Meet the Author: Felipe Ranjo

Hi, there! My name is Felipe Ranjo, admissions counselor from Drexel University's Undergraduate Admissions. I currently work with student applicants from Philadelphia and Northern New Jersey counties (Essex, Passaic, Morris, Bergen, Union, and Hudson County). I have been working for Drexel for about a year, but this is my fourth year working in the college admissions profession. My time here at Drexel has been a fun roller coaster, and I am glad to be working with passionate colleagues that make huge differences in students' lives.

I found fulfillment in helping students find their path in how a college education can align with their career and life goals.

My career journey to this point has been spontaneous yet interconnected. First, I graduated from Temple University in 2018 with a bachelor's in Spanish and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. My original goal was to be a high school Spanish teacher. In reaching towards that goal, I taught ESL as part of a summer camp program in Hungary and Slovakia. On top of that, I took courses and fieldwork to help prepare myself to be a high school Spanish teacher. After many trials and errors later, I realized that I was passionate about education, not teaching.

From there, I decided to make a bold move and got my first job as a college admissions counselor for Bryn Athyn College (BAC) in 2019. I found fulfillment in helping students find their path in how a college education can align with their career and life goals. My skills in bilingualism, public speaking, critical thinking, collaboration, and service still had a valuable place in my new career path. After three years working at BAC, I decided to take a chance and grow in admissions at Drexel University.

Outside of working in college admissions, music is an important part of my life. Since 5th grade, I have been a percussionist at heart. I play xylophone, drums, bongos, congas, cowbell, tambourine, shakers, and the triangle. I was at one point a part of a funk rock band with my friends known as Avenue Eight, where we got to perform in small- and medium-sized events in Philadelphia, Philadelphian suburbs, and New York. Whenever I can, I also like to write original song lyrics that express my own personal stories and feelings. If anything, music has given me an outlet to connect with my inner self and other collaborative friends, while also giving me the tenacity to take chances.

If there is anything to take from my own story, it is that every person's journey is always unique. Through all the ups and downs in my own career journey, nothing is ever a waste of time. When things do not work out, it gives you more clarity as to what is meant for you in life. On top of that, the skills, knowledge, and experiences you learn along the way are stepping stones for you to take that next step in your career. We all have our own callings in life, and you just have to be patient, resilient, and make the best of every chance given in getting there.