With a combined 22 years in college admissions and 20 years in education…

We bring extensive experience to helping students navigate their academic journeys. Unlike many consultants who enter college advising from other industries, our team all have backgrounds as educators. We understand the South Bay's academic landscape and are committed to getting to know each student, helping them identify their needs and figuring out how to best support them.

Whether you're applying to colleges or seeking better grades in school, we have the experience to help your student attain their goals. Our team's foundation in education sets us apart, ensuring a student-centered approach that prioritizes individual needs and academic success.

Nick Dawes

Founder

My experience with education was different growing up. My parents taught elementary school and middle- and high-school Math and Science. My aunt and uncle also taught in the Fremont Union High School District, and my aunt and cousin both currently teach Science in the Bay Area. I grew up seeing school from both sides of the teacher’s desk, and my parents knew my teachers—really knew them, as colleagues. For my part, I attended the University of California, Davis and majored in History and Philosophy. I then became a substitute teacher in Cupertino and Campbell while attending San Francisco State University to attain my MA in History, where I also edited an academic journal, published my own writing, gave lectures on campus, and tutored college students in their History classes.

After graduating, I worked for C2 Education for five years providing SAT and ACT prep help, college admissions guidance, and AP course and test support. After that, I transitioned into a private-school classroom at Stratford Schools for another five years teaching English while continuing to work with students on college and private high-school admissions. I am also a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and the Western Association of College Admissions Counselors (WACAC).

As a lifelong learner, I have been teaching myself different sports and languages. I’m currently learning Mandarin (after already learning French, Japanese, and Latin). In order to get outdoors and practice mindfulness, I learned to shoot a bow, and I now compete in target archery, traveling to LA, Sacramento, and the Central Valley for state-wide and national tournaments. I am also learning to golf.

I have a lovely Taiwanese-American wife who teaches second and third grade and a vocal, energetic Pit-Bull Terrier named Nami whom we adopted from the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. When we’re not teaching, my wife and I love traveling, trying out the diversity of delicious food in the Bay Area, camping among the redwoods, or going to the drive-in with our puppy to catch a movie.

experience and qualifications

• MA from San Francisco State University

• College Admissions Counseling & Career Planning Certification from UC Berkeley

• Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), and the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC).

• Scored above the 95th percentile on the SAT2400 and the SAT1600

OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS

To continue offering personalized, high-quality academic support, Dawes Academics partners with experienced educators who bring deep expertise in their subject areas. Meet the newest members of our team:

Shira Klein — College Advisor

Hey everyone, I'm Shira Klein! I've been a school counselor for over a decade, helping students get ready for what's next after high school. I have master's degrees in Special Education and Counseling, plus credentials and a certificate in College Counseling from UCLA Extension.

My passion is helping students create a solid academic foundation, discover their interests, and navigate the college application process without feeling overwhelmed. We'll work together, one step at a time, to get you prepared for the future—you've got this!

KATY CHRISTIE — Math Tutor

Hey everyone, I'm Katy Christie, and I'm so happy to be part of the Dawes team! I'm a math tutor with years of experience as a high school math teacher. I think math is awesome because it's like a giant puzzle, and I try to share that excitement with my students while helping them build their confidence.

I explain concepts from Algebra, Geometry, and even more advanced math topics using visuals and by building on what students already know. My goal is to help students understand the reasoning behind each problem, not just rely on memorization.

I've worked in education for a long time, including developing and improving the Calculus curriculum at RSM. I can help with everything from elementary math through Calculus—but please, no Statistics!

FATIMA Khoogar — Math Tutor

For over ten years, I've been helping students succeed in math. I have a Master's in Statistics, plus experience as a teacher, tutor, and youth leader. At the Russian School of Mathematics, I taught classes from Algebra and Geometry all the way through AP Calculus for more than six years, and I even started the Calculus program at the San Jose center!

Before RSM, I taught all levels of high school math at a local private school. I like to tailor each tutoring session to what my students need, helping them build confidence and understand the concepts for the long term.

I also use my experience as a Data Scientist and Data Analyst to show students how math is used in real life, helping them see why it's important. Seeing my students succeed is the most rewarding part of teaching for me.