the context of their individual backgrounds and aspirations. He believes college counseling is not simply about completing applications, but about educating students and families on the process, the landscape, and the choices available to them.
Stephanie Schneider
Associate Director of the Writing TeamStephanie Schneider
Associate Director of the Writing Team
Stephanie Schneider is Associate Director of the Writing Team at Interface, where she works with students to develop clear, distinctive, and deeply personal writing across the college application process. She brings a broad background in teaching, writing, and school leadership, with experience across grades 6–12 in English instruction, curriculum design, and student advising.
Over the course of her career, she has taught Honors and AP English Literature and Language, developed creative writing curricula, and helped students strengthen their critical thinking, reading, and communication skills.
At Interface, Stephanie helps students build confidence in their storytelling and develop writing that is authentic, polished, and intellectually engaging.
Susan Goodkin
Senior Strategic AdvisorSusan Goodkin
Senior Strategic Advisor
Susan Goodkin is a Senior Strategic Advisor at Interface, where she works closely with counselors and students to help shape highly distinctive extracurricular and academic trajectories for the most selective college admissions processes. A graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and Oxford University, where she was named a Rhodes Scholar, Susan brings rare academic breadth and strategic insight to her work with students.
Her approach focuses on helping students move beyond standard high school credentials by identifying creative, ambitious, and genuinely meaningful ways to pursue their interests.
Susan is known for her ability to see what is possible before students can see it themselves, and for the clarity and precision she brings to positioning students who aspire to the most competitive institutions in the world.
Hope Murtaugh
Special AdvisorHope Murtaugh
Special Advisor
Hope Murtaugh is a Special Advisor at Interface, where she provides strategic guidance on selective college admissions and works closely with students and families navigating high-stakes application processes. A graduate of Princeton University, Hope began her career in admissions at her alma mater, where she served as an Admission Officer and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions.
Since then, she has spent more than two decades counseling students around the world on admission to top U.S. and U.K. institutions, while also leading counseling teams and advising programs. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of how highly selective admissions decisions are made, as well as a strong commitment to helping students present themselves with clarity and authenticity.
Hope is known for her calm, perceptive approach and her ability to help students think more clearly about who they are and how they want to move forward.
Lei Yu
Director of OperationsLei Yu
Director of Operations
Lei Yu is Director of Operations at Interface, where he supports systems and graduate advising, helping students build structured academic pathways aligned with competitive programs and long-term educational goals.
Lei holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in Social Gerontology from Miami University, along with a graduate certificate in Applied Statistics. His academic background brings together quantitative analysis, qualitative research, and a deep understanding of long-term educational and developmental pathways.
Before and alongside his work at Interface, he developed extensive experience in graduate advising, helping students navigate program selection, research preparation, and application strategy. Lei is known for his analytical rigor and structured approach, as well as his ability to help students make well-informed decisions in complex academic environments.
Rainbow Chen
Director of Customer ServiceRainbow Chen
Director of Customer Service
Rainbow Chen is Director of Customer Service at Interface, where she helps ensure that students and families experience the admissions journey with confidence, continuity, and clear communication at every stage. With more than 20 years of experience in education and student support, Rainbow brings a deep understanding of internationally engaged families and the importance of trust throughout the advising process.
Her background includes extensive experience working with both Chinese and American students, giving her a strong cross-cultural perspective that is central to Interface’s work. She is especially skilled at helping families navigate differences in language, expectations, and educational systems.
Rainbow is known for her ability to create a sense of stability and clarity in what can often be a complex and high-pressure process, ensuring that families feel supported, informed, and well-guided from beginning to end.
Lei Shen
Associate Director of Customer ServiceLei Shen
Associate Director of Customer Service
Lei Shen is Associate Director of Customer Service at Interface, where she helps lead the customer service team and supports students and families through each stage of the educational process. Before joining Interface in 2011, Lei worked with students at Education First in China and later in the United States after completing her graduate studies.
She brings experience across both international and U.S. educational environments, along with a strong understanding of the communication and coordination required to support families effectively. At Interface, she plays a key role in training team members and ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience across the organization.
Lei is known for her steady leadership and deep care for families, as well as her ability to build trust and maintain clear communication across cultures and expectations.
