Meet Our Consultants

The seemingly endless maze of forms, college websites, view books and course catalogues, strict timelines, required interviews, campus visits, portfolios, independent programs of study, and auditions can intimidate and discourage the student and parent at college application time. How daunting the myriad requirements must appear to them! As a Kaplan consultant I am pleased to be able to reduce this labyrinth of information and obligations to a productive and, yes, even pleasurable venture!

Because of my belief in lifelong learning, I pursued an undergraduate degree in education, a graduate degree in school counseling, and an advanced graduate degree in school administration from Southern Connecticut State University. I enjoyed thirteen years as a classroom educator before moving into the role of a high school college counselor, and, ultimately, the director of the guidance department. During this thirteen-year period, I developed a college-planning program that trained students to be informed consumers as they approached the application process. My team of counselors instructed students to highlight their unique strengths and talents that would set them apart from the numerous applications on a college admissions counselor's desk. I supported many students through successful application to an extensive list of the most competitive institutions in the country, including the U.S. Military Academies and schools in the Ivy League. In general, I became most familiar with schools in New England, the Middle Atlantic States, Florida, Southern California, and Idaho. Unexpectedly, the professional opportunities of my school district attracted me to what became a delightful nine-year tenure as a middle school principal.

From expertise gained in critiquing State mandated writing samples, I can share effective strategies to enhance students' skills in tackling the rigorous challenges of college essay writing. In addition, while supervising special services programming, I gained a clear sense of the academic assistance that is available to the many capable, talented students who desire a college degree. Consequently, I feel particularly qualified to assist special needs students in their pursuit of colleges that best meet their individual needs.

After retiring from public school administration, I reflected on my professional experiences and realized that college admissions counseling had always been the dearest to my heart. College application time is a period when students reap the rewards of the energies expended during their thirteen years of schooling. It is also the point in time when parents must adjust to the separation inherent in a move to college. It is at this juncture that students and parents need a knowledgeable coach who can reduce their anxiety so the excitement of this significant milestone in the students' lives can be enjoyed. Working with both students and their parents requires sensitivity to these personal as well as educational issues. A sensitivity I am fortunate to be in a position to apply as a Kaplan "coach."

close window
	Joanne College Admissions Consultant
The seemingly endless maze of forms, college websites, view books and course catalogues, strict timelines, required interviews, campus visits, portfolios, independent programs of study, and auditions can intimidate and discourage the student and parent at college application time. How daunting the myriad requirements must appear to them! As a Kaplan consultant I am pleased to be able to reduce this labyrinth of information and obligations to a productive and, yes, even pleasurable venture! Because of my belief in lifelong learning, I pursued an undergraduate degree in education, a graduate degree in school counseling, and an advanced graduate degree in school administration from Southern Connecticut State University. I enjoyed thirteen years as a classroom educator before moving into the role of a high school college counselor, and, ultimately, the director of the guidance department. During this thirteen-year period, I developed a college-planning program that trained students to be informed consumers as they approached the application process. My team of counselors instructed students to highlight their unique strengths and talents that would set them apart from the numerous applications on a college admissions counselor's desk. I supported many students through successful application to an extensive list of the most competitive institutions in the country, including the U.S. Military Academies and schools in the Ivy League. In general, I became most familiar with schools in New England, the Middle Atlantic States, Florida, Southern California, and Idaho. Unexpectedly, the professional opportunities of my school district attracted me to what became a delightful nine-year tenure as a middle school principal. From expertise gained in critiquing State mandated writing samples, I can share effective strategies to enhance students' skills in tackling the rigorous challenges of college essay writing. In addition, while supervising special services programming, I gained a clear sense of the academic assistance that is available to the many capable, talented students who desire a college degree. Consequently, I feel particularly qualified to assist special needs students in their pursuit of colleges that best meet their individual needs. After retiring from public school administration, I reflected on my professional experiences and realized that college admissions counseling had always been the dearest to my heart. College application time is a period when students reap the rewards of the energies expended during their thirteen years of schooling. It is also the point in time when parents must adjust to the separation inherent in a move to college. It is at this juncture that students and parents need a knowledgeable coach who can reduce their anxiety so the excitement of this significant milestone in the students' lives can be enjoyed. Working with both students and their parents requires sensitivity to these personal as well as educational issues. A sensitivity I am fortunate to be in a position to apply as a Kaplan "coach."