College Solutions Vice President Patrick Zylka Selected for HECA Professional Development Institute Committee

A Commitment to Professional Development

The committee’s work supports HECA’s mission to lead and engage educational consultants through professional development and high ethical standards. It fosters a collaborative community equipped to navigate the evolving higher education landscape.

“I am both honored and excited to serve in this capacity alongside other leading voices in our profession,” says Patrick. “Continuing to build our industry's wealth of knowledge and understanding of ethical standards is of great importance to me, both for myself personally but also for the greater community.”

Building a Collaborative Community

HECA’s Professional Development Institute (PDI) is a virtual program designed to assist Independent Educational Consultants in taking their career to the next level. The interactive program provides consultants at all levels of their career with training and resources to guide students successfully and ethically in their search for higher education opportunities.

“Patrick brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to everything he does,” said Margaret Bolton Baudinet, CEO of College Solutions. “We’re thrilled to see him take on this role and contribute his experience and perspective to the broader IEC community.”

About HECA

The Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in higher education consulting. With more than 1,000 members across the U.S. and abroad, HECA supports educational consultants through professional development, collaboration, and a commitment to high ethical standards. HECA members serve the college planning needs of more than 40,000 high school seniors each year.

About Patrick Zylka

Patrick 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.