About Admission Sense

About Admission Sense

Hello there, high schoolers and parents! Looking for expert college and educational counseling that’s all about YOU? Admission Sense is here to make your journey stress-free and rewarding!

young female student sitting facing a college counselor at a desk talkiing

  • We’re not your typical college admissions advisors. We’re trained school counselors who put your socio-emotional needs first. No false promises or games – just personalized guidance to find YOUR fantastic fit!

  • Get 1-on-1 counseling, expert college admissions advice, college essay instruction, assistance with college list development, extracurricular activity advising, interview preparation, and more! With 25+ years of experience, we know the ins and outs of the admissions process. And we know teenagers!

  • Parents and guardians, we’ve got your back too. Let’s collaborate to make this journey enjoyable (yes, we think it can be) for everyone.

  • Embrace the adventure of college admissions and career planning with confidence, humor, and empathy. Reach out today! Have a look around our website and drop us a message for your initial consultation.

Message from the Founder

Welcome!

I’d like to share a little about my journey into college advising so you know why this work means so much to me.

It all started when I was in high school. I was eager to go to college, but I had no idea where to begin. The only thing I knew for sure? Math and I were not friends. My SAT math score felt like a major barrier, and beyond that, I was completely lost in the process.

With little guidance, I made my college decision for all the wrong reasons—taking road trips with friends, focusing on superficial factors, and never truly considering what would be the best fit. That time in my life was filled with uncertainty and self-doubt, and I often felt like I was missing a key piece of the puzzle.

The lessons I learned from my missteps have shaped my entire approach to college advising. It led me to study psychology and clinical social work, determined to help students avoid the same confusion I once felt. I promised myself I would never become the kind of adult who couldn’t relate to what students were going through—because I know firsthand how important it is to feel understood.

Over the years, the college admissions landscape has only grown more complex. With an overwhelming amount of information and mounting pressure, it’s easy for students to feel like they’re simply checking boxes instead of discovering what truly matters to them. That’s why, at Admission Sense, we take a different approach—one that helps students explore their interests, build confidence, and make choices that genuinely reflect who they are.

A core part of our work is helping students find their voices. Through thoughtful conversations, writing exercises, and deep reflection, they develop the ability to tell their stories—not just on applications, but in life. Writing well, speaking with confidence, and advocating for themselves are skills that will serve them far beyond the college process.

Students, this journey isn’t just about getting into college—it’s about finding the place where you’ll thrive and learning how to show up as your best self when you get there.

We’re so glad you found us, and we can’t wait to be part of your next chapter.

With care,

Sara Haberman

Sara Haberman founder of Admission Sense

Sara Haberman, M.Ed., LCSW

CEO & FOUNDER

With 27 years of experience in college advising and counseling, Sara Haberman is a trusted expert in guiding students and families through the ever-evolving college admissions process. As a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), she combines deep expertise in education, counseling, and admissions strategy to help students achieve their academic goals. She is also certified in New York City and State as a school counselor and administrator for grades K-12.

For 20 years, Sara played a pivotal role in shaping college advising at Bard High School Early College, where she co-founded and led the development of its college and guidance counseling program, overseeing all aspects of student support services. Before that, she worked as a school counselor at Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City’s most competitive public schools.

In 2008, Sara founded Admission Sense, a private college advising firm dedicated to helping students navigate the college selection and application process. She stays current with admissions trends by regularly visiting and evaluating colleges and universities across the U.S. and abroad, ensuring her counsel is based on firsthand knowledge.

Sara holds a BA from Gettysburg College and earned two advanced degrees from New York University: a Master’s in School Counseling and a Master’s in Social Work. She also holds a Master of Science in Education (MS. Ed) in School Administration and Supervision.

An active leader in her field, Sara is a member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association), HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association), and NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling). Throughout her career, she has successfully placed thousands of students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds into top undergraduate and graduate programs.

Beth Cheikes , M.S.Ed.

College Counselor

Beth has been the Director of College Counseling at a top school in New York City for the past 20 years. She is patient and sees strengths in every student, having helped hundreds of students and families through the college application process. She also supervises and trains college advisors and works closely with college admission offices around the country and abroad. Beth is actively involved with NACAC, NYSACAC, NYSAIS, and CANNY, the leading professional associations for college admissions counseling.

She holds an M.S.Ed. in school counseling from Alfred University and a B.A. in music from the University of Rochester, with piano performance studies at Northwestern University. In addition, Beth took pre-med classes at the University of Colorado-Boulder and attended the Southern California College of Optometry.

Beth understands that the college process can feel overwhelming. With her background in school counseling and college consulting, she offers students a reassuring presence and clear guidance—from brainstorming essays to choosing the right school. Her approach is supportive, thoughtful, and always centered on the personalized needs of each student. Beth’s blend of practical insight and individualized support fosters a reassuring environment for students facing the challenges of college admissions.

Heather DeVore

Heather DeVore, M.Ed.

