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Expedition CollegeExpedition College
  • Home
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    • College Acceptances
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  • John
  • My Services
  • Blog
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  • Helpful Resources
  • Contact

John M. Powell

Let me guide you to a college home where you can thrive

Finding the Right College for YOU

The college search is, for many high schoolers, their first big adventure.  Yes, it can be hard work.  Yes, it can be stressful.  But it also should be rewarding and fun!

My role is to be your son or daughter’s guide in this adventure.  We’ll search out colleges where he or she can grow and thrive.  And we’ll work together to identify and showcase his or her authentic personality, talents and potential.  Together, we’ll find the place where your child will find the right balance of challenge and happiness.  We’ll find a college that your child will love.

My work in college admissions during the last 29 years has been broad, serving first as a college admissions counselor, then as director of college counseling at an independent school, and finally as an independent college counselor working with students and parents around the country.  I am an expert in the field and am knowledgeable about a vast array of colleges and universities.  I have a deep understanding of how the college admission process works.  And I understand kids.  In my role, I guide students in finding best-fit colleges, planning for college visits and preparing for interviews, completing applications, and brainstorming and writing essays.

The Expedition College model is based on a single fee, and I do not count hours as I help families work through what can be a very challenging process.  In addition to providing the essential college counseling services mentioned above, I also serve as an effective intermediary between parents and kids, thus working to preserve peace and harmony at home.  During my career, I’ve worked with high achievers and underachievers, children of divorced parents, students with learning challenges and kids facing mental health issues.  Every family’s needs are different and how I serve each family reflects that reality.

Whether students focus their college search close to home or far away, finding the right college involves self-discovery.  Students need to consider their dreams and goals, identify strengths and weaknesses and think about who they want to be during their four years of college.  The college search is an expedition through new territory, both internal and external.  I will be your child’s guide.

John Powell headshot

Curriculum & Standardized Testing Consulting

I’ll assist you with course selection for your junior and/or senior years, and partner with you to devise a standardized testing plan that is appropriate for the colleges you are considering and your testing history.

College List Development

We’ll work together to develop a broad list of colleges and, through research, discussions and campus visits, we will narrow that list to a manageable group of reach, possible and likely schools.

Applications, Essays, and Interviews

I will guide you through the application process, including completing the Common Application, writing and editing drafts of required essays and preparing for campus interviews.

Testimonials

Julia, former client

Working with John during the college process was amazing. He made a very overwhelming and hectic time much easier to handle. I was able to rely on him to help look over my personal statement as well as numerous writing supplements among many other aspects of the college process. I found that it was better to get feedback from someone who didn’t really know me as well as my parents or friends because he could provide the perspective of an admissions officer who would read my application. He’s also such a nice and funny person who is truly dedicated to the students he works with, and that really comes through in all the phone calls, Facetimes, and emails.

Julia
New York City
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Happy Parent

A simple recommendation can’t express the outstanding experience my daughter and I had with John as her college counselor and coach.  John’s expertise, intuition, and relationship skills created the perfect resource as we navigated this new world of college admissions.  He nudged my daughter at the right times, delicately challenged her assumptions, and I was able to step back and let him help her think about what she really wants out of college.  He has a terrific, light-hearted personality and his humor and candor was a great fit for your family.  John is no cookie-cutter kind of counselor. MORE

Tammy & Alex
Minneapolis
Georgetown

image of a student

From my first contact with Bowdoin College to the day I received my acceptance letter, John Powell was an instrumental part in helping me through the entire college process. In hindsight, there was no way I would have been able to navigate the recruiting process without him. From simple things like editing my essay or reviewing my common application, to complicated things like preparing me for my interview, John gave me the confidence and reassurance I lacked. John had such an influence on me that he was the first person outside of my immediate family that learned of my acceptance.

Rachel
Crested Butte
Bowdoin College

Read More Testimonials…

College Acceptances

Auburn Univ. (AL)    Baylor Univ. (TX)    Berklee College of Music (MA)    Boston Univ.    Bowdoin College (ME)    Brandeis Univ. (MA)    Brown Univ. (RI)    California Polytechnic State University    Carleton College (MN)    Carnegie Mellon University (PA)    Case Western Reserve University (OH)    College of William and Mary (VA)    Colorado College    Cornell Univ. (NY)    Emory Univ. (GA)    Grinnell College (IA)    Hamilton College (NY)    Harvard Univ. (MA)    Harvey Mudd College (CA)    Indiana Univ.    Iowa State Univ.    Kenyon College (OH)    Knox College (IL)    Lawrence University (WI)    Lehigh University    Lewis & Clark College (OR)    Macalester College    Marquette Univ. (WI)    Miami University (OH)    Middlebury College (VT)    MIT (MA)    Montana State Univ.-Bozeman    Northwestern Univ. (IL)    Occidental College (CA)    Parsons The New School For Design (NY)    Pomona College (CA)    Princeton Univ. (NJ)    Regis Univ. (CO)    Renssaeler Polytechnic University    Rhode Island School of Design    Rice Univ. (TX)    Rollins College (FL)    St. Olaf College (MN)    Stanford Univ. (CA)    Susquehannah Univ.    Swarthmore College (PA)    Texas Christian University    Tulane Univ. (LA)    United States Naval Academy    United States Air Force Academy    Union College (PA)    Univ. of Chicago    Univ. of Colorado    Univ. of Denver    Univ. of Delaware    Univ. of Iowa    Univ. of Kansas    Univ. of Miami (FL)    Univ. of Michigan    Univ. of Minnesota    Univ. of Missouri    Univ. of North Carolina    Univ. of Puget Sound (WA)    Univ. of Rochester    Univ. of San Diego    Univ. of San Francisco    Univ. of Southern California    Univ. of Texas    Univ. of Virginia    Vanderbilt Univ. (TN)    Vassar College (TN)    Wake Forest College (NC)    Washington Univ. (MO)    Wesleyan Univ. (CT)    Whitworth College (WA)    Williams College (MA)    Willamette College (OR)    Yale Univ. (CT)
Let's Get Started!

Contact Information

  • John Powell
  • Expedition College
  • 1607 Bryant Ave, PO Box 1691, Crested Butte, CO 81224
  • 952-540-7666
  • john@expeditioncollege.com

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