The Admission Algorithm

Where are you based?

I live in Montgomery County, Maryland, about 25 miles north of Washington, D.C. If you’re nearby, we can work together in person. Otherwise, we can meet virtually just as effectively.

What are your rates?

My rates depend on what services I provide. See my Services page, then send me an email letting me know what interests you. I’ll put together a proposal and we’ll go from there. My rates are competitive with mainstream college counselors, and I don’t charge more if you sign up early, like in Freshman or Sophomore year.

Why should high school students consider doing research?

Unfortunately, high school STEM curricula don’t teach students how science is done or how scientific knowledge has been discovered. The emphasis on spoon-feeding students facts and equations, then rewarding them for “not getting things wrong” on tests, is woefully insufficient for our modern world of health, environmental, and other mis- and disinformation. High schoolers are trained to be uncreative consumers of scientific knowledge. They graduate without learning what an experiment really is or how breakthrough scientific discoveries in world history were made. Doing research teaches students to think scientifically and what it means to be a producer of knowledge. Students learn what it really means to ask a research question, then design a course of action to answer it. They begin to learn what science is all about, far beyond the multiple choice questions on their unit tests! Colleges like to see that STEM applicants have done some research because it demonstrates interest, dedication, and taking intellectual risks. The growth your student will experience from Dr. Alex’s mentorship will open their eyes to the world of STEM knowledge creation. Their college applications will stand out because they will write about the experience of doing research in their essays. More importantly, they will begin college more prepared than their peers for the demands of their STEM programs.

What’s the meaning behind the name, The Admission Algorithm?

I was looking for a catchy, alliterative name that hinted at my focus on STEM students. An algorithm is a process or recipe, usually implemented in computer code. Truthfully, I don’t love some of the connotations of the name, because it could be construed that there exists a generic process to get all students into top colleges. I prefer you interpret the name as, “Dr. Alex will custom-tailor an algorithm that’s just right for my student to gain admission and succeed at a great-fit college.” A more accurate but slightly less catchy name would be, “Your Admission Algorithm.”

Does your logo represent anything?

The two As resemble two bell curves. Customers can think of The Admission Algorithm as improving their chances of gaining admission to a great-fit college by increasing their “admissibility score.” The curve on the left represents the general population or my students on Day 1, and the curve on the right represents my students at program completion.

What kinds of projects has Dr. Alex worked on in his STEM career?

I’ve worked on mostly non-medical biotechnology. My PhD training and thesis work specialized in genetically engineering bacteria to make chemicals similar to but structurally different than molecules found in nature. For a couple of years at DuPont, I worked on the Butamax bio-butanol joint venture. Our large team of over 100 people re-engineered the metabolism of yeast so it converted sugar into butanol, a four-carbon biofuel, instead of ethanol, the two-carbon product it naturally produces. I was the lead inventor on this patent, which was about making genetic changes to a key enzyme in the butanol pathway so it worked much better in yeast.
I also worked at a company that makes immunoassays and was fortunate to have developed a whole family of products including this “panel” of 7 assays that are still on the market.
I’ve been fortunate to be able to publish some of my technical work.
For students who select a research project topic outside my areas of expertise, I will add a secondary technical mentor in the project at no extra cost to ensure the project proceeds smoothly and the student (and I) learn everything we need to be successful.

Got a different question? We’d love to hear it! Contact us and we’ll get right back to you.

info@admissionalgorithm.com