Kate Guy
Associate Director of International Admissions
Gettysburg College (PA)
What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
My path into college admission counseling began in the guidance office at San Luis Obispo High School (CA), where I was the student worker coordinating college visits — and, admittedly, collecting more brochures than any one person needed. What captivated me was not simply the variety of colleges and universities, but the realization that each institution offered a different community, set of possibilities, and sense of belonging.
What stayed with me most was the moment a classmate recognized that there really could be a place for them in higher education. That experience taught me what this work is ultimately about: helping students see possibilities they may not yet see for themselves. It led me to work as a student in the admissions offices at the University of Denver (CO) and Carnegie Mellon University (PA). Although I spent time in other industries after graduate school, I eventually understood that a career and a calling are not always the same thing. I found my new home at Gettysburg College (PA), where I have grown through music admissions, domestic recruitment, advocacy, counselor engagement, and my Slate captain journey. Ultimately, I arrived at the international recruitment work I lead today. I returned for the stories — the ones our students carry across borders and circumstances and against considerable odds; the ones we are privileged to hear every single day. It is not just that you want to do this work. It is that you understand, in a way that cannot be unfelt, what education is actually for. Not the brochure. Not the ranking. The moment a young person understands that the world has a place for them. And once you’ve seen that, you want to spend your life making it happen for more people.
What is your favorite part of the job?
There is something about waking up each morning knowing that what you do has the potential to genuinely alter the trajectory of a human life in a real, consequential way. The student who finds their place. The door that opens. The life that shifts. It happens through thoughtful conversations, clear guidance, careful follow-through, and a genuine commitment to seeing the whole person behind the application.
When we take care of the student, the details, and the moment in front of us, we build the trust that makes meaningful educational opportunity possible. That responsibility is both humbling and deeply energizing.
How has NACAC played a role in your career?
When I returned to higher education, NACAC gave me three things I needed immediately: professional context, a community of colleagues, and access to knowledge that does not always appear in a job description. I made full use of the association’s webinars and resources, but the greatest value has come from the people. NACAC connects professionals who understand that admission work is both highly technical and deeply human. These relationships have made me sharper, more deliberate, and more committed to moving the profession forward. Every conversation is an opportunity to learn, and NACAC has created a community where that learning is both generous and ongoing.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our profession today?
One of the greatest challenges facing our profession is the erosion of certainty and trust, particularly in international admission. Shifts in global politics, public policy, visa processes, affordability, and perceptions of safety have changed the way students and families evaluate higher education in the United States. Many students who once viewed the United States as an obvious destination are now approaching that decision with understandable caution. That is not a minor headwind but rather a turning point that demands an honest response from all of us.
But the challenge runs deeper than politics. It is a question of how we show up. We are long past the time when a student should feel grateful simply for being admitted. These students are choosing us. They are asking whether they will be welcomed, supported, and able to thrive. International students cross borders, navigate complex systems, and leave behind familiar communities while often choosing among strong options around the world. When they select an institution, they are extending trust. Our profession must earn that trust through transparency, timely communication, cultural humility, and consistent care at every stage of the student journey. The institutions that succeed will be those that treat the student experience not as a recruitment tactic, but as a long-term commitment.
Take care of the students. Take care of the details. Take care of the moment in front of you because that moment is someone’s everything.
When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
Away from the desk you will find me drinking good coffee, logging miles on my bike, planning my next adventure, or simply being present with my pets (which delivers an outsized return for very little effort). I am drawn to art galleries and never quite left my roots in ethnomusicology. Ask me about Mongolian traditional music!
If you could be any fictional character, who would it be and why?
The Cat Bus from My Neighbor Totoro: an adorable, warm, whimsical, always in motion, and fully functional transit system. I rarely stay parked for long, just ask Mary Smith (director of admissions, Gettysburg College) about my travel schedule!
Published July 27, 2026