Our Counselors

Your student works with one counselor from the first conversation through final decisions. Not a team of specialists. Not a handoff between the person who handles essays and the person who handles school selection. One person who owns the full picture and is accountable for all of it.

We get to know what makes your student tick: their real intellectual passions, how they handle pressure, and which colleges truly spark their excitement. That level of authentic connection isn't possible when managing dozens of kids at once, which is why our 12-student cap is non-negotiable.

By building a supportive partnership months before applications are due, we help students write and apply with confidence. Because when strategy is rooted in who a student genuinely is, extraordinary results follow naturally.

Out of over 3,500 admissions professionals who apply to Collegewise each year, fewer than 1% are selected. Summa advisors represent the elite tier of this group, combining proven Ivy League placement records with an innate ability to connect with teenagers.

We don't just look at credentials; we look for true mentors. We select counselors who bring warmth, empathy, and an extraordinary ability to inspire students while navigating highly selective admissions.

Featuring former admissions officers from institutions like Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and GW, our team brings deep insider knowledge of how committees review applications, offering expert clarity delivered with kindness and honesty. That perspective informs how they work: how applications get read, what committee discussions actually sound like, what separates an application that gets considered carefully from one that doesn't. It's a complement to their counseling experience, not a replacement for it.

Sheng W.

A global admissions strategist and NYU alumna who turns multi-curriculum strengths into elite college acceptances.

Sheng W.

A global admissions strategist and NYU alumna who turns multi-curriculum strengths into elite college acceptances.

With an NYU background and deep experience across AP, IB, and A-Level systems, Sheng brings a global perspective to college strategy. Having guided students to top domestic and international destinations like Stanford, Columbia, UCLA, NYU, and Oxford/UK programs, she excels at helping multi-cultural families navigate complex admissions with clarity, warm support, and zero stress.

Christopher L.

A Yale graduate and multi-disciplinary champion who expertly turns high school potential into competitive Ivy League acceptances.

Christopher L.

A Yale graduate and multi-disciplinary champion who expertly turns high school potential into competitive Ivy League acceptances.

As a Yale graduate, polyglot, and multi-field champion—from debate to ballroom dance—Christopher knows exactly what it takes to stand out in hyper-competitive arenas. Having guided a majority of their students to Ivy League and "Near-Ivy" acceptances, Christopher helps teens strategically align their academics, competitions, and extracurriculars into an unassailable applicant profile, all while keeping the journey engaging and stress-free.

Renee R.

A former Columbia University application reader and professor who makes teens look forward to time spent on college essay planning.

Renee R.

A former Columbia University application reader and professor who makes teens look forward to time spent on college essay planning.

Renee translates her experience as a Columbia application reader and GWU Admissions Director into a crucial insider edge for high schoolers. Her supportive, educator-first approach turns daunting essay prep into an engaging process, guiding students to top universities like Penn, Cornell, Rice, UCLA, and UC Berkeley. Behind every successful application is a student who feels heard, and Renee builds deep trust to draw out their real voice and tell a genuinely compelling story.

Melissa W.

A Harvard-trained literature scholar and team lead who helps teens translate authentic stories into top-tier college acceptances.

Melissa W.

A Harvard-trained literature scholar and team lead who helps teens translate authentic stories into top-tier college acceptances.

Combining advanced graduate study in English at Harvard and Northeastern with years of counseling leadership, Melissa is a master of authentic narrative strategy. Having guided students to top institutions like Stanford, Yale, Northwestern, Caltech, and elite engineering programs, she rejects superficial "packaging" in favor of deep listening. Melissa empowers teens to articulate their true voice, turning genuine personal growth into compelling applications.

Jeremy P.

A former Johns Hopkins admissions officer and pre-med lead who guides teens to top colleges with clarity and strategy.

Jeremy P.

A former Johns Hopkins admissions officer and pre-med lead who guides teens to top colleges with clarity and strategy.

Drawing on his experience leading pre-med recruitment at Johns Hopkins and evaluating thousands of applicants, Jeremy brings an invaluable insider edge to counseling. Having guided students to top institutions like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Caltech—and earning $4M+ in scholarships—he helps teens weave their unique goals into an unassailable narrative that stands out to elite admissions committees.

Karen K.

A former Admissions Director and trusted partner who effortlessly builds trust with parents while guiding teens to top colleges.

Karen K.

A former Admissions Director and trusted partner who effortlessly builds trust with parents while guiding teens to top colleges.

As a former Director of Admissions and seasoned educator, Karen brings deep operational insight and reassurance to families. Having guided students to acceptances at Cornell, Northwestern, UChicago, Rice, and UCLA, she is widely praised for her ability to build immediate trust with parents while motivating teens. A parent herself, Karen turns complex admissions decisions into a clear, collaborative, and stress-free experience for the whole family.

Insider Edge. Approachable Feel. Supported Teens.

Every elite university evaluates applicants through a distinct lens. Harvard looks for different qualities than Dartmouth; MIT seeks different evidence of curiosity than Caltech. Our counselors understand the subtle nuances of top-tier admissions—translating complex institutional priorities into clear, stress-free guidance for your family. Top-shelf intelligence goes far beyond numbers. We help students highlight the intangible qualities that admissions readers truly value: an activity list that shows genuine personal growth rather than a padded resume, and an authentic essay that reveals how a student actually thinks rather than what they think a committee wants to hear.Body

REQUEST AN INTRODUCTION →

Every Summa counselor has a minimum of 7 years of experience working specifically with students applying to Ivy League and highly selective universities, with documented placements at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, and comparable institutions. Several also bring experience from inside university admissions offices at Johns Hopkins, George Washington University, and Columbia.
Each Summa counselor works with a maximum of 12 students per year. This is a structural requirement, not a guideline. The depth of relationship and strategic work that selective admissions requires is not possible at higher volume.
Our enrollment team listens carefully during the initial conversation — not just for academic profile and target schools, but for how your student processes feedback, what kind of guidance they respond to, and where they are in their own story. Counselors are matched based on where their specific strengths align with what your student needs.
Yes. Your student works with one dedicated counselor from the first conversation through final decisions. One person owns the full strategy — school selection, extracurricular narrative, essay development, interview preparation, and everything after submission.
No. Highly selective admissions is not a deterministic process. What Summa counselors commit to is the strongest possible application your student is capable of building — essays that are genuinely theirs, a school list grounded in honest odds, and a strategy built around who your student actually is.
All Summa counselors come from the same highly selective hiring process Collegewise applies across the board — fewer than 1% of applicants are hired. Summa counselors are distinguished by their specific focus on Ivy League and highly selective admissions, their documented placement records at top 20 institutions, and their maximum caseload of 12 students per year, which is lower than the standard Collegewise model.

Admissions Expertise. Unmatched Personal Connection.

Why Our Work Elevates

Selectively Curated Counselors for Highly Selective Admissions Results

Every Summa counselor brings:

Meet Some of Our Counselors

Sheng W.

Sheng W.

Christopher L.

Christopher L.

Renee R.

Renee R.

Melissa W.

Melissa W.

Jeremy P.

Jeremy P.

Karen K.

Karen K.

Insider Edge. Approachable Feel. Supported Teens.

Frequently Asked Questions About Summa by Collegewise

What experience do Summa by Collegewise counselors have?

How many students does each Summa counselor work with per year?

How does Summa decide which counselor works with my student?

Will my student work with the same counselor throughout the entire process?

Do Summa counselors guarantee college admission?

How are Summa counselors different from Collegewise's standard counselors?

Request an Introduction to Summa