Paul Kanarek
Founder of The Princeton Review & Former Collegewise CEO
Paul Kanarek is a globally recognized expert in college admission and testing, having founded The Princeton Review in California in 1983 and later becoming the CEO of Collegewise in 2015. Widely quoted in all major papers, he has appeared on multiple television shows and has spoken about US college admissions all over the world. Despite his academic record in high school, which his mother would say didn't hint at a career in education, Paul has since become one of the world's foremost experts on testing and admissions. He is renowned for his lively, insightful, and inspiring talks, such as in College Admissions Today: Fact vs Fiction, where he debunks some of the more painful mythology surrounding college admissions while being entertaining and informative. Giddy at the opportunity to help families genuinely enjoy finding a great college fit, Paul Kanarek is a testament to the power of hard work and determination in achieving one's goals.
Sam Joustra
Former Vanderbilt, Hampshire College, and University of Michigan Undergraduate Admissions Officer & Collegewise Counselor
Sam Joustra has spent the last ten years working in admission, first at Hampshire College, then Vanderbilt with stints in both undergrad and graduate admissions, and most recently at the University of Michigan where she read over 2,800 applications annually.
Sam earned her bachelor's in French and English from Goucher College and then her master's in higher education with an emphasis in enrollment management from Vanderbilt University. She’s an active member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC). Sam’s counseling style is thoughtful and supportive, and it comes from a genuine desire to want to get to know my students as people first.
