RELAX AND REVISE
Easy edits on essays for pre-college students
OUR STAFF
Meet the Relax and Revise Instructors
MELIS AKINCI
Co-founder
Hi! I'm Melis and I will be attending Northeastern University to study Data Science and Biochemistry on the pre-med track. I am a huge advocate of writing your way into a school, especially after getting into the extremely competitive College of Computer Science despite of my lack of experience in the field. My college essays covered a myriad of my passions and I can help you showcase a wide array of yourself in your application! One of my most integral passions is volunteering, helping people through service by organizing academic material drives, and creating clubs in support of domestic violence victims. I also spent my time shadowing at hospitals in Bangkok, where my family is from. Aside from that, I was a captain of my schools crew team and worked as a tutor. I applied to NYU, Virginia Tech, Yale, Northwestern, Brown, Stanford, and Georgetown in addition to a wide variety of schools. I'm a huge foodie and even wrote my personal statement on how I discovered my identity through cooking. If I have free time, you can find me exploring D.C. or spending time with my friends. I can't wait to help you with your application process!
MARY KURBANOV
Co-founder
Hello everyone! I am planning on attending UVA this coming fall and am super excited to be a part of this business to help all of you get into the college of your choice. Throughout high school, I enjoyed writing, learning about history, and participating in our high school theater department. I was also a copy editor in our schools newsmagazine, The Saxon Scope, which was an amazing experience that made me love journalism and all forms of media studies. I've always been interested in humanities, but I definitely have a soft spot for environmental science and biology, and am seriously considering majoring in either of those subjects. Last fall, I applied to UVA, Penn State, William and Mary, Yale, Boston University, Syracuse, NYU Tisch, and VCU. Other than school work, I love going to the beach, thrifting with my friends, making Spotify playlists, and being the loudest person in the room (which is a fact my friends can attest to). Thank you for showing an interest in Relax and Revise; I hope we can help you out!
MAYA SNYDER
Hi! I’m Maya, and I’m going to be attending Georgetown University as a Science, Technology, & International Affairs major. Other than GU, I applied to the University of Southern California, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, Pepperdine University, UChicago, UCLA, UVA, Emory, and CU Boulder. As part of my application process, I’ve had to do alumni interviews and apply using both Common App and California App (and Georgetown’s app). I also applied Restrictive Early Action to GU, so I know a bit about that. During high school, I ran track and cross country, and have experience in talking to college coaches (though I’m not doing a sport at GU). I was also part of the Saxon Writing Center and a few honors societies. A few of my hobbies are reading and watching movies (Sound of Music and Pirates of the Caribbean are my favorites), and some were even the subject of a few of my supplemental essays!
GRACE HETHERINGTON
Hi! I'm Grace! When I'm not editing your essays, you can find me riding my horses or baking the world's best oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Throughout my high school career, I took a myriad of advanced placement and honor English courses, so you can trust in my abilities to edit to your needs (and maybe give you some helpful tips to prevent against hand cramping). I am attending Wake Forest University this fall to pursue a finance degree- admittedly, not the most exciting choice! Also, I applied to Fordham, Penn State, Indiana University, Baylor University, the University of Connecticut, Villanova, New York University, and James Madison University. I hope to help you find the most creative approach to your prompts- so I'll revise, and you'll relax!
KAYLA MAGUIRE
Hi! I'm Kayla Maguire and I'll be attending Clemson University to pursue a major in International Business and Japanese with the intention to add a minor in a facet of business once I decide what I like best! Besides Clemson, I applied to UVA, U of Georgia, Miami U, Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Indiana U so I have used both the Common Application and Coalition Application systems. I'm beyond excited to attend Clemson and truly think that the university was made for me; I can't wait to help you apply to your dream school! In high school, I spent a lot of time working on our school's magazine as a reporter, Design Editor, and eventually Editor-in-Chief. Outside of school, I could usually be found in a spin class or running! I'm very into health and fitness and am a huge group fitness enthusiast! I'm very excited to work with you and hopefully make your college application process as smooth as possible!
