College advisory built on honesty and genuine care for every student.
Our Approach
We believe good college advisory should reduce stress, not add to it. Here's how we work.
Your student does the growing. We do the guiding, keeping parents informed without the stress of managing to-do lists and deadlines with your teen.
As an independent consultant, we owe your family the truth about fit, odds, and effort. Taking an honest approach ensures the best match for your child.
A "reach" school isn't success if it's the wrong environment. We help students weigh what actually matters, including size, location, culture, cost, and selectivity, to find where they'll actually flourish.
Included With Every Engagement
Oak & Ivy families get access to a personalized online dashboard built just for your student. Both parents and students get their own login, so everyone stays on the same page throughout the process.
No more digging through emails or checking multiple sites. Your personalized dashboard manages your student's information in one place.
Not only will you be able to view your college list, but you'll have immediate access to detailed school profiles, application requirements, due dates, and so much more.
To-dos, meetings, application deadlines, test dates, and more all live on one calendar. Parents, students, and advisor are always looking at the same up-to-date picture.
Meet the Founder
As Ann's children started preparing for the college search, and she talked with other families in her community, she felt drawn to put her communication, people, and project management skills to work helping kids find the right college fit. In addition to other professional learning opportunities, Ann has completed a certificate program through NACAC and is a member of the Illinois chapter, IACAC.
Outside of Oak & Ivy, Ann is a parent in Lake Zurich District 95 with a deep commitment to supporting youth in the community. She has over a decade as a Girl Scout troop and service unit leader, created and led a community STEM group for middle school boys, acts as a mentor for the entrepreneurship classes, and developed leadership programming to help girls and rising female professionals build skills and find success. She serves on the board of Arden Shore Child & Family Services and was named a Crain's Chicago Business Notable Leader in Community Development.
Ann spent nearly two decades on the other side of the table from ambitious young people — evaluating talent, building hiring systems, and recruiting on college campuses to find the students who were a great fit. That work built a deep, career-long respect for the many different paths people take to find where they belong.
Our Name
The oak, Ann's favorite tree, has always stood for strength, patience, and deep roots. It represents the steady foundation every student needs as they grow. Ivy climbs and adapts, stretching itself a little more every season. With a nod towards our most famous institutions, it also represents the incredible ways our children are resilient and surprising during this process.
That's the balance we aim for in every college advisory relationship: a rooted, dependable plan paired with the flexibility to grow as your student and their goals evolve.
Local & Committed
While a member of the District 95 community in Hawthorn Woods, Ann is proud to work most frequently with students and families from these high schools in the area. No matter which school your student attends, Oak & Ivy takes the time to understand its unique culture, course offerings, and requirements to provide individual support and guidance.
Professional Development
Ann is a member of and/or holds credentials from the following professional associations:
Every great college advisory relationship starts with a conversation. Book a complimentary consultation to see if Oak & Ivy is the right fit for your family.