College advising can play a crucial role in shaping a student's academic and professional future; sometimes that can be found through a school-based counselor and, if not, this can come from a trustworthy and credible industry expert. Advising provides personalized guidance to help students navigate the complex process of selecting the right colleges to apply to, preparing strong applications, and making informed decisions about their post-secondary options and future career paths.
Effective college advising goes beyond merely suggesting schools; understanding a student's strengths, interests, and aspirations, and then aligning them with the best-fit institutions and programs can guide students to identify suitable extracurricular activities, internships, and courses that enhance their profiles. Counselors also offer insights on financial aid, scholarships, and the ever-changing college admission landscape and trends – ensuring students are well-prepared for the process.
Ultimately, college advising empowers students to make choices that lead to academic success, personal growth, and crafting and submitting their best application work.
Mindspire has perfected the art of test preparation and has now expanded to offer college admission advising services. We are excited to introduce community and group offerings and individualized 1:1 advising that address all facets of the college admission process. Recognizing that a successful college application process is multifaceted, we understand that strong academics, meaningful activities, and compelling essays are just as crucial as high test scores.
Our holistic approach ensures that students receive timely, personalized guidance in every area, from crafting compelling personal statements to selecting co-curricular and extracurricular activities that align with their interests and goals. We assist in creating a strategic academic plan that highlights a student’s current strengths and future potential.
With Mindspire’s support, students will be equipped to present their best applications, ensuring that they are submitting their optimal credentials to their top choice schools. Our counselors each have over two decades of experience in the field of university admissions and college counseling, and are all former school-based counselors who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience with guiding students applying to a range of institutions globally.
Malissa Takacs
As a licensed counselor and social worker, Malissa has worked for two decades in the field of college counseling and admissions. For the last eight years she’s worked in private international schools in Switzerland and Singapore as well as in her own practice as an independent college consultant. She also served as Director of College Counseling at a therapeutic college preparatory boarding school in Virginia (2008-15).
Malissa has overseen all aspects of the college and post-graduate counseling and application processes for over 1600 students. Her students have applied to a range of institutions of higher education as well as community college and boarding schools. Malissa is also a Senior Application Reviewer for the Undergraduate Office of Admissions at Northeastern University, which allows her to evaluate over 1,200 applications annually for a university that admits less than 10% of its applicants. She has visited over 200 universities worldwide and she maintains a current understanding of university application systems globally.
Malissa is deeply committed to helping students realize their full potential. She mentors them through a process of self-discovery to promote the version of themselves that feels most authentic. Her goal is to be available to students and parents in a way that ensures the least amount of stress and the most amount of excitement about future opportunities.
Craig Brown
Craig has worked in higher education for over 25 years. From an early internship with the Canadian High Commission as an educational representative, he has worked on both the post-secondary admissions side with three different institutions in Canada and with high school students overseas and in Canada.
Having worked at the International School of Brussels and as the Head of Guidance for Shawnigan Lake School in Canada, Craig has a solid understanding of both the domestic and the international post-secondary industry and has helped students attend post-secondary institutions around the world.
He is currently on the Executive Board for International ACAC, serves as a Canadian advisor to the Duolingo English Test and is an associate member of IECA.
.jpg)
Heather Marks
With nearly 25 years of experience in secondary education, Heather has expertly guided students and families through the complexities of college admissions. Her diverse background—spanning independent schools in the U.S. and abroad, as well as innovative online education—gives her a unique global perspective on counseling. Heather has directed college counseling programs for both domestic and international schools, helping thousands of students from over 20 countries explore a wide range of best-fit post-secondary opportunities. These include private research institutions, liberal arts colleges and specialized technical and art schools in the U.S., as well as top universities in the UK, Canada and Europe.
Heather's deep knowledge of various educational curricula, including the International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) and project-based learning, enables her to tailor guidance to each student's academic background and aspirations. An advocate for purpose-driven education, she reframes the college admissions journey as a transformational experience, helping students explore their values, passions, and long-term goals. Whether working with students aiming for highly selective universities or non-traditional paths, Heather combines professionalism, creativity and warmth to make the process personalized and positive.
As a committed member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC), Heather remains at the forefront of best practices and deeply connected to a global professional network.
Kim Stodgehill
For over 25 years Kim has worked in various roles both in higher education and at prestigious US independent schools such as Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, FL and Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC. Since 2002, Kim has worked as an academic and college counselor helping students connect to their best fit colleges, and has toured hundreds of campuses around the world. Kim earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hendrix College and her MSED in Higher Education Leadership at the University of Miami.
Kim’s professional work has been enhanced through her service on advisory boards for multiple colleges, various leadership roles with the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling Executive Board, and her volunteer mentorship with the Carolina Youth Coalition and the College Choice Foundation.
--
Our college advisors have years of experience in education and accreditations from international and national organizations for college advising. Learn more about our various college advising programs at our pricing page linked below.
College Advising Professional Accreditations:
Independent Educational Consultants Association
International Association for College Admissions Counseling
National Association for College Admission Counseling
