Outstanding Support from Cathleen Sheils

I am delighted to share my experience with our Admissions Counselor, Cathleen Sheils. Over the last two and a half years, Cathleen has been a beacon of invaluable advice and support for both me and my children.When we started the college admissions process with Cathleen, we didnt realize how essential it would be for my children to stand out just to gain consideration from competitive colleges. I initially thought our collaboration with Cathleen and Solomon would mainly involve assistance with essay writing and editing, application reviews, and evaluating extracurricular activities. However, our work with Cathleen turned out to be so much more!Cathleen began by encouraging my children to develop a personal narrative about their future aspirations. She taught us that before even thinking about the “perfect” college, it was crucial to establish a unique positioning that resonated with them as individuals. This was a challenging task for both of them, and there were moments when my children grew frustrated while reevaluating some of their initial ideas 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 instills the idea that if you’re not willing to put in the necessary work from the beginning, competing with top candidates wont be feasible.Cathleen was there 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 demanded excellence, and because she believed in their capabilities, my children rose to the occasion. By the time they were ready to finalize their applications, I am confident that Cathleen ensured both of them submitted the most competitive packages possible.As my children prepare to start college, I feel a bittersweet emotion about our time with Cathleen coming to an end. She has been a wonderful advocate for my children, pushing them to grow in ways that will benefit them throughout their undergraduate years and beyond. We are immensely grateful for Cathleen and our experience with Solomon!