Our Mission

To erase the barriers to higher education

Photo by Keira Burton on Pexels.com

About Us

College Cipher is a student-run organization seeking to tear down some of the largest barriers in higher education. As Evansville locals, we know that the college admissions process can be both challenging and expensive. Through our free college consulting services, we hope to better address the need for equality in higher education and help motivated, low-income students achieve their college dreams.

Learn more about our services here >

Our Why

482-1

The national student-to-counselor ratio

(Based on Statistics by CNBC)

$200

The average hourly fee for private essay service

(The Washington Post)

FREE

The cost of our one-on-one essay editing and mentoring

Our How


Our mission relies on volunteers who, as recent high school graduates, understand how to navigate the college admissions process. We personally train volunteers using our unique College Cipher curriculum, through which our volunteers learn to best apply their skills and experience to effectively mentor high school students. Importantly, we make the admissions process personal. Our volunteers engage with students in one-on-one meetings, where they are able to develop personal relationships and best address the needs of local seniors – all at no extra cost. Together, we believe that we can support our community’s needs and pave the way for future generations.

Learn more about our volunteers here >

Meet the Team


Get to know the faces behind College Cipher, an organization seeking to erase the barriers to higher education.

If you would like to learn more about our team, reach out here >

Santosh Ponna


Hi! My name is Santosh. I grew up in the Tristate area, having lived in Owensboro, KY and Newburgh, IN. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and spending time with friends and family. Currently, I am studying Chemistry-Business at the University of Notre Dame. Go Irish!

Graham Griffin


Hi, my name is Graham. I’m from Newburgh, IN, but I grew up in Germany. I like to play soccer and basketball. After finishing high school, I decided to take a gap year and work at a ski resort in Utah . Next year, I’ll be at Stanford University studying economics.

Akshaj Mishra


Hi, my name is Akshaj Mishra, and I also grew up in Evansville, IN. In high school, I loved participating in Student Council and getting to know my classmates. Currently, I am a first-year student at Harvard University.

College Cipher LLC


Email: collegecipher@gmail.com