Educational Consultant Spotlight: Nicole Shaub Cook

Dr. Nicole Cook has spent her career in the field of college admissions counseling. A former admissions professional at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Cook also has both masters and doctoral degrees in school counseling. She brings her expertise from both fields into her work as an independent educational consultant with clients by attending to the many factors involved in college choice and creating an individualized plan for each student.

Dr. Cook helps students find colleges that fit their academic, social, and financial needs. She facilitates a process through which students develop ownership in the college selection process and create a vision for their futures. Dr. Cook’s primary goal for