College Counselor

With 20 years of experience as a certified school counselor, Heather has supported students around the world. She was a founding counselor at Bard High School Early College Queens and has counseled students in IB schools in Italy, Ghana, Indonesia, India, and Japan, where she is currently Head of Counseling at an international school. Heather holds a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from Bard College, a Master’s degree in School Counseling, an Advanced Certificate in College Counseling, and is currently completing a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Heather’s work as a counselor is inherently focused on helping students discover and cultivate their personal strengths as they build their college plans.

Heather has written three books for young people, and the craft of writing is at the heart of her counseling process. She has authored the High School Counseling Scope & Sequence for the International School Counseling Association and currently serves on a task force with the U.S. State Department designed to author a set of counseling and safeguarding standards for international school communities. She serves as a mentor for new high school counselors in East Asia international schools and has presented at conferences around the world on topics related to college counseling. Heather’s former students have attended schools across the U.S., the U.K., Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and more. She loves working with families to craft and prepare for options and is very familiar with global opportunities for students open to studying in English-taught universities across the globe.
Lisa Plog Carey

Lisa Plog Carey, MA

College Counselor

Lisa is an experienced college counselor with a deep commitment to supporting students and families as they navigate the college admissions process. With a background in both history and educational leadership, she has spent years working in independent schools as a teacher, dean, department chair, and director of studies. Since 2016, she has provided personalized, expert, and compassionate college guidance. She loves working with high school students and their families, focusing on each student’s strengths and helping them to thrive in their educational pursuits.

Lisa earned her BA in History from the University of Virginia and an MA in Educational Leadership from Columbia University. She stays engaged in the ever-evolving world of college admissions, regularly attending professional development events to provide the most up-to-date guidance to her students. She is a member of IECA and PACAC.
Lennix Foreman, College Counselor at Admission Sense

Lennix Foreman, M.Ed.

College Counselor

Lennix Foreman (Lenni) spent ten years as the Director of College Advising at Bard Early College Queens, one of NYC’s most highly selective public schools, and has guided thousands of young people through building their lists, honing essays, crafting stellar applications and getting into high-quality colleges since 2008.

Lennix grew up in Queens, NY, earned a bachelor’s degree 1K miles away at Grinnell College, studied comparative religion in India, won a Fulbright to Indonesia and has completed Master’s degrees in Theatre and School Counseling.

In 2020, The Colleges That Change Lives Foundation selected Lennix as one of their ‘2020 Counselors That Change Lives’ for their commitment to student-centered counseling.

Lennix is a longstanding member of NACAC, NYSACAC, NEACAC, The College Board, and
the Simmons College Counselor Advisory Board. They have been trained on application review at Mount Holyoke College, Bard College, Williams College, Grinnell College, the Claremont Colleges, and more. They have specific expertise in working with LGBTQ+, neurodivergent/LD students, transfer, visual and performing arts and first generation students.

Patricia Howells, MA

College Counselor

Trish Howells is a certified school counselor with over 15 years of experience working in multiple school districts within Westchester and Fairfield Counties. She possesses a comprehensive understanding of academic and career planning, social-emotional development, and the college admissions process. Trish’s expertise in these areas has enabled her to effectively assist students in making informed decisions about their educational pathways.

Trish received her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and her Master’s in Counseling from Mercy College. Throughout her career, Trish has actively participated in professional development activities, staying up-to-date with the latest research and best practices in the field of counseling and college advising. She is also a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).

Trish’s professional experience coupled with her ability to foster positive relationships with students and families has been key to her success. She believes in creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and heard.

Stacie Millman, MS

College Counselor

Stacie Millman is a seasoned school counselor and college advisor with over 18 years of experience guiding students and families through the college admissions process. Currently advising at Bard High School Early College in New York City, she supports students navigating both high school and college-level work while providing comprehensive college admissions advising. This includes mentoring students through all stages of the application journey, and facilitating family engagement in the postsecondary planning process.

She has a Master of Science in School Counseling from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from SUNY Buffalo. Stacie has a wealth of experience from various educational settings and a deep understanding of academic planning and college preparation which provides practical insight, steady guidance, and a genuine connection with the students and families she serves.

Stacie’s approach is warm, supportive, and student-centered. She prioritizes building trust, listening, meeting students where they are, and helping them get where they want to go. Her work includes everything from building college lists and refining essays to encouraging family engagement and easing application stress. Her combined experience enables her to offer both practical insight and personalized support.

Zoe Noyes

Zoe Noyes, M.Ed.

College Counselor

Zoe is a certified school counselor with over a decade of experience in college admissions advising. Prior to her tenure as a counselor, she taught academic subjects including English, Social Studies and Chinese language at high school and college levels. She has counseled students from diverse backgrounds, as well as students with varying collegiate plans and academic paths. After working as a college advisor to a cohort of students at a prestigious high school in New York City, Zoe moved upstate where she currently works as a high school counselor guiding students through the college process. She regularly attends college admissions webinars, conferences, open houses and events related to post-secondary planning.

