Since 1992, I have been directly involved in admissions and school counseling in a variety of primary, secondary and college settings on both coasts of the United States. Educated at Gettysburg College and the College of Saint Rose, I hold a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Master’s in Education in School Counseling.
Working independently as a consultant since 1993, I have concurrently held positions as Assistant Director of Admissions, Director of Financial Aid, and as a Student Advisor in independent secondary schools as well as at the collegiate level.
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I take on a small client base each year to ensure personalized attention. According to the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. public high school students receive an average of 38 minutes of personal advising on college admissions, compared to an average of 40 hours that I spend on my students. With my extensive knowledge of colleges, I can broaden potential choices, and provide vital help in weighing factors such as cost, location, and curriculum. Students who work with someone like me are 4x more likely to attend a private college and are 3x as likely to go out of state. I have worked with students from across the nation and around the world and I am able to assist both in person as well as via email and Skype. In an effort to stay on top of trends, I attend national conferences on college admissions each year and spend a significant amount of time visiting college campuses across the nation to best facilitate matches between my clients and potential campuses. To date, I have seen approximately 350 colleges across the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
As a recognized expert on college admission counseling, I have been frequently quoted in the press, including articles in Alaska Airlines inflight magazine, USA Today, Forbes and The Seattle Times. I have made appearances on public radio, television and satellite radio and I am an instructor for the University of California-Irvine’s Independent Educational Consultant certificate program (7+ years). I am a Professional Member of IECA, Independent Educational Consultants Association (17 years), an organization of experienced educational consultants and with the National Association of College Admission Counseling (17 years) and I uphold all standards set forth by NACAC’s Statement of Good Practices as well as IECA’s Principles of Good Practice. I am also a member of the Seattle Area College Counselors (15+ years) group and serve as a liaison to the IECA national office regarding Seattle group happenings. I have made presentations at area high schools, Flown and Grown’s Facebook page, Western Washington Female Hockey Association, and India Association of Western Washington.
I believe that finding the right college is one of the most important decisions a student will make. A correct choice will enrich and enhance a student’s life and can impact his or her future. Finding the right fit, however, can be daunting. That is where someone like myself plays a vital role. Please visit www.schoolconsultant.com to learn more, or follow me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CollegeConsultants).
Founded in 1976, the nation’s oldest organization of consultants, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) requires that all members have at least three years of relevant experience, visit at least 50 college campuses, work with at least 50 clients, obtain a Master’s degree in a related field or earn a certificate, and sign a yearly ethics contract.
According to Dr. William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions at Harvard University, “IECA is the Harvard of the counseling profession.” Without a doubt, IECA has set the bar high for professional standards and is an industry leader.
With so many independent college counselors practicing across the country, it’s good to know that not all counselors have the same level of experience or qualifications. Since 1993, I have been committed to facilitating a personalized match between a student and their future college.
A combination of specific training and experience in the field allows me to recommend colleges best suited to the strengths and interests of the student. As I have personally visited over 350 colleges across the U.S. and the U.K.,
I am able to recommend the most appropriate options for students to evaluate. This personalized approach is one that is superior to relying on online algorithms that develop a college list based on generics like campus location and test scores, and national rankings that don’t take into consideration factors that directly impact a student’s college experience.
I am a member of NACAC and serve as the regional group leader for IECA. Since 2011, I have served as an instructor for the University of California – Irvine’s Independent Education Consultant certificate program. I take great pride in being current with admission trends, application policies, and I am committed to continuing education through national conferences and webinars. This insight and experience are invaluable to my students as they make decisions about their future.
I do not accept compensation from colleges or third parties, nor guarantee admittance to a particular college. I do not write student essays, fill out application forms or write the school counselor letter. I will, however, provide students with the attention and expertise necessary to navigate the college search and application process successfully.
Murphy College Consultants
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Why an IEC?
Thank you so much for everything you have done for me this past year! You helped me so much to find not only my school but also who I am as a person.
I appreciate you so much and the amount of care and time you put into helping me. You are truly amazing at what you do.
