Our Story

Why Core College Consulting Exists

As a teenager, I always knew I was expected to go to college, but I also knew that I wouldn’t have much help getting there. The only people who knew less than I did about the college-going process were my parents, neither of whom had attended college, and my high school counselors didn’t provide much support.

I was completely ill-prepared, and when all was said and done, it showed—the school I initially attended could not have been any more wrong for me. Thankfully, I eventually found my way to the college where I belonged.

When the Rules Changed

Fast forward to my first-born planning for college.

To say that a lot had changed from my own college-going experience would be a colossal understatement. Everything from admissions practices and acceptance rates to financial resources and the role of technology illustrated that it wasn’t just a whole new ballgame we were playing—it was a complete rewrite of the rulebook.

As a parent, I dutifully served as my college-bound teen’s guide, administrator, cheerleader, and financial advisor—often all at once.

At the same time, as a school counselor with over 15 years of experience working with high school students, I was gaining a new, first-hand perspective on the college admissions landscape.

Inside the Counseling Office

For seven years, I served as the lead counselor at a public magnet school in Austin, Texas, working in the trenches with roughly 350 students each year. I supported them academically, socially, and emotionally as they juggled intense academic demands, packed extracurricular schedules, and the shifting social pressures of a hyper-connected world—conditions that often left them vulnerable to stress and burnout.

One of my favorite responsibilities as lead counselor was providing college planning support and guidance. But with so many students, it simply was not possible to give each student the time and attention they truly needed.

Time and time again, I saw students—already stretched thin—struggle to navigate the complex, competitive, and emotionally loaded college admissions process. And with little to no knowledge of the college planning landscape, parents were often unsure how to best support their student.

Without the right kind of support, the college planning process was frequently reduced to a checklist of tasks rather than an opportunity to turn a major life decision into an intentional journey.

A Pattern I Couldn’t Ignore

I had seen firsthand, with my own kids and with many of my students, the remarkable difference that a knowledgeable, supportive guide makes in a college admissions system that demands strategy, emotional resilience, and financial literacy all at once.

I couldn’t ignore that gnawing inner voice—the one reflecting how all my experience and the skills I’d spent years developing had led me to this pivotal moment of choice: stay within the security and comfort of the public school system, or leave to become an independent college consultant.

The Birth of Core College Consulting

I decided to take the leap.

In 2016, I founded Core College Consulting.

The vision was to provide a concierge-level service that empowers students to take control of the process and enables parents to take a step back and truly enjoy the final years of high school with their child.

In my role as lead counselor, I had seen anxiety take hold of so many students and parents during the college admissions process. I committed to bringing calm and confidence to my clients by offering a smart, thoughtful approach that helps students find the colleges where they would thrive—academically, socially, culturally, and financially.

Our Guiding Belief

As my client list grew, it didn’t take long for my college planning “super power” to reveal itself.

That super power is helping students embrace their individuality and orient their actions and choices around their most authentic self.

This is, hands down, the most important requirement for a student’s college planning journey to end at a school where they truly belong.

A Team Built on Shared Values

Since launching Core College Consulting, I have added team members who share this same super power.

We are a small but mighty team, and together we work to create a safe, supportive, and comfortable space for our students to:

Be curious
Own their strengths
Confront their fears
Celebrate their individuality

Within this space, we help students discover what really matters to them, identify the schools that offer the kind of college experience they want, and guide them toward a decision they will feel good about—one that holds up long after the college decision deadline has passed.

A Calling, Not Just a Career

While college consulting is our job, we consider it a calling.

Our success is directly tied to the success of our students, and there is nothing more rewarding than walking alongside each of them as they work toward—and ultimately make—what is often their first big life decision.

We are motivated and inspired by college journeys that end with happy, thriving students and proud parents. It is a privilege to work with each and every family.