Our Team
Raphael is the founding partner of Classical and has over 11 years of experience tutoring students at the world’s most selective secondary schools and universities. After earning his JD/MBA at Columbia Law School & Columbia Business School, Raphael works as an Associate at A&O Shearman in London.
As a former homeschool student until age 13, Raphael specializes in advising families with high school and undergraduate students on how to develop a structured and rewarding educational experience outside of the conventional schooling system. Raphael also leads Classical’s college counseling practice where his students have matriculated to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Duke, Northwestern, University of Michigan, and more.
Raphael completed his undergraduate studies in Applied Mathematics and Classics at Columbia University and graduated with Distinction in Classics from Phillips Exeter Academy.
Raphael Montes, Partner & CEO
Michael leads Classical’s operations and serves as the Head of Career Advising where he has helped students secure offers at Goldman Sachs, Apollo, Wells Fargo, Girls Who Invest, StepStone, HSS, and more.
Providing an end-to-end service, Michael guides students through the full recruitment cycle from resume and cover letter edits to technical prep for interviews in finance, consulting, and engineering.
As a published researcher on bioelectronics and biosensors at Weill Cornell Medicine, Michael has over 5 years of experience in healthcare and medical technology spanning clinical & market research, device innovation, and commercialization. Michael earned a B.B.A. from Emory University (Goizueta) where he studied Strategic Management, Health Innovation, and Entrepreneurship alongside the premedical curriculum. Michael also attended the University of Cambridge as a visiting student at the age of 16.
Michael Labib, Partner & COO
Akshay leads Classical’s Academics practice where he mentors students through coursework, exam prep, and research development, guiding them from hypothesis creation to manuscript submission and publication. After completing his third year of medical school, Akshay is currently pursuing an orthopedic surgery research fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) focusing on sports injuries of the hip, knee, and shoulder.
Akshay specializes in advanced STEM tutoring, offering targeted support in Calculus, Linear Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, and preparation for MCAT and USMLE. With a deep understanding of complex coursework & standardized testing, Akshay equips students to excel academically and professionally.
Akshay attended Emory University where he earned a B.A. in Chemistry and Mathematics and contributed to groundbreaking research on HIV-related therapeutics. Throughout medical school and his research fellowship at Yale School of Medicine, Akshay has published in cardiac, burn/plastic, and orthopedic surgery, enabling him to offer guidance for students interested in conducting clinical research.
Akshay Raghuram, Head of Academics
Elaine Vernoff, Head of Admissions
As a current MBA candidate at The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), Elaine leads Classical's Admissions practice with first-hand insight into elite program admissions in finance and business.
Graduating from Emory University (Goizueta Business School), she guides students through the complete application journey, from crafting compelling narratives to interview preparation. Elaine’s clients have secured offers at top MBA programs, including Wharton, Columbia, Harvard Business School, and more
Elaine also offers unique insight into balancing professional growth with academic advancement. She provides supplemental career advising for students interested in consulting and finance, drawing from her experience as an Assistant Vice President at Citi and Human Capital Consultant at Deloitte.
Lucas Fagan, Academics & Admissions
Lucas supports Classical’s Academics & Admissions practice as a PhD candidate in Mathematics at UC Santa Barbara and tutors students at all levels, from middle school to advanced college courses.
With over 10 years of tutoring experience, Lucas has worked with a diverse range of students—from those overcoming math challenges to those preparing for PhD programs. He specializes in helping students strengthen their mathematical thinking skills through a tailored, one-on-one approach.
Lucas earned a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Duke University, where he further developed his passion for math education and supporting students in achieving their academic goals.
Ethan Berlant, Academics & Admissions
Ethan supports Classical’s Admissions and Academics practices with his expertise in advanced mathematics, physics, and standardized test prep (GMAT, GRE, SAT), drawing on over 20 years of experience tutoring at both the university and high school levels. Beyond math and physics, Ethan supports students studying Python, machine learning, LSAT prep, chemistry, and more, always diving into new subjects.
Known for a flexible, curiosity-driven style, Ethan meets each student on their own terms — encouraging them to ask questions, spark new interests, and build confidence in the process.
After earning a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Oregon, Ethan obtained a CRLA ITTPC certification, and completed advanced training in machine learning and data science at Jedha in Paris, France.
Bipul Mainali, Academics & Career
Bipul supports Classical’s Academics and Career Advising practices as a second-year medical student at the UAB School of Medicine with a background in biotechnology and healthcare investing.
Prior to medical school, Bipul worked as an associate at Deerfield Catalyst, the medtech incubator of Deerfield Management. Additionally, Bipul gained meaningful exposure to long/short biotech hedge funds and venture capital through his experience at Scion Life Sciences and ADAR1 Capital Management.
A graduate of Emory University with a major in Biology and a minor in Economics, Bipul is passionate about cardiac surgery and conducts research focused on device development in the field.
Keegan McCombie, Academics & Career
Keegan supports Classical’s Career Advising practice, leveraging his expertise to help students secure roles in national security, public affairs, consulting, and international organizations.
As a Council on Foreign Relations Young Professional, Keegan has been invited to speak at prestigious events like the Harvard Kennedy School’s Public Policy Leadership Forum and the NATO Youth Summit. With experience spanning global foreign policy leadership, legislative drafting, and security consulting, Keegan has collaborated with government agencies, hosted ambassadors, and managed international business operations.
He earned a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Emory University and is currently a J.D. candidate at Penn State Law, specializing in corporate and arbitration law.