VI TRAN
Hey guys! I’m Vi Tran, and I am going to UC Berkeley this fall. I am hoping to pursue a major in Cognitive Science or Psychology on the pre-med track. Throughout high school, I took Honors & AP classes and had so much fun participating in Broadcast Journalism, Model U.N., and medical volunteer clubs and organizations. But, like a lot of you now, I was extremely stressed out about the college admissions process. Trust me. I practically lived in my school’s College & Career Center and incessantly bugged the teachers for help. So, I know exactly the anxiety, confusion, and fear you are going through; however, I am so excited to help you guys out with this hectic process in any way I can! I applied to a total of ten schools: University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UVA, Emory University, Wash U in St. Louis, William & Mary, Case Western Reserve University, Virginia Tech, and George Mason University. After writing a bunch of CommonApp, Coalition, UC Applications, and additional supplemental essays, it’s safe to say I have grown familiar with college application essays. I am open to helping you with brainstorming essay ideas to editing your writing. Good luck everyone, and I hope to work with you soon!
CLAIRE JOHNSON
Hey, I'm Claire! Next year I'll be studying Aerospace Engineering and rowing at MIT. In high school, I ran varsity cross country for three years and did varsity crew for three years and was captain of both teams my senior year. I was recruited to row at MIT and have gone on official visits to a handful of schools, so I know a lot about college sports recruitment and would be happy to give advice about it. I applied to MIT, Caltech, UVA, U Michigan, Georgia Tech, CU Boulder, Purdue, Northeastern, U of Maryland and Colorado School of Mines. In my college essays, I wrote about my background growing up in Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Tokyo and my internship freshman, sophomore, and junior year in a Biology lab at Georgetown University. In my free time, I love baking, running, and playing guitar. I'm so excited to talk to you all very soon!
LINDA PHAN
Hi, i'm Linda! I am a first-generation low-income college student going to Pomona College to study Politics. My parents are also immigrants. I understand the obstacles that students such as myself encounter, and acknowledge that there are other obstacles that I haven’t experienced in my college application process such as being a Black or Brown student, being undocumented, being LGBTQ+, and more. I served on the Seattle Youth Commission, where I found my passion for politics and social justiceI want to serve marginalized students who may face these additional hardship in addition to the overwhelming nature of applying to colleges and want to extend my network to help college applicants connect with current college students like them to create the best application that reflects their success and struggles. Last fall, I applied to Harvard, Tufts, University of Southern California, Cornell, and many others!
EMMA FRANK
My name is Emma Frank and I will be studying Biomedical Engineering at The Ohio State University this fall! I am very excited to be pursuing both my passion for STEM and for helping people at a school in a very new place. Last year I applied to arguably too many schools and was accepted to Virginia Tech, UPitt, Northeastern, Syracuse, Union College, University of Colorado Boulder, and Clemson, to name a few. In the end, I wrote over 50 college essays, became very familiar with both the Common App and the Coalition Applications, and am now well versed in the pros and cons of various sized schools located all over the country. Besides applying to college and focusing on schoolwork, I love to hang out with my friends, attend sporting events, and stay active at school through clubs and honor societies. In addition, I am a big proponent of staying active and spending time outdoors; therefore, on weekends you can often find me working out with friends or spending a day on the water! I look forward to meeting you and can't wait to ease the stress of the college application process.
MORGAN BILLINGSLEA
Advertisement and PR Consultant
Hello! My name is Morgan Billingslea and I am the Advertisement and PR Consultant for Relax and Revise! I have played soccer my whole life, participated in Concert, Marching, and Jazz Band at Langley, love volunteering, especially for Women Giving Back and United Sound, and being silly with my dogs. I graduated with honors and participated in five honors societies at Langley. Last fall, I applied to nine schools including Dartmouth, Amherst College, Boston College, Haverford College, Connecticut College, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Vanderbilt. Next year, I am going to Penn State University and can't wait for the next four years. I'm excited to work with your editors and help make the college application process easier for you!