Finding the Best College Fit: Expert Tips for Smarter College Research

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the US!

With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by where to visit, what to research, and which schools to put on your teen’s list. Their ideal college could be one you haven’t considered or even heard of before. That’s where we come in.

Join former admissions officer, Matt, and education expert, Taylor, for an insightful webinar that will take the stress out of your college search.

They’ll walk you through practical, personalized strategies to help your teen build a thoughtful, well-balanced college list that fits both who they are and where they want to go.

You’ll learn:

Key factors to consider when researching colleges, whether your teen has a major in mind or is still exploring
Practical tools and resources to help identify schools that are a great academic, social, and personal fit
Insights into what colleges prioritize in admissions, and how that should shape your teen’s list
A clear, proven strategy for building a balanced mix of reach, target, and likely schools

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

Matt Doyle

Former Admissions Officer at Hamilton College & Collegewise Counselor

Matt Doyle's time in college admissions has brought him all over the country. He started at his alma mater, Gonzaga University, where he evaluated applications and facilitated visits for prospective students. He then worked for three years as a member of the admissions team at Hamilton College in New York. After realizing he wanted to work more closely with students on their college search and application process, he moved to Colorado, where he spent six years as a college counselor at Kent Denver School prior to joining Collegewise this summer.

Taylor Merkel

Stanford Graduate & Collegewise Counselor

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.