Meet Emily
Emily Perez, Ph.D. has spent over two decades guiding students and families through one of the most consequential decisions of their lives.
Emily’s path through elite education informs every aspect of her work at Lodestar. After graduating from Princeton University, where she majored in English Literature, she spent several years working in educational publishing in New York City. She subsequently earned her doctorate in Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California. While teaching at the university level across multiple institutions, she also served as an alumni interviewer for Princeton.
Years as a scholar, faculty member, and interviewer inside some of the most rigorous academic environments in the country gives Emily a perspective on higher education that most consultants simply don't have. She brings that perspective to every client, combining deep expertise in the admissions landscape with genuine warmth and a commitment to finding the right fit. Over the past two decades, her clients have earned admission to the most selective universities in the world.
FAQ
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Acceptance rates at selective institutions have reached historic lows, and the expectations placed on applicants have never been higher. Admissions is an industry with its own logic, its own unwritten rules, and its own rapid shifts from year to year; following it closely enough to advise well is itself a full-time undertaking. Most families encounter this process only a few times and are asked to make consequential decisions without the context that makes those decisions legible. A skilled consultant closes that gap. Beyond strategy, the right guidance brings structure and calm to a process that otherwise generates considerable anxiety.
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Over more than two decades, Emily's clients have earned admission to some of the most selective universities in the world, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, MIT, and Columbia, among many others. A full list is available on the Results page.
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Emily works with every client personally: no handoffs, no junior staff, no templates. Her background is genuinely unusual for this field. A Princeton undergraduate degree, a doctorate from USC, and early-career experience in rigorous editorial environments together form a combination of academic formation, editorial expertise, and more than twenty years of one-on-one advising that is rare in this industry. The result is an application that reflects a real person rather than a curated performance.
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Every engagement begins with a comprehensive 60-minute consultation, during which Emily assesses the student's profile, answers questions, and begins developing a tailored plan of action. From there, the scope and cadence of work is shaped by grade level and the student's individual needs. All sessions are conducted one-on-one with Emily directly, in person or remotely.
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No. Emily works with students across a wide range of profiles and goals, from those targeting the most selective institutions in the world to students seeking the college that is simply the right fit for who they are. She also has extensive experience with transfer and graduate applicants as well as international students of all levels.
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No two students' needs are the same, and a standardized package rarely serves them well. Emily designs a fully customized plan for each client based on grade level, timeline, and goals. Fees are discussed directly and transparently during the initial consultation.
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More questions are welcome! The Contact page includes a brief intake form that takes only a few minutes to complete, and gives Emily the context she needs to respond thoughtfully to all inquiries.