About
Bio
Nancy Benton is owner and principal counselor at Admissions Edge College Counseling. Nancy is based in Arlington, VA, and primarily works with students locally, but also with students across the U.S.
She is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, a national organization with strict standards for membership and ethical practice. Unlike many independent college counselors, Nancy has experience on “the other side of the desk”, working in admissions at The George Washington University. She has a solid understanding of the college selection and admissions process and extensive knowledge of U.S. colleges through research and college visits. She stays current on trends in college admissions through attending ongoing professional development, conferences, and training.
Nancy is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (B.A.), the University of Maryland, College Park (M.S.), and she holds a master’s certificate in college counseling from the University of California, Irvine. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband, her two teenage children (one of whom recently started college), and two rescue cats. In her free time, Nancy enjoys hiking, traveling, horseback riding, and bird watching.
Approach
“I follow a student-centered approach to college counseling where the student is the leader in the process, aided by ongoing expertise and guidance from the counselor. I conduct thorough and extensive evaluations with students to determine their college priorities, and then research a college list to match the student’s priorities and admissions profile.”
Every service meeting is tailored to the student’s individual needs and a written summary of all meetings is provided to parents to keep the family informed and engaged. The goal is to maximize each student’s college success, while minimizing stress on the student and family. The college search and application process is an exciting opportunity for student self-reflection and growth: it can even be fun!
Business Model
Since no two students or families are alike, flexible options are available to meet different needs and budgets.
We offer comprehensive and a la carte options. Families are never locked into a long-term contract, as student needs and situations can change over time.
