Rooted here. Ready for what's next.
College admissions, guided by someone who has read the applications.
Sophie Ritchie has sat on both sides of the admissions desk. She brings that insider perspective to your family, with a calm plan and your student's story at the center.
Both sides
of the admissions desk: counselor and application reader
300+
undergraduates currently advised at UNCW
MEd
in Higher Education, UNC Wilmington
1:1
personal guidance, never handed off
Services
Support for every stage of the journey
Comprehensive Admissions Packages
Start-to-finish guidance from list building through the final decision. Regular meetings, a shared timeline, and one advisor who knows your student well.
Essay Coaching
Brainstorming, structure, and candid feedback on the personal statement and supplements, always in your student's own voice.
College List Building
A balanced list of reach, target, and likely schools grounded in fit, finances, and what your student actually wants from college.
Application Strategy
Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision planning, activity lists, recommender guidance, and deadline management.
Interview Prep
Practice interviews with feedback on how to share experiences naturally and ask thoughtful questions.
Financial Aid & Scholarship Guidance
Plain-language help with the FAFSA, CSS Profile, merit scholarships, and comparing award letters side by side.
How it works
Four steps, one steady guide
01
Discover
We get to know your student: strengths, interests, values, and goals. You'll leave the first meetings with a shared picture of what matters.
02
Strategize
Together we build a balanced college list and a calendar of milestones, so complexity becomes a sequence of manageable decisions.
03
Apply
Essays, activity lists, recommendations, and deadlines, each handled with the perspective of someone who has read applications from the inside.
04
Decide
We compare offers, financial aid, and fit so your family can choose with confidence and your student is ready for what comes next.
Meet Sophie
An insider's perspective, with a North Carolina welcome
Sophie Ritchie holds an MEd in Higher Education from UNC Wilmington. She has worked as an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor at NC State, an Application Reader in UNCW admissions, and a Career and College Promise Coach at Cape Fear Community College. Today she advises more than 300 undergraduates at UNCW.
She knows what happens after you click submit, and she uses that knowledge to help students tell their story with confidence.
Kind words
★★★★★
"We highly recommend Sophie! She is very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions and concerns throughout the application process. Sophie was patient and attentive with our son and took the stress out of applying to college!"
FAQ
Questions families ask
A clearer path to college starts with one conversation.
Thirty minutes, no pressure. Tell Sophie where your student is, and leave with honest next steps.