Frequently Asked Questions

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Applying to college is a long, challenging process. Oftentimes, students and their families don’t know what to expect as they begin looking at schools. In fact, one of the challenging aspects of finding the right school is that students don’t even know what they don’t know. What’s a discount rate? How do schools measure demonstrated interest? Is this particular school really test-optional?

Having a counselor who has been through dozens of admission cycles takes the stress and pressure of actually navigating the process off your shoulders. This enables you to focus on deciding what you want from your college career and how you can put your best foot forward instead of worrying about all the technical jargon and labyrinthine processes that schools can place in front of you.

I have spent my entire career working in education. My most impactful roles include teaching English Language Arts at the secondary level as well as working for nearly a decade in the Office of Admission for a specific institution. However, I have also served as a coach, college professor, and residence hall director during my career. This litany of experiences enables me to ensure that my students have the best chance of fully realizing their potential as they look for the right school for them.

Teaching English Language Arts has enhanced my ability to connect and build relationships with high school students. Additionally, it helped me to refine the writing and communication skills I developed studying English as an undergrad. This means that not only have I read thousands of college application essays, I have also taught hundreds of students how to expand their writing abilities.

Meanwhile, it was my time working for a school within their Office of Admission that truly helped me learn all there is to know about applying to college. During that time, I read nearly 10,000 applications, led dozens of workshops on essay-writing and strengthening one’s application, mentored hundreds of students through their senior years, and attended numerous conferences and professional development offerings.

Combined, these differing roles have given me the skills and mindsets needed to be a successful college consultant. I have the technical know-how to help students figure out just what the heck is going on, the writing acumen to help students grow in one of the most important skills they’ll need for their applications and beyond, and the relational wherewithal to connect with students and help them reach the goals that they set for themselves.

I meet with students virtually via Zoom. I have found that this helps students who are juggling many responsibilities and extracurricular activities have enough time to connect. It also means that I can continue to work with students when they travel for school activities or during breaks in the academic year. Finally, this enables me to accept clients from across the country and world.

Although I spend a lot of time traveling, I am based in Texas– primarily the Austin and Dallas areas. Because I recognize that some students struggle with virtually meeting, I am willing to provide in-person sessions for the first meeting in order to help build a relationship. This offer is contingent upon availability but I am willing to work with families.

Students and their families can check my current availability here. I know that today’s high school students are incredibly busy, so I offer a range of times where I can meet. This includes evenings as well as weekends. My last session time on weekdays is at 8:00 PM and my last session time on weekends is at 2:00 PM.

It’s never too early to begin thinking about college. As soon as high school begins, students are already beginning the process by earning the grades and participating in the extracurriculars that will ultimately go on their application. In fact, I have counseled students who were not even in high school yet when we began meeting.

That said, the majority of the time and effort you’ll spend finding the right college home will occur during your junior and senior years. To get the most bang for your buck, I would recommend for most students that they begin their process during their junior year. This will provide plenty of time to create their college list, find schools that could potentially be a good match, choose the right classes for senior year, and feel confident and prepared when applications open up on August 1st of their senior year.

I can provide test prep help for students needing help with the Reading, English, and optional Writing portions of the ACT as well as the Reading and Writing section of the SAT. I scored a perfect score on the Reading and Writing section of the SAT way back in the day, I have further test prep experience, and my time as an English Language Arts teacher gives me the pedagogical framework to assist students.

 All students meet exclusively with me. This ensures that students and families receive accurate information and that we all remain on the same page. Working with me throughout the entire process allows us to develop the strongest possible relationship and creates a more personalized feel. It also means families don’t need to worry about working with less-experienced professionals.

Nope! Admissions at selective institutions is a murky, opaque process. Each school has different needs for their incoming class that change by the year. Different readers will value subjective pieces of your application, such as your essay, differently. Unless a school offers automatic admissions for reaching certain thresholds such as test scores or class rank, admission to a specific university is never, ever assured.

What I can guarantee, however, is that you will put your best foot forward through your application. What you send to a school will be the very best possible representation of you and will represent not only what you have already achieved, but who you have the potential to become. By integrating data from specific schools to see what they prioritize and developing a relationship with you throughout the time we work together, I can promise that you will do everything possible to improve your likelihood of getting in. 

The majority of scholarships that schools give out are academic in nature. As such, they are contingent upon some combination of your grades, test scores, and the strength of your curriculum. These scholarships are a reflection of the work you’ve done over the course of your high school career. As such, I cannot guarantee that you will receive any specific scholarship.

Part of what I offer for students is an understanding of how the scholarship and financial aid processes work. While I cannot guarantee that a student will receive a specific scholarship, I can ensure that they know what the school's policies are and how they give out aid to students. Every school utilizes a different approach to scholarships and financial aid, so understanding these differences can prove to be highly beneficial for students.

Many students who are on the Autism Spectrum would benefit greatly from attending college and are academically prepared to take such a step, though they may need some additional social support. College is a place of inclusion, and that means we have an ethical obligation to strive for college access for all. This includes students with neurodivergences or learning differences.

I have extensive experience working with students who have Autism as well as myriad other learning differences, executive function challenges, or neurodivergences. In addition to having the skills and abilities necessary to connect with these students, I also have a wealth of knowledge concerning specialized programs across the country and other support systems that can be a powerful aid for students.