Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Murphy.
Elizabeth, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Sometimes I think of myself as “the accidental college counselor.” I did not intend to be in this field when I graduated from Dartmouth College in 2002. I began my career working at a boutique marketing firm, which I loved. I held several different positions over the early years of my career, but due to my own strong writing and editing skills, I always had a side hustle helping students with their college essays. This was seasonal work, and I enjoyed connecting with students and giving them the confidence they needed to write strong personal statements.
While my work was limited to writing critiques back then, I started to notice that many students were facing more significant struggles in other aspects of their college planning. I began to educate myself about the complexities of applying to college just as the whole process shifted away from paper to online applications. I soon became very good at navigating all of the confusing websites! That was the first step of many that led me to where I am today. For twelve years, I have been working hard to stay informed about “everything college app related” so I can best educate and prepare my students. I expanded my services gradually over several years, first working from an office in my home, later moving to a great space in South Dartmouth.
I enjoy learning new things and especially love passing on that knowledge to those who most need it, so this has proved to be the perfect career, though not one I could have envisioned as a college student. This is a message I try to share with my students today (especially the anxious Undeclared majors!).
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Compared to most small business stories, mine has probably been a fairly smooth road. Most of my clients come from word-of-mouth referrals, and as a solo practitioner, that works well for me.
It can be difficult to juggle lots of clients with highly specific needs, but I enjoy the personal connections I make with my students and their families. Just don’t ask me to do anything in October! That’s my version of an accountant’s tax season!
The greatest struggle my business faces today is actually the growing competitiveness among college applicants. It is not fun to have to explain to a diligent and passionate student that their plans for the Ivy League may be a lot harder to realize than they imagined. I don’t like having to share this disheartening news with kids who by all accounts have done everything right, but it is an important component of doing my job well. I want every student to find those colleges where they will not only be successful and happy, but have a strong shot at getting in!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about College Edge – what should we know?
I especially love helping moms (and dads!) to feel more at ease when it comes to their children’s college plans. This enables me to work most effectively with my students.
In my twelve years as a college counselor, I have been fortunate to get to know so many awesome moms and amazing teenagers. I love my work for many reasons, but I feel especially blessed to be able to help families through a confusing and overwhelming period. The questions may be unique, but the stress and confusion surrounding planning and preparing for college is almost universal. Moms need to know: “is he even ready?” “Will she find friends there?” “What are we really paying for?” “Can he get a job with that degree?” and, “What happens when she changes her mind again?” I don’t have a crystal ball, of course, but I can reassure parents that they are not the first to worry about these things. I point them toward the answers and resources their family needs to get (or keep) their child on the right track.
I offer tailored services for parents and for students, including how to research colleges, essay strategy and critique, test planning, and application process management and support. Families need a resource who makes them feel comfortable, but also has the expertise this complex process requires. I offer private consultation sessions to parents and students, both at my Dartmouth office and online through Zoom web conferencing, which enables me to work with families throughout the US. I offer summer workshops for rising seniors to complete their college essay and application work in a structured and supportive setting. Procrastinators (and their parents) love this option!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
That’s simple! TRUST. Sometimes parents forget that kids have just as many questions as they do…even when they don’t have much to say about college. My special skill is quickly building trust and rapport with not just moms, but teenagers as well. My key to success in working with teens is getting them to trust me…because that makes it easy for them to like me…and eventually not just take my advice, but actively seek it out. Nothing pleases me more than getting a thoughtful, complex question from a teenager in need, because it validates my effort to be their personal trusted resource.
Contact Info:
- Address: 338-B Elm Street
Dartmouth, MA 02748 - Website: www.collegeedgeprogram.com
- Phone: 774-305-4268
- Email: elizabeth@collegeedgeprogram.com
- Instagram: elizcollegeedge
- Facebook: facebook.com/collegeedgeprogram
Image Credit:
Erin Kavanaugh Photography
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