Owen

When it came to the college search, my son and I were definitely late to the game—and honestly, that was partly by design. I didn't want him to feel the kind of pressure I experienced starting as early as 8th grade. I wanted him to fully commit to his sport for as long as it meant something to him, and then figure out his next steps when he was truly ready.

Like so many kids at his school, his sport became a huge part of his life. But unlike others, continuing at the collegiate level just wasn't a clear or easy path for him. When he finally reached a sense of fulfillment and started thinking about stepping away, everything shifted. I could see both relief and uncertainty in him as he began to imagine life beyond his sport—and I knew we needed help navigating what came next.

That's when we found Alison, and it was exactly what we needed. She brought a sense of calm, clarity, and reassurance to both of us right away. But what stood out most was how quickly she connected with my son. He's bright, strong-willed, and, like many teenagers, a bit of a procrastinator—and somehow she just got him. She took what could have been a stressful, overwhelming process and made it feel manageable… even enjoyable.

Alison really took the time to understand who he is and built a thoughtful, strategic list of schools that made sense for him. She kept him accountable in a way I couldn't, and honestly, she became a buffer that allowed me to step back and simply enjoy this last stretch of time with him at home.

His story wasn't a simple one to tell—six years, 30+ hours a week devoted to a sport he ultimately wouldn't pursue in college. But Alison knew how to shape that story and guide him through it. From the beginning, the goal was to find the right early decision fit, and she helped us design a college tour with that in mind.

There were definitely moments where things got off track—especially as deadlines approached—but Alison stepped in exactly when we needed her. She helped him refocus, pulled everything back together, and made sure he crossed the finish line.

And then came the moment we'll never forget—December 18th, 2025, around 7 PM—when he was accepted to his first-choice school. He'll be heading to Cornell in the fall of 2026, and I truly don't think we would be here without Alison.

Her knowledge is incredible, her energy is unmatched, and her positivity is contagious. Even more importantly, she builds real connections. My son says there's no way he could have done this without her—and I wholeheartedly agree.