Aaron Going, College Counselor
A first-generation college student whose parents did not know how to guide him in his own college planning, Aaron still recalls the day his high school counselor told him he would not get into Holy Cross (where he ultimately was admitted and attended). And he became a college counselor because, as he puts it, “I don’t want students or families to feel hopeless—everyone has a story to tell.” Aaron’s commitment to helping each of his students discover their potential and tell their own story has led to acceptances from more than 100 colleges, including Brown, UCLA, UC San Diego, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Tufts, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Colby, Boston College, Boston University, Bucknell, Northeastern, Babson, Fordham, Cal Poly SLO, Syracuse, UVA, Virginia Tech, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Texas A&M.
While Aaron has successfully advised students from a wide variety of backgrounds, he is particularly adept at working with aspiring athletes, middle-of-the-pack students who need a reminder of just how many college options could be realistic choices, and those students who are simply unsure where to apply and need help finding the right schools. Testimonials from Aaron’s past Collegewise families frequently speak to his responsiveness to their questions, the sense of calm he maintains even while managing deadlines, and the trust he earns from parents, many of whom feel comfortable stepping back and allowing their student to drive the college planning bus with Aaron guiding the way.
Aaron does not impose a one-size-fits-all counseling approach with his students and embraces the opportunity to forge meaningful connections with the families he works with. As he puts it:
I know I’m doing my job well when I talk to parents and students about things other than the college admissions process. Talking shop about golf with a dad or a student telling me about the new video game they’re obsessing over—there is room for those conversations when I am doing the right things as a counselor. I love that Collegewise allows me to take a human approach to college counseling, not a manufactured one where I feel like a robot.
In his career before Collegewise, Aaron served as a college counselor at Roxbury Prep where he taught a college counseling seminar for 75 seniors, ultimately sending 97% of their first graduating class to four-year colleges and universities. He’s also a frequent Collegewise presenter on topics such as NCAA recruiting, effective college planning, and the deconstruction of college rankings. When he’s not immersed in all-things-college, Aaron loves to “nerd out” (his words) about history, music, sports, and gaming.
Education & Experience
B.A, History, College of the Holy Cross
Associate Director of College Counseling, Worcester Academy (3 years)
College Counselor, Roxbury Prep High School (1 year)
Senior Access Counselor, Bottom Line (2 years)
Professional Organizational Memberships
NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling
NEACAC: New England Association for College Admission Counseling
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