Dr. Maria Doulatova
Personal Development & Motivation CoachDr. Maria Doulatova
Personal Development & Motivation Coach
Dr. Maria Doulatova is Personal Development and Motivation Coach at Interface, where she leads the design and implementation of the Academic Performance Coaching Program. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, where her research focused on stress regulation, learning, self-control, and motivation.
With more than 14 years of experience in education and mentorship, Maria brings an interdisciplinary, research-driven perspective to her work with students. She focuses on helping high-achieving students understand how stress, identity, and pressure shape performance, and how they can develop more sustainable and effective approaches to learning.
At Interface, she designs coaching sessions and programs that translate psychological research into practical strategies, helping students build resilience, strengthen self-awareness, and approach achievement with greater clarity and purpose.
Serena Yao
Director of Personnel AdministrationSerena Yao
Director of Personnel Administration
Serena Yao is Director of Personnel Administration at Interface, where she leads human resources and administrative functions that support the organization’s internal strength, consistency, and long-term growth. She holds an MBA from Sun Yat-sen University and began her career in a technical role at Guangzhou Broadcasting and Television Network Co., Ltd.
Since joining Interface, she has played a key role in strengthening the organization’s internal systems and personnel infrastructure. Her work focuses on thoughtful human resource planning, internal coordination, and building structures that support both individual performance and team cohesion.
Serena is known for her disciplined, structured approach and her commitment to creating an environment where teams can operate effectively and deliver at a high level.
Toby Bowman
Career Development MentorToby Bowman
Career Development Mentor
Toby is a Career Development Mentor at Interface, where he combines more than 15 years of academic mentoring and recruitment experience to help students identify opportunities, build strong applications, and move forward with clarity and purpose. He holds a B.S. from University College London and an M.S. and Doctorate from the University of Oxford, where his doctoral research focused on the venture capital–technology pipeline.
His experience spans leading UK independent schools, the University of Oxford, and recruitment roles in the UK, US, and UAE — giving him a rare, multi-perspective understanding of what employers and institutions look for in candidates. He has guided clients from 37 countries into fields including financial technology, banking, medicine, film and television, and diplomacy.
At Interface, Toby works closely with students to understand their interests, skills, and ambitions, helping them develop high-impact applications and uncover opportunities they may not have considered. His career guidance has been published in his bestselling book, The Ultimate Oxbridge Collection.
Sunny Sun
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences MentorSunny Sun
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Mentor
Sunny Sun is an interdisciplinary researcher and mentor at Interface, where she helps students translate their intellectual curiosity into original, socially meaningful projects and compelling application narratives. She holds an MPhil in Polar Studies from the University of Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute, where she was the sole recipient of the prestigious Debenham Scholarship, awarded annually to the top applicant to the program.
Her research bridges human geography, social anthropology, and environmental studies, with a focus on land use conflict, Indigenous rights, and environmental governance in the Arctic. She is a first author in Waste Management and a co-author in One Earth, and has collaborated with the UK Polar Network and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology on polar ethics workshops. Before Cambridge, she graduated with High Honors from Dartmouth College, where she was one of ten students to receive the Stamps Scholarship, Dartmouth's top undergraduate research honor.
Sunny is known for her ability to help students move from broad curiosity to focused, well-crafted research, and for mentoring narratives that reflect genuine intellectual depth and personal voice.
Andy Xu
Economics, History & Humanities Research MentorAndy Xu
Economics, History & Humanities Research Mentor
Andy Xu is an Economics, History, and Humanities Research Mentor at Interface, where he helps students develop rigorous, interdisciplinary research projects and intellectually sophisticated academic narratives across the humanities and social sciences. He graduated from Harvard College with a double major in Economics and History and currently works as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Morgan Stanley in New York.
Andy’s mentorship focuses heavily on advanced humanities and historical research, particularly projects connected to The Concord Review (TCR). He works closely with students to develop original historical arguments, strengthen analytical writing, conduct nuanced primary and secondary source analysis, and produce publication-level research papers grounded in genuine intellectual depth rather than formulaic positioning.
His interdisciplinary background allows students to connect history with economics, geopolitics, public policy, and global affairs, helping them build research narratives that are both academically mature and personally authentic. He is known for helping students move beyond surface-level achievement toward work that reflects genuine curiosity, analytical rigor, and a clear sense of intellectual direction.
