Since 1998, Mark finds joy in advising students as they make their way through high school, giving them the tools to lead a confident search for a college where they'll thrive, directed by their own values and by data-based evidence for their decisions. Mark believes that the search and the application process provides many layers of opportunity for personal growth, self-knowledge, and the practice of a range of adult skills that will serve students later in life.

Mark was the Director of College Counseling at great independent schools in Denver, Seattle, Silicon Valley and the Shanghai American School for about 20 years before he started his independent practice. Before that, Mark worked in selective college admission at his alma mater in Texas for 5 years, directing international recruitment efforts, and briefly in the Houston area as Associate Director of College Counseling and Spanish teacher. He has contributed extensively to media coverage of college admission, and presented at conferences for multiple national and international admission organizations. He also helped launch a few of those organizations and served on their boards. Mark loves making connections among good people in our business, and between colleges and the young people he supports.

Favorite College Essay Prompt: I love working with the students who are excited to talk about and answer prompts like this one from Columbia U:

List a selection of texts, resources and outlets that have contributed to your intellectual development outside of academic courses, including but not limited to books, journals, websites, podcasts, essays, plays, presentations, videos, museums and other content that you enjoy.