A man wearing glasses and a dark suit with a white shirt, standing with arms crossed against a solid blue background.

Meet The Creator

Dennis Liu is the founder of Olive Tree College Applications, where he helps students craft compelling applications and gain admission to top colleges.

Dennis graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Economics and a concentration in Computer Science, while also completing premed coursework—giving him a unique ability to guide students across a wide range of academic paths, from STEM to business and beyond.

For over 26 years, Dennis has worked closely with young people as a mentor, pastor, and coach, helping them navigate major life decisions with clarity and confidence. During his 23 years in ministry, he guided countless students through personal growth, academic direction, and the college application process in an informal but deeply impactful way.

He later transitioned into formal college admissions coaching, working full-time with a consulting firm where he helped students develop their applications—especially their personal statements and essays—with a focus on authenticity, clarity, and strong storytelling.

  • Stanford

  • Vanderbilt University

  • the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

  • UC Los Angeles

  • UC San Diego

  • UC Irvine

  • Rutgers New Brunswick

In recent years, he has continued this work privately, helping students gain admission to highly competitive schools, such as:

  • Purdue University

  • Baylor University

  • Northeastern University

  • UT Austin

  • Bentley University

  • Virginia Tech

  • SUNY Stonybrook

Student Outcomes

turn “ordinary” activities into compelling narratives

build confidence in their story

communicate their experiences clearly and authentically

approach the application process with strategy and purpose

His approach goes beyond editing essays. He helps students understand who they are, what they’ve done, and how to present it powerfully.

At the heart of his work is a deep belief that every student has a unique story worth telling and with the right guidance, that story can open doors.