Throughline College Counseling

I’m excited to follow The Atlantic’s (The Atlantic) new series on raising resilient children.

So much of what it explores connects to what I see in the college process. Resilient children become resilient teens who are better able to handle uncertainty, disappointment, independence and big decisions—not just during applications, but once they arrive on a college campus and, ultimately, as they build lives of their own.

It’s a topic I come back to often, and one that reminds me of two longtime favorites: How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims and Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz.

Worth a read—and a follow.

I absolutely love this from Dartmouth Admissions! It’s not just because I’m an alumni that I agree with every single one of these slides… but because this advice is applicable to all schools and every application process.

Students should spend their high school years figuring out who they are and the application process should tell their story rather than what they think colleges want.

The former works for college admissions and life.

The latter does not.

Take it from the Dartmouth admissions officers who created this post - and also from me, someone who always helps students to put integrity first.

✍️: Dartmouth Admissions

Long before the college applications, there’s a first book.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted more than 300 million of them, sending free books directly to children across the country until they are old enough to go to school.

Today, as we remember Dolly, we’re especially grateful for this part of her legacy - and the millions of young readers who will continue to benefit from it. 📚

New school year, new me! You may have noticed things look a little bit different around here… so let me reintroduce myself!

JMAC College Counseling is now Throughline College Counseling!

When I started my practice, I had clients before I had a business name. Jesse McTigue Academic and College Counseling became JMAC.

As the practice has grown, I wanted a name that better captured the philosophy behind my work and one that could grow beyond my name.

As I work with students and families, I’ve also connected with trusted professionals in test preparation, sports psychology, and athletic recruiting whose expertise complements my work, while exploring opportunities to partner with other expert college counselors.

Throughline better represents both the work I do with students and the practice I’m continuing to build.
We don’t start with the essay or try to manufacture a story for an application. We start with the student. Through reflection and exploration, students better understand their experiences, values, strengths, and aspirations. That understanding helps them make more intentional choices and, ultimately, communicate who they are authentically and compellingly.

Admissions success is the outcome. Self-understanding is the advantage. The process creates both.

Why Throughline?

A throughline is a connecting thread among a student’s experiences, interests, values, strengths, and aspirations.
Those throughlines can help guide classes and extracurriculars, college fit, academic direction, the application, and the stories students choose to tell.

Throughout the college process, Throughline guides students in exploring a lot of questions, but one I find myself returning to often is:

What’s your throughline?

11 students. 9 colleges. Lots of perspective.

Last night, JMAC College Counseling (some news coming soon on that) and Karma Tutors brought together a group of college students - some former students, some former clients, and others who joined us - to share their college experiences and what they’ve learned along the way.

They gave a snapshot of their schools - location, student body, majors, traditions, and why they chose them - before we dug into bigger questions: What were you grateful you took advantage of in high school? What helped prepare you for college? What surprised you once you got there? And what advice would you give students navigating the college selection and application process?

Thoughtful college choices come from more than researching schools. I love connecting high school students with college students who can share what the experience is actually like. Those perspectives help students ask better questions and think more deeply about where they’ll thrive. It’s also important to me to create opportunities like this for our broader community.

And the feedback afterward made my night:
•”Best thing I have been to regarding colleges.”

•”D and I really thought it was great info and got him thinking even deeper about his direction.”

•”S said she got a lot from it!”

•”Loved the panel. I wish F was there to listen to the college advice!”

Good news: we recorded it. We’ll be sharing the discussion soon. Stay tuned.

Reminder to join me and Karma Tutors tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Wilkinson Public Library for a great panel with current college students.

See you at 5:30! All are welcome.

There’s nothing better than catching up with former students to hear what they’re doing in college!

I love it when people I’ve worked with in the past have surpassed all expectations - It was amazing to hear all of Zelle Winter’s adventures from undergrad at Columbia and grad school at Notre Dame - and I look forward to following her journey as she takes on her PhD at Yale!

A week from today, I’m thrilled to be sponsoring a College Student Panel with Karma Tutors at Wilkinson Public Library for students curious about college.

You’ll hear from actual students about:
•How they chose their college
•How to maximize your high school experience in preparation for college
•Their college experience

See you Tuesday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m.