After graduating from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, I worked as a Smithsonian researcher, museum curator, and high school History and English teacher. I also was a computer salesman, testing instructor for Kaplan (GRE, GMAT, and MCAT Verbal), and the director of a small consulting company before returning to school.

In addition to many years of teaching graduate school exams for Kaplan, serving on the editorial board for H-Grad (the largest graduate-student-only discussion network in the country), and leading admissions seminars, my background for this guidebook includes the publication of my graduate application essay in a book entitled Perfect Personal Statements: Successful Application Essays from Students at America's Top Graduate and Professional Schools.

I received a full scholarship to the University of Chicago for Ph.D. studies in the history of 19th century science and religion in the United States. After transferring to Ohio State University for the benefit of an additional stipend and a great mentor, my eagerness for academia crashed and burned. I spent several years leading software implementation projects worldwide before starting my own company, Historical Insights, where I now combine my academic, business, and community concerns by uncovering the history of old Denver homes.