The State of College Admissions

Pierce Coughter

Vice President of Policy and Outreach & Senior Counselor

College Solutions

Pierce has 13 years of experience in college admissions and enrollment, including posts as an admissions dean at the University of Virginia's Undergraduate Admission Office and, most recently, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at UVA's McIntire School of Commerce. He has read tens of thousands of applications, traveled to and evaluated applications from hundreds of schools across the country, and advised students through countless different academic pathways and pursuits. Pierce earned his undergraduate degree in history from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in Higher Education from Old Dominion University, with a concentration in Student Affairs. He is a passionate college basketball fan and an enjoyer of local music venues. He lives with his wife, young daughter, and their golden retriever, Casper.

Patrick Zylka

Vice President of Counseling & Senior Counselor

College Solutions

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.