Guiding Philosophy

Kate Woessner Odell founded StepAhead College Advising based on the following core principles:

Be True To Yourself

High school is a time for students to explore, try new things, develop new skills and figure out what they are really passionate about.  Kate encourages students to enjoy high school and focus on developing their own interests and passions.  By following their interests and developing their sense of self, students will be better prepared to find a college environment where they can thrive. 

Identify “Good Fit” Colleges

Too often students apply and attend a college based on name recognition or rankings alone and don’t consider whether a particular college is a good fit for the individual student.  Finding a good fit can help students to be successful in college and beyond.   Kate works one-on-one with students to help them create a balanced list of good fit colleges.

Engage in the College Application Process

Kate uses a step-by-step approach to help students engage in the college process without feeling undue stress.  While Kate will guide the student through the application, the college essay and college application are the student’s own work.  Kate’s role is to help the student understand the process and to feel confident about his/her college options.

Act as a Team

The high school counselor plays a critical role in a student’s high school experience and college admissions.  As an independent college advisor, Kate seeks to provide guidance that will further support the efforts of the high school counselor.  Kate believes students’ best interests are served when parents, counselors and independent advisors work as a team.