Meet an Admissions Counselor: Nicole Doyle

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 a college admissions 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 Nicole Doyle. Where are you from, where have you lived, and where do you live now? I grew up in upstate New York. After college in Massachusetts, I spent a year in Seattle participating in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I then moved to Boston before eventually settling in Saratoga Springs, New York, where I live with my family. What are you reading, watching, and/or listening to lately? I watch a range of different things but am currently enjoying The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, with Inventing Anna on deck. Currently, I am reading The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. What do you do for fun or to relax? Both of my boys play soccer and baseball. I enjoy watching them active and engaged in their sports.  I am a runner and take classes at a local gym to stay in shape. What are some of your interests—things that fascinate you or send you down internet rabbit holes, or things you love to learn more about? I love to cook and try new recipes, so I follow many different blogs and then experiment on my family. Do you do any volunteer work? If so, what, and are there certain causes that are close to your heart? I am on a local scholarship committee and enjoy choosing recipients for a community scholarship that is based on not only scholarship but also financial need. I am very active in my boys’ school, having been the Home and School Association President. -- Where did you go to college and what did you study? I went to College of the Holy Cross and studied Political Science with an International Studies concentration. What was your favorite thing about college? Was anything very different from what you expected? I met lifelong friends. The academics were much more challenging than I expected. In high school, I really did not need to put in the work but, in college, I did and needed to learn how to study. What would you say to your high school self if you could coach them through the research and application process? What would you have done differently? Be open-minded! There are so many schools to consider. Start by thinking about factors like size, setting, and location to determine what is right and then begin the search process. I would have considered some other schools and looked more into scholarships. -- Where did you work in admissions and/or counseling? I worked at Holy Cross for four years and then worked part time in the Skidmore College Admissions Office. What aspect of the college admissions and/or counseling process do you most enjoy working on? I love meeting students and directing them through the process. I really enjoy brainstorming essay topics and learning more about my students and the story they would like to share. What in your mind makes a good college essay? I want to learn something about a student I would not have known if they had not shared it within their essay. It can be considered an interview on paper. How do you guide and nurture students through the college list process, from initial research to narrowing the final list? I start by finding out what the student is looking for in a college and some of the schools they already have in mind. Then I try to find other schools that may be similar for them to research, and I encourage them to take advantage of virtual info sessions and tours to determine if they would like to include these schools on their list. How would you describe your counseling style? I tend to take a personalized approach. Having worked at two small liberal arts schools, I find that I appreciate the personal connection and finding that “fit.” To learn more about Nicole, visit her bio.