How College Admissions Has Changed… And What It Means for Your Family

Sophia is a graduate of Columbia University's M.F.A. writing program specializing in fiction. She has spent most of her career working with other writers on editing and developing their work for publication or performance. She has worked with students on standardized test prep and essay writing for the last two years, and loves helping people access their natural voice.

Dylan received a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, and has several years of experience working as a writing mentor and teaching writing-intensive courses at the college level. He is passionate about helping students cultivate their own unique voices as writers and tell their stories with clarity and authenticity.

Pavita received her doctorate in Health Promotion & Education from Columbia University, where she is an adjunct professor. She has her Master in Public Health from Yale and her Bachelor of Arts from NYU. She is the award-winning, international bestselling author of two poetry books: To All the Magic in Me and Psyche. Her mission is to help people take ownership of their wellbeing through storytelling.

Noah holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and has taught at universities across the US thanks to the PhD he earned in the social sciences at New York University. Noah believes we find out what we really think by writing about it, and gets great satisfaction helping students discover their best ideas through the writing process.

Jenn studied English and psychology at Lesley University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She has worked as an academic tutor supporting students with essays, research, and writing across disciplines. She is especially passionate about working with multilingual students and spacing questions of identity and belonging.

Carolyn is always up for a good story; she has a B.A. in Reading Books (a.k.a. English Literature) from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where she began coaching writers as a peer consultant at the Writing Center. She has now lived in the Colorado sunshine for 30 years and has continued helping writers of all ages tell their best stories for over a decade.

Britton is a former English Language Arts teacher based in Washington state. He is passionate about helping students develop their writing skills as a pathway toward living meaningful, thoughtful lives. In his free time, he enjoys reading, going on walks, and cheering on his beloved Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks.

Bethany is an editor, writing coach, and academic advisor based in central Missouri. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and communication with an emphasis in journalism from Truman State University and a master’s degree in communication from UCM. She is passionate about challenging and supporting students as they grow, preparing them for success in college and beyond.

Bethany’s career in education has included ten years of teaching high school English followed by another seven teaching Humanities, Latin, and theatre at a school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2013, she has run a private tutoring practice, coaching students of all ages including many high school juniors and seniors working on their college essays.

Ashley has more than 10 years of experience in educational and student travel marketing. Prior to College Solutions, Ashley worked with leading education abroad organizations where she specialized in helping students connect with meaningful academic opportunities abroad. She earned a Master of Science in Counselor Education from Longwood University and a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Communications from Penn State University, with additional studies in Spanish, International Studies, and Art History. Born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, Ashley spent six years traveling and living abroad in Vietnam and the Czech Republic before returning home to settle back in Charlottesville. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, going to concerts, and traveling.

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 Student Success Coordinator. 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.

Gib Staunton is the Director of Career Counseling at College Solutions, working with young professionals as they enter the workforce, explore career paths, and navigate professional transitions. Through personalized coaching, she helps clients identify their strengths, clarify their goals, and build confidence as they pursue meaningful opportunities. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Elementary Education, Gib also holds a Leadership Coaching Certificate from George Mason University. She has spent the last decade advising individuals in their twenties and thirties, helping more than 500 clients develop career strategies, strengthen application materials, build networking skills, and prepare for interviews. Prior to her career counseling work, she served as Director of Lower School Admission at St. Anne’s-Belfield School for fourteen years and taught for ten years at independent schools in the Boston area. As an educator, advisor, and coach, Gib believes that career success begins with self-awareness, curiosity, and a willingness to grow. She is the proud mother of four children and enjoys playing bridge, following sports, and staying active in her community.

Sandie brings more than 20 years of experience as an Executive Assistant and administrative professional, supporting senior executives and leadership teams with expertise in operations, project management, event coordination, and organizational efficiency. Known for her professionalism, attention to detail, and ability to build strong relationships, she is passionate about helping leaders and organizations succeed. Additionally, she serves on her town's Planning Board, contributing her time and expertise to support community growth and development. Outside of work, Sandie enjoys spending time with her husband, four children and four dogs. She is an avid beach goer and loves spending time near any body of water. Also, she loves sports, especially football, both college and professional, curling, basketball and ice hockey.

Michael Baudinet brings more than a decade of high-stakes litigation experience, including serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in Virginia. He has led complex federal cases and previously practiced at a large international law firm. Michael earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. He brings real-world legal expertise to help students gain admission to top law schools and enter the legal profession with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

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.

Anna lives in coastal NC and has been supporting students across primary, secondary, and post-secondary education for more than 18 years. She brings a strong background in student outreach and writing help with a firm understanding of language and its structure. Through mentorship, she has seen her students reach goals and create successful futures. As a graduate of NC State University, 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. When Anna has free time on her hands, you’ll find her outdoors, enjoying the beach, paddleboarding, exploring a new setting through travel, biking, and caring for animals.

