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Mark Moody is an independent college admissions counselor with 25+ years of experience guiding high school students and their families through the college search and application process. Based in Saratoga Springs, NY, and serving students globally via Zoom, Mark helps teens build a focused college list, write authentic essays, and navigate admissions decisions with clarity, perspective, and a lot less stress.
MSquared: Expert College Admissions Counseling for Teens & Families
Helping college-bound kids discover where they belong for more than two decades.
​​​The college search isn't a problem to solve. It's an opportunity for a confidence-building, clarifying journey toward an exciting future—one where students discover strengths, explore possibilities, and practice adult decision-making.​​
25+
Years of experience
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1,000+
Students guided
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20
Students in each year's roster
Global
Reach by Zoom
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MEMBER OF
CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF
WHAT OTHERS SAY
"His cool head tempered my own anxiety during the admissions process, and I’m grateful to have worked with him."
2025 Student
"Mark is one of the best college counseling professionals I know. He is empathic, ethical, extremely knowledgeable, and full of good humor. His student-centered, caring, principled approach helps students and families navigate the college admission process with confidence and sanity."
Independent School
College Counselor
"With Mark's help I was able to zero in on exactly what type of college experience I was looking for, craft my application to truly reflect who I am as a person, and subsequently get accepted into my dream school. I am so appreciative for his help along my entire journey."
2025 Student
"The essay process also helped my son reflect on his identity and find a way to learn about himself and tell his story - so it was very valuable not only for college admission, but also for his life. "
2024 Parent
Experienced Support, International Perspective
With two decades of leadership in college counseling at great independent schools in the US and abroad, I’ve helped over 1,000 families navigate applications and transitions individually, and supervised the journeys of many more.
The insights from those experiences and professional training in adolescent development shape my guidance for families, along with knowledge from my work in selective college admissions, a broad professional network, and the most current admissions data.
I intentionally work with a limited number of students so I can:
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Meet each young person where they are
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Tailor the process to their context and needs
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Stay in genuine conversation with families
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Remain active in the college admission profession: visiting campuses, networking at international conferences, and sharing best practices
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I also advise families exploring independent day and boarding high schools, students looking to transfer between colleges, students looking beyond the USA for college, and students living elsewhere who want to come to the US for their university education.
Growth-Focused, Relational Approach
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The application journey doesn’t have to be stressful. My process centers on each student’s strengths and interests, encouraging discovery, storytelling, and exploring new possibilities. The goal: a healthy, empowering experience that builds confidence.
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The student’s identity, interests, values, and well-being are the core of every decision.
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I help students write application materials that tell an authentic story in an honest, confident voice.
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We use clear timelines, checklists, and a meeting cadence to keep work steady rather than crisis‑driven.
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With online conferencing as my primary mode of contact, I can meet students wherever they are and at times that are most convenient.
Free initial consultation
Guided reflection through conversation and personal inventories to identify values, priorities and goals. Access to me by Zoom, text, email and shared platforms that keep our progress clear and on track.
High school academic and extracurricular guidance-- with a focus on authentic, meaningful pursuits
Personalized college list developed through suggestions, research and feedback
Essay, application and supplement writing support
Support and perspective through decisions, waitlists, and celebrating an enrollment choice
MY PROCESS
When students are supported with intention and empowered to make decisions, something shifts.
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A journey to college that's led with curiosity and supported by data and self-knowledge helps students discover strengths, explore possibilities, and practice adult decision-making.​
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They understand who they are and focus on what matters to them
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They build confidence through planning and follow-through
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They see futures they didn't know existed
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They make choices based on authentic interests — not packaged identities
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They find the places they'll thrive, and are significantly more likely to believe that they made a good choice.
Exploration and Balance
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​Expect ethical, high-quality advising, fair pricing for deep experience, and a set of practical tools for planning and decision-making.​
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If you and your teen are ready to
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Approach this milestone rite of passage with a growth mindset
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Discover and explore exciting possibilities for their future
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Tell their unique story with confidence
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Complete applications and essays with minimal stress
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Focus on what matters, with perspective and a sense of humor
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Move forward after high school with clarity,