About | Trail Guide Admissions

I've been in the rooms where decisions are made.

I've recruited thousands of students and have read several thousand applications. My experience includes more than 12 years in admissions leadership roles at six universities:

The University of Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Illinois State University
Loyola University Chicago
Illinois Institute of Technology
Western Illinois University

Today I serve as the Director of Admissions for the Masters Program in Computer Science at UChicago.

What these experiences have taught me is that the process isn't a mystery. It has logic. And once you understand that logic, it stops being so terrifying.

The families who struggle most aren't the ones with the weakest applications. They're the ones who never had a clear understanding of how the process works.

— What I kept seeing, year after year

Fit matters more than rank.

The "best" school is the one where you'll actually thrive — academically, socially, financially. Prestige is one signal among many, not the goal.

Your story is already worth telling.

Essays don't need to be dramatic. They need to be honest, specific, and yours. My job is to help you find the angle — not write it for you.

Information should be accessible.

The college process advantages students with access to insiders. That's a problem I can do something about — and sliding-scale pricing is one way I'm doing it.

I've thought hard about whether this is worth doing.

College consulting has a reputation problem, and some of it is earned. There are consultants who write essays for students, game metrics, and charge fees that put their services firmly out of reach for anyone who isn't already advantaged. I'm not doing that.

Think of me as that well-connected family friend who happens to know how all of this works. I'll explain the process clearly, give honest feedback on strategy and essays, help build a school list that actually fits — and tell you what your admissions offers really mean.

I won't write your essays.
I won't tell you to pretend to be someone you're not.
I'll help you present yourself clearly and apply strategically.

If you're uncertain whether you'd benefit from working with me, book a free intro call. There's no pressure, and I'll tell you honestly if I think you'd be well-served by another resource.

About Your Guide

The college process deserves a real navigator.

I've been in the rooms where decisions are made.

The families who struggle most aren't the ones with the weakest applications. They're the ones who never had a clear understanding of how the process works.

What I Believe

Fit matters more than rank.

Your story is already worth telling.

Information should be accessible.

Sign up to receive weekly updates through my newsletter.

A note on my approach.

I've thought hard about whether this is worth doing.

Ready to get your bearings?

Trail Guide Admissions