Yang Xu
Artificial Intelligence & Computational Biology MentorYang Xu
Artificial Intelligence & Computational Biology Mentor
Yang Xu is an Artificial Intelligence and Computational Biology Mentor at Interface, where he helps students explore the intersection of machine learning, biology, and data science through rigorous research, technical skill development, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. He is a Machine Learning Scientist at Cellarium AI Lab within the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and earned his PhD in Computational Biology from the University of Tennessee.
At Cellarium AI Lab, Yang develops explainable and probabilistic machine learning models for single-cell perturbation data, with research focused on building virtual cells and advancing computational approaches to biological discovery. His work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and systems biology, combining advanced modeling techniques with large-scale biological data analysis.
Yang is especially well suited to mentor students interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational biology, coding, data science, and interdisciplinary STEM research. He is known for helping students translate complex technical interests into structured, research-driven projects while making advanced computational concepts approachable, intellectually grounded, and relevant to real-world scientific challenges.
Dr. Bo Li
Sports Management & Media Studies MentorDr. Bo Li
Sports Management & Media Studies Mentor
Dr. Bo Li is a Sports Management and Media Studies Mentor at Interface, where he helps students explore the intersections of sports, media, branding, and consumer behavior through academically rigorous and socially relevant research. He is an Associate Professor of Applied Psychology and Sport Management at Southern Methodist University (SMU), where his research focuses on digital media, branding, consumer behavior, and sport communication.
Dr. Li has published more than 40 peer-reviewed academic articles in leading journals and previously worked extensively in sports journalism and media, covering more than 100 major international sporting events, including the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups. His work bridges academic research and industry practice, giving students a rare perspective on how media, psychology, communication, and commercial strategy shape the global sports landscape.
At Interface, Dr. Li mentors students interested in sports management, journalism, branding, marketing, social media research, and interdisciplinary social science inquiry. He is known for helping students combine intellectual rigor with contemporary cultural relevance, guiding them toward research and projects that are analytically strong, globally informed, and meaningfully differentiated.
Mark London Williams
Creative Writing & Storytelling MentorMark London Williams
Creative Writing & Storytelling Mentor
Mark London Williams is a Creative Writing and Storytelling Mentor at Interface, where he helps students develop clear, imaginative, and distinctive writing across the application process and beyond. He holds a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California and graduated with high honors in Drama from the University of California, Berkeley.
A prolific writer and content creator, Mark has published across genre fiction, graphic novels, film journalism, and interactive media. He is the founder of the independent digital imprint Trickster Ink and a longtime columnist for British Cinematographer, covering Hollywood, the Oscars, and the film industry. His experience extends into interactive entertainment, where he has contributed to scripts and story development for major Activision titles.
As an educator, Mark has developed and taught writing courses at Disney's Creative Academy and has instructed fiction writing at Sewanee's Young Writers Conference and multiple California State University programs. He is known for helping students combine genuine imagination with the narrative craft required to make their voice land with clarity and impact.
Junyi Zhang
Computer Science & Project Management MentorJunyi Zhang
Computer Science & Project Management Mentor
Junyi Zhang is a Computer Science and Project Management Mentor at Interface, where she guides students in understanding how technology drives real-world impact and helps them develop the analytical thinking and practical skills needed to succeed in competitive programs. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and brings extensive experience in digital transformation and enterprise project management.
At GE Healthcare, she led four multi-million dollar IT projects across cross-functional teams, earning five CIO Awards for her leadership. She has since worked as a project manager and consultant on digital strategy for high-net-worth clients and enterprise partners, including leading an AI-enabled customer service initiative that reduced frontline workload by 20% and serving as a core consultant on Johnson & Johnson's Surgery Data Governance Program.
She holds certifications as a Scrum Master (CSM) and DCMM Data Management Associate. She is known for her structured, systems-oriented approach and her ability to connect technical concepts to broader business and social outcomes.
Yahan Wang
Arts Administration & Economics MentorYahan Wang
Arts Administration & Economics Mentor
Yahan Wang is an Arts Administration and Economics Mentor at Interface, where she helps students working at the intersection of creative practice and academic inquiry develop research depth, narrative clarity, and work that is both intellectually grounded and genuinely impactful. She holds a Master's degree in Visual Arts Administration from New York University and a B.A. in Economics, Art History, and Visual Arts from Sarah Lawrence College.
