Dr. Anthony Shannon PhD

Dr. Shannon’s passion for college admissions dates back to his 10th birthday, when he received a copy of the 23rd edition of Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges. Studying the information in that book provided him with a foundation of knowledge that set him up for success in his own college admissions journey. Raised in a working-class family in Texas with parents who both dropped out of college, Dr. Shannon forged an academic path that led him to study Classics at the University of Chicago—his dream school—and ultimately to graduate study at Harvard University, where he earned an MA and PhD.

Dr. Shannon has mentored and taught over 500 students in courses at Harvard and MIT, earning several teaching awards and being nominated for the Star Family Prize for Excellence in Advising from Harvard College. After receiving his PhD, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow and writing specialist in the Fellowships and Writing Center at the Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, where he advised graduate students on academic writing, presentation skills, and preparing applications for fellowships and grants from the Fulbright Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the US Department of Defense, among others.

Dr. Shannon has shepherded dozens of high school seniors through the college admissions process, offering expert guidance as they prepared applications and written materials for a wide variety of schools, from the Ivy League and large state universities to small liberal arts colleges and faith-based institutions across the United States. He has also led workshops on writing effective college admissions essays for the Furshpan-Potter Native American High School Program sponsored by Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Shannon’s assistance in the college admissions process has also extended beyond just the application, as he has tutored students preparing for standardized tests, provided guidance on course selection and extracurricular activities, and mentored several students completing independent research projects in a range of subjects, including anthropology, history, languages, and literature.

Dr. Shannon founded Collegium Admissions on the premise that the most effective way to navigate the college admissions process is through collaboration, sharing the burden while working toward a common goal. In this collaborative spirit, his mission is to provide comprehensive guidance and support throughout the college admissions process, while maintaining a student’s agency and voice as they are empowered to present their best self to college admissions committees.

Dr. Shannon lives in Boston, MA with his wife and his adorable rescue dog, Fergie.