School Counselors & Schools
Whether a family at your school has hired me, or you're looking for direct support with international admissions, this page is for you. Welcome!
Has a family at your school hired me?
If you're a school counselor and one of your students is working with me, here's what you should know:
I'm not here to work around you. If it would be helpful, I’m here to work with you. School counselors are doing a lot of work, often for hundreds of students at once, and the last thing anyone needs is an outside counselor creating parallel processes or drama. When a family hires me for a system your school doesn't typically send students to, my goal is to make your job easier, not harder.
In practice, that means:
I'll share what each system expects from references, transcripts, and predicted grades (if you want).
I'll help with review and edits for non-US letters of recommendation or reference (if you want).
I'll walk you through application portals you haven't used before (if you want).
I'll translate US transcripts and credentials into the formats other systems require or point you towards how to get that done (if you want).
I'll be available for questions throughout the cycle (if you want).
And to be clear, none of this costs schools anything. If your student is working with me, my time answering your questions about their application is unlimited and free. I learned international admissions from awesome colleagues on both sides of the desk and my goal is to pay it forward.
If you want to talk, just email me.
The UCAS Reference Guide
UCAS reference letters look nothing like a US recommendation, and most US school counselors have never had a reason to write one. I put together a short guide that walks through what UCAS admissions tutors actually want, what the reference should include, and where US-style letters tend to go wrong.
It's a Google Doc. It's free. Bookmark it, share it, use it however it's useful.
If you have questions after reading it, or if you'd like me to look at a draft, just email.
A quick note on why I work this way.
I've been a school counselor. I know what life is like on the other side of the desk: the workload, the calendar, the meetings, the never-ending demands. There's no time in a school counselor's week to become a UCAS specialist just because one student is applying to Durham.
I'm a specialist and it is what I love doing. You're the one who knows the student and your school. When we collaborate, students get better outcomes as you get targeted information and specific tidbits that can help you do your job. That's the whole idea.
A Few More Resources
The Global Family's Guide to Admissions
Written for families, but useful for anyone learning the international admissions landscape. Free download.
NACAC's College Counseling for Specific Populations
I teach a section of this course through NACAC. If you're a member and interested, here's the link.
Substack:
Applying Broadly
Geared towards addressing admissions trends and less-discussed aspects of the admissions process. Free to subscribe.
Is your school looking to bring me in?