Barnard College

My name is Karen Droisen. I am an engaged, dedicated, supportive college counselor working remotely with students throughout the country. I earned my BA in English from Barnard College, Columbia University. I went on to earn an MA and PhD in English literature at the University of Virginia. After completing my doctorate, I joined the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a tenure-track assistant professor of English. In subsequent years, I worked as a fundraiser for local and international non-profit organizations. In 2015, I returned to my first love – education – and became a full-time college counselor. I share my love of learning to create a collaborative, student-centric experience. When it is time for your student to begin the college search, I can provide comprehensive services to find the schools that are their best matches academically, socially, and financially. I guide families through all phases of the process, including course selection, activity planning, interview prep, and application strategy -- helping reduce stress along the way! I am committed, flexible, and enthusiastic advisor from start to finish, from creating the college list, to helping students craft their unique personal statement, to clicking the "submit" button. I will review every detail and ensure that your student presents a well-crafted application that reflects their gifts, personality, and voice. After the acceptances arrive, I help my families weigh the pros and cons of each school and chose the best one for their student.

As a mom of two boys now in their early twenties, I have been through the application process myself fairly recently! With this lived experience, I can anticipate challenges and support my students through them so that excitement replaces stress.

Above all, I enjoy getting to know my students as people first, and helping them grow in confidence throughout the process. Choosing a college is the biggest decision most of them will make as young adults. I empower my students to push through the challenges along the way and embrace their final decision.

I received my B.A. from Brandeis University with a double major in Psychology and Italian. I then went on to get an Interpreters degree in Italian and French from Georgetown University and then a Master's degree in International Affairs and Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. I have worked at the United Nations, for the Italian government and as a free-lance interpreter and translator. For a number of years, I have been working as an independent college counselor working both with international and American students and I now look forward to collaborating with CollegeAdvisor and to continue helping students navigate the college admissions process.