Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gerene Keesler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gerene, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I absolutely wish I had started this business 10-15 years ago. I was a product of a mass layoff in 2012, and I wasn’t aware that being an Independent Educational Consultant was an option. I had reached the limit of what I could do in the university system and was ready for a change. I took steps to get my certificate in college counseling, which most of us who do this work have. Then I started doing contract work to gain more experience. The most significant challenge has been networking and finding enough clients while learning SEO, Canva, social media, and what will or won’t go viral, and navigating that while deciding it was in my best interest to stop driving due to my health challenges.

Gerene, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been immersed in college admissions in some capacity since my undergraduate years. Early on, I learned the ins and outs of how students are evaluated, ran campus tours for my alma mater, and began to realize this work could grow into a meaningful professional career.

I started in residence life, living and working on campus while taking on increasing responsibility across multiple universities through my early 30s. Eventually, I transitioned fully into admissions, where I’ve worked extensively in both undergraduate and graduate environments. That dual perspective now informs the highly personalized guidance I provide families through Admissions Untangled.

I structure my services intentionally to keep them as accessible and affordable as possible while still providing high-touch support. I’m especially proud that last year, every student who fully engaged in my process earned full scholarship offers.

Right now, I’m supporting nine students under contract—primarily high school juniors and seniors. This is the building season, and my goal is to grow thoughtfully to a cohort of 20 students while maintaining the individualized attention that defines my practice.

While not all of my clients are neurodivergent, many families seek me out because of my lived experience and professional expertise supporting students with ADHD, learning differences, and other challenges. I work carefully to reassure students who may feel hesitant to disclose disabilities during the college process, emphasizing university confidentiality policies and helping families make informed, strategic decisions.

I often tell my students:

“If I can do it, you can do it. You just have to understand that there are certain things you can do—and certain things you can’t.”

My role is to help students distinguish between chasing a high-income path and identifying a realistic, fulfilling career where their genuine strengths can make a meaningful contribution. Through Admissions Untangled, my goal is simple: help each student find the college—and the future—that truly fits.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I was initially academically dismissed from my alma mater. I knew something was different about me, but I never had a diagnosis or accommodations. I spent many hours at the university’s Academic Enrichment office trying to understand why I was studying but not seeing the results my peers were. My petition to be admitted was accepted, and I was able to turn a 1.1 into graduating with an MS in Counseling and a 3.4. I also worked two jobs while doing it.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn masking. I have an aunt who always says, “Wear a mask.” It’s not healthy or productive for young people trying to understand how to navigate their neurodivergence to be one person to a group of people, then act differently for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://admissionsuntangled.com/
• Instagram: admissions_untangled
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdmissionsUntangled/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerene/