About Independent College Counselors, and About Me

Why should you consider hiring an independent educational consultant?

If you have a college-bound teen, most likely the process of applying to college felt a little simpler when you applied. Nowadays, friends, neighbors, the media, and the internet have you bracing for an unfamiliar, murky, and nerve-wracking experience. Your school counselor is an important partner, and, they may not have the time or resources to advise extensively on the college search.

While the college search process is manageable without additional help for a student and parents who stay engaged and on top of things, in 2025 there is a lot of information to take in, and a lot of research to do, in the developmentally appropriate window of grades 11 and 12. And though the Common Application's acceptance has grown exponentially since I typed into a paper version of it long ago, few applicants realize how much "uncommon" work is required. In addition to college-specific supplemental essays, more and more attention is required to applications AFTER submission, requiring communication and regular checking-in on individual student applicant portals for each individual college. You might apply in November, but still be actively engaged with that application until late March, with routine deferrals and requests for additional information.

IECs are specialists in colleges and college admission, essentially personal college counselors, who understand the application process that your teen will navigate. Having an expert guide at your side can help you move more efficiently through the stages of finding and assessing potential good college fits, as well as in preparing applications and staying on top of communication— while filtering the distracting noise about college admission.

Got 20 minutes? Listen to this podcast recapping the most essential research on student success, college choice, career preparation and fulfillment in adult life.

How should you approach hiring an independent educational consultant?

• Look for affiliation with a national professional organization with ethical standards: National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC), regional NACAC affiliates, IECA, or HECA. Additionally, Solstice College Counseling Network, a new professional organization, exists for independent counselors with more than ten years of experience in school and admission office settings (I'm a co-founder and President.)

• Independent educational consulting is an unregulated industry. More than any particular credential, look for years of experience, a hands-on practical background, and a commitment to ethics, integrity and highlighting the authentic student voice.

• There may be a number of counselors who can provide effective fundamental guidance for you. A sense of comfort and fit with your family and your set of values is vital.

• In general, there are some essential qualities and standards you should look for when considering an IEC. The Independent Educational Consultants Association provides a list of questions to ask, which is a good start.

• Ask questions that align with your values, and engage your student in finding the right IEC!

NPR's Marketplace aired this piece highlighting the fact that independent counseling is a wholly unregulated industry. Far too many folks selling advice are parents who thought the process was fun for their teen, or folks who took an online certificate course, or neither. Forbes also addressed this issue: " The most effective consultants don’t just understand the admissions process, they understand teenagers and know how to help students push themselves, develop genuine interests, and tell their story with confidence and clarity." Experience matters.

Why work with MSquared College Counseling and Mark Moody

My background is the differentiator. After nearly 20 years as a Director of College Counseling at well-known independent college prep schools around the US and overseas, and 5 years as an admission officer, I draw on a wealth of experience. I have individually counseled more than 800 students on their path to college, and I’ve visited well over 200 college and university campuses around the world. I have supported annual cohorts of applicants to a wide range of colleges, with a front-row seat to the details of their changing admission processes.

I am familiar with high schools, curricula, and colleges in cities around the world, and have lived and worked in Houston, Seattle, Denver, the Bay Area, Shanghai, and Upstate New York.

What Sets Me Apart As a Counselor

My Student-Centered Philosophy

• All my work is grounded in the belief that the college application journey should be a joyful rite of passage affirming identity and values. With the right guidance, students can become surer of themselves and their strengths, less susceptible to admission overwhelm, and more compelling applicants as a result of authentic choices and self-knowledge.

• By centering students in all conversations, I help identify their guiding values, authentic motivation, and curiosity. We build each phase on the foundation of the previous one, deepening and amplifying engagement, while positioning for an empowered, satisfying process of finding, applying to, and choosing colleges.

• This progression allows for an impactful expression of students’ identity and sense of fit with their target colleges when it comes time to work on applications. I provide structure, feedback, practical guidance, data, and keep the guideposts of evidence and student values in view.

• With this philosophy, these steps, and an intentionally limited number of student clients, I develop a completely customized plan for each individual student.
  

My School Based Experience

• I have experienced just about every kind of admission scenario, student interest, and special circumstance. I’ve counseled dancers, engineers, recruited athletes, students who learn differently, artists, future physicians, writers, economists, musicians, coders, theater technicians and more.

• Having lived 25+ admission cycles, my perspective can help minimize stress.

• Working in schools has given me access to years of training in adolescent wellness and support, coaching rooted in neuroscience and mindfulness, and a deep understanding of the rhythms of schools and the nuances of high school curricula, from AP to IB and beyond. (I think it's also worth mentioning that this experience means I'm also a trustworthy and safe adult, accepting, trained in counseling adolescents, and extensively vetted and background checked!)

• Helping students make the most of what their school has to offer them and build relationships with potential mentors/supporters is an important role I can play, especially as an advisor in grades 9-11.

• I offer the kind of personalized insight and support that is a selling point for selective independent schools at a fraction of the cost of tuition at those places.

• Read what former students and admissions colleagues say.
  

My Recognized Professional Voice

• Over the course of my career, I’ve gotten to know many of the decision-makers in higher education. Collaboration for the greater good is one of my guiding values.

• It is humbling, gratifying, and extraordinarily meaningful to me that my client referrals come primarily through veteran admission and counseling professionals who trust my expertise and student-centered counseling philosophy.

• I have always used my position of privilege to support students and counselors with limited resources and access, and to make college admission in the US more respectful of adolescent wellness.

• I have been and remain active in the national admission conversation. I attend national and regional admission conferences annually and have served many professional organizations as a volunteer or board member. I've even helped with the launch a few groups, including collaborative gatherings of admission professionals, the Association for College Counselors in Independent Schools, and the Solstice Counseling Network of IEC's with significant practical experience in schools and admission offices.

• From this ongoing professional presence, I have built and maintain an incredibly broad and diverse network of admission counseling professionals that keep me up-to-date on trends and the nuances of the admission landscape to best inform and advise my clients.

If my background and philosophy sound compelling to your family, and you would like to bring clarity and purpose into your child’s college admissions process, let’s talk.

Want more info? See my thoughts on pricing and value.

Updated May 2025

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