About Me

Founder and Lead Consultant, Tamra Kerns, has blended her passion for working with students and 25+ years of high-tech leadership and service-focused business experience to build Guide To Thrive Consulting. She is passionate about empowering students to use an intentional discovery approach in their educational journey - from academic readiness assessment and goal planning for younger students, high school course and activity planning, personal branding and success traits mapping, to career exploration and college list building, and throughout the entire college application journey with applications, essays, resumes, test strategy, and more.

With her extensive experience in the corporate and high-tech world, as a former engineer and Vice President of Global Support and Services at a $2B+ company, Tamra and her team provide a unique perspective and hands-on approach, preparing students to thrive academically and beyond the classroom. Tamra and her team partner one-on-one with students and families, delivering expertise and organization throughout their academic journey, all while helping students to build critical life skills, including decision-making, self-advocacy, time management, project management, and more. All of this means reduced stress and increased family harmony during this exciting time.

Tamra is an active community member and ambassador for CounselMore, a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and received her certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the University of California-Irvine. She is passionate about continuing education, visiting more than twenty colleges each year and participating in ongoing professional development to stay apprised of the ever-evolving college admissions landscape. Tamra and her team regularly share their expertise, giving presentations at high schools, churches, and for volunteer organizations like NCL and YMSL.

Specialty Areas

General Ed Counseling, Application Essay Craft/Review, Career/Aptitude Assessment

Students Enrolled

Union College, Stevens Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Colorado School of Mines, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve University, University of Pittsburgh, DePaul University, University of North Texas, The University of Arizona, Trinity University, University of Texas at San Antonio, North Carolina State University -- Raleigh, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Texas at Dallas, Purdue University -- West Lafayette, University of Texas at Arlington, Boise State University, Texas A&M University -- Corpus Christi, Stephen F. Austin State University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Concordia University, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, The University of Utah, Kansas State University, Western Carolina University, University of Missouri -- Columbia, Iowa State University, The University of Texas at Austin, Northeastern University, University of Rochester, University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University -- College Station, Austin Community College District, Pennsylvania State University -- University Park, Texas Tech University, Mississippi State University, University of Houston, University of Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Northern Arizona University, Santa Clara University, Lehigh University, University of Colorado Boulder, Syracuse University, University of Maryland, College Park, University of San Diego, University of Washington, Seattle, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Massachusetts Amherst, The University of Texas at Arlington, SUNY Morrisville, West Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University -- Commerce, Tarleton State University, Indiana State University, The George Washington University, Southern Methodist University, The University of Alabama.

Member of CounselMore