Heather Chagnon Gruenbaum is the co-owner of Ahead of the Class, a private education, test preparation, and college admissions company based in California. For more than eight years, Chagnon has worked in the field of college admissions, helping over a thousand students with college application essays and personal statements. A nationally recognized college admissions essay expert, Chagnon is regularly quoted in national news publications.

Chagnon’s students have gained admission to all of the top colleges in the nation, including all of the University of California and Ivy League schools.

During her own college admission experiences, Chagnon was awarded thousands of dollars in academic scholarships, fellowships and grants, and was never denied admission to any college she applied to, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her constant interaction with students and ever-changing college admission situations, as well as a wealth of contacts at major universities throughout the nation, enable Chagnon to keep abreast of the most recent college admission and college essay trends.

Also a professional historian, Chagnon’s writing expertise provides her students with a unique approach to college admission essay writing. Chagnon’s non-fiction and research writings are featured in the first book that introduced the New SAT to students and parents, New SAT 2005: Inside Out! (Research and Education Association, 2004).