Meet Nick!

Nick Kary, College Counselor

After earning B.A. and M.Ed. degrees from the University of Minnesota, Nick moved right into his alma mater’s admissions office, where he evaluated more than 1,000 annual applications. Over the ensuing eleven years, Nick’s impact on both his office and his colleagues was recognized with roles of increasing responsibility, encompassing the hiring, training, and management of admissions team members. We remind new employees at Collegewise: When we arrive at work each day, we never leave it at zero—we either make it a little better or a little worse. Make it a little better. That’s exactly what resonated for us about Nick and his own work. The UMN admissions office is a fundamentally different place today than it was when Nick started nearly a decade ago, which is the kind of impact we look for in a colleague—not to mention the same impact colleges look for in an applicant. This approach also reflects how Nick encourages his students to think about participating in their own activities and communities. 

The best college counselors bring both science and art to their craft. Possessing a deep understanding of the college admissions processes along with the nuances that change from school-to-school? That’s the science, and Nick certainly has a command of it. But the ability to forge a productive relationship with a family—one where the student likes you and the parents trust you? A knack for bringing calm to this chaotic process? A capacity to spot what makes each student unique, and then help them hone and share those traits in a college application? That’s the art, and while it can be nurtured and strengthened at Collegewise, it cannot be taught from scratch. This is where Nick excels as a counselor. If you want to see him in action—and watch Nick convey to parents just how invested he is in their child’s outcome—then take a meeting with him. We’re confident you’ll witness his gift. 

Gregarious and affable, Nick was famously voted Douglas High School’s Class Clown in 2009 and has carried that love and passion for comedy into his adult years and now writes sketches and performs improv in his wife’s theater company, Smartmouth Comedy. When he’s not advising students, playing with his dog, Sandler, or enjoying a good burrito, you’re likely to find Nick co-hosting his upcoming podcast with his best friends, Monster Du Jour.

Education & Experience

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, B.A and M.Ed.
Associate Director of Customer Experience, University of Minnesota (3 years)
Assistant Director of Recruitment Operations, University of Minnesota (4 years)
National Admissions Recruiter, University of Minnesota (4 years)