First and foremost, I am an experienced, professional and successful college and guidance counselor, functioning for some fifteen years as Associate Director of College Counseling as well as Academic Advisor to the 9th and 10th grades, both at a private college preparatory school in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and as an independent counselor. In the former capacity, I have had full responsibility for advising, supporting and guiding some 200 students and their families through the complex, often confusing, and even intimidating college application and admissions process.As for the second area, I have created and implemented a new program, called College Steps, which is designed to provide guidance and advice to freshman and sophomore high school students and their parents in the “pre-college counseling space” -- the 2 1/2 year gap between the beginning of freshman year and the launch of the formal college counseling program midway through junior year. Many of these families feel “left out” during this period, perceiving a real lack of attention, communication, programs, etc., on the subject of "what should we doing (and not doing) NOW to prepare for this difficult add demanding process?" College Steps can help answer that question.Specialties: • A thorough knowledge and understanding of the college application and admissions process and procedures.• Creation and implementation of programs for successful college admissions counseling and advising.• Consensus builder in working with high school students in all grades, their parents, college officers, etc.• Ability to “bond” and work with both students and parents.• Developing innovative and practical means to ensure the success of all of our programs.