Sarah Brown
Independent Educational Consultant
Right4U College Counseling, LLC (VA)
What drew you to the world of college admission counseling?
My goal has always been to help children and adolescents thrive. After working briefly as a public school counselor, I took a break to raise and homeschool my children while navigating frequent relocations and my husband’s multiple deployments. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by military families and homeschooled students. With my husband still on active duty, I was thrilled to discover independent college counseling — a career that aligns well with my personality, interests, values, skills, and nomadic lifestyle. I specialize in helping homeschooled students, military dependents, and those applying to service academies and ROTC scholarships.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Helping students discover colleges they’ve never heard of that are a good fit for them.
How has NACAC played a role in your career?
NACAC has provided me with a wealth of resources that have helped me keep up with the latest in college admissions. I also appreciate being part of an organization in which members work together to help students succeed.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our profession today?
The college admissions process isn’t transparent. Applicants can feel anxious when they can’t predict which colleges will accept them and end up applying to too many colleges to hedge their bets.
When you aren’t working, what do you like to do?
I enjoy swimming and occasionally compete in Masters swim meets.
What five words would you use to describe yourself?
Empathetic. Honest. Dedicated. Thorough. Curious.
Published March 17, 2025