Counseling References

Nina Marks

Long Distance
We were introduced to Nina Marks by a mutual friend and, by virtue of our being so far apart geographically, communicated only by long distance. Geography is no problem for Nina—her commitment extended to responding to voicemail while on a holiday in India. We thought the guidance counselor at our son’s private school was helpful, but Nina’s professional guidance raised the bar to levels we never imagined. Her probing questions, her coaching and her positioning our son for application completion, school tours, interviews and follow-up were brilliant. Every parent should consult with Nina before sending their child to college.

Gilbert & Suzanne Mathews
San Antonio, Texas

Athletic Recruits
As if the college admission process were insufficiently confusing and stressful, there is an additional burden on the secondary school athlete. In the interest of equality and to avoid discrimination, the NCAA must treat coveted, revenue-sport stars who can add millions of dollars to the income of an athletic department the same as bench warmers in sports that attract only the interest of scattered friends and family. Of necessity, the rules are complex and the penalties for non-compliance are draconian. Just imagine the conversation with your child if a well-intentioned effort causes either loss of eligibility or the end of a coach's interest -- particularly given a coach's power in the admission decision.

In 2000, we worked with Nina to navigate these shoals with our daughter who was being recruited in three sports. In addition to the confusing requirements of the NCAA, the management of expectations of the various coaches was important to avoid loss of flexibility until the final decision was made.

Nina's guidance was invaluable and helped our daughter's admission to Harvard where she earned eight letters in field hockey and ice hockey and participated in five NCAA tournaments.

Haven and Simmy Pell
Washington, DC

More Than One Child
Guiding our three, very different daughters through the college admissions process was not easy, but Nina mastered the challenge with exceptional skill, dedication and grace. She got to know each child well. Nina then skillfully helped (and at times guided) each of our daughters to consider schools that were right for her, and coached them through the process. In so doing, Nina drew on her encyclopedic knowledge of colleges throughout the U.S. and Europe, including not only the strengths and weaknesses of each school, but also the priorities and goals of each admissions office. Nina knows hundreds of admissions officers personally, and has invaluable insight into how they make their decisions.

Nina also worked tirelessly with us as parents -- which is yet another challenge. She was always available to answer our questions, to consider alternatives and to soothe our anxieties. Throughout three very stressful admissions processes, Nina was a wise and steadfast friend and counselor. And in the end, each of our daughters was accepted at her first choice school.

Mark and Fern Mazo
Chevy Chase, Maryland

Advice on the College Process
Although Mrs. Marks' hard work and skill were well known throughout the NCS student body, I was still struck by the high level of personal attention she gave to me during my college process. Much of her skill comes from not only a mastering of admissions and application techniques, but also a high level of commitment to understanding the wants and needs of the individual person. Ultimately, she looks to find schools to fit the student, not students to fit the school.

My own experience with the admissions process began with indecision, uncertainty, and a fair amount of anxiety. Mrs. Marks met with me countless times, patiently helping me envision and articulate what I wanted in my college experience. She helped me work through both initial reservations and last-minute doubts, and the result was a successful Early Application.

Mrs. Marks is encouraging and optimistic, yet candid with her knowledge and expectations, qualities that truly relieve anxiety for both students and parents. My relationship with her has remained close since high school -- a true testament to the amount of personal attention she gave me and to the time we spent together. I fully intend on seeking her counsel as I begin to consider graduate schools and feel sure she will once again provide valuable insight and knowledge.

Helen Brown
Palo Alto, CA

Advice on Applying to Graduate Schools
Mrs. Marks has provided me with invaluable support and advice twice now -- for my undergraduate and graduate school applications. She made my dream of attending my first choice college come true through her excellent strategic advice when I was in high school, so when I was applying to graduate schools for a masters in business administration, I sought her support again.
Mrs. Marks helped me at every stage of the process, from deciding which schools to target, to developing my application strategy and profile, to reading and offering advice on each of my essays. I had several people reading my essays, and no one else came close to offering the level of insight that Mrs. Marks offered. She even gave me tips for the GMAT and was available by e-mail, phone and in person during the whole process.

During the waiting period after the applications were submitted, she continued to check with me and with my parents to make sure we were doing alright. Frankly, I think my parents needed her support almost as much as I did.

In the end, with the help of Mrs. Marks' advice and attention to detail, I was accepted to every Business School to which I applied.

Cristina Miller
Cambridge, MA

Barbara Hancock

Parent
Ms. Hancock brought my daughter's writing ability to increasingly higher levels as Danielle’s sophomore year progressed.  Our family largely attributes Danielle's excellent score on the writing section of the SAT to Ms. Hancock's tutelage.  Further, during our daughter's junior year, the importance Ms. Hancock instilled in her of planning and careful construction of paragraphs within a work, as well as that of a review, rewrite, and proofread system, has been of visible benefit in many of her classes.  We hold Ms. Hancock in the highest regard and would not hesitate to recommend her to provide additional support to students, even those already possessing strong writing skills.

Christine Stockton
Great Falls, VA

Student and Parents
We have known Barbara Hancock for the past two years in two capacities: English teacher and tennis coach at The Madeira School.  Barbara is empathetic and caring but does not let her students settle for second best.  She is adept at drawing out the best in each person she teaches and coaches and connects easily with the students as individuals.  In the classroom, she encourages students to speak out, and helps them to clarify their thinking and analysis on rigorous subjects.  She especially does well working with students one-on-one.  Her quiet but confident demeanor is an effective tool to inspire focus and confidence with her students, and Alison flourished under her tutelage. We give her our highest recommendation.

Alison Louise Davis, student
Edward and Anna Davis, parents
Alexandria, VA

Brooke Fernandez

Parent
My daughter worked closely with Brooke throughout the application process, and ultimately the decision-making process.  Brooke brought both mature insight -- helping her to see the "long view," to understand what she hoped for in her college experience and what kind of community she would best flourish in -- and an uncanny ability to see the process through the eyes of a high school junior, then senior, and all of the uncertainty, excitement, reluctance, distraction, and wide-ranging emotion that the college selection process seems to call up within students.  And, their parents.  She combined wise counsel with encouragement, thoughtful questioning and practical advice.  For both the student and his or her parent, it can be difficult to balance the stress and uncertainty of the college selection process, while continuing to live the rest of life "normally" -- Brooke's first-hand experience on both sides of this process, her willingness to invest enough of herself to get to know (really know) a student's strengths and character, and her honest and respectful feedback were invaluable . . . My daughter LOVED working with her!

MCA Parent
Bethesda, MD

Selective College Admissions Experience
Brooke Fernandez was an integral member of the Trinity College admissions office staff for three years, from 2002 through 2005. As a professional in the field of higher education, she clearly understood the perspective of the selective liberal arts college and the many factors considered in the evaluation of applicants for admission. Brooke's familiarity with virtually every aspect of this complex process makes her an invaluable resource to students seeking candid, well-informed and thoughtful assistance in finding the right school and employing the appropriate strategies to get there. Brooke's extensive experience with all constituencies of the Trinity College community, with many secondary school counselors throughout the country, and with hundreds of young students whose applications she assessed provides a broad, multifaceted foundation of expertise. You will find her personal style to be warm and forthright, and her professional substance to be immediately evident.

Larry R. Dow
Dean of Admissions
Trinity College (CT)