We take the stress out of college admissions.
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Kate Barker and Jennifer Schlegel
Founders and Co-Owners of My Admissions Sherpa
TEAM MEMBERS
JENNIFER SCHLEGEL
Jenny has a BA in History and Secondary Education, a Masters in History and will finish a Masters in Educational Technology this spring. She has been working as a private college admissions counselor since 2001 and has loved every minute of it. Over the years, Jenny has acquired a unique knowledge of the culture of individual schools as well as their respective admissions processes and procedures. She excels at matching students with schools that meet their specific list of wants and needs. Jenny also develops instructional materials and writes curriculum. She recently c0-authored an online course that walks students through the admissions process. And....teenagers are her absolute favorite age group to work with!
KATE BARKER
Kate holds a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is dual-certified in Secondary Education School Counseling and English. With over 27 years of experience, she uses her knowledge of adolescent development to support students in their transition to post-secondary education. Passionate about guiding students toward their personal and academic goals, Kate helps families navigate the college admissions process, ensuring it is as stress-free as possible. Her expertise allows her to assist anxious students and those who lack confidence, restoring joy to the experience. Kate has successfully empowered hundreds of students to recognize their value and secure admission to the colleges of their choice.
MICHELLE PURCELL
Michele Purcell has a Master of Education degree in counseling psychology with a dual certification in school counseling. She has over 20 years experience in college admissions counseling, and is proficient in helping improve college acceptances & assisting students in finding the “right fit” in the college selection process. She has aided students in applying & getting accepted into numerous schools such as The University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Yale, Cornell, University of Notre Dame, Georgetown, & Johns Hopkins just to name a few!
ABBEY LEDERMAN
Abby Lederman is the co-author of Finding the Path: A Novel for Parents of Teenagers and has written many professional articles on topics ranging from children’s theater to overcoming the fear of swimming in older adults. She has been supervising programs for young people and teens in the United States and Canada since 2012 and is currently writing a historical novel about a female inventor growing up in the mid-19th century.
CHRISTINE MCLAUGHLIN
Christine grew up in Newtown, Bucks County, and earned her Bachelor's degree at the University of Pittsburgh in Psychology and Anthropology and a Master's degree in Secondary Social Studies at Widener University. She has been teaching high school Social Studies to all levels of students for over 20 years. She loves working with students to help them navigate the college application process and achieve their goals.
JASMINE JAMES
Jasmine is a proud Philadelphia native, but enjoys traveling whenever she get the chance! She attended Drexel University and graduated with a B.A. in English and a minor in politics. During her time at Drexel, she volunteered at West Philly's branch of Mighty Writers, contributed to creative non-fiction and photography anthologies at Drexel's Writer's Room collective, and thrived as she worked at the Drexel Writing Center. Post graduation, she has continued to cultivate her passion for teaching writing skills and working with youth. Currently, she is an English teacher at Excel Academy North and is continuing to seek opportunities to refine her skills and learn from new experiences.
KIM LENT
Kimberly Lent has a Bachelor's of Science in Speech Communication and English Education from Ithaca College. From there, she went on to pursue her Master's in Higher Education Counseling plus Elementary and Secondary Counseling from West Chester University. Kimberly has been a Counselor in the Philadelphia School District for the past 27 years, and although challenging, absolutely loves her career! She has experience in K-8th grade counseling, but the majority of her career has been working with high school students, and helping them to plan their future educational and/or career paths.
PAULETTE ANDERS
Paulette Anders has a Master of Science degree in school counseling from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from Mount St. Mary’s University. She is a dedicated and solution-driven school and college counselor with over 30 years of college admissions experience at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels. Paulette has proven success in establishing rapport and building trusting relationships with students, parents, and admissions offices. She demonstrates a commitment to students’ success by implementing effective coaching techniques, providing solutions, and promoting realistic student expectations and resiliency. Currently, Paulette serves as a college and career consultant to Saint John’s Catholic Preparatory School. Paulette and her husband claim Florida as their home but find themselves in Maryland often with their daughters. Easily connecting with high school students and families, Paulette brings confidence to the high-stress college admissions process.
PAULA LONDONO
Paula Londono has a B.S. in Education and Geography-Geosciences, an MA in Reading Education, and an MA in School Counseling. She has been working in public education for 33 years, first as a high school teacher for 22 years, and currently as a high school counselor for the last 11 years in South Jersey. She is passionate about helping students discover what motivates them intrinsically, so they can find the major and college fit that will bring them joy and success.
GREG RICKEN
Greg Ricken, a native New Yorker, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University at Buffalo before pursuing a Masters Degree in School Counseling from Long Island University. With six years of experience in high school environments, he has dedicated himself to assisting numerous students in their academic journeys. Greg's enthusiasm lies in guiding students to discover their passions, particularly in navigating the college admissions process. Additionally, he is an avid runner and proudly supports New York sports teams.
ALICIA VORSE
Alicia, a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School, went on to continue her education at Penn State, where she obtained a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Social Sciences, followed by a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Holy Family University. For the past 15 years, Alicia has been working as a Dual Certified School Counselor and College Admissions Specialist. She is both passionate and highly experienced in helping students navigate the college admissions process and find the perfect college fit.
KRISTEN BOGART
Kristen earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Saint Joseph’s University. After several years as a classroom teacher, Kristen received a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with a Dual Certification in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling from Holy Family University. Kristen also holds a certificate from the American School Counselor Association as a College Admissions Specialist. As a certified K-12 School Counselor, Kristen has years of experience assisting students with their applications and essays and advocating on her student’s behalf. Some of her most memorable moments working as a school counselor since 2011 have been helping her students navigate the college admissions process and seeing their joy when they make their final decision.
JENNIFER KUGLER
A Pennsylvania native, Jennifer has dedicated the past twenty-six years to teaching in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Throughout her career, she has utilized her passion and skills to guide her students through the writing process, helping them find their voice. She holds a BS in Elementary Education and an MA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Principal at Little Flower High School in Philadelphia. Jennifer resides in Glenside, PA, with her husband, two adult children, and two cats.
BECKY CARTEE- HARING
Becky has a BA in English and a Masters in Secondary English Education both from Rutgers University where she also played Division 1 lacrosse and was named captain of the team in her final season. As a certified English teacher, she has taught students how to approach and write the college essay for over 25 years. She has worked with all levels of writers in courses such as AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, English 11, Becoming a Better Writer, Sports Literature, Journalism, and Creative Writing. Additionally, she has supported many student-athletes, including her two daughters, with the recruiting process for future NCAA athletes. More than anything, she loves working with teenagers and coaching them to write with pride as their most
authentic self.
Our Mission Statement
To guide, educate and empower students through each step of the college admissions process and identify schools that will help them grow in all facets of life: intellectually, socially, culturally, and spiritually. At My Admissions Sherpa, we strive to streamline the admissions process to make it less stressful while helping kids get into their top-choice schools. The opportunity to guide each student as they take their first major steps towards becoming independent and self-sufficient adults is both an honor and a pleasure.