My Story
My Story
As I left Boston to visit the University of Pennsylvania (where my parents met as graduate students), my mother called after me, “While you're down there, you might as well visit Swarthmore.”
Being the sharp high school student I was, I assumed Swarthmore must be a college. “Where is it?” I asked. “It’s in Swarthmore.” Right-O.
I had never heard of a college called Swarthmore, and since it was Thanksgiving break when I arrived, there was only one student there. He showed me around, and I fell in love with the gorgeous campus.
Not the best reason to decide to apply to a college, but the rest is history, as they say. I finished my BA in Biology there (with an exchange semester at Middlebury College) and moved to New York City.
Later, I earned MBA and M.Ed. degrees at Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Education Policy at the University of Maryland. As a side note, I turned down admission to graduate school at Harvard because I was offered full scholarships to Columbia and the University of Maryland. As a result, I have been a student at every type of higher education institution - an elite liberal arts college, an Ivy League university, and my state's public flagship school.
In New York, I taught at the Fieldston School, worked on Wall Street, and was an Admissions Officer for Columbia University, where I ultimately served as Executive Director and Assistant Dean for Admissions, Financial Aid and [Diversity] Affairs. My boss reported to the President of Columbia University, and I managed a staff of 24, represented Columbia worldwide, interviewed hundreds of hopeful applicants, and evaluated thousands of applications. When I moved to Washington, D.C., people from all over the world started asking me to help them "get into top schools." So, I did.
As my children approached college age, I assumed they would apply to Swarthmore and/or Columbia since my husband and I had attended both schools. Due to strong test scores, they received dozens of mailings from “top-ranked” schools, and felt enormous pressure to apply to them. Unfortunately, these schools did not meet their criteria. At a certain point, we realized we needed to look beyond the “household name” schools to find the right fit for them. They deserved colleges that would best match their unique needs, and at which they would blossom and thrive. I knew from my work in admissions and admissions consulting that there are thousands of terrific colleges and universities out there (around 4,000 schools, 300 of which I consider terrific). Where would my children's strengths, interests and desires be nurtured?
My professional experience in admissions at an Ivy League university, decades of admissions consulting to individual applicants and institutions, and my personal experience working with my own children (my toughest clients yet!) have given me the insider information, organizational strategy, and perspective needed to help you embark upon this journey.
I know why some students get into their top choice school while comparable applicants are rejected. And I know how important “fit” is to a student's overall academic experience.
If you or your child attends a school that is a poor fit, or gets rejected from schools that are a better fit, much can be lost. I have seen students lose confidence, become desperately unhappy (even clinically depressed), and transfer to another school. Transferring to another school, or switching programs partway through, can necessitate additional years of study, time and money.
My goal is to help you navigate the admissions process with the greatest of ease and the best of outcomes. No one knows you or your child like you do, and no one knows more about admissions than I do. Working together, we can be formidable.
It’s never too early to start. Contact me now so we can work together to prepare you and yours for a joyful and fruitful educational experience and a bright future!
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