As Sales Operations Associate at Artnet's New York headquarters, Yahan has managed over 40 branded digital campaigns for galleries, artists, auction houses, and advisors. She has led curatorial projects at Museum 54 across Shanghai and New York, overseeing the full arc of exhibition management from artist coordination and logistics to media strategy. Her advisory experience includes work at The Fine Art Group and nAscent Art New York, where her curated artwork selection was ultimately chosen by a hotel client — a distinction held by only two other interns in the prior decade.
Her digital artwork has been featured in Vogue China, and she has organized TEDx events, demonstrating the range and discipline she brings to interdisciplinary creative work.
Qiyuan Cheng (Kevin)
Computer Science & Product Innovation MentorQiyuan Cheng (Kevin)
Computer Science & Product Innovation Mentor
Kevin Cheng is a Computer Science and Product Innovation Mentor at Interface, where he helps students explore how their technical interests can connect to meaningful career paths and long-term personal values. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Duke University and is a Senior Software Engineer and technical lead at Meta, where he builds products that empower creators and businesses across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Kevin is particularly focused on the full product lifecycle — from concept through execution — and brings both an engineering and strategic perspective to his mentorship. He believes that sustainable careers in technology are built not just on technical skill, but on a genuine understanding of purpose and direction.
Outside of his work at Meta, Kevin has spent years leading an original-music rock band in the San Francisco Bay Area and exploring questions at the intersection of spirituality, philosophy, and science. He is known for his thoughtful, values-driven approach to mentoring students navigating the transition into the tech industry.
Heidi Zhang
Artificial Intelligence & NLP MentorHeidi Zhang
Artificial Intelligence & NLP Mentor
Heidi Zhang is an Artificial Intelligence and NLP Mentor at Interface, where she helps students interested in AI, data science, and emerging technology build strong academic foundations, pursue meaningful research, and present themselves with clarity in competitive applications. She is a software engineer at Google DeepMind, where she works on the training and evaluation of large-scale language models, including Gemini.
Heidi holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University, where she conducted NLP research under Professors Dan Jurafsky and Monica Lam and served as a teaching assistant for Stanford's NLP course. She completed her undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, graduating with honors while triple-majoring in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Cognitive Science, and Computer Science.
Her research has been published at ACL, EMNLP, NAACL, COLM, and TMLR, covering AI alignment and safety, factuality, dataset quality evaluation, and hallucination mitigation in large language models. She has contributed to the Gemini Canvas platform and multiple AI product features at Google, and previously interned at Bard, YouTube, and Google Play. She is known for her ability to make complex technical concepts accessible and for helping students find clear direction in a rapidly evolving field.
Aaron Wang
Medicine & Life Sciences MentorAaron Wang
Medicine & Life Sciences Mentor
Aaron Wang is a Medicine and Life Sciences Mentor at Interface, where he guides students in building structured academic and research pathways toward medical school and long-term goals in the life sciences. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the University of Melbourne, and holds a B.S. from Vanderbilt University, where he graduated with Highest Honors in Biological Sciences and double-majored in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Psychology.
Aaron brings over two years of research experience from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he worked on Alzheimer's-related studies involving data automation, rodent surgeries, and biochemical assays. His research was recognized at institutional fairs and published in Neurobiology of Disease. He has served as a Learning Assistant for undergraduate science courses in Genetics and General Chemistry, and volunteered in the Emergency Department, gaining direct clinical experience.
With firsthand experience navigating medical school applications in both the United States and Australia, Aaron offers a distinctive and practical perspective on cross-border pre-med pathways. He is known for his calm, structured approach and his ability to help students develop both the academic profile and the long-term clarity needed to move forward with confidence.
Announcements
As Hughes observes:
“There is a thinker whose work I return to often, Iain McGilchrist, who has spent his career demonstrating that we have built a civilization oriented almost entirely around one hemisphere’s way of knowing, analytical, technical, controlling, and that we have done so at extraordinary cost to the qualities that make human beings fully human.
I see the consequences of that imbalance in the families I work with every day: children who are accomplished by every measurable standard and unequipped for everything that cannot be measured.
Interface was built to restore that balance. I have not found many organizations that understand what that means deeply enough to act on it. This one does.”
