We know how the college admissions process works, and we’ve personally visited thousands of campuses across the nation. Let us put our expertise to work for your family and the college search journey.
College Solutions is a team of counselors with a remarkable knowledge of college admissions. They’ve seen over 250 colleges and universities and worked as admission professionals at Northwestern, the University of Virginia, and more. Each counselor brings a wealth of knowledge from a background full of admission, athletic, and academic accomplishments.
Margaret Bolton Baudinet is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of College Solutions. She also serves as the Scholarship Specialist to College Solutions clients.
Margaret graduated from the University of Virginia with the highest distinction with a political and literary thought degree, finishing her academic tenure with research at Oxford University. She holds five years of admission experience from the University of Virginia, specializing in legacy admissions. Margaret has served on the selection committee for the Coca-Cola Scholarship Program and the University of Virginia’s Jefferson Scholarship.
At College Solutions, Margaret has been a writing coach, counselor, application editor, managing director, and CEO. She is the proud mother of eight-year-old quintuplets and a busy toddler.
As a mother and a college advisor, she strives to see the whole person — motivations, fears, blind spots, and goals.
📺 Favorite TV Show
The West Wing
Steve Gaines brings more than 20 years of experience as a dynamic leader in small business operations, with expertise spanning strategy and vision, financial management, budgeting, and personnel leadership. His career has been rooted in radio, media, and marketing, with his most recent role in business and consumer banking. Beyond his professional achievements, Steve is deeply committed to his community, serving on multiple nonprofit boards and contributing through volunteer work.
In his personal life, Steve is a devoted husband and father of four adult children. In his free time, he enjoys staying active by working out, playing pickleball, and watching college sports, all while keeping his sense of humor at the forefront. Steve holds a degree from James Madison University.
📺 Favorite TV Shows
Seinfeld & Parenthood
Patrick Zylka spent 15 years working in college admissions, most recently at Northwestern University. During this time, he read more than 10,000 applications and gave presentations to prospective college applicants throughout the United States, China, Indonesia, and Singapore. Patrick works with students interested in pursuing all majors in college, especially those interested in admission to highly selective schools. Patrick earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his master’s degree from the University of Michigan. When not helping students and families navigate the college admissions process, you can find him training for marathons and ultramarathons.
📺 Favorite TV Shows
Six Feet Under & The West Wing
Terry is a dedicated college counselor with over 25 years in education, offering expert guidance to students and families navigating the college admissions process. With experience in college admissions, new student & family programs, and 13 years as a private counselor, she provides valuable insights into the college search process.
As a mother of two sons—alumni of the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)—she brings both professional expertise and personal understanding to the admissions experience.
Originally from Connecticut, Terry enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and her two dogs. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University and an M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in College Student Development from the University of Rhode Island.
📺 Favorite TV Shows
The Americans & Schitt’s Creek
Mattie, raised in Maui, received the Yale Book Award for character and scholarship but chose Pitzer College for its social justice commitment. She earned a Bachelor’s in English & World Literature: Creative Writing. While at Pitzer, she worked as a tour guide, helping others find their college fit. After graduating, she became an Admission Counselor, starting a 10-year career in college admissions, during which she evaluated over 15,000 applications and led the Diversity Fly-In Program. Her recruitment efforts spanned New York, Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America. A traveler, she has been to 22 countries. Students can expect a detail-oriented and empathetic counselor from her. In her free time, she enjoys decoding Taylor Swift lyrics, doing yoga, and spending time with her husband, two sons, and three cats.
📺 Favorite TV Shows
The Walking Dead & The Office
Anna has over a decade of experience working in higher education in a variety of roles, including admissions, student affairs, and fundraising. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, she graduated from UVA with a B.A. In English and an M.Ed. in Higher Education. She worked as an admissions reader for UVA for three years, reading in-state, out-of-state, and transfer applications. Anna feels strongly about helping students find the right fit in the college admissions process, as she transferred colleges after her freshman year. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she enjoys spending time with her young son, diving into a good book, and attending as many concerts as possible.
📺 Favorite TV Show
Schitt’s Creek
Taylor has over 15 years of experience working in the education field. She has worked in Rhode Island and New York City in various roles, including teacher, tutor, coach, and, most recently, high school and college counselor. A native of Rhode Island, she graduated from Providence College with a B.A. in Italian and Education and an M.Ed. in School Counseling. Taylor truly enjoys getting to know her students and building a strong connection. She encourages all of her students to realize their full career potential and advocates for their academic, personal, and social success.
