Irena Smith, Ph.D.

Irena Smith, Ph.D.

Irena Smith is a Bay Area-based college admissions expert, former Stanford admissions officer, and author. Her award-winning memoir, The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays, examines the toll of generational expectations—particularly when it comes to getting into the “best” colleges—and advocates for the importance of creating a broader, more generous definition of success. She is also the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to College Admissions, a weekly newsletter focused on helping parents understand the pressures on their teens and navigate the college application process in a healthier, more positive way.