CONTACT INFO
Interface is unique among counseling services, offering a true partnership of American and global expertise. Our veteran educators have spent years as counselors, admissions officers, and teachers at
Our Locations
US Headquarters
St. Louis 167 Lamp and Lantern Village, Suite 168
Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
Office Number: (877)686-8489
- Contact: Ms. Jotene Luo
- Email: jluo@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: joteneluo0722
Beijing Office
7th FL, Tower A Sino Ocean International Center, 56 East 4th Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
- Contact: Ms. Tanya Jian
- Tel:18600027431
- Email: tj@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: 18600027431
Guangzhou Office
- Contact: Ms. Luo
- Tel: 18613108705
- Email: jluo@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: joteneluo0722
Shanghai Office
41 Chicago building 20 D, Hengshan Road, xuhui district, Office Number: 021-64226096
- Contact: Ms. Lv
- Tel: 13661598289
- Email: el@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: mengEmily
Taiwan Office
2/F, No. 97th, Dunhua South Road, Taipei, 10682 Office Number: 02-23702127
- Contact: Mr. Zhang
- Tel: 0978622960
- Email: taipei@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: StudyProLink
- Contact: Ms. Huang
- el: 0919560196
New York Office
123 3rd Ave, New York , NY 10003
- Contact: Ms. Lv
- Tel: 13661598289
- Email: el@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: mengEmily
Auckland Office
Level 2, 27 Davis Crescent Newmarket, Auckland
Office Number: 09-6230366
- Contact: Ms. Wendy Qu
- Tel: 0210342663
- Email: wq@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
Vancouver Office
- Contact: Ms. Tanya Jian
- Email: tj@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: 18600027431
Toronto Office
- Contact: Ms. Tanya Jian
- Email: tj@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: 18600027431
Seattle Office
- Contact: Ms. Jotene Luo
- Tel: 18613108705
- Email: jluo@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- WeChat: joteneluo0722
Bay Area Office
- Contact: Mr. Yu
- Tel: 626-517-6211
- Email: yl@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
Texas Office
2500 Wilcrest Drive, Suite 300, Houston, TX, 77042, USA
- Contact: Ms. Jotene Luo
- Tel: 18613108705
- Email: jluo@darkviolet-penguin-783955.hostingersite.com
- Wechat: joteneluo0722
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Understanding Interface
What is Interface, and what makes it different from other advisors?
Interface is a developmental advisory firm serving families of means who want more than admissions results. We work at the intersection of college counseling, human development, and family alignment. We build the internal architecture that determines how a young person thinks, decides, and sustains motivation over time.
Most providers intervene when problems appear. Interface is designed to prevent them. We do not optimize resumes or manage outcomes in isolation. We build capacity before it is needed, so that the outcomes — academic, professional, personal — are the result of genuine readiness rather than external scaffolding.
Our work is longitudinal, developmental, and integrated. That is the difference.
What is generational development, and how is it different from college counseling?
Generational development is the structured cultivation of human, social, and financial readiness over time. It ensures that a young person can think independently, sustain motivation, and carry responsibility long after external structures fall away.
College counseling is one moment in that journey. We view college admissions as one important milestone within a much longer process of personal development.
What problem are you solving for high-achieving families?
Families of means do not struggle with access. They struggle with alignment. Opportunity expands faster than readiness.
This creates a predictable pattern:
- High achievement without direction
- Motivation driven externally rather than internally
- Identity tied to performance instead of purpose
Over time, this gap produces drift, disengagement, or quiet instability. Interface exists to close that gap before it compounds.
Do you still provide elite college admissions support?
Yes, Interface provides highly personalized college admissions guidance informed by nearly two decades of experience successfully supporting students applying to the world’s most selective colleges and universities. That experience remains a core part of our work and informs how we guide students and families today.
We advise on every part of the process with precision:
- school selection and positioning
- academic and extracurricular strategy
- essay and narrative development
- Interview preparation and final decision support
Our students are consistently admitted to top institutions globally.
What distinguishes Interface is not whether we deliver results. It is how we get there.
We do not assemble applications at the last minute. We build them over time, with intention, so that every part of a student’s profile reflects clear thinking and direction.
The outcome is a strong admissions result and a student who knows why they are there.
B. Who we serve
Who are Interface’s clients?
We serve families through their children’s learning journey, from self-discovery and finding purpose and passion to becoming independent young adults. We emphasized three pillars of development:
- Academic Interest – Identifying and deepening core subject passion.
