Applying to Berkeley was my dream but I wasn't sure If they were going to accept me since I only did 1 year of community college in the US and the rest in my country. Lori not only helped me through my application process but also encouraged me to persist! I got into the political science program after being told multiple times by different advisors from other places that I wouldn’t. I’m glad that Lori was the one who walked me through this process. Her patience and empathy with my stories helped me to be able to write my essays.

NATALIA

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - BERKELEY

Lori was also an extremely encouraging person to work with. I was quite late to the application process and was handling it somewhat alone. Not once did I feel that Lori doubted me. It felt like she genuinely believed in me and my ability to gain acceptance to the schools I was applying to. Even though we only met a handful of times, Lori made each meeting feel personal and safe, taking note and remembering specific things about me and my interests. I cannot explain how crucial the encouragement, advice and specific answers I received from Lori were to completing the application process confidently.

CLAIRE

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

I really appreciated how Collegewise structured their program; I got concrete feedback through deadlines and essay suggestions, but I also feel like my counselor provided me with emotional support during a stressful application period! Lori was so incredibly patient and had such unwavering faith in me even when I didn't, and her positivity and kindness were a breath of fresh air. I genuinely looked forward to chatting with her every week, and felt like she truly cared about me - from listening to my stories at school or work to consoling me while I cried from uncertainty, she has been there every step of the way and I couldn't have done it without her!

KYRA

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - LOS ANGELES

I cannot thank Lori enough for all the effort she put into my applications—after having felt entirely lost throughout the process before joining Collegewise, and Lori's genuine interest in my application, constant encouragement, and efficacy was so, so appreciated. I cannot emphasize enough how good of an experience this was.

EVELYN

KING'S COLLEGE

Lori was a lifesaver for my family. We had no clue how to get started with the college application process. I also knew that my teen would not appreciate my project management tactics. The Collegewise representative assessed our needs over the phone and determined that Lori would be the best coach for for our needs. A few days later, we hit the ground running with Lori! Lori created a project plan with gating events leading up to various application deadlines. Lori and team kept my teen on track with timelines and essay feedback. The final result was my teen getting accepted into his number one school choice!

EMILY, PARENT OF WARREN

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

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Lori Jones, College Counselor

When it comes to navigating the college admissions process, Lori is exceptionally skilled in supporting students applying to universities all over the U.S. and around the world. With 20+ years of experience both behind the college admissions desk and as a high school counselor, she thrives on getting to know her students and supporting them in achieving their goals. For Lori, the most rewarding aspect of guiding families through the college journey are the strong relationships she builds as a mentor to students and a trusted advisor to families.

With a master's in educational administration and policy from the University of Georgia under her belt, Lori began her career in college admissions as Senior Assistant Director of Admission, first at Mercer University, and then at the University of Georgia. Wanting to connect even more individually with students, Lori spent the next 16 years of her career serving as a college counselor in independent schools in Seattle and Atlanta. As Head of College Counseling at Atlanta International School (AIS), Lori led a team of counselors and developed expert knowledge to tackle non-US admission processes – 30% of students at AIS also apply internationally each year, from the Netherlands and Canada to the UK and Australia. In each of her counseling roles, she has also advised international students through the US admission process.  

When she’s not counseling students, she’s likely looking for an adventure. When everything went virtual, Lori and her family put their life in storage, packed up the car, and hit the road. They went to 22 different states and 15 national parks (the family favorites were White Sands, Zion, Arches, Crater Lake, Rocky Mountain, and Glacier), and she did all that while advising her AIS students virtually.  

Education & Experience

M.A., Educational Administration and Policy, University of Georgia

Senior Assistant Director of Admission, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA

Senior Assistant Director of Admission, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Head of College Counseling, Atlanta International School

Professional Organization Memberships

NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling

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