Megan has over a decade of professional writing experience and has been a writing coach with College Solutions since 2021. She brings experience in project management, copywriting, editing, and storytelling to her role. Megan is passionate about helping young people learn to express their thoughts clearly and creatively in their writing and to develop their unique voices. Megan holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto and a graduate certificate in creative writing from Humber College. She’s had short fiction, poetry, and journalism published with Orlando Arts, Poets Choice, Fabula Press, and Ink & Sword, among others. When she’s not working, Megan enjoys jumping rope, crocheting, and working on her novel.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

John recently retired after 30 years of teaching math in Richmond, VA. Over that time, he led classes in AP and Dual Enrollment Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, as well as Geometry, Algebra, and Precalculus. His love of tutoring extends back to the 1980’s, when he worked for On Location Education in New York City teaching students acting in a variety of Broadway shows, movies, and television including four years with the Cosby Show. John holds a Masters in Math Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and an undergraduate degree from Yale University. John is an avid musician, with a Master’s in Piano and Accompanying from the University of Michigan. He currently resides in Richmond and enjoys spending time with his wife, three children, and four grandchildren; playing pickleball; and cooking.

Adam has 12 years of science teaching experience in Virginia public schools. He has taught a wide variety of courses across subjects, including biology, chemistry, earth science, AP Environmental Science, ecology, genetics, and nature literature. He also taught summer classes in natural history for Nature Camp in the George Washington National Forest for eight summers and has worked as an AP exam reader for the College Board. Adam graduated from William and Mary with undergraduate degrees in Biology and Environmental Science, and again the following year with a Master of Education. While in Williamsburg, Adam worked in a marine biology lab studying the predation behaviors of blue crabs. Outside of the classroom, Adam enjoys immersing himself in the outdoors on rock-climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, and paddling trips.

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.

Steve is an award-winning Latin teacher whose teaching career has spanned nearly three decades. He is originally from Prince Edward Island in Canada and studied Latin and Greek at the University of New Brunswick. Steve spends most of his summers in Italy, where he has taken Latin students to study for the past 25 years. Steve is an avid gardener, chef, and enophile.

Josh brings a deep passion for science and discovery to his role as a physics instructor. With more than five years of experience teaching at the high school and collegiate levels, he combines his academic expertise with a talent for making complex concepts accessible and engaging. He earned his Associate of Science degree from John Tyler Community College and both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics from Virginia Commonwealth University, where is pursuing Ph.D. work in Nanoscience. His graduate research has been focused on cancer detection and instrumentation, and he has contributed to projects at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, Virginia. Outside the classroom, Josh is an avid surfer and skydiver, currently working toward his Class A skydiving license. His ultimate goal as an educator is to inspire future generations of scientists to imagine, innovate, and shape the world of tomorrow.

Patrick has 14 years of experience as a mathematics teacher. In that time, he has worked with a wide variety of students in many disciplines, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Additionally, Patrick has provided one-on-one tutoring for students both in-person and online for over a decade. He blends experience and expertise to tailor a skills-based approach to understanding challenging math concepts. He holds a B.A. in Mathematics and M.T. Secondary Education degrees from the University of Virginia. Patrick enjoys married life with his wife Annie and sons Miles and Harris. In addition to teaching and tutoring, Patrick also runs lifeguard certification courses every spring. An appreciator of the outdoors, he delights in climbing, swimming, mountain biking and playing disc golf.

Since beginning her teaching career in 2007, Robinette has taught a wide range of Social Studies courses. Prior to teaching high schoolers, she was an adjunct instructor in African History at New York University. Robinette’s approach to education centers on critical thinking, global awareness, and cultural empathy—principles that have guided her students to success in both advanced coursework and international engagement. She has created and led immersive global education programs in Morocco, France, London, Ghana, South Africa, Lesotho, and the United Arab Emirates created to blend history, identity, and experiential learning to help young people (particularly young women) connect with the African diaspora and develop leadership through cross-cultural exchange. She holds a B.A. from Spelman College, completed a Fulbright fellowship in Morocco, and pursued doctoral studies at New York University focused on African History. Beyond teaching, she consults on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) initiatives and designs professional learning experiences for educators and community leaders. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, curating global experiences for others, and exploring local history throughout Virginia. She is passionate about storytelling, mentoring students, and creating spaces where learning fosters both confidence and connection.

Ed has lived and taught in Richmond since 2013, prior to which he 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.

Elise holds dual degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics and spent her career as an engineer and product innovation manager in the power and energy infrastructure industry. After a decade of work in the corporate world, Elise “retired” from the energy field to follow her true passion—engaging, mentoring, and teaching the youth—and became a teacher. She currently teaches AP Physics 1 & 2 and an engineering intensive course. When not at school, Elise coaches competitive indoor youth rock climbing and participates in the sport herself, often enjoying trips to the New River Gorge in West Virginia to climb. She is also a Renaissance woman at heart and dabbles in music, art, and writing.

