Tell us about your company and the problem it solves, or its benefit to learners or educators.
HelloCollege guides high school students and their parents through all the facets of the college planning process. That can mean helping students with curriculum selection, activities that fit the field they want to go into, tutoring, test prep, essays, financial aid, and ultimately building a smart, strategic plan for college. Our goal is to help students figure out what they might want to do, increase their odds of success, and decrease their stress.
The problem we solve is that the path to college has become far more complicated than most families realize. Admissions are more competitive, costs are higher, and there are a lot of decisions along the way that can have long-term academic, financial, and career consequences. A lot of families feel like they’re supposed to understand how this process works, but nobody has really shown them the playbook. We bring clarity to that process by helping students find the right fit socially, academically, financially, and in terms of employment outcomes. Students today need more than a list of schools and an application timeline. They need a roadmap.
Where did the idea come from to create your company?
The idea for HelloCollege came from both personal experience and a real belief in what education can do. My parents were World War II refugees who came to this country with very little, and they believed deeply that education was the great equalizer. They did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education themselves, so from a very early age I understood how valuable education really was.
I was the first in my family to go directly to a four-year college, and attending Northwestern University changed the trajectory of my life. It opened doors and gave me opportunities that I would not have had otherwise. Over time, I saw that so many students and families were going through the college planning process stressed, uncertain, and often making decisions based on incomplete information. I wanted to build something that could help families figure it out, not just how to get into college, but how to make smart decisions about fit, affordability, and long-term outcomes.
Tell us about one challenge and how you overcame that challenge.
One of the biggest challenges was evolving from what started as a very local, in-person business into something that could grow and serve more families without losing the personal nature of the work. In the early days, much of what we did was face-to-face, and while that created strong relationships, it also limited our reach. There are only so many families you can help when everything depends on being in one place.
The turning point was recognizing that technology could expand access without replacing the human element. We leaned into virtual advising, online learning tools, webinars, and digital communication systems so we could support students more efficiently and more consistently, no matter where they lived. But we never adopted technology for the sake of technology. We used it to enhance access, improve flexibility, and better serve families. That mindset allowed us to grow while still keeping what matters most at the center of the experience, which is trusted guidance, personal connection, and a strategy that is tailored to the individual student.
What are you most proud of or what is your company’s greatest achievement?
I’m incredibly proud of the impact we’ve had on students and families during one of the most important and often most stressful periods of their lives. Yes, admissions results matter, and it’s always rewarding to see students earn acceptance to schools they’ve worked hard for. But our greatest achievement really goes beyond any one admit letter.
What matters most to me is that we help families make smarter, more informed decisions. We help students find colleges that are the right fit academically, socially, and financially, and we help them build the skills and confidence they need not just to get into college, but to succeed once they’re there. We also help parents feel less overwhelmed by a process that can otherwise feel confusing, high-stakes, and expensive. If a family comes away with more clarity, less stress, and a better long-term outcome, that’s a meaningful success for us.
Where do you see your company in five years?
Over the next few years, I see HelloCollege continuing to grow as a trusted leader in college planning, academic support, and student success. We have an opportunity to expand our reach and help more families across the country and internationally through a combination of expert advising, specialized academic support, and technology-enabled service. The goal is to make high-quality guidance more accessible, more personalized, and more effective.
At the same time, I see us continuing to build out services that support the full student journey, not just admissions counseling, tutoring, and test prep, but also executive functioning support, career exploration, and college readiness. Students today need more than a list of schools and an application timeline. They need a roadmap. Most importantly, I want HelloCollege to be known not simply for growth, but for impact; helping students make better decisions, reduce unnecessary stress and debt, and create stronger outcomes for their future, while still maintaining the personal attention that defines who we are.