Kalin began her career in the education industry as an ESL tutor, helping South Korean young adults and professionals improve their English skills. After graduating from college, she leveraged her Spanish proficiency to teach English in the Spanish Canary Islands. She found her knack for college admissions when she advised two of her South Korean students on applying to top U.S. graduate programs, resulting in their acceptance to prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, NYU, Columbia, and Northeastern. Building on this experience, Kalin expanded her expertise by taking on roles as a tutor for the ACT, AP courses, and academic writing. She also served as a Capstone Advisor for a leading international admissions consulting firm, eventually finding her place as a full-time College Coach with ESM Prep.

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With a 5-7 year age gap between herself and her three younger sisters, Kalin has always had a natural talent for mentorship, even serving as an orientation leader for three consecutive years in college. Kalin takes a deeply interpersonal approach to college coaching, focusing on building meaningful, long-term relationships with her students. She strives to understand them as whole individuals—not just as students or applicants, but as complex and multifaceted humans—and cheers them on every step of the way.

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Kalin was born and raised Lexington, Kentucky, a mid-sized city known for its equestrian heritage, accomplished college basketball team, and surprisingly diverse culinary scene. After living abroad in Spain, she moved to New York City for its fast-paced energy and excitement. Her greatest passion is world travel—she has visited 15 countries in the past 3 years, and loves to try new local foods, meet new people, and learn about other cultures. In her day-to-day, she enjoys exploring New York's world-renowned food scene, cooking savory meals, going to the gym, and creating abstract paintings. She also enjoys hosting friends in her Brooklyn apartment, taking peaceful nature walks, and dancing.