Meredith Gadd’s experiences in admissions counseling and leadership has inspired her own business, CollegeYou Consulting. Here, Gadd shares the influences that led her to this work, and the philosophy behind her unique approach to guiding students toward a deeper understanding of themselves.
How did Gould Academy high school inspire your interest in college counselling?
They were so passionate about student admissions, and I wanted that connection. As a student there, I was a tour guide and created my own internship in which I worked in admissions, ran the tour guide program, and helped to plan events. I loved advocating for the school and the experience.
And your own college journey?
Everyone said college would be the “best time,” but I didn’t have the same level of support that I had at Gould. I jumped around. I started at one college, waited tables and worked in the ski industry, and then landed at Colby-Sawyer. I went abroad with the University of Virginia to Chile, where I studied Pablo Neruda. I lived on a converted cruise ship. If I had taken a gap year, I think it would have been better for me.
You describe your professional path as “fortuitous.” What do you mean by that?
At Colby-Sawyer, I sat on admissions panels with an advisor, and I did an internship in the Proctor Academy Admissions Office. After graduation, I worked as an admissions counselor at the University of New England, mentoring students from places like Canada and Bermuda. In 2011, I became an Admissions Counselor at Great Bay Community College. I returned to Gould Academy in 2014 as a college counselor, learning about NCAA recruitment and college assessments like the SAT and ACT. I later worked at the Tilton School as Grade Level Leader and Director of College Counseling. Through the years I joked about doing this work privately. After COVID, I decided to go for it.
Describe the philosophy behind CollegeYou Consulting.
Society focuses on social media and validation by college name, but preparing for college is about aligning coursework, self-awareness, and personal achievement. Instead of giving colleges all of the power to select students, we should be asking students who they are. Applying to college is an important growth and leadership journey for students, so I coach the whole family through the process, helping them to communicate with one another as the student takes the lead.
What does a CollegeYou package look like?
When I first meet a student, we talk about who they are as a learner, their preferred environment, the last time they felt challenged, their family structure. We use a spreadsheet to rank their college criteria so they can see how well each school on their list matches those criteria.
As we progress, they learn how transcripts are viewed in the context of a high school’s profile, and they develop self-awareness around their grades and test scores. I teach them about college costs and operations, and about applying for scholarships. We do practice visits at local colleges, and I work with them as they construct their email after a visit.
CollegeYou is an investment. What’s your message for parents who are considering it?
It’s an elite service, equivalent to the commitment you make if your child plays a private club sport. Parents get nervous when they hear the fee, but the cost of not finding the right school is much higher. I also offer a shorter “Camp College” program and need-based scholarships, and I am working to develop more programs that are accessible to more students.
I don’t guarantee a college placement, but rather steer students toward the importance of being informed and honest about what they want and realistic about their performance. It’s about helping them to see that there are many options for them, even beyond their “dream” school. As we work together, I make it less about getting into a “top school” and more about finding the school that is the best fit for them.
Applying to college is an important growth and leadership journey for students, so I coach the whole family through the process, helping them to communicate with one another as the student takes the lead.