Arella is committed to guiding students through a personalized admissions journey with strategy and patience, empowering them to confidently showcase their most authentic selves. She provides expert clarity and support through individual student meetings, alleviating the stress of the college application process for the entire family.

Location:
San Diego, California

Education:
MS and PPS, School Counseling, San Diego State University
BS, Psychology, San Diego State University

Bio:
Arella is a highly accomplished College and Career Counselor with a robust academic foundation in the behavioral sciences and educational leadership. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from San Diego State University, where she also completed her Master of Science in School Counseling. Arella’s academic tenure at SDSU was marked by significant hands-on experience, including serving as an advisor for the Psychology Department—where she guided students in selecting major-specific coursework and navigating graduate program admissions—as well as roles as an undergraduate research assistant and a graduate teaching assistant. This diverse background has equipped her with a deep understanding of the psychological and administrative nuances of student development and higher education.

With years of dedicated experience as a school counselor, Arella has consistently guided students through the complexities of the college application process. Her counseling approach is significantly enhanced by her specialized expertise as a former application reader for the University of California, Irvine. This “insider” perspective allows her to provide students with invaluable insights into the specific qualities and narratives that elite admissions committees prioritize, ensuring her scholars are positioned as competitive and compelling candidates.

In addition to her general admissions expertise, Arella possesses a niche focus on highly selective medical pathways. She provides expert guidance to students aspiring to enter the medical field, specifically helping them navigate the rigorous requirements of direct medical programs (BS/MD) and traditional medical school admissions. Arella is committed to empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals to achieve their goals.

Student Placements:
At Moon Prep, we take pride in our students’ impressive acceptances and are honored to be part of their journey. Below is a selection of schools and programs that Arella is familiar with through her advising experience, along with some recent acceptances.

BS/MD & BS/DO Programs: 

1. Virginia Commonwealth University – Guaranteed Admission Program (BS/MD)
2. New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) – BS/MD Program with New Jersey Medical School
3. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – RPI/Albany Medical College Physician-Scientist Program 
4. Stony Brook University – Scholars for Medicine Program
5. New York Institute of Technology – Combined B.S./D.O. Program
6. Case Western Reserve University – Pre-Professional Scholars Program (Medicine)
7. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – RPI/Albany Medical College Physician-Scientist Program
8. Brown University – Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME)
9. Rutgers University – Newark – BA/MD Program with New Jersey Medical School

Undergraduate Schools:

1. Stanford University 
2. Harvard University
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
4. Yale University
5. Columbia University 
6. Wesleyan University
7. New York University
8. University of California, Berkeley
9. University of California, Los Angeles 
10. University of California, San Diego
11. University of California, Irvine 
12. University of California, Santa Barbara
13. University of California, Davis
14. University of California, Santa Cruz
15. University of Southern California