About Pilgrim College Guidance

Hello, my name is Ben Lah and I am the founder of Pilgrim College Guidance, based in Oceanside, CA. In my day job, I work as a college counselor at an independent school in Orange County, but my broader mission is to make the college admissions process more accessible and less daunting. I have often described myself as a matchmaker, a storyteller, and an occasional firefighter. And while I embrace those various roles, I know my reach is still relatively limited among the many other voices that tend to dominate this process. I am hoping that this side project will help at least a few people out.

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Photo credit: Jen Jordan Photography

Before my college counseling career, I worked as an undergraduate admissions counselor at the University of Southern California. My time on that side of the desk exposed me to all aspects of the recruiting and selection process. As a somewhat reluctant gatekeeper, my job was to essentially rhapsodize about the university (which was easy to do) while also recognizing that the vast majority of students I recruited would eventually be denied (not so easy). And despite the increasingly harsh reality of the college admissions process, the appeal of this field remains its relational nature, specifically the student-centeredness of the process and my continuing interactions with admissions professionals in an ever-changing landscape.

I graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in Economics, yet it is my M.A. in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Teachers College, Columbia University that is far more relevant to the path I have chosen. And that is at the heart of my work—to help students find their own path. My goal is to help students think carefully about the college research and application process, to provide peace of mind through objective information (with the occasional editorial), and to emphasize authenticity and self-awareness. If you are curious about the inspiration behind the theme of this site, read this blog post. Otherwise, feel free to browse the site and I hope that you find at least some of the information to be helpful.

Quick Facts

Pronouns: He/Him (Why is this important?)

Hometown: Upland, CA

Personality Type (Myers-Briggs): ISFJ

Schools attended: Pomona College - B.A. in Economics; Teachers College, Columbia University - M.A. in Higher and Postsecondary Education

Work experience: 21 years in the college admissions field

My best college application advice: Don’t get caught up in what anyone else is doing. Run your own race.

Worst fact according to locals: Go Dodgers!

FAQs

  • Towards the end of COVID, I did some consulting work and this site served as my online presence. I now use it for a different purpose. And even though I’m very happy at the school I’m working at, I feel like there’s a lot more I can do to help people within and beyond my local community.

  • No, but I offer free office hours in the fall for students in the North San Diego County area who couldn’t otherwise afford extra help. Please see “What I Do” for more info.

  • There’s the million-dollar question. When I first started college counseling at an independent school, I was a little shocked as to how many families hired out. I thought it was merely a sign of privilege or distrust, but now I understand that it’s mostly anxiety. But please consider carefully how much support you need in this process. If you are a parent and your child is attending a secondary school with a low student to counselor ratio and your counselor is experienced and knowledgeable, you are in capable hands. Please reconsider your needs. If your high school counselor has a significantly larger caseload or there is no formal college counseling program at your school, then an outside person may be able to help you strategize, organize, and self-analyze, while being respectful to any support you do receive from your high school. If you are currently shopping around, pay close attention to how consultants promote themselves. Then ask yourself, would this person ease the anxiety or add to it?

  • Growing up, it took me a while to find my voice. I think I just didn’t have much to say when I was younger, but that changed as I began to learn what mattered to me. I care about the college admissions field to a degree, but I care more about the students who have to go through this mysterious and increasingly difficult process. When I write, I always have the students in mind and I’m usually addressing them directly. I try to address a variety of topics related to college admissions and applications, often with a hint of snarkiness.

  • Even though the impact of standardized testing is still somewhat unclear in this landscape, I would recommend at least taking a mock exam and seeing if testing might help you. Use Khan Academy as a free resource to start (at least for the SAT). If you live in the San Diego area, I can give you some options based on your situation, but I do not feel comfortable making public endorsements on this site because everyone is different. Feel free to reach out if you’d like.