A global perspective
International College Counseling
College guidance for students and families whose lives cross borders.
As the daughter of American diplomats, I grew up changing countries, schools and passports. Today I counsel students at international schools around the world, including IB and A-Level candidates, third culture kids, and U.S. Foreign Service and diplomat families, on admissions to universities in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Start as early as 9th grade
The sooner I can work with your student, the stronger their position by senior year.
Even starting in 9th grade, I can help students develop the curriculum and activities they will need, so that by senior year they are not scrambling. We would meet just two to four times a year.
I work with international students applying to U.S. universities, American students considering universities in the UK and Europe, and American diplomat and Foreign Service families living overseas.
This work is personal to me. I grew up as the child of American diplomats, moving between countries, schools and cultures. I know what it feels like to have more than one place feel like home, and I understand that an internationally mobile childhood can be difficult to capture on a college application.
As a former high school English teacher with a master’s degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University, I bring that international perspective together with an academic approach to admissions. My goal is to help students find universities that fit them intellectually and personally, and then communicate who they are with clarity and authenticity.
International students bring a unique perspective to American universities. It is exactly the perspective the most selective schools are looking for.
From abroad to American campuses
International Students Applying to U.S. Universities
American admissions can be confusing from abroad. U.S. universities consider academic achievement, but they also want to understand a student’s interests, experiences, character and potential contribution to a campus community.
I help students and families make sense of that process, from building a thoughtful college list and evaluating academic programs to the Common Application, activities, personal statement, supplemental essays and deadlines.
For students in IB and international schools, we also look carefully at how their curriculum, predicted results, testing and extracurricular experiences will be understood by American admissions offices.
The goal is never to make an international student sound more American. It is to help an admissions reader see the student who is already there. As a diplomat’s daughter who has crossed that bridge myself, I know how to tell that story so American universities understand exactly who your child is.
From the U.S. to the UK & Europe
American Students Applying Abroad
The UK and Europe offer remarkable options for American students, but the admissions process can be quite different from the U.S. system. Applications are often more academically focused and may require students to identify a course of study much earlier.
I help students research universities and programs, understand the different application systems and requirements, and prepare strong, academically grounded applications. For students applying in both the U.S. and abroad, we manage the processes together so the family can ultimately compare all of their options.
Foreign Service & expat families
For Diplomat and Internationally Mobile Families
This is an area especially close to me. Children of American diplomats, expats and other globally mobile families may have attended several schools, lived in several countries or grown up between cultures.
That experience can be an important part of who a student is, but it should never become a résumé of places lived. I help students think more deeply about what those experiences have taught them and how they have shaped the way they see the world.
Children of diplomats grow up at home in more than one world. American universities need that fluency now more than ever.
What the numbers say
A Few Things International Families Should Know
1.2M
Record enrollment
Nearly 1.2 million international students studied at U.S. colleges and universities in 2024–25, the highest number ever recorded.
200+
Home countries
International students on American campuses come from more than 200 countries and territories around the world.
Case by case
No formula
There is no single international profile. Citizenship, curriculum, financial need and each college’s priorities all shape the decision.
American universities continue to value international perspectives, but being an international applicant is not automatically an admissions advantage. Geography, citizenship, academic background, financial need and the priorities of individual colleges can all matter.
The U.S. student-visa environment is also changing. Some applicants currently face additional screening or restrictions depending on nationality and individual circumstances. Because these policies can change quickly, families should consider visa questions early and rely on current U.S. government guidance for immigration decisions.
Working together
How I Can Help
Our work may include college and program research, building a balanced list, U.S., UK and European application strategy, Common App and UCAS guidance, essays and personal statements, activities and honors, testing strategy, application timelines, interview preparation and evaluating final offers.
My practice is intentionally personal. Students work directly with me, and I take the time to understand how they think, what interests them and what kind of university community they are looking for.
Whether your family is living in Bangkok, London, Milan, Minneapolis or somewhere in between, we can work together from wherever you are.
Start the conversation
Wherever in the world your family is, let’s talk.
The first conversation is always free.