Our Mission
Nothing worth learning can be taught. Our mission is to simply prod our students to determine what's worth learning for themselves and to equip them with the tools to undertake this learning. We dare them to breach their intellectual comfort zones. We encourage them to uncover and fall deeply, madly in love with their creative passions. We support them to explore their complex identities and harness their untapped strengths to effect transformative change in our communities. Ultimately, we empower our students to define and achieve success on their own terms in college and beyond.
B.A. in Economics and Government, Dartmouth College
Studied at Uni. of Oxford and Uni. of Edinburgh
Dartmouth alumni interviewer
Proud Hunter College High School alum
2390 SAT; all 5s on AP U.S., Micro, Macro, Calc BC, etc.
Meet our team
Kenton Rao Co-founder, Director, and Instructor
My profile tells the story of a “perfect student” in the eyes of many. My self-worth hinged on every test score. My decision to attend an Ivy was sealed when I saw my dad’s radiant smile as he donned my Dartmouth T-shirt. My college majors were tepid compromises between practicality and passion. And after graduation, cramming for the LSAT on the precipice of law school, I realized I had followed the conventional path to success every step of the way. And I had found no happiness.
My story isn’t unique. What’s different is what I chose to do in light of this revelation. There’s something profoundly wrong when the goals we’re conditioned to attain through education lead me and so many others far astray from personal fulfillment. That’s why I’m committed to delivering education that jolts students from established patterns of thinking and challenges their fundamental beliefs. My hope is that students take charge of their own education and reclaim success for themselves.
Kiko Huang Co-founder
Ten years after the September 11 attacks, I was among the first group of Chinese students let back into the U.S. to study. After I had finished my degree in California, I returned to China and joined the largest education company to help students study abroad. Over the next three years, I was constantly dismayed to see college application consultants propagating baseless claims about the U.S., fueling parents’ unrealistic college expectations, and even writing college essays on behalf of students—all for the sake of profit. Students receiving these services might have gained admission to college, but they learned nothing at all from the process.
Then, I met Kenton, who cares about each individual student and was frankly overqualified to work in our former company. Since then, we left the company and formed KKA, our own studio, to educate students and parents about the realities of U.S. college admissions and to guide them through an effective and honest process.
Meet our mascots!
In my free time, I rescue stray animals and find them loving homes. Just as animals should be treated with compassion, so should our children. That means not only encouraging them to attain “good” diplomas and jobs, but also nurturing them to become genuinely good people. And so, our KKA team has developed a collection of inspiring courses that imbue students with a deep sense of social responsibility. We believe in leading students to contribute to our community and, in so doing, realize their best selves.
To me, that’s what education is really about: equipping students to free themselves from ceaseless academic competition and pursue their true calling in life.
Tun Tun
Breed: collie
Age: 6
Skills: catching frisbees, greeting students, getting bullied by Cathy
Power: ****
Intelligence: **
Stealth: *
Obedience: *****
No. of fans: 420
Cathy
Breed: calico cat
Age: 4
Skills: being pampered, hunting cockroaches, playing fetch!
Power: **
Intelligence: *****
Stealth: ****
Obedience:
Confirmed cockroach kills: 8
