Sofia Zapiola

I founded College Application Advising with Sofia Zapiola because I believe the college application process should be accessible to all students. In this role, I assist families with all aspects of the college application process- from choosing colleges and test scores to essays and financial aid.

At EY (formerly Ernst&Young) I helped execute campus recruiting strategy for the Minneapolis, Des Moines and Chicago offices for a short-term contract, ensuring we achieved our hiring goals for internship and full-time entry level positions.
I coordinated candidate interviews, facilitated job offers, and managed onboarding processes.
I also planned and coordinated EY's presence at campus activities & job fairs as well as internship program activities.

I provided freelance services to friends and family members advising high school seniors on their college applications.

The Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, CA is a hub for the Silicon Valley Jewish community, with 15,000+ visitors per week. I supported the Development team in surpassing our goals to raise $6 million in one fiscal year. I processed cash, pledges, credit cards, stock, wire transfers and other gifts and ensured all gifts were acknowledged in a timely manner.I also planned and executed donor receptions and events including drafting invitations, managing guest list, coordinating with vendors and overseeing event set up and clean up. Notable events include TEDxPaloAlto and the OFJCC Annual Benefit.

As a student at the University of Minnesota, I assisted with the behind-the-scenes operations of the admissions office including applicant tracking and data entry for the admissions counselors and planning for large-scale admissions events with over 1000 attendees.

I was trained by school counselors to assist peers with college applications, resume creation, job searches, and financial aid forms every school day during our tutorial period. I also communicated with college admissions reps and arranged campus visits and presentations.