Taylor currently lives in Providence with her husband and two kids. She enjoys relaxing at the beach, cooking fun recipes, and traveling to new places.
📺 Favorite TV Show
New Girl
After a nearly ten-year career in communications and marketing, Sara joined College Solutions as a fellow in June 2024 to pursue her passion for college counseling. She trained under the firm’s team of counselors while earning her College Counseling Certification through UCLA. Now a counselor with College Solutions, Sara has played a key role in helping launch the firm’s Charlotte office, which officially opened its doors in early 2025.
Sara brings a storyteller’s mindset and a strategic eye for positioning to her work with students, skills she honed during her career in marketing leading high-profile consumer campaigns. With a strong foundation in narrative-building and differentiation, Sara is excited to help students stand out in an increasingly competitive admissions landscape.
Her interest in counseling was sparked by her own college admissions journey, including navigating the process of applying for competitive merit scholarships. She ultimately chose to attend Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where she graduated with honors.
A native Charlottean and graduate of Charlotte Country Day School, Sara recently returned to her hometown with her husband and is enjoying living close to family. She’s also a proud new mom to a baby girl.
📺 Favorite TV Show
Severance
Cordel is a seasoned law school admissions expert with over two decades of experience in higher education, admissions strategy, and student advocacy. As the Director of Law School Admissions Counseling at What's Next, he leverages his extensive background to guide aspiring law students through every stage of the application process, helping them craft compelling applications and make informed decisions about their futures.
Previously, he served as Director of Global Admissions for Schwarzman Scholars, where he led the recruitment and selection of one of the world's most competitive graduate fellowship programs. He was also the Assistant Dean and Chief Admissions Officer at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he spearheaded efforts that resulted in the school's most diverse incoming classes. His leadership extends beyond admissions, as he played a key role in scholarship allocation, student inclusivity, and strategic planning.
Cordel’s career also includes experience in law, journalism, and higher education leadership, giving him a unique perspective on the law school admissions landscape. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Virginia Tech, he is passionate about mentoring students and ensuring they have the tools to succeed in their legal education and careers.
📺 Favorite TV Show
The Wire
Heather brings over 20 years of experience in education to her role at College Solutions, where she supports students with reading and writing throughout the college admissions process. She holds Master’s degrees in Elementary and Middle School Education and Library Science from Old Dominion University, equipping her with deep expertise in literacy development and information access.
Heather’s career spans teaching at both the elementary and high school levels, as well as a decade as a school media specialist. She has also served as a literacy specialist, providing interventions and resources to students, families, and educators. A natural leader and mentor, Heather has trained fellow educators and supported academic growth across diverse learning environments.
At College Solutions, she leverages her background to help students build the confidence and skills they need to succeed as strong, lifelong learners. Outside of work, Heather enjoys spending time with her two children, reading, cooking, and spending time at the beach.
📺 Favorite TV Show
Friends
Morgan has worked in education marketing and programming for more than 15 years. For a majority of that time, she facilitated educational experiences for middle/high school and university students, including golf tournaments at St Andrews, musical performances at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House, history tours to Washington, D.C., and international business programs for MBA candidates.
Morgan is passionate about providing young people with opportunities to broaden their perspectives and enrich their academic and personal lives. She considers a student’s choice of a college or grad school as one of the most important decisions they will make.
Morgan majored in Marketing and Linguistics at University of Virginia. She loved being in Charlottesville so much that she never left, and now enjoys “townie” life with her husband and two young girls. In her spare time, you can find Morgan planning her family’s next trip and providing shuttle service to numerous after-school activities.
📺 Favorite TV Show
Anything historical fiction
Raised in Arizona and shaped by global experiences, Shannon brings over 15 years of professional experience across creative industries, education, and operations to her role as Senior Specialist. She earned her degree in Photojournalism and Advertising from Gonzaga University and spent over a decade running a creative studio with clients across the U.S. and the Middle East. Most recently, she led a team of 300+ tutors at a global education company.
Shannon is passionate about helping students uncover their strengths and tell their stories with confidence. In her free time, she loves exploring new cultures, capturing travel photography, and adventuring with her husband and twins.
📺 Favorite TV Shows
A Discovery of Witches & Ted Lasso
Dickson has been a math teacher at Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Virginia, since 1997 (except for two years spent teaching in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!). In addition to his classroom experience, he has tutored hundreds of students at all levels of math including preparation for the SAT and ACT. Dickson employs a student-centered, personalized approach, focusing on meeting each student's individual needs to help them achieve their academic goals. He always collaborates closely with his students to equip them with the tools and the confidence they need to flourish.
