Grateful for Cathleen Sheils Guidance**

Its truly rewarding to share my experience working with our Admissions Counselor, Cathleen Sheils. For the past two and a half years, Cathleen has provided my children and me with invaluable wisdom and support.When we started the college admissions process with Cathleen, we hadn’t anticipated just how much my children would need to distinguish themselves to secure spots at competitive colleges. I initially thought our collaboration with Cathleen and Solomon would focus mainly on refining essays, reviewing applications, and selecting extracurricular activities. However, our work with Cathleen went far beyond that!Cathleen began by encouraging my children to craft personal narratives about their future aspirations. She emphasized that before considering the “ideal” college, they needed to establish a unique identity that reflected who they are as individuals. This was a challenging task for both of them, and there were moments when my children felt frustrated by the need to examine their existing beliefs about the process. It required deep reflection, extensive writing, and discipline to define their stories. Cathleen was very straightforward about their responsibilities and choices, which I believe is one of her greatest strengths as a counselor. She made it clear that without putting in the necessary work, competing with top candidates would be impossible.Cathleen supported our family every step of the way. She guided us in selecting internships and fine-tuning applications for demanding summer programs designed to develop my children as researchers and contributors beyond high school. Cathleen expected excellence, and because she believed in their potential, my children rose to the challenge. By the time they were ready to finalize their applications, Cathleen ensured that both submitted the most competitive packages possible!As my children prepare to head off to college, I feel a mix of emotions about our time with Cathleen coming to an end. She has been a fantastic advocate for my children, pushing them to grow in ways that will benefit them throughout their undergraduate years and beyond. We are incredibly grateful for Cathleen and our Solomon experience!