We’re so pumped about our conversation with Osazi Al Khaliq. Osazi is a College Admission Coach and is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from spreading the word about the work that we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on content like this. Check out our conversation with Osazi below.
Osazi, it’s been too long since we last connected. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with our community again. Some readers might have missed our prior conversations, so maybe you can kick things off for us with a quick intro?
My name is Osazi Al Khaliq. I am an undergraduate student at Harvard University and a college admission coach from Atlanta, Georgia. My consulting business, Osazi College Coach, helps students and their families understand the nuances of the college application process, what admissions committees are looking for, and how students can best position themselves to gain admission to their top-choice schools. By providing personalized instruction to fit each of my client’s needs and goals, students of mine are positioned to maximize their acceptances into elite universities. My past clients have gained admission and full rides to Harvard, Yale, Duke, and more.
What have you accomplished since we last spoke?
Last time we spoke, I was still getting used to having my own consulting business. At that time, I was transitioning from working as a college admission coach through a nonprofit to developing my own business. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to work one on one with numerous clients. My first client, Madison Webb, was a student from Langston Hughes High School who told me of her ambitions to attend Harvard University. At our first consultation, I told her that by the end of my coaching not only would she gain admission to Harvard but also that she would gain a full ride. Fast forward a couple of months, not only did she gain admission to Harvard, Duke, and Vanderbilt among other top schools, but she was also selected as a Questbridge finalist and a Ron Brown Scholar. Having this success has enabled me to continue to work with other students and help them attend their dream schools.
Apart from my consulting, my proudest accomplishment has been incorporating public speaking into my coaching. Madison and I both were able to perform our college application essay’s and share them publicly. It was gratifying and humbling to see all the positive responses that we got and inspirational messages of support. All of it goes to show the importance of public speaking and narrative as a skill and art form.
You mentioned the importance of public speaking in your coaching. Could you talk more about why you chose that method?
What I want my clients and individuals at large to understand is that, successful college admission coaching teaches and prepares students to be successful beyond the classroom. Getting my clients into top universities is only half of my coaching. Giving my clients the tools to be successful on campus and develop into thought leaders is the real goal and finish line. I have found that teaching public speaking is the most effective tool one can use to achieve that pursuit. I chose public speaking because it is a skill as much as it is an art form. On one hand, public speaking can help students understand and reflect upon who they are and where they come from. On the other hand, public speaking can also be a tool to inspire, voice issues, as well as connect with others. Through my consulting, I give each client that I work with the option of performing a rendition of their college application essay. I have found that the ones who do so not only become more confident but also more self-assured.
What has been the impact of your work on your community?
Every day, I am honored to be able to engage in work that reflects positively upon where I come from. When I decided to perform the college application essay that got me accepted into Harvard, I chose to film at Maynard Jackson High School, the school I attended. It was such a full circle moment for me to be able to do so because at Maynard were the teachers, friends, and community members who believed and invested in me. Performing my college essay at Maynard Jackson was symbolic of my love for the school, and my pride being a part of the Maynard Jackson community. I wanted my performance to show that I will always remember where I come from and that I will continue to represent my community as best I can.
After sharing my public speaking video on social media, one of my high school teachers immediately reached out to me to tell me how proud she was. That was the most gratifying moment for me because it signified that my community was watching and that they cared. I want to create more of those moments for myself where I am able to impact my community positively. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most.
Thank you so much again for sharing all of this with us. Before we go, can you share with our readers how they can connect with you, learn more or show support?
For those who are interested in my services, I can be reached at my website: Osazicollegecoach.com. You can also find me on Instagram at Osazicollegecoach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.osazicollegecoach.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osazi-al-khaliq-267346157/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/osazi_alkhaliq?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC15GiXRnxdEgKFrZjK3snaw/featured
