Grateful for Cathleen Sheils’ Support**

I am delighted to share my experience with our Admissions Counselor, Cathleen Sheils. Over the past two and a half years, Cathleen has provided invaluable insight and guidance to both me and my children.When we began the college admissions process with Cathleen, none of us anticipated how crucial it would be for my children to distinguish themselves to secure a place in the highly competitive college landscape. I initially thought our collaboration with Cathleen and Solomon would focus mainly on essay assistance, application reviews, and evaluating extracurricular activities. However, our work with Cathleen proved to be so much more!Cathleen began by encouraging my children to develop a personal story about their future ambitions. She emphasized that before considering the “perfect” college, they needed to establish a unique position that reflected their individual identities. This was a challenging journey for both of them, and there were times when my children felt frustrated while reassessing their preconceived notions about the process. It required deep reflection, extensive writing, and dedication to define their narratives. Cathleen was straightforward about their responsibilities and choices, which I believe is one of her greatest strengths as a counselor. She conveys that without upfront effort, aiming for top-tier schools isn’t feasible.Throughout the entire process, Cathleen was with our family every step of the way. She guided us in selecting internships and refining applications for rigorous summer programs designed to develop my children as researchers and contributors beyond high school. Cathleen expected excellence, and her belief in their capabilities motivated my children to perform exceptionally. By the time they were ready to submit their applications, Cathleen ensured that both presented the most competitive packages possible.As my children prepare to embark on their college journeys, I feel a mix of emotions about concluding our partnership with Cathleen. She has been a fantastic advocate for them, pushing them to grow in ways that will benefit them throughout their undergraduate years and beyond. We are deeply grateful for Cathleen and our Solomon experience!