About Cathy
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
