Meet Jillian!

Jillian Cosgrove, College Counselor

During her nearly 18-year career as a college advisor, Jillian’s students have attended more than 200 colleges, including Duke, MIT, NYU, Princeton, Notre Dame, Emory, George Washington, Georgia Tech, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Wesleyan, and Yale. From flagship public universities and art and design schools, to selective private schools and liberal arts colleges, Jillian has seemingly done it all. She has also seen students enroll in technical schools, international schools, Christian colleges, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—and her broad expertise brings families a welcome sense of comfort. It would be nearly impossible to surprise Jillian, as she has seen virtually every application-related scenario there is. 

Jillian spent the last decade as Director of School Counseling at Cornerstone Prep Academy in Acworth, Georgia. She recently completed a stint as Lead EQ Coach at The Alpha School, where she built a comprehensive school counseling and EQ curriculum. As more than 80 admissions leaders at some of the country’s most recognizable colleges and universities have underscored, students face immense pressures surrounding their college admissions, leading many to emphasize their personal success over the common good. Yet even the most selective colleges prioritize more than high grades and test scores; they aim to admit interesting, kind, thoughtful human beings who will make productive contributions both inside and outside the classroom. Here again, this is where Jillian comes in—because she understands how colleges seek to evaluate a student’s character, not simply their achievements. And this attention to who students are, and not just what they’ve done, informs her advising on a daily basis. Whether they are focusing on their leisure time, rebounding from a failure or mistake, or crafting a college essay, Jillian can help them achieve their educational goals.

A former New Jerseyan and graduate of Millburn High School, Jillian now calls Orlando, Florida home (a choice not necessarily driven—but certainly influenced—by her love of all things Disney, Star Wars, and Harry Potter). 

Education & Experience

Pomona College, B.A. in Psychology
Georgia State University, M.Ed. in School Counseling 
Lead EQ Coach, The Alpha School
Director of School Counseling, Cornerstone Preparatory Academy (9 years)
Director of High School Counseling, Mount Paran Christian School (4 years)
Independent College Counselor (17 years)

Professional Organizations Memberships

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)