Meet Mandy!

Mandy McGuire, College Counselor

Mandy brings a uniquely deep and broad set of experiences to Collegewise. Her time in admissions began at Agnes Scott College, a private women’s college enrolling fewer than 1,000 students, and continued at Saint Mary’s School, a boarding school in North Carolina. In 2016, she accepted a position in the admissions office of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business where she not only reviewed applications, but also delivered presentations, screened applicants via Zoom interviews, and coordinated more than 1500 alumni to participate in recruitment initiatives. 

The most effective college applications, especially those to highly selective colleges, help the reader get to know the person behind the grades, test scores, and accomplishments. But it’s the small schools like Agnes Scott and Saint Mary’s that place the greatest emphasis on character and personal traits during their selection process, much of which is gleaned from the essays and letters of recommendation. That experience informs Mandy’s work with her own students, no matter where they are applying to college. And her time evaluating candidates at one of the most selective graduate business institutions in the country deepened her understanding of what it takes for an applicant to stand out when the pool is chock-full of overachievers. 

The best college counselors build both rapport and respect with their students, a balance that allows the counselor to be both a mentor and a project manager, while keeping the students willingly engaged. When Mandy applied to Collegewise, she surprised us with her impressive demonstration of those skills in a very different setting as the Program & Recruitment Director at the Rockbrook Camp for Girls, her first job out of college. She held responsibility, not only for training the more than 80 teenage and college-aged counselors annually, but also for designing activities for campers aged 6–16. Families who meet with Mandy will see right away how easily she engages with each student, building a sense of trust, comfort, and confidence that only grows as they continue their work together. The college knowledge comes from her time reading applications. But her sheer skill with teens comes from time spent supervising kids who were away from home and needed an adult supervisor who was both responsible and approachable. 

A former backstroke record holder at her high school, Mandy is also a juggler who took first place at a past office talent show. While she can still perfectly execute the behind-the-back toss, these days she’s immersed in a different kind of juggling act as she coordinates dance and gymnastics commitments for her two daughters, aged 3 and 6.

Education & Experience

Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S.
Associate Director of MBA Admissions, Duke University (7 years)
Assistant Director of Admissions, Saint Mary's School (2 years)
Assistant Director of Admissions, Agnes Scott College (3 years)
Program & Recruitment Director, Rockbrook Camp (5 years)