meet Carol gill
Getting into the right college for a high school senior is difficult. But Carol Gill has been helping do just that for 25 years. “Parents and their children need help wading through the various tests, applications and essays that schools require today,” Carol says.
Through Carol Gill Associates, Ms. Gill has placed over 5,200 students at colleges from the Ivy League to the Pacific Northwest, even Scotland! She has personally visited over 360 colleges and prep schools. Clients come from Switzerland, Hong Kong, Mexico, Ireland, and Brazil. Referrals have come from the Young President’s Organization, where she was a featured speaker. The “alum” list includes students from virtually every state in the United States. For many families, she has helped siblings and family relatives as well. That’s a true testament to her expertise in the college selection process.
Carol was the Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Barnard College, Columbia University. She also served as the Director of College Counseling at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY where she held the Lightner Chair in History. An honors graduate from Harvard University, she also holds a master’s from Manhattanville College. She has appeared on ABC-TV Eyewitness News and The View, and has been widely quoted in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Ms. Gill is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the best-selling Fiske Guide to Colleges, the most prestigious publication in the field. She is also a member of IECA, the Association of Independent College Counselors, and NACAC, the National Association of College Admission Counselors.
One of the unique characteristics of the Carol Gill team is providing ancillary help to students. CGA–15 professionals in all–offers tutoring in all academic subjects, training for standardized admissions tests, mock interviews and portfolio preparation for art and creative studies. Business School, pre-med, pre-law and financial aid advice can also be provided.
Professional college counseling has become vital as college admission has become more competitive and complicated. The Carol Gill Associates team guides students through the entire process. “We know the schools and know the admission officers. That’s a huge advantage,” Carol says. “We help make the right match because the right school is important for a successful college career. And a successful placement always makes parents–and us–feel good.”
…and her team
We are proud of the professionalism of our team of tutors and counselors who bring a broad range of experience. They include undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees from the following colleges: Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Tufts, University of Michigan, Wesleyan, NYU, Boston University, and Binghamton University. Our team works with students of all levels of ability—from those applying to Ivies to those struggling with academics.
Carol Verrino, Office Manager
For more than 20 years, Carol Verrino has kept things running smoothly at Carol Gill Associates (CGA). She has helped the organization grow from a two-person operation to a busy office with a dynamic team of college advisors. Carol handles all the scheduling and interactions with clients and counselors. She also maintains the database for CGA, which includes proprietary software for student academic records, standardized test scores, college lists, and application submissions. In addition, Carol supervises billing and financial records for CGA.
Linda Pollard Puner, Senior Associate
Linda has been successfully advising students and their families in the college, graduate school and independent and boarding school processes for over 12 years. As a journalist for many publications, including The New York Times, award-winning writer of Starting Out Suburban: A Frosh Year Survival Guide, and former Horace Greeley High School English teacher, Linda has special expertise in helping students find their voices for essays. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has attended graduate programs at Boston University, The New School, Manhattanville, Skidmore and Harvard. In addition, Linda is a member of NACA, NYSACAC, and WPRCA.
Cindy Murro, Associate
Cindy came to us several years ago after earning her master’s degree in School Counseling. Prior to joining us, Cindy worked for 14 years as a Vice President at ILX Systems, a financial software company in lower Manhattan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and a master’s in Special Education, and worked with teenagers as a high school mathematics and special education teacher. Her teaching experience has helped her form a strong foundation for working with students and their families. Cindy’s broad range of professional and personal experience has made her an invaluable asset to her students applying to college. Cindy is a member of NACAC, WPRCA, NYSACAC, ACAC and ACA.
Deborah Jacobs, Associate
Deborah has worked for CGA for the past three years. She has a BS in Political Science with a minor in English Literature from NYU. She advises students on: testing options, high school course selection, and college visits; drafting, editing and revising college admissions essays; and preparing students with mock interviews for both college and private school. Prior to working at Carol Gill Associates, Deborah has done volunteer work including recruitment and fund raising. She began her professional career in NYC in the entertainment industry managing an on-air promotion department. She is an associate member of IECA.
Tutors
Our team of professional tutors are the best and the brightest. Experts in preparation for standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, ISEE, SSAT, GRE, GMAT and specific academic subject areas, our tutors are committed to serving each student’s individual needs.
