Experts in

Admissions, Academics, & Extracurriculars

Cultivating adaptive skills and lasting purpose in an ever-changing world.

Consult Now

See college admissions coaching

97%

of families whose teen got into a top-choice cZollege.

$5k–$40k

per year in merit scholarships earned by CAC students.

2016–2026

eleven graduating classes of published admissions outcomes.

How we work together

Academic coaching services

Every engagement starts with a conversation about where your teen is now and what they want next.

Grades 9–11

College Planning & Prep

Understand the options, the timelines, and the admissions practices colleges keep under wraps early enough to act on them.

Planning & prep

Grades 11–12

College Admissions Coaching

Application strategy, school list, essays, recommendations, interviews, and scholarships — from first draft to final submission.

Coaching packages

All grades

Academics & Extracurriculars

Study skills, course selection, and extracurricular development that builds a genuine record rather than a padded one.

High school support

About CAC

Coaching, not gatekeeping

Nena Malhotra founded Custom Academic Coaching to give families a straightforward account of how admissions actually works, and a plan their teen can carry out themselves.

Students come away with essays in their own voice, a college list they can defend, and the habit of making decisions on purpose. Parents come away knowing what happens next.

More about Nena

Nena is an independent educational consultant and an expert in admission to American and British undergraduate and graduate programs — the Ivy League and other top-tier schools, liberal arts colleges, technical colleges, and art schools. Since founding CAC in 2014, 97% of her college counseling students have been admitted to one or more of their top three choices.

She graduated a year into the Great Recession with a degree in English & Comparative Literary Studies and a minor in Art History from Occidental College, then worked in admissions offices, law firms, arts nonprofits, and small business ventures. She studied law at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, where she was First Year Moot Court Champion, and at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, and clerked at the ACLU of Southern California, the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation, and Public Counsel.

Those years shape how she works: admissions experience to explain how gatekeepers actually decide, a tactical approach from debate and moot court, and an editor’s eye for the narrative that wins over a reader.

Executive Member of the Board of Trustees at The Pasadena Waldorf School since 2022. Member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA).

What sets us apart

How we work

People-first approach

Everything we do is built around understanding your needs and helping you succeed.

Proven process, flexible execution

We bring structure where it counts and adaptability where it matters.

Long-term relationships

We build lasting relationships with our clients and grow with them over time.

In their words Student and parent endorsements

“Working with Nena was some of the most rewarding time I’ve ever spent. Beyond simply collaborating on a good plan for the entire college application process and helping me write excellent essays, Nena was able to guide me as a mentor. My only regret is that we didn’t start even sooner.”
EthanCognitive Science Student, UC San Diego

“Nena is patient, dedicated, and knows exactly how to build trust with both students and parents. [My daughter] Leyla was able to secure admission to several nation top universities.”
CarloSoftware Engineering Executive & Proud Dad

“If it wasn’t for Nena’s counseling I wouldn’t have been able to transfer to my dream school: NYU Tisch!”
ArhanaFilm Student, New York University

“Nena is the G.O.A.T. She helped me write stellar essays that got me into colleges like Harvey Mudd, UCSD, UCI, and a full scholarship to Oxy!!!”
MansibEngineering Student, Harvey Mudd

“The outcomes of this process were OUTSTANDING. Our kiddo ended up with over 15 college acceptances, and all of them included generous merit scholarships, several colleges at $30,000 merit per year, as well as honors college invites in many cases.”
DaleyBusiness Owner & Proud Mom

“We wish we had consulted Nena earlier as my daughter was devastated last year after a string of rejections. With Nena’s professional expertise, our daughter was admitted as a sophomore transfer to her dream college!”
MonicaBusiness Owner & Proud Mom

“Nena really made the process significantly easier and less stressful. I wholeheartedly believe it is because of her guidance that I was able to get into my dream college (USC’s Iovine & Young Academy).”
DavidBusiness Student, University of Southern California

“I consider myself a good writer, but Nena really took it to the next level. I felt that my essays were a lot stronger due to her critique and questioning. Big thanks for her for helping me get into NYU, USC, AND my dream school, UCLA. Go Bruins!”
VishruthMedical Student, UCLA

“I was recently accepted to the PhD program at Johns Hopkins University due in no small part to Nena’s extremely helpful counseling. As I pack my bags, I am grateful for Nena’s positive advice, editorship, and most of all, gracefulness in the face of my worry.”
MasonDoctoral Student, Johns Hopkins University

“Presenting the best version of myself has always given me extreme anxiety. Nena changed my life. She helped me realize that I have so much more to say than I ever thought I did.”
EmmaHistory Student, Bryn Mawr

“My only regret is that we did not begin to work with Nena sooner. I was impressed with Nena’s ability to draw my daughter out about her experiences and then help her craft effective narratives about those experiences. These discussions became the basis of her application essays. Working with Nena on a consistent basis helped remove much of the stress and anxiety out of the process for the whole family.”
GloriaProud Mom

“Nena is so much more than just a college advisor. She is a mentor, a supportive friend, a confidant and your student’s biggest cheerleader. If Nena doubled her rates she would still be undercharging for her services.”
NancyAttorney & Proud Mom

“Thanks to Nena my son was accepted into UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB, Cal Poly SLO, and UCSD. He was offered a scholarship from the UC system. He also used the same essay with some slight changes for another scholarship giving him an extra $5,000 a year for college.”
ColinLAPD Detective & Proud Dad

“The investment I made in Nena’s help paid off 40 fold just in the money he received from scholarships, let alone having his choice of top tier schools to attend.”
BrodyProud Dad

“I truly mean it when I say that I would not be where I am today without Nena.”
BatyaGraduate of Emerson College

“I am horrible with my putting my thoughts on paper, but with Nena’s help, I’ve gotten into all of my UC system schools including Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and Columbia University with full grant coverage!”
FelixColumbia University Student

“Nena has a special talent in helping students find their strengths and communicate them.”
DebbieProud Mom

1 of 17

Specialists on call Expert coaches

Nena brings in a specialist when a student’s path calls for one. Click a card to read more.

Applying this fall?

Join the 97% of families whose teen got into a top-choice college.

Seats are limited.

Consult Now