Maria Guryeva
The Founder of StudyAmerica

My experience has given me a deep understanding of the specifics of American education. I know exactly how to gain admission to the Ivy League as an international student, both from my personal experience and through the success stories of my students. I am excited to share this knowledge with you.

After finishing 11th grade, I was accepted to five US universities, including Northwestern University (ranked in the top 20), where I received $20,000 in financial aid. Initially, I chose to study at a university in my hometown, but during my second year, I transferred to Columbia University through a transfer program.
While at Columbia, I conducted interviews with admissions officers from Columbia, Yale, Harvard, and MIT, as well as with Ivy League students, to understand their paths to admission. After completing my undergraduate degree, I continued my education with graduate studies at UC Berkeley, Northwestern University, and Temple University.
This extensive experience has given me in-depth knowledge of the admissions process for undergraduate, graduate, PhD, and transfer programs. My expertise is proven by the success of my students, who have gained admission to top US universities at all these levels. If your goal is to join one of the best universities in the USA, regardless of the program, I will provide you with expert guidance every step of the way.

I prepared for all these tests on my own, without any tutoring. This experience allowed me to identify the most challenging aspects of each test and develop strategies to overcome them, ultimately achieving such high scores. Based on this, I created my own approach to teaching these exams, which has proven highly effective for all my students. Some of them passed these exams even better than I did.

In 2009, I received a teaching certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and completed coursework in teaching theory at Lomonosov Moscow State University. Additionally, I have earned certifications in Teaching, Academic English, and Innovative Technologies in Education from prestigious institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, Duke University, UC Irvine, UC Davis, SUNY, Johns Hopkins University, the University of New South Wales (Australia), and Commonwealth Education, graduating with honors. I have also lectured and taught courses at EducationUSA. When you work with me, you can be sure that you are collaborating with a dedicated and highly qualified professional.

I studied journalism at Moscow State University, Columbia, and in Brussels. This education greatly contributed to my professional expertise because one of the most important elements in the application is an essay, and knowing how to tell your story well can give students a real advantage in getting admitted. At Columbia University, I focused on mastering English writing and learning the techniques American journalists use to grab the reader’s attention and keep them engaged until the very last word. I adore these techniques, and crafting essays with students is my favorite part of the job. During this process, I always demonstrate my ability to understand and connect with the student, notice the smallest details, and then turn them into a story with nothing superfluous, one that captivates and inspires the reader. And my love of the English language and perfectionism will bring this story to perfection. Whatever your story is, I will definitely "find it" in our conversations, and help make a real masterpiece out of it.

I received grants from Touro University in the 9th grade for free tuition in New York. I was also awarded grants from Northwestern University for both undergraduate and graduate studies, Columbia University for an exchange program, and the Institute of Journalism in Brussels in 2014. Additionally, I was placed on the reserve list for the prestigious Chevening Fellowship. Using my experience, I can help you craft a strong application that stands out and secures funding. Many of my students have successfully won scholarships such as Fulbright, UGRAD, FLEX, as well as awards from Yale University, NYU, and many other top programs.