01
Roots
Know your story.
Explore your identity, family experiences, values, and interests. Understand what makes your perspective your own.
INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
Vivian
Nguyễn.
Your story matters.
Let's find the path that feels like you.
Thoughtful educational guidance for students and families navigating new possibilities, across cultures and generations.
Irvine, California / Independent private practice
Rooted in identity.
Open to possibility.
Open to possibility.
Individual stories.
Thoughtful choices.
Meaningful futures.
01 / ABOUT ME
Education begins
with belonging.
ALSO KNOWN AS
Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Anh
I'm Vivian, an independent educational consultant based in Irvine, California.
I support students and families as they explore academic interests, understand their options, and plan their next steps. I am especially drawn to the questions of identity and belonging that accompany a first-generation or cross-cultural educational journey.
Through Roots & Bridges Educational Consulting, my approach gives students space to understand their experiences, find their voice, and make decisions that reflect both their aspirations and their family's reality.
I work directly with families in private practice, independently of schools, agencies, and educational institutions.
THE PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF MY WORK
First-generation students · Immigrant families
Cross-cultural journeys · Individual possibilities
02 / MY PHILOSOPHY
Strong roots.
New possibilities.
A simple framework for a deeply personal journey. Start with who you are, connect your story to opportunity, and choose a way forward.
02
Bridges
Find your voice.
Connect your experiences to the things you hope to study and contribute. Tell your story clearly, honestly, and in your own words.
03
Pathways
Choose with intention.
Build a practical plan for college, major exploration, scholarships, and the future, grounded in your goals and your circumstances.
“Education gives us the freedom
to choose our own path.”A guiding belief
03 / HOW I CAN HELP
A thoughtful plan
for your next chapter.
Personal guidance for important transitions, with room for your questions, your background, and your ambitions.
Talk about your goals01Undergraduate planningGrades 9–12
Explore colleges and majors, plan meaningful activities, organize your application timeline, and develop essays that retain your own voice.
College fit · Application planning · Student-led storytelling02Community college transferA clear route to what comes next
Make sense of transfer options, including the University of California system, and develop an application plan around your academic progress and goals.
Transfer exploration · Timelines · Application support03Graduate applicationsPurposeful study, purposeful choices
Clarify why graduate study is right for you, identify programs that fit, and communicate your academic interests and experiences through your application.
Program fit · Personal statements · Planning04First-generation & international supportGuidance across cultures and systems
Understand the U.S. application process, explore scholarship opportunities, and build a shared understanding between students and families navigating an unfamiliar system.
Family conversations · Scholarship exploration · Cultural understanding04 / WORKING TOGETHER
Guidance with clarity.
Room for your individual journey.
A focused conversation
HOURLY CONSULTING$250/ hour
For a specific question, an application review, or a planning conversation at an important turning point.
Ask about a consultationA longer-term partnership
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING$8,500–$14,000
Personalized support across the planning and application journey. Scope and fees are agreed directly with each family.
Explore a planning partnershipMaking room for opportunity.
Three pro bono places are planned each year, prioritizing students from underserved Vietnamese ethnic minority communities.
Student-written applications · No guaranteed admissions outcomes · No school commissions
05 / GET IN TOUCH
Every new chapter
starts with hello.
Tell me a little about your goals and where you are in your journey. We can start with a conversation.
Write to Vivian