Meet Susanna!

Susanna Renfrow, College Counselor

For over seven years, Susanna has worked directly with students navigating the college admissions process at the Institute of International Education (IIE), where she has served as a Student Advisor for the prestigious KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) and, more recently, as a University Placement Advisor for the Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Program (STEPs). In her work with KGSP—a competitive scholarship program for Saudi Arabian students pursuing STEM degrees in the United States—Susanna has provided comprehensive one-on-one advising support to cohorts of approximately 15 students annually, guiding them through every aspect of the college application process from onboarding through final enrollment. Each year, 100% of the students in her advising portfolio have received at least one full offer of admission into a STEM major at a top-tier university, including Caltech, MIT, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, Brown, Penn, Georgia Tech, and other highly selective institutions.

In her role with the STEPs program, Susanna worked with a caseload of approximately 50 junior and senior high school students in Saudi Arabia applying primarily to U.S., UK, and Canadian universities. She developed content and resources for regular webinars on critical topics such as essay brainstorming and writing, test preparation, drafting compelling activities and honors sections, and navigating application systems. Drawing on her experience providing detailed feedback on more than 150 university applications annually, Susanna ensures each student’s narrative reflects both academic achievement and personal character.

Susanna takes pride in getting to know each student as a whole person—learning where their passions lie, what excites them, and where their nerves kick in—so she can provide tailored support that meets them exactly where they are. Her counseling superpower is helping students craft compelling, authentic essays and short answers that clearly convey who they are to admissions readers.

Outside of counseling, Susanna is an avid reader, a crafter who enjoys knitting, sewing, and bead embroidery, and a devoted pet parent who loves quiet evenings with tea, Lego sets, and documentaries.

Education & Experience
Colorado State University, B.S.
Institute of International Education: University placement advisor—Science, Technology, and
Entrepreneurship Program (STEPs)
KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP), Student advisor

Professional Organization Memberships
NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counselors