Hello!

I'm Ringae Nuek, a product designer and a college admissions consultant.

Design taught me how to build effective solutions to real problems. Admissions consulting taught me how colleges evaluate students, and how students can choose the right colleges and make their case to them. My 1:1 work and Waysmith Advisor both come from that mix.

About me

Product designer

I spent 20+ years as a product design consultant for clients including Samsung, Nokia and the BBC. Good design starts with finding out what people need. Then you build, test and refine.

I counsel students the same way. Waysmith Advisor got the same treatment: it's built on my own process, tested and refined until it now generates the lists I'd make.

Third culture kid

By 18, I had lived in six countries and attended four international schools. I chose both my colleges sight unseen, each in a country I'd never lived in. I know how much research goes into choosing a college, and how much of it is still a leap of faith.

Parent

As a mother of teenagers, I know how this process can play out at home. I let students own their search, and I give parents a clear plan. I'll be the one asking about essays and deadlines.

College admissions consultant

I advise students one-on-one and volunteer with ScholarMatch, helping low-income and first-generation students apply to college. I've interviewed applicants for Tufts, my alma mater. I hold a Certificate in College Admissions Counseling from UC Berkeley and belong to HECA and IECA. I'm based in San Francisco and work with students across the US.

BA, International Relations
Tufts University

MA, Interaction Design
Domus Academy (Italy)

Certificate, College Counseling
UC Berkeley

METHODOLOGY

A fit-first approach

A methodology I adapted from years as a designer and user researcher. It's the backbone behind both the Waysmith Advisor app and my 1:1 work.

Explore Waysmith Advisor

See 1:1 Counseling

Start with self-knowledge

Good decisions require self-awareness. We use exercises to find patterns in what energizes your student, what they value, and where their strengths lie.

Let research drive strategy

Rankings only tell you so much. We dig into what each college values and how that shows up in students' daily lives, so you can see where your student fits best.

Articulate real alignment

Strong applications demonstrate fit. We tell your student's story, connecting it to each college's values. We're articulating alignment, not manufacturing it.

It's 4 years, not just getting in

You can prototype the college experience before you get there. We sketch out pathways for courses, activities, and goals, so real opportunities drive the choice.