Residing in Richmond with his wife and their four cats, Dickson is also the proud father of a recent graduate of William & Mary, his own alma mater. Dickson later earned a Master's in Teaching from VCU. Outside of his professional life, Dickson enjoys playing soccer and cycling.
📺 Favorite TV Shows
Seinfeld and Ted Lasso
English Tutor
John is currently teaching IB English Language and Literature at an international school in Bali, Indonesia. Prior to moving across the world with his wife and three-year-old daughter, he taught for 14 years in Richmond, Virginia. For the past 12 years, he has also been an SAT/ACT Reading and Writing tutor with the Richmond Academic Institute. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds a Master’s Degree in Literature and a Secondary English Teaching Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
In his free time, John enjoys afternoons with his daughter at the beach, playing padel, and distance running. He has run all three World Marathon Majors in the U.S. (New York, Boston, Chicago), and hopes to expand his race imprint internationally while living abroad.
📺 Favorite TV Show
Justified
LSAT Tutor, What’s Next
Cole joins the College Admissions team as LSAT advisor for our What's Next law school admissions advisory group. He is a graduate of Villanova University, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering.
Cole views the LSAT much like a foreign language: something that, with the appropriate training and practice, can be learned and mastered. Having scored in the 99th percentile of test-takers himself, Cole uses his personal strategies to equip students with the advanced reasoning, analytical, and writing skills needed to excel on the LSAT.
When he’s not working as an electrical engineer or tutoring aspiring lawyers, Cole likes to read, watch movies, and exercise.
English
Ed is currently teaching 9th grade English and a combined junior/senior course of his own devising, Contemporary Voices, at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Virginia, where he has taught for the last ten years. He has lived and taught in Richmond since 2013. Before working at Maggie Walker, Ed taught for 11 years in Indianapolis at a large urban high school, where he also served as the Department Chair and was chosen as an Indiana Milken Educator in 2009. He began his career in Georgia in 1995 and has worked in public high schools for over 30 years, teaching everything from remedial 9th grade to IB Senior English, AP Literature and Composition, and AP Language and Composition.
While in Indiana, Ed contracted for the College Board in a variety of capacities, serving as a reader for the AP Literature exam, a consultant for the SAT and PSAT test development program, and a regional AP instructor for students with underperforming AP programs. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, he is a graduate of Bethany College in West Virginia, and he holds a Master’s of Theological Studies from Harvard University and a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Emory University.
After a short stint as a college swimmer and a lifetime of running, Ed briefly took up aikido and has now settled into a regular yoga practice. He and his wife have two young adult daughters, two dogs, and an orange cat. He enjoys collecting contemporary art.
📺 Favorite TV Show
Any modern drama with heavy Shakespearean underpinnings, like Peaky Blinders, Breaking Bad, or The Sopranos.
Anna lives in Richmond, VA, and loves helping students find their unique voice in the essay writing process. Outside of being both a counselor and writing coach, she enjoys reading fiction, listening to live music, cheering for her college football and basketball teams, and hanging out with her six-year-old son.
Lee Ann splits her time between outside Boston in the winters and Traverse City, Michigan, in the summers. Other than being a writing coach and application reviewer, she enjoys English mysteries, playing and watching pickleball and traveling to visit her recent college grad daughters. She tries to make sure students present all that is special about themselves in their essays and in as many other parts of the application as possible.
Megan calls Orlando, FL, home and loves to crochet, jump rope, and garden in her spare time. She loves to encourage and aid students in finding their voice as they create their essays. She can't wait to hear your story and help you make it shine.
Cece graduated from Pitzer College, where she studied design-thinking and classical singing. Based in the Bay Area, she spends her time rock climbing, hiking with her two dogs, and performing with her jazz band. Cece is passionate about helping students develop their writing process, empowering them to move confidently from the first spark of an idea to a polished final draft that captures their unique voice.
Anna lives in coastal NC and spends her time paddle boarding, biking, and caring for animals. Her philosophy is that the pursuit of higher education is a significant part of one's path; once a college degree is earned, it is kept forever. It is her goal to help you achieve your objectives as a part of your journey to success.
Anna Kate lives in Birmingham, Alabama, and enjoys reading, running, and adventuring with her family. She loves getting to know young people through their writing and being a guide throughout the writing process, from rough draft to final form.
