Mary Spiegel, MA, Certified Educational Planner
Owner, Spiegel College Planning
Mary’s career began in arts management and development, with a local symphony and a regional arts festival, but very early in her career, she was drawn toward the world of higher education. In 1996, she was appointed Director of Admission at Fairfield University. In that post, she gained an invaluable “inside the college admission office” perspective, developing a direct understanding of the nuances in the world of selective college admission.
During her tenure at Fairfield, she was drawn to the student side of the process: how students were going about their college searches, and how exciting but stressful this can be. She decided to take her skills, knowledge and awareness of the college admission process to “the other side of the desk” as a college admission consultant. In 2000, Mary became an Independent Educational Consultant and established Spiegel College Planning.
Since that time, Mary has been offering personalized college search and admissions counseling, guiding hundreds of students to the right match for their college choices.
Mary’s professional credentials
Mary became a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consulting Association (IECA) in 2001, and earned her credential as a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) in 2006. CEPs have achieved the profession’s most rigorous standards; they must be re-certified every five years, validating their ongoing education and professional development. These certifications assure families that they are hiring a vetted and trusted admissions expert. Mary is also a long-standing member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the New England regional ACAC. All of these memberships require adherence to strict ethical standards and “good practice” codes.
She is committed to maintaining a broad knowledge of the higher education landscape to assure her clients that her services add significant value to their college exploration. Her ongoing education includes attending College Board, NACAC, IECA and other professional conferences and workshops regularly to maintain her expertise in all areas of college counseling.
Most importantly, Mary regularly visits and assesses college campuses throughout the US each year. She endeavors to meet with admissions staff, faculty, and students on these visits, to guide students to the right match in their college search.
“Mary, (my son) loved working with you…thank you. He thought the whole experience was so relaxing and motivating at the same time…
Your warm home and your warm approach were terrific!
Thank you! “
April 22, 2021 