A little bit about me…
“From start to finish, Ryan was outstanding to work with. He’s not only professional; he’s also a great person, and it felt like a trusted friend helping us through the process. He’s honest, genuine, and a dad like me, so he really relates to all of the college madness! He’s extremely knowledgeable about college admissions and financial aid, and he removed the stress for us and made it easy. I highly recommend Ryan’s expertise to help families navigate the complexities of college admissions. His work is truly exceptional.”
- MH, Parent
In this arena, there are no shortcuts to success. Unfortunately, even the very best students have the odds stacked against them. At most college admissions companies, you simply won't be working with the caliber of consultant you need to make a real difference, especially if you’re shooting for the most selective schools. The big companies often employ a cookie cutter approach, and you’ll typically end up working with a junior advisor. Even with admissions experience, many advisors won't have the innovative mindset, creativity, or marketplace success that’s critical to help you dig deep, find, and build the story you need to succeed. They’re often educators or administrators vs practitioners. Gaining admission to a highly selective college is harder than ever, and you need a strategic partner who has been there themselves and knows what it takes to get in.
I was extremely fortunate to be accepted to each college I applied to, including Harvard, Yale, and a US Military Academy. I also received two full ROTC scholarships. I had no legacy connections, however, and I grew up in a small, mostly blue collar town. I loved my community, but my high school had never had anyone accepted to Harvard or Yale before, so there wasn’t much experience in that area. I needed to learn the process inside and out to gain the edge I needed. In fact, my high school principal once saw me reading a book about Yale and jokingly exclaimed, "You'll never get into Yale. Yale is for rich kids!"
So…I made it my goal to prove him wrong. I learned everything I could about selective college admissions, and implemented a strategic plan to give myself the best odds for success. After Early Action acceptance to Yale, I ultimately chose to attend Harvard, and it turned into one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I’ve interviewed lots of students to help with alumni admissions over the years, and I’m passionate about helping motivated young people follow their dreams and achieve their goals, whether for college admissions or life.
Helping students and parents choose and get accepted to the best college for them is my goal, not any one or two particular schools. As the madness of college admissions continues to increase, it’s critically important that families start early and take the necessary time to evaluate the best fit schools for them. That’s the only way to remain rational - and in fact joyful and excited vs stressed out - in the college admissions process.
Having spent a good bit of my career as an entrepreneur and tech professional, much of it in the recruiting and talent acquisition space, I now want to use my experience to help students plan for their educational and career success. If you have a worthwhile dream, don't let anyone keep you from pursuing it. With talent, an undeterred will, and a world class work ethic, anything is possible. Dig deep, and go for it! I look forward to helping you achieve your college and life goals as well. If my story resonates with you, book a free consultation today and see if working together is the right move for you.