Jeannie is passionate about empowering students to conquer their academic adventures. She thrives on inspiring others, whether by mentoring future college students or developing engaging marketing campaigns for non-profits. Based in Syracuse, NY, Jeannie is a proud Syracuse University alumnus with New England roots, balancing her professional pursuits with an active personal life, attending community events, staying fit, and continuously expanding her horizons through travel.
Katie is a graduate of the College of William & Mary, where she studied both English and Film. Living in Richmond, Virginia, you can usually find her reading (or listening to an audiobook), writing, at a concert, thrifting with friends, or searching for the best hiking trails in VA. Katie is passionate about working with all different types of writing, but particularly loves helping high school students build confidence in their unique perspectives–she believes that everyone has a story to tell!
Chloe graduated from William & Mary, where she majored in Psychology and Linguistics. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, trying out new recipes, reading on the beach, and meeting new dogs. She is passionate about helping students tell their stories authentically, highlighting the most unique parts of themselves using their own voices.
Athletics
Katie was a member of Duke University's first women's soccer team in 1988. She later worked in the software industry in the U.S. and Europe and served as an alumni interviewer for Duke in Southern California. In 2013, she launched her counseling practice, combining college advising and athletic recruiting. Katie holds a B.A. in Sociology from Duke and a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA, receiving the IECA “Making A Difference Award” in 2021. Since 2013, she has guided hundreds of student-athletes through college admissions and recruiting, helping them secure spots at Div I, II, and III institutions. Together with David Stoeckel, she created the first online training course for counselors advising college-bound student-athletes and mentors those new to athletic advising.
Athletics
Amy is an 18-time NCAA championship coach and former Division III two-sport student-athlete (soccer and tennis). She is the first female in NCAA history to win the national team tennis championship as both coach and player and is an Emory University Sports Hall of Fame inductee. She holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration and an Executive Coaching Diploma from Emory, as well as a Master’s in Sports Administration from Georgia State University. Over 20 years, she coached NCAA sports, helping student-athletes achieve 7 NCAA team championships, 11 individual championships, and 98 All-American honors. In 2019, she founded Bryant College Coaching and mentored hundreds of high school student-athletes in finding their college match.
Athletics
Reid chose Texas Tech University for its baseball program but found it a poor fit academically and personally. He transferred to Weatherford College and attended four colleges in four years. Ultimately, he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Texas - Austin in sport development and youth sport policy. Reid has been working with student-athletes since 2016, when he advised his pitching clients on the admissions process in between drills. Shortly after discovering this passion, Reid founded the company that would eventually become Athletes to Athletes and started working with student-athletes in a more formal capacity all over the country. Reid is a Certified Educational Planner, currently holds a professional membership with IECA, and is a member of both TACAC and NACAC. Reid is also SafeSport Certified through the USOC credentialing program.
Military
Jane is an active duty army officer with over 17 years of experience advising interested students and soldiers on commissioned service, as well as maximizing GI bill benefits.
Although she has had incredible assignments through her Army career to include deployments as an Air Defense Artillery Officer to the Middle East, she was particularly impacted by her experience as an Army ROTC instructor and Recruiting Operations Officer at the University of Virginia. There, she helped to guide and advise over 100 cadets who eventually were commissioned as Active Officers into the United States Army.
Jane has two Masters degrees from the University of Virginia, as well as graduate certificates from the United States Army War College, Command and General Staff College, and the Naval Postgraduate School.
Athletics
Joe played baseball in college at Sonoma State University, where he was part of teams ranked #1 in the nation and earned a trip to the 2008 Division 2 College World Series Semifinals. After college, he spent three years playing overseas in the German Bundesliga. In his final year, he made the switch from player to coach. He returned to the U.S. and spent the next decade working as a coach and athletics administrator at University of San Francisco, University of the Pacific, and UC Berkeley. He has worked on every side of the athletic and academic admissions process. While working at Cal, Joe got heavily involved in the operations and recruiting for many of the most successful collegiate programs in the nation. He completed the UC Berkeley Certificate for College Planning program and decided to utilize his experience to work directly with families. He has worked with hundreds of students to navigate the complex worlds of academic admissions and athletic recruiting. Joe is a member of IECA, HECA, and WACAC and frequently speaks with sports clubs and teams all over Northern California.
The first consultation with College Solutions consultation is free and gives you a low-pressure opportunity to get to know our team, our approach, and what sets us apart.
