Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Kwo Friedl. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
Much of how I view the world is through a lens of equity and equal opportunity. It is my fundamental belief that every human being deserves the chance to reach their full potential and thrive. Historically, access to a college degree has been reserved for the privileged and, as such, is fraught with systemic barriers, both large and small, obvious and subtle, and too numerous to count. Though I don’t have the power to change the system, I can use my expertise and passion to help change the trajectory of lives, one student at a time. Each application season, I devote a portion of my time and energy as a volunteer college advisor working with underserved high-achieving college-bound seniors, who otherwise are lacking resources and the support system to successfully apply to and enroll in college. I count myself incredibly lucky to have gotten to know some pretty incredible young people with big dreams and huge potential, as I guide them through the labyrinth of college admissions. Coaching these students as they write their application essays is both rewarding and humbling, as I am a witness to the resiliency, strength, determination, intellect, and resolve of young people for whom overcoming obstacles is a way of life. I feel incredibly privileged to guide each student in using the power of the written word as they articulate their stories, giving voice to hope and as a force to shape their next chapter. I celebrate alongside as they deliberate their college acceptances and enroll in schools they’d dared to dream of like Boston University and University of Southern California. I fully acknowledge the new set of challenges they may face in college but am assured knowing each has developed the confidence and will to overcome whatever dare stand in their way.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I’m fueled by the pure joy of helping young people succeed. As an expert college advisor and essay coach, I’m on a mission to demystify the college admission process and replace unnecessary stress with more joy and excitement for the college journey. With over 4000 colleges and universities in the US alone, each with their own unique qualities, offerings, and requirements, there is nothing simple or straightforward in the world of college admissions, and for many, applying to college is both exciting and overwhelming all at once! That’s where I come in. My practical and common-sense approach is rooted in the reality that the best colleges are those that are a good match for the student, not those on top of some arbitrary list or ranking, certain schools with famous sports teams, or even where friends are applying. I’m laser focused on staying on top of the ever-changing policies, trends, and opportunities and love analyzing, synthesizing, organizing, and delivering this expertise to the students and families through my grade-level college planning curriculum that empowers students to develop self-awareness and the essential knowledge about colleges that they need to make the most of their time in high school with college in mind. This means spending these formative years confidently exploring their curiosities, taking risks, and discovering their natural talents and gifts, which is by far the best preparation for applying to a balanced list of best-fit schools and ultimately landing on a campus where they will thrive. Along with my professional training and years of experience, my background as a professional writer and educator and personal journey launching my own three kids off to college helps me expertly guide hundreds of students, and the parents who support them, through the college admission process.
Have you ever had to pivot?
My college advising business was born out of necessity. After earning my degree in journalism/advertising, I embarked on a rewarding 12-year career in corporate communications with a major Fortune 500 global corporation, which I gave up to care for my kids while our family transitioned through several job relocations. After having been out of the workforce long enough for technology to have radically changed the nature of work, I was suddenly left a single mom of three kids, who were 13, 8, and 4 at the time. To make ends meet and continue my full-time mom duties, I started freelance writing, tutoring, and teaching kids how to be better writers, while pursuing my masters in education at night. Eventually, my services grew to be in high demand, particularly with high school seniors applying to college and struggling with writing their essays. I discovered a perfect opportunity to leverage my education, work experience, and talents to build a formal business around essay coaching and college advising. I spent several years dedicated to training and professional development to build my knowledge and expertise in college admissions as well as fundamentals of entrepreneurship to build my business and my brand. After almost a decade of successfully launching hundreds of students off to college and polishing thousands of essays, while intentionally and organically expanding the scope of my services, fine tuning my business practices and acumen, and building a thriving network of industry colleagues, my business thrives on referrals thanks to the happy and grateful students and families with whom I’ve been privileged to partner on their college journey.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I spend all my time working with young people who are planning for the future. One piece we work on is identifying their natural gifts, innate strengths, and genuine interests while exploring what college majors and potential careers align with those personal qualities. The ideal outcome is that ultimately your job (that pays the bills) is spent doing something you genuinely enjoy and is so fulfilling that, more often than not, it doesn’t feel like work. I feel extremely lucky that my circuitous life path has led me to that happy outcome. And because I absolutely love what I do, revel in being my own boss, and have a natural love of learning, my students and families end up reaping the benefits of my enthusiasm, dedication, and expertise. Setting students up for successful college outcomes is my number one goal, and part of that includes working hard to delight and over deliver to make good on my promise to create a more joyful and less stressful journey to college. And if there is one thing that doesn’t change in the ever-changing world of college admissions, it’s the constant talk and chatter among groups of parents, students with their peers, and everyone around them. I’m reminded of the power of positive influence when I hear from new parents and students who let me know I’ve come highly recommended from others. My reputation as a trusted expert college advisor is a meaningful outcome of genuinely loving what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.get-it-write.org
- Instagram: @getitwrite4college
- Facebook: @getitwrite4college
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-friedl/