Allison has over 28 years’ experience in teaching a variety of other AP, honors, and on-level social studies courses. She has taught AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics for the past 7 years. She also serves as an AP grader for Macroeconomics with the College Board/ETS. She previously taught Cultural and Regional Geography as an adjunct instructor at Brightpoint (John Tyler) Community College for 7 years. Allison holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Teaching from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado, and a Graduate Certificate in Geography from the University of Northern Colorado. She enjoys spending time with her adult children and her cats, cooking, gardening, hiking, and playing pickleball.

Dickson has been a math teacher 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.

Alyson is a South Florida native with more than 10 years of experience supporting students across secondary and higher education. She brings a strong background in academic progress tracking, retention-focused outreach, counseling support, and student-centered communication to the Student Success Coordinator role. Her academic background includes degrees in Psychology, Mathematics, Counseling, and Marketing, combining insight into student behavior, analytical thinking, and strategic communication to support student progress. Throughout her career, she has helped students navigate important milestones, strengthen accountability, and stay on track toward their educational goals. She also brings experience in career advising, program mentoring, and classroom instruction, which has strengthened her ability to support diverse learners with professionalism, empathy, and structure. She believes that everyone has a passion that needs the right kind of empowerment to be cultivated into purpose. Her commitment to collaborative support helps students and families feel guided and supported at every stage of their journey. Outside of work, Alyson spends time with her family, serves her community, and lives an active lifestyle. She looks forward to celebrating milestones and traveling the world!

Heather brings more than 20 years of education experience experience in education to her role at College Solutions, where she supports students with reading, writing, and executive function skills. Through her years spent working with students with various learning styles, she has developed a number of strategies and tools to help all kinds of learners find success in school and life. 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. She is also a Certified Executive Functioning Coach. 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 and two pups, reading, cooking, and spending time at the beach.

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.

After a nearly ten-year career in communications and marketing, Sara joined College Solutions as a fellow 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. She additionally leads our application review team, supporting high school seniors and transfer students as they prepare to submit their applications. 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.

Emily has always had a love for the college admissions process, dating back to her own college search experience in high school. She graduated from Vanderbilt University as a “Double Dore,” earning a B.A. in English and Medicine, Health, & Society, along with an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration. Emily joins College Solutions following four application cycles at UNC Chapel Hill’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. During her time there, she reviewed thousands of applications and gained a deep understanding of the intricacies of highly selective admissions from both in-state and out-of-state perspectives at a large public institution. Emily has a heart for students and believes that everyone has a unique story to tell. In a time of ever-increasing pressure surrounding college admissions, she is excited to get to know students and help them feel seen, supported, and confident throughout the process. In her free time, Emily loves baking anything sourdough, exploring new coffee shops, and staying active. Her favorite role, however, is being an aunt, and she loves spending as much time as possible with her niece and nephew.

Jessica is originally from Connecticut but has lived, worked, and studied up and down the east coast. With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, she has worked in various roles at AU, Wake Forest, UNC Chapel Hill. She has also served as an admissions reader for Duke and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her time in the field, she has personally visited more than 100 college campuses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Clemson University and a Master’s in Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. Jessica lives in Davidson, North Carolina, with her family, where she enjoys reading, traveling, and watching her kids play sports.

Taylor brings a deep understanding of selective college admissions and extensive firsthand knowledge of colleges and universities across the Northeast. With 15+ years of education experience, Taylor is known for her structured, proven approach that helps families stay organized and confident from start to finish. 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 has worked with a wide range of student profiles and has supported successful applicants to institutions such as UVA, Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, NYU, Villanova, Virginia Tech, University of Richmond, UMass Amherst, UConn, Tulane, Clemson, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC San Diego, San Diego State, Cal Poly SLO, Reed, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Florida. She has led numerous workshops and classes on the Common Application and navigating the college application process, and she is especially skilled at helping students craft compelling Activity Lists and develop intentional extracurricular strategies. With her warm guidance, strategic insight, and highly organized advising style, Taylor empowers students to present their strongest applications and to feel confident throughout the entire process. 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.

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.

With nearly 15 years of experience in the college advising space, Kate has worked with hundreds of students on their applications to schools across the US, Canada, the UK and more. As Vice President of Business Development at College Solutions, Kate continues to support families through the application process while building on her six years of business development experience in higher education space. Kate graduated from Vanderbilt University with a passion for art and writing, and began her career in China as an application essay coach. Over the next decade, she became an expert in application narrative building, which she applied to her role leading a college advising department at a test prep company starting in 2020. Kate's experience as an advisor positioned her to be a useful guide for families at any stage of their college application journeys. She finds just as much gratification in matching a student up with the perfect advisor for them as she does in working with students herself. Kate lives in Brooklyn with her beloved one-eyed cat, Sammy, and loves painting, ceramics, and her neighborhood niche book club (with a healthy dose of Bravo TV for balance).

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 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.

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.

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 nine-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.