Partner with Raji Kannan
College counseling and high school research mentorship
Personalized one-on-one coaching
Email: contact@collegeraji.com
About Raji
Background
I am Raji Kannan, and I have a master's in computer engineering from Bits Pilani, India, and a certificate in college counseling from UC Berkeley Extension. I established the first computational imaging research lab in India. For 17 years, my work involved designing cameras and algorithms, augmented reality devices, and consumer products. I came to the US a decade ago to cofound LensBricks and launch Kiba, a home video camera, which won several awards at CES. I enjoy doing research and have several patents in the computational imaging area. I also have research experience working with top scientists at MIT Media Lab, Rice University, Nokia Research Center, Intel, and Meta (Augmented Reality). At MIT Media Lab, we worked on high-speed monoline cameras, and at Meta, my team and I worked on hand tracking and SLAM algorithms. At Intel, we worked on IOT cameras (the Internet of Things) for smart homes. At the Nokia Research Center, my team worked on light-field imaging, 3D cameras, spatial audio, and camera algorithms.
I quit my corporate career in December 2018. In the last 5 years, my students have been successfully admitted to several Top 50 colleges and UCs. Math is my favorite subject, and I ran an after-school math competition club for 3 years at a local school. My students have won several math competitions, like AMC, MathCounts, Math League, etc. I also enjoy teaching calculus, mentoring STEM research projects, nature walks, gardening, and stock trading.
Approach
I take a holistic approach to college coaching, considering each student's academic, personal, and extracurricular achievements when creating a customized plan. Not only do I assist students in gaining college acceptance, but I also aim to position them for success after they have arrived at college.
Services
I offer a variety of services including college counseling, college selection, application review, standardized test prep (math only), essay brainstorming, and interview coaching. Because of my STEM research background, I love helping students excel in STEM competitions, find their passion, get into competitive summer programs and publish research papers. I am available to meet with students virtually, and offer flexible scheduling to accommodate busy students and families. From June 15th to August 15th I am co-hosting a high school summer research boot camp for those interested in journal publications.
Testimonials
Mellisa & Dave
Swapna Doddapaneni
Swapna Doddapaneni
"We are incredibly grateful to Raji for her invaluable assistance in guiding our senior daughter Michelle through the daunting college application process. Raji's unwavering patience and dedication were evident as she meticulously reviewed Michelle's essays, offering insightful feedback that undoubtedly contributed to her acceptance into top UCs and Stanford. Beyond application review, Raji went above and beyond, offering invaluable guidance on navigating the financial aid and scholarship processes. Her accessibility and responsiveness over WhatsApp and email were truly remarkable, ensuring Michelle felt supported every step of the way. Raji's expertise and genuine care were instrumental in Michelle's success, and we cannot thank her enough."
Swapna Doddapaneni
Swapna Doddapaneni
Swapna Doddapaneni
After talking to about 8 counselors, we chose Raji to help us with the college process for our son, and it was one of the best decisions we made. From the very beginning, Raji made it her mission to understand my son's strengths, aspirations, and unique qualities. She has a unique talent for bringing out the best in kids and helping them throughout their application journey, from selecting high school courses, volunteering opportunities, research brainstorming, college list, essay help, and research guidance! In working with Raji, I am consistently impressed by her exceptional communication skills and attention to detail. She is always prompt in her responses and made sure to keep us updated on important deadlines and developments. She is truly dedicated to the success and well-being of her students, and I have no doubt that she will continue to make a significant and positive impact on the lives of those she guides through the college admissions journey. She is a great person to work with, and I would strongly recommend her services to my friends and family.You won't be disappointed if you decide on Raji.
Sravanthi Rajanala
Sravanthi Rajanala
Sravanthi Rajanala
"Raji has been an incredible support for our son, a junior at Dublin High School, over the past year. Her dedication and integrity are unmatched, and she possesses a great understanding of college requirements and internship opportunities. Raji treats every student with personalized care, as if they were her own, ensuring they receive the attention they need to succeed. Her structured approach to essay writing makes the process seamless for students. We are very happy with her guidance and wholeheartedly recommend her services."
Ramesh & Vandy
Sravanthi Rajanala
Sravanthi Rajanala
I have known Raji Kannan personally for the past 4 years . She has been a great teacher and guide to my daughter from her 9th grade to 11th grade for various subjects such as Calculus, Physics and Chemistry that showed Raji's mastery on many subjects!. She was very instrumental in setting up a good study routine for the classes and my daughter got a great sense of engagement and personal coaching through her interactions with Raji. She also was very helpful in guiding my daughter in senior year through her college admission process, especially essay writing and in developing a good profile that would appeal to the college admissions! We have been very fortunate to have met Raji and highly recommend her services to anyone eager to learn from a mentor who makes learning fun!!.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at contact@collegeraji.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The length of the college counseling process varies depending on the needs of the student. Generally, I recommend starting the process in 9th or 10th grade so I have enough time to work with the student to build a portfolio of work. This is especially suitable for younger students who don't yet know what career path or area of interest they should choose. Rising senior students can choose from various available packages as per individual need and budget.
I publish my calendar in calendly to students. The student is in charge of scheduling appointments and they decide how often we meet. Usually, its once a week, however, if there is a competition or publsih a paper, the student might book extra hours. Every summer and closer to college application season we meet more frequently. This is the time set aside to prepare for the SAT, intensive writing workshops, do a project or dive into college applications. I also understand that students have busy schedules, and I am flexible in arranging coaching sessions to accommodate their academic and extracurricular commitments.
Yes, I offer test preparation services for the SAT Math and ACT Math. I do not cover SAT English, but I can refer materials for the student to study.
Even though the Student takes the lead in the college application process, parents play an essential role in the Student's success. Parents and students can access an online journal and Google Docs, where we document experiences and track goals, tasks, and achievements. I will provide templates and examples needed for college applications in Google Drive. Parents are welcome to schedule a 30-minute Zoom meeting when required.
I only induct students interested in STEM majors. Due to my background, I believe I can add best value to students interested in research, engineering and pre-med. I enjoy mentoring students on STEM competitions, publishing research articles and papers, excelling in AP/IB subjects. My students can email me anytime for help in AP/IB science and math collegeboard exams. I also help students start their own venture or non-profit organization. I take very few students each year so I can fully devote my time to moulding their future.
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