"Every high school senior needs two things for a successful college search: one is a dynamite essay, and the other is confidence. You delivered both."
- LG, Princeton '98, Haas School of Business '05
Photo Credit: Peter Hellberg
Sarah Myers McGinty, Ph.D
Sarah Myers McGinty, Ph.D., is a certified educational planner and the founder and principal of McGinty Consulting Group. She is well connected in the field of education and college counseling. Through active participation in NACAC, its local and international affiliates, and the Character Collaborative, she brings to projects deep expertise and the ability to make helpful referrals as needed.
McGinty is an acknowledged expert in the writing of application essays and has been featured in US News and World Report's Guide to the Best Colleges, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Fortune, and the Harvard Management Communication Letter. She has appeared on NECN, NPR, and Fox News, is the author of Writing Your College Application Essay and The College Application Essay (College Board), and while at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, received an NACAC grant to study how applicants go about composing application essays. She taught undergraduate writing and served as a University Supervisor at Harvard from 1993-2005.
Tim Donovan
Tim Donovan is a specialist in college selection for athletes and has been helping families navigate the recruitment process since 1997. He has placed over 1000 athletes at more than 100 colleges and universities throughout the country in Division 1, 2 and 3 and has broad knowledge and experience in assisting tennis players in their college search. A graduate of Brown University, he was twice the Ivy League Tennis Player of the Year and, playing on the ATP tour, attained a top-300 world ranking. Tim also served as an assistant coach for the Harvard men's tennis team.
Lisa Ratmansky
Lisa Ratmansky, M.A., is an educational consultant and specialist in the creation of personal statements and application essays. She has additional expertise in interview coaching--helping students understand how they can highlight strengths and emphasize the distinctive qualities that create interest and show enthusiasm. She has taught writing at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard College, and Princeton University. She is an expert on the development of a personal voice in writing and presently serves as the director of the Center for Teaching & Learning at Cabrini College in Radnor, PA.
Scott White
Scott White recently retired from the role of director of guidance at Morristown High School. With more than three decades of experience in education, he has served as director of guidance at Montclair High School, the McBurney School, and Montclair Kimberley Academy, and as an admission director at Bard College and at the Oakwood School. His advice and opinions have appeared regularly on conference agendas and in the New York Times, the LA Times, Time, The Atlantic and on NBC Nightly News. His specialty areas include highly-selective college admission, athletic recruiting, legal issues in admissions, access issues for learning-disabled students, and the role of writing—both essays and teacher recommendations—in the admission process. A school and collegiate wrestler, he continues to coach and referee the sport. He holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College and an Ed.M. from Harvard.
Tara Dowling
Tara Dowling is a recognized expert in college counseling and has served young people and their families all over the world. Her lifelong dedication to education and her deep experience in college counseling derives from work in a wide variety of communities and locations—Istanbul, Utah, Rhode Island, Beijing, Connecticut, Boston, Moscow.—and in every educational setting imaginable—day school, boarding school, Zoom class, college admission, independent advising, business development. She has a rich perspective and a broad understanding of students from different backgrounds, economies, and geographies. Tara has developed innovative programs that engage, support and inspire students whose personal or academic lives run off the familiar map. She works with a sturdy “toolbox” of skills, exercises, and conversational strategies that help any applicant find the place to thrive. Her mission for growth—her own educational and exploratory goal and that of her clients—has distinguished her in the field. She is known for her insight, creativity, and generosity of spirit.
