Meet Adrian!

Adrian Ruiz, College Counselor

During his more than 14 years as an admissions officer and college advisor, Adrian’s students have gone on to attend just about every type of college in the United States. Selective private universities like Brown, University of Chicago, Cornell, Notre Dame, and Emory. Flagship public institutions like UT Austin the University of California system. Religious-affiliated schools, HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), and women’s colleges. His success with so many students of so many varying abilities and goals is evidence of a passion that was ignited during his own college days at his alma mater, UT Austin.

As Adrian describes it: 

As a first-generation college student, my parents were supportive of me going wherever I felt like I would succeed, but they had no idea how to help me in the college application process. So, I was naturally drawn to becoming a tour guide during my four years in college. I loved helping students figure out this process because I had struggled so much doing it on my own. I’ve stayed in higher education and have spent my entire career on both sides of the desk as both an admissions officer and a college advisor. 

As is the case in so many professions, the best college counselors are motivated by something bigger than the work itself. For Adrian, his work is about changing both the experience and the outcomes for his students. He seeks to remove the confusion and anxiety, help students take charge of their own path to college, and ensure everything from the college list to the applications to the essays is done deliberately, thoughtfully, and correctly. 

Adrian began his career right out of college as a College Advisor for UT Austin’s College Advising Corps, a program that places “enthusiastic recent college graduates to serve as college advisers within designated Title One high schools.” He then took a position as a College Prep Teacher in IDEA Public Schools, then later as a Senior Advisor for a private college admissions counseling company. His most recent post was the Associate Director of Admission for transfer & international students at Santa Clara University. 

While Adrian enjoys—and is quite successful—working with students of all backgrounds, abilities, and goals, he maintains a soft spot in his counseling heart for Texas-based students and for those middle-of-the-pack kids who aren’t necessarily at the top of the class. A husband as well as a proud dog dad, Adrian is also a Star Wars lover, an expert media and video game critic, and a Texas barbecue master.

Education & Experience

The University of Texas at Austin, B.A
Angelo State University, M.Ed. 
Associate Director of Admissions, Santa Clara University (2 years)
Senior Advisor, Collegeadvisor.com, (2 years)
IDEA Public Schools, College Preparation Teacher, ACT Prep Teacher (3 years)
High School College Advisor, College Advising Corps (2 years)
Senior Admissions Ambassador, University of Texas at Austin, (4 years)