Meet The Team

Personalized college planning can indeed make a significant difference in helping students navigate the admissions process and secure spots at their desired schools. With AAA’s experience and knowledge of campuses across New England and the United States, students will benefit greatly from our approach and guidance every step of the way.

Gabriella Caprio

Gabriella Caprio is a managing partner, head writing coach, and experienced college admissions consultant, dedicated to guiding students through the college application, admissions, and financial aid process. With a hands-on approach, she helps make the journey both enjoyable and stress-free for students and their families. In addition to her work in college counseling, she serves as a lead teacher for World Languages in the City of Providence, Rhode Island, bringing over two decades of experience in secondary and higher education education.

Gabriella, who is trilingual,  possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s Degree in Education from Rhode Island College. She is chair of the education committee at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Some of her clients have attended Boston College, Boston University, Brown University, College of the Holy Cross, Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern, Northwestern, and San Diego State University.

Eric Simonelli

Eric Simonelli is a managing partner, expert college admissions consultant, and youth sports director with over 20 years of secondary and higher education expertise. A member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), he served as an Admissions Advisor and Athletic Liaison at the University of Rhode Island for thirteen years. Most recently, he spent eight years as the Director of College Counseling and Varsity Boys' Basketball Coach at La Salle Academy.

Currently, he advises students across all majors in higher education, helping them reach their full potential academically, personally, and psychologically. With strong relationships with college admissions representatives, he provides valuable insights into what colleges seek, guiding students to align their academic goals effectively.

A former Division III collegiate basketball player, Hall of Fame inductee, and 1,000-point scorer, Eric also brings extensive knowledge of athletic recruitment and the collegiate club sports process.

Eric grew up in Duxbury, Massachusetts, earning a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Endicott College and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Rhode Island. He is currently the Senior Basketball Director of Higher Learning Basketball, a youth skill development program, and a volunteer Commissioner for the Warwick (RI) Police Athletic League (PAL) Youth Travel Basketball program balancing his time between coaching and college planning.

  • College Essay Coach

    Mary Ellen Raposa has worked in the field of multilingual education for over 20 years and currently teaches for the Providence Public School District. She has been a writing coach for the past 10 years, helping students with their college application and scholarship essays. Additionally, she is a Learning Guide/Adjunct Professor at Roger Williams University, where she assists teacher candidates through a rigorous competency-based certification program. She also serves as a Language Proficiency Screener at the Providence Schools Registration Center.

    Mary Ellen is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Emerson College and a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the School for International Training. She is Nationally Board Certified in English as a New Language and has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala.

  • College Admissions Consultant

    Darcy Flaherty is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in higher education. She began her career at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI, as an Admissions Advisor until 2013, before transitioning to the University of New England in Biddeford, ME, where she served as the Director of First-Year Admissions for 8 years. With a Bachelor's degree and a Master's Degree in College Student Personnel, Darcy brings knowledge and expertise to her consulting practice. Passionate about empowering high school students to reach their full potential, Darcy is dedicated to providing strategic guidance and college solutions in higher education.