Meet An Admissions Counselor Meet an Admissions Counselor: Michael Yager Written by Michael Yageron November 2nd, 2021 I started my journey in college admissions working in the small liberal arts environment at St. Lawrence University in New York and then Wheaton College in Massachusetts. In addition to recruiting students and making admissions decisions, I served in a number of other roles as an admissions officer at both schools, including athletics liaison, on-campus events coordinator, and technology implementation committee. After more than a decade in college admissions and Northeast winters, I made the switch to working in a high school setting as the director of college counseling at The Baldwin School of Puerto Rico, an International Baccalaureate World School. At Baldwin, I was a member of the curriculum design team and also the head coach for the varsity girls basketball program. Most recently, I moved to Texas, where I worked as the associate director of college counseling for Fort Worth Country Day and a seasonal application reader for Texas Christian University. Learn More About Michael educational consultant, college planner, We’re bringing back our popular series, Meet an Admissions Counselor, where we introduce students and families to a different member of the College Coach admissions team. Drop in to see what we’re reading, where we went to school, and our strategies for beginning the college essay. As you work with us to find an educational consultant who best fits your needs or the needs of your child, we will help you consider the personality and working styles that will bring out the best in you or your student. Today we introduce Michael Yager. What would you say to your high school self if you could coach him/her through the research and application process? What would you have done differently? My personal college search was very limited. As a first-generation student growing up in a rural environment, I was focused on local options and schools that had a strong regional reputation. The moment I set foot on campus at Ithaca College, I knew it was the right school for me. Looking back, I would probably encourage the younger version of myself to take a few more tours and expand my options beyond New York State. However, I am grateful for the amazing education and lifelong friendships that Ithaca College provided me with. What did you study? Sport Management What about your college experience was different from what you expected? I never expected to build close personal relationships with faculty members in college. Looking back, I was able to connect with the faculty in so many meaningful ways. Everything from playing basketball during the lunch hour, to having coffee in the student union to discuss current events, to dinners with my academic advisors to talk about career options. -- Where did you work in admissions and/or counseling? St. Lawrence University, NY; Wheaton College, MA; The Baldwin School of Puerto Rico; Fort Worth Country Day, TX What aspect of the college admissions and/or counseling process do you most enjoy working on? I love crafting a college list that will match the personality of the student that I am working with. It’s always fun to see the reactions of families when we go through a list of potential schools. How would you describe your counseling style? My counseling style is to be approachable, calm, thoughtful, and transparent throughout the entire process. This college application process can involve huge emotional swings and my goal is to be there to provide sound advice that is rooted in my experience and the personal connections that I develop with the families I work with. -- What do you do for fun or to relax? Playing basketball with my kids, grilling for my family and friends, having my morning coffee outside with my two dogs. To learn more about Michael, visit his bio. Find out where our team of admissions decision-makers came from and why they joined College Coach. Meet The Team Related Resources Read | Posted on March 15th, 2024 Meet an Admissions Counselor: Sam Freccia Read | Posted on March 4th, 2024 Meet an Admissions Counselor: Blair Dixon Read | Posted on January 30th, 2024 Meet an Admissions Counselor: Marjorie Southworth
