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Contact Brian

About Your Guide

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The college process deserves a real navigator.

Not a cheat code. Not a ghost-writer. Someone who knows how admissions offices actually think — and can help you find the schools where you'll genuinely belong.

Read more about my experience and my approach below.

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

I've recruited thousands of students and read several thousand applications over more than 12 years in admissions leadership. My background includes undergraduate admissions roles at Western Illinois University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, and Illinois Institute of Technology.

I've also held graduate admissions roles at Loyola University Chicago, and today I direct admissions for the Masters Program in Computer Science at the University of Chicago, which keeps me current on how admissions offices think and operate, even though my work there isn't undergraduate-facing.

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

What I Believe

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.

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A note on my approach.

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.

Ready to get your bearings?

Start with a free 30-minute call.
We'll figure out where you are, where you want to go, and whether working together makes sense.

Schedule a Call