Zoe earned her BA in Asian Studies from Bard College. She continued her studies at Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University (China), earning a Masters degree in Advanced International Studies. Then, in 2020, she completed a Masters degree program in School Counseling at Alfred University. She is a New York State-certified school counselor for grades K-12.

Zoe is a member of the New York State School Counselors Association and the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling.

Crystal Sandiford, MS.Ed., MA

College Counselor

Applying to college post-pandemic has become a complicated game of chess. Crystal understands the challenges and enjoys being a source of calm, consistent expertise. She helps students and families take back control of their college application process and their lives.

Her approach is informed by over twelve years of experience working with NYC students in public, charter, and independent school settings. Professionally, she is a trained school counselor (MS. Ed.) and higher education administrator (MA).

Crystal engages vigorously in professional collaboration to address problems of practice (NYSAIS and NYSACAC) and lends her expertise as an advisory board member to the national college access nonprofit, Seeds of Fortune.

Over the past five years, Crystal has focused on continuously improving the college advising office at Bard High School Early College Queens, providing equitable, high-touch advising to some of New York City’s most talented college-bound students. Under her guidance as Director of College Counseling/CTO Director, Bard students are consistently admitted to top 100 colleges and earn prestigious merit scholarships from programs like the Bryan Cameron Impact Scholarship, the Gray Foundation HBCU Scholarship, the Posse Foundation scholarship, Simons STEM Scholars BS/MD program, among many others!

Colin Wiseman

Colin Wiseman, M.Ed.

College Counselor

Colin is a certified school counselor earning credentials in both New York State and the State of Maryland, with a decade of experience in counseling and social-emotional learning implementation. Throughout his career, Colin has maintained a student-first approach, paying meticulous attention to detail as he guided students toward acceptance at hundreds of colleges and universities across the country. In his role as the founding counselor of Bard High School Early College Baltimore, Colin spearheaded the design, implementation, and systematization of a robust college-advising process that wrapped students with the knowledge and tools they needed to navigate every phase of the college advising process. As an adjunct instructor of Psychology at the collegiate level, Colin earned gold-star ratings for “exemplary instruction,” evidence of his care for quality guidance.

His seven years of teaching psychology provided him with a well-rounded perspective on what it means to thrive during a student’s collegiate experience. With this in mind, Colin has developed a keen ability to guide and prepare students for college with hyper-personalized processes.

A first-generation college student, Colin earned a B.S. in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology from Western Carolina University and pursued his M.A. in K-12 Guidance and Counseling from New York University. During his time at NYU, Colin served as the President of their prestigious Counseling Association.

Raima Evan, Writing Specialist at Admission Sense

Raima Evan

Writing Specialist

From 2003 to 2021, Raima was a dean at Bryn Mawr College, where she advised students about their course of study and supported them as they adjusted to college-level work. She was also in charge of the independent major program and an undergraduate summer research program, among other responsibilities.

Before her work as a dean, Raima was an adjunct English professor at Swarthmore College, where she taught for ten years. Over the course of her eighteen years at Bryn Mawr, Raima read countless personal statements, as she read the college applications for every advisee before meeting them for the first time. Raima earned her B.A. in English and French Literature from Radcliffe College, Harvard University, and an M.A. and PhD in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania.

Katherine Randall, Writing Specialist at Admission Sense

Katherine Randall

Writing Specialist

For 15 years, Katherine Randall (B.A., Barnard; M.S., Columbia School of Journalism) helped students at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan craft college essays. Her goal is to coach each writer through the process of choosing a satisfying story to tell, devising an appropriate structure for sharing that story and determining when the story has achieved its purpose–clearly conveying something memorable about the writer.

Kara Vicinelli

Writing Specialist

Kara Vicinelli is a recently retired high-school English teacher who spent her career instructing students on the fundamentals of writing while helping them discover their own unique voices. As part of her work with juniors and seniors, she taught college essay workshops in which she assisted students in all aspects of the essay process, from brainstorming through proofreading, all within a nurturing and supportive environment. For nearly as long as she’s been teaching, Kara has worked privately with students one-on-one, guiding them to express themselves with authenticity and tell their stories with clarity and confidence.

Kara has a bachelor’s degree in English from Colgate University and a master’s degree in English education. Prior to her teaching career, she worked in New York City as a book editor at HarperCollins and Wiley.

“It was evident my first time working with Sara that her approach to the college admissions process was unique. I could tell she cared about me as an individual more than the results themselves. The process was comfortable throughout, and she helped me learn more about myself than I had imagined. I had always viewed the college process as black and white. It was a means to get from one step to the next, and nothing more. Sara emphasized the importance of reflection and its value when writing personal statements. To truly captivate the reader, you must reveal your inner self. Vulnerability is crucial. Not only did Sara help me achieve my college acceptance goals, she cared about what was best for me. Sara has proved to be extremely effective at her job, and has been a tremendous mentor for my personal self-reflection. She is one of the few college counselors that genuinely cares about her students. Without her help, I truly believe I wouldn’t have been accepted to Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Tufts, Middlebury, Boston College, and more.”

– Jack