I genuinely believe that I would not be where I am today without Colleen's incredible help and support. This whole college process can seem like a chaotic jumble of doors that are all painted slightly different colors, and to a mere high schooler who doesn't know exactly what they want in a school, it can start to feel like a game of Russian roulette. Colleen kept me on task and helped me meet all of my deadlines, and trust me, this is no small feat. I love that she really took the time to get to know me, both in order to find the schools where I would be happiest and to help me bring out my personal voice in every aspect of my applications.
CONNOR
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Colleen saved the day! She guided not only my granddaughter, but also me, her grandma, in the application process for college. Colleen's patient, kind support of our family will always be remembered. We trusted her because she was ethical and knowledgeable--there was never a time she did not jump in to help through the process. Her guidance was gentle and clear, and she helped my granddaughter to find her own power along the way. We will always be grateful!
BARBARA, GRANDPARENT OF BARBARA
HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY
From the moment we met Colleen I felt like we were in great hands. She was super patient and very organized. She broke down each piece of the overwhelming process one step at a time. She was always quick to get back to us to answer any and all questions. Most importantly, I could tell she really cared about finding the best fit school for our son. She gave him several schools to research each meeting and helped him create a very balanced list. When all was said and done my son had amazing schools to choose from. He is very happy with the university he is attending in the fall. I would highly recommend Colleen to anyone who is needing guidance or feeling overwhelmed by the college application process.
VERNA, PARENT OF MILA
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND
Colleen was always there to offer me motivation and support, and she knew exactly what kind of programs would be a great fit for me. I'm incredibly grateful for Colleen's help, and I wouldn't be where I am today without her. Coming into the college application process, I felt lost. Both my parents had attended college outside of the US, and my counselor at school didn't have the time to walk me through the detailed steps. That's where Colleen came in. She was there to answer every one of my questions and guided me through all the intricacies of the admissions process. Her feedback on my essays was invaluable, and her tips and tricks helped me improve my writing drastically.
ALAN
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - LOS ANGELES
At the beginning of my college application process, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Collegewise took a lot of the stress off of me and allowed me to focus on what was important, which was researching colleges, instead of scrambling to try to figure out how to apply to them. My counselor, Colleen Boucher-Robinson, was fantastic. She was very flexible with meeting times, and that was especially important to me with my multiple varsity sports and volunteer services. Colleen also developed a personal relationship with me. I never once felt like a client, but more of a friend. When my friends started to panic about getting their apps done, I was already finished with all my applications. Collegewise made applying to college easy.
ANTHONY
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY - MAIN CAMPUS
My experience with Colleen was amazing. The college application process is very stressful and confusing, so having someone with knowledge and experience in the field is a huge relief. There were things I would’ve otherwise overlooked had I not talked with Colleen about it. It is so reassuring to know that Colleen was there to answer any questions, concerns, or even topics I hadn’t thought of. She had my back and always provided me with certainty and clarity when I was unsure of anything.
SKYLAR
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SANTA BARBARA


Colleen Boucher-Robinson, College Counselor
Ever since she earned the nickname “Colleen the Question Queen” on a fourth grade field trip, Colleen has loved asking questions and finding answers. In college, she majored in Classics, which gave her the chance to read The Iliad five times (and learn how to pronounce Aristophanes). After graduating magna cum laude from Loyola University Chicago, Colleen went on to earn her master’s degree in English from Boston University, spending many snowy afternoons reading Chaucer, and learning the grown-up version of asking questions: critical thinking.
Colleen returned to the Bay Area in 2010 and started teaching SAT and ACT prep classes for local students. While she relished correcting grammar for a living, Colleen always preferred conversations about college to Critical Reading passages. She joined Collegewise in 2014 and gets to put her questioning skills to good use every day, helping students discover and articulate who they are and what they’re looking for in their college experience. Colleen also writes a blog called When I Was 17, and you can check it out here.
Education & Experience
M.A. in English Language and Literature, Boston University
Magna cum laude graduate, Loyola University Chicago
Outside application reader, University of San Francisco
Co-author, The 2019-20 Collegewise Guide to the Common App
Co-author, The Collegewise Guide to Summer Planning
Professional Organization Memberships
NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling
