About Us

Charting Your Path to College

A former managing director at a Fortune 500 financial services company and a classically trained professional violist, I bring my unique perspective and relevant personal experience to my educational consulting practice. With an MBA in finance from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Wesleyan University, I recognize that career paths do not necessarily follow a straight line. Whether my students have a clear plan or are first uncovering their interests, I encourage them to approach the college search and application process with self-reflection and an open mind, two essential components for finding the right college fit and telling their own stories.

When I launched my practice in 2008, I drew upon the synergies from my prior professional experiences. By combining my business acumen, creative sensibilities and college expertise, I have developed ways to help my students identify appropriate schools, find and express their unique voice throughout the application, and stay on track and focused. My coaching style consistently stresses taking ownership and developing the confidence to be one’s own advocate through the college process and beyond. As a mentor and the mother of three daughters, I am keenly aware of the importance of providing guidance, structure and inspiration to a young person while helping that individual develop a sense of self.

As part of my ongoing learning:

In the ever-evolving field of higher education, I relish the opportunity to be a perennial student. Whether I’m traveling on two wheels to visit colleges with the annual College Counselor Bike Tour or attending industry conferences, I recognize the importance of staying current on trends and developments in college admissions.

Immediately following completion of my undergraduate education and before entering graduate school, I was a professional violist in New York City and performed and taught music in Venezuela. While I no longer play professionally, I remain active in my local music community and perform regularly with orchestras and chamber groups.

I regularly attend conferences and workshops throughout the country and have visited nearly 450 colleges and universities while continuing to add to the list and revisit several each year.
I stay connected to other professionals in the field as a member of several professional organizations including the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC).
I’ve taken on leadership roles as Treasurer on the IECA Executive Committee, and served four years as an IECA board member. I am also a former member of the Executive Board of NYSACAC.
For six years I taught on the faculty of the IECA Summer Training Institute, an intensive summer session for new educational consultants, specializing in essay writing and financial aid and affordability.
I am a Certified Educational Planner (CEP), the top distinction for educational consultants and college counselors, hold a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and also attended the IECA Summer Training Institute.
I love to write and share what I learn! I present and write regularly about college admission and affordability, including appearances on NBC Nightly News, news radio and in Money Magazine, Bloomberg News and The New York Times Education Life section.