- Social Awareness & Impact – Exploring self-identity, what he wants to do with his life, and how he sees the world.
- Emotional Maturity – Demonstrating personal growth and self-awareness
What age range do you work with?
Families who begin working with Interface years before the college admissions process begins see the greatest results.
By age 12, many core patterns, such as motivation, identity, and responses to pressure, are already forming.
Families begin at different stages:
- Ages 3–13: Parent guidance and early development
- Ages 13–18: Development alongside academics and admissions
- Ages 18–35: Direction, leadership, and long-term decisions
Earlier allows for a more proactive approach. Later focuses on thoughtful realignment.
That all said, it is never too late to start with Interface.
Do you work with parents as well as students?
The best outcomes start when Interface develops a deep relationship with both the students and their parents because development does not happen in isolation.
In high-performing families, many patterns that shape motivation and resilience are reinforced at home.
We work with parents to:
- Strengthen communication and trust
- Reduce performance-driven pressure
- Build environments that support independence
When the family system evolves alongside the individual, outcomes stabilize.
C. Our Process
How does working with Interface actually look like?
Each engagement is customized based on the student’s age, goals, developmental stage, and family priorities. Students engage in a structural developmental process that includes:
- Assessment of strengths, motivations, and developmental gaps
- One-on-one advisory
- Experiential learning in real-world environments
- Family alignment through parent coaching
Rather than focusing on isolated milestones, Interface is designed as a long-term developmental partnership that evolves alongside the student, deepening as their responsibilities, environments, and sense of self become more complex.
Are you virtual or in-person?
Interface is a distributed firm with counselors and writing coaches serving families across U.S. time zones and internationally. Our ongoing advisory work is conducted virtually, allowing us to work with families regardless of geography without reducing quality.
We also host live events throughout the year, and always welcome the opportunity to meet in person when possible.
How long do engagements typically last?
Duration varies by program and need. Our core programs include:
- College admissions support: Typically 1–4 years, beginning as early as 9th grade
- Rising-gen development: Customized, ranging from one year to multi-year engagements
- Thrive program: A focused one-year program for students entering college, designed to build independence and direction before they arrive
We will recommend an appropriate duration after an initial conversation about your family’s needs and your child’s current developmental level.
How are students matched with their advisors?ll provide elite college admissions support?
Matching is thoughtful and deliberate. We consider a range of factors, including academic interests, extracurricular profile, current school context, developmental stage, and personal goals. From there, we identify advisors and mentors within our network who have the specific expertise, track record, and temperament to support that student well.
The relationship between a student and their advisor is central to the work. We take the match seriously.
What does Interface cost?
Engagements are priced based on the scope, duration, and specific services involved. Because each family’s situation is different, we do not publish a standard rate — the appropriate structure and investment level becomes clear through an initial conversation.
We are happy to discuss what fits your family’s needs and goals. Please reach out to schedule a call.
D. Our Differences and Admission Results
How is Interface different from other advisors or coaches?
Most college counselors focus on the application. Interface focuses on the students, we support who they are becoming, not just what they have done. We prepare them for a life of meaning, value, and purpose.
While most providers optimize resumes or manage outcomes in isolation.We build the internal architecture that determines how a young person:
- Makes decisions under pressure
- Sustains motivation without external force
- Navigates complexity over time
Because our work begins years before the application, we are not filling in gaps at the last minute. By the time a student sits down to write their essays, their narrative is already clear, their profile is already coherent, and their reasoning is already developed.Our work is longitudinal, developmental, and integrated.
How do you measure success?
At the same time, we look beyond where a student is admitted to how they are prepared to operate once they arrive.
Admissions outcomes are an important indicator, and we deliver them consistently. But we look beyond where a student is admitted to how prepared they are to operate once they arrive and long after.
For us, success looks like a student who:
- Knows why they are at the institution they chose
- Can sustain motivation without external pressure
- Makes decisions that reflect their own values and direction
- Builds relationships and navigates complexity with genuine confidence
The admissions result is the opening chapter. We are interested in the whole arc.
What are Interface’s Admission Results?
For the Class of 2026, Interface received 26 Ivy League offers from 60 applicants, with 49 students receiving offers from Top 15 institutions. Over the past decade, we have accumulated approximately 240 Ivy League offers.
These results are not incidental. They are the by-product of a long-term, intentional approach to developing students.