Who We Are

Our
Story

In 2011, S2S was founded by Gus Giacoman, Tim Hsia, Khalil Tawil, and Anna Ivey — three veterans and an admissions expert who believe that all veterans should have the opportunity and access to a great education. Through grassroots efforts and thousands of hours of volunteer time, S2S grew into a national non-profit that connects military veterans and servicemembers with mentors to ensure veterans are being admitted to and attending our nation’s best colleges and graduate schools.

Since then, we have stayed laser-focused on our mission of supporting veterans into higher-ed and have worked with thousands of veterans during different points of the college and graduate school application process. You can find S2S Alums on hundreds of Undergraduate, MBA, Law School, Policy, and Medical School campuses where they are studying and forging new paths for their future.

Our
Method

Test Preparation
Resume and Transcript Reviews
Application and Essay Reviews
Interview Preparation
Networking Assistance

To gain admission, you must TRAIN. S2S pairs veterans with mentors, called Ambassadors, to work together on areas of the college or graduate school application. These include reviewing transcripts, editing and reviewing essays and personal statements, preparing for school interviews, helping with networking opportunities, direct connection with Admissions Officers and much more. Currently, S2S has over 400 Ambassadors working with the next generation of veteran college and graduate school applicants.

Our results give compelling testimony to our impact and effectiveness. S2S has worked with thousands of transitioning veterans to achieve, “admission accomplished!”. S2S undergraduates comprise over half of the veterans at the most selective private colleges in the country. S2S has also helped veterans gain admission to top business, law, public policy, and medical schools- from Harvard to Wharton, Yale Law School and beyond, S2S has ensured veterans are attending the best college and graduate schools possible.

Our Core Values

Lead From the Front

Our volunteers, called Ambassadors, give their free time to support veterans who are seeking higher-education.

Build Solutions, Not Organisations

We focus our efforts on solving problems. We do not engage in empire-building or self-aggrandizement. Titles do not matter; only results.

Empower Everyone

Ambassadors, applicants, and leadership are empowered to work on any initiative or project that fulfills our fundamental mission of helping transitioning veterans.

We Have No Ego

Everyone is a leader. Service to School does not exist to build ourselves up, but to help veterans.

We Have Fun

We maintain the same light-hearted atmosphere we found with our military friends on active duty and the reserves. We enjoy working together because we all care about the same thing: helping veterans.

We Enrich Others, Not Ourselves

We exist solely to benefit transitioning veterans. Whenever we spend donor money, we look for the most efficient way to do so.

We Are a Flat Organization

Our best ideas and biggest accomplishments have come from the bottom-up.

We Are Honest with Ourselves

We provide each other thoughtful, honest, critical and substantive feedback. We quickly determine what is working and what is not working. Constructive feedback is always accompanied by proposed solutions.