College Research Crash Course

Are the top 10 schools in the rankings truly the best fit for your teen?

With more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., it is no surprise that families feel overwhelmed by the options.

Where do you start? Which schools are worth visiting? And which ones may truly be the right fit for your teen, not only for academics but also for their social happiness and desired lifestyle?

Often, the best choice schools aren’t the most obvious ones, and they may not even be on your radar. That’s why we are here.

Join Anita, a former academic advisor, and Taylor, a Stanford graduate and experienced education expert, for a webinar that will bring clarity to the college search and help your teen build a list that feels right for them and for your family.

You’ll learn how to:

Identify what matters most when researching colleges (whether your teen knows their major or is still exploring)

Spot schools that are a true fit for your student’s interests, values, and goals
Understand what admissions officers prioritize and how that should guide your teen’s application strategy
Build a balanced list of reach, target, and likely schools with a proven approach

Bonus: Register today, and you’ll get a free copy of our trusted College Visits Guide when you attend!

Anita Doddi

Former University of Chicago Academic Advisor

Anita has spent her entire career in service of students, as a student affairs professional at Macalester, as an academic advisor at UChicago, as a College Admissions Advisor both in her own practice and in other firms, and now as a Collegewise counselor and helps students through the college admissions process. Anita earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Williams College and went on to earn her master’s in student affairs and academic support at the University of Michigan. Anita has a knack for building relationships quickly and making seemingly unrelated connections between people and ideas, which comes in quite handy when she’s helping students identify and apply to their best-fit schools.

Emily’s students benefit from her deep experience in evaluating their admissions candidacy and helping them stand out to admissions committees with compelling college essays and applications. She is also a respected leader in the college admissions space and serves as the incoming Inter-Association chair of the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling.

Taylor Merkel

Stanford Graduate

Taylor is a Stanford-trained scientist with degrees in biology and biomedical engineering, and over five years of research experience in areas like brain aging and blood vessel mechanics. But her true passion lies in helping students unlock their potential. For more than a decade, she’s guided high schoolers and pre-med students to higher scores, stronger confidence, and greater self-belief—often transforming not just academic outcomes but entire outlooks. Now a standout college counselor at Collegewise, Taylor blends analytical precision with deep empathy, especially when working with anxious or self-doubting students. She’s known for asking the right questions, identifying clear paths forward, and inspiring students to aim higher than they thought possible. Outside of counseling, you’ll find her tinkering with old video game consoles, crocheting, or tending to her thriving collection of houseplants.