About Me

Cathy is an independent educational consultant who partners with students and families to guide their preparation, search, and application process while minimizing stress. She enjoys getting to know each student as an individual, helping them develop confidence and insight about which colleges represent their best fit, and supporting students in presenting their genuine strengths through their applications.

EXPERIENCE: Before founding Costa Educational Consulting, Cathy worked at a Brookline college consulting firm with both undergraduate and graduate school candidates. Her experience in the Boston College MBA admissions office afforded her an inside perspective on selective admissions. Prior roles at a direct marketing advertising agency, a Wall Street investment bank, and a management consulting firm developed her communication, organizational, and industry evaluation skills that now translate directly to advising college applicants about potential majors and careers.

ONGOING INVESTMENT IN EXCELLENCE: As a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), Cathy stays current on developments in higher education and admissions. She attends conferences to share best practices and participates in online professional communities to provide the most current information to clients. Cathy visits colleges regularly and interacts with staff and students to assess each campus’ unique offerings and climate.

EDUCATION: Cathy earned a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Finance from New York University. She is a certified practitioner of the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (MBTI) and is also certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid.

PERSONAL: Cathy lives in Winchester with her husband and has four sons, including a software engineer who has traveled the world while working remotely, a private equity analyst with a liberal arts degree, a sales representative who studied behavioral economics and psychology, and a recent college graduate working long hours in investment banking.

MEDIA: Cathy’s insights have been featured in these media appearances:

US News & World Report: 4 Myths About U.S. College Recommendation Letters

WBZ, CBS Boston: How Changes to the College Application Process are Making it More Difficult for Students

WBUR, Boston’s NPR News Station: Stress And Confusion: How COVID-19 Is Complicating College Applications.

WBZ, CBS Boston: Coronavirus Making It Tough For Students To Take College Entrance Exams

WBZ, CBS Boston: Coronavirus Uncertainty Prompts Many High School Seniors To Take Gap Year

Specialty Areas

Students Enrolled

Providence College, University of Maine, Syracuse University, Boston College, Boston University, Tufts University, Marist College, University of Vermont, Villanova University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of California, San Diego, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin -- Madison, Carleton College, Northeastern University, Vanderbilt University, University of Pittsburgh, New York University, Lewis and Clark College, Belmont University, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Middlebury College, University of Maryland, College Park, Wake Forest University, University of Richmond, The University of Chicago, Clark University, University of Connecticut, University of New Hampshire, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Pace University, Concordia University, DePaul University, Loyola University New Orleans, Fairfield University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University, University of Delaware, The Ohio State University -- Columbus, University of Colorado Boulder, Washington University in St. Louis, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Santa Clara University, Fordham University, Tulane University, Cornell University, Saint Anselm College, Loyola University Maryland, Saint Mary's College, Skidmore College, Case Western Reserve University, Purdue University -- West Lafayette, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey -- New Brunswick, Saint Joseph's University, Quinnipiac University, Gonzaga University, Southern Methodist University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, The University of Alabama, College of Charleston, Elon University, University of Rhode Island, Rochester Institute of Technology, Union College, Clarkson University, James Madison University, Bates College, Bryant University, Pennsylvania State University -- University Park, Michigan State University, Miami University -- Oxford, University of California, Davis, Temple University, University of California, Santa Cruz, Colby College, Seton Hall University, Dartmouth College, University of St. Andrews, Clemson University, Texas Christian University, Lafayette College, Assumption University, University of Mississippi, Indiana University Bloomington

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