About Us

Joe Freeman, Founder and Principal

Joe (he/him) brings over twenty four years of experience in college counseling to his practice. He comes to this work after a long and successful career in independent schools across the country, most recently as the founding Director of College Counseling at Beacon Academy in Evanston, Illinois. He previously worked as an Upper School Dean at Randolph School in Huntsville, Alabama. Joe has counseled in both International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) settings, and he possesses a deep and thorough knowledge of a wide variety of high school curricula. He has visited over two hundred college campuses in 42 states and 5 foreign countries, and he has served on counselor advisory boards at North Carolina State University, DePauw University (IN) and The University of Alabama. Joe has been a leader in professional college counseling organizations, serving on the executive boards of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling. Additionally, Joe served the National Association for College Admission Counseling on its Government Relations Committee. Joe's work to promote and advance access and equity in college admissions was recognized by IACAC with its Inclusion Access and Success Award (2021). IACAC also celebrated Joe's work with the Molly Arnold Award for Presidential Service (2020) and the James Alexander Newcomer Award. Joe served on the Illinois P-20 Council's Ad Hoc Student Support Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he holds a strong interest in making postsecondary study accessible to all as a critical element of workforce development.

Joe has written extensively about college admissions, and his work has been featured in The Journal of College Admission and The New York Times "The Choice" Blog.

Raised in Ocean Pines, Joe attended Worcester County Public Schools and St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware. He holds a BA in English and History from Hamilton College (NY) and an MA in English from the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College (VT). He currently lives in West Ocean City.

Points of Distinction

Rural and Small Town Students: We know that students from rural communities approach the college search and selection process differently, and additional barriers are often present for students from these backgrounds. This disparity plays out in degree attainment: only 29% of high school graduates from rural areas currently attend college whereas 42% of high school graduates from metro areas enroll in college. Rural communities depend on a specialized workforce, much of which requires degree attainment. While we know that college is not the path for all, we believe that rural students who wish to attend college should have the ability to do so.
Diverse Learners: Students with learning differences can face additional challenges in the college search and selection process. From managing a wide variety of deadlines to ensuring appropriate accommodation for standardized testing to identifying a strong network of supportive services on college campuses that foster success, our practice strives to make the college search and selection process accessible and manageable for a full spectrum of learners.
LGBTQ+ Students: Students who identify in the LGBTQ+ community must take additional considerations into account when searching for a college, especially when it comes to feeling safe and having a sense of belonging. This process can be even more challenging when support, acceptance, and/or affirmation of these identities are absent from home. We bring extensive experience in working with LGBTQ+ students in a sensitive, supportive, and affirming way.
Domestic Students Seeking International Options: with an extensive background in the International Baccalaureate curriculum, our counselors are well-positioned to maximize outcomes for students from IB backgrounds, particularly those enrolled in the Diploma Programme (DP). This experience also gives us a deep understanding of international university options and the pathways available to those universities from US high schools.
Artists and Athletes: students with talent and interest and who wish to compete in interscholastic athletics in college must take additional steps in both the college search and the college application process. We have extensive experience working with the liaisons between admissions and athletics and a deep understanding of the NCAA Eligibility process. Similarly, students who want to study visual and performing arts at a high level will need to complete artistic portfolios and, for performing artists, prepare for auditions. We have successfully counseled hundreds of artists through this element of their application and can connect our students to important resources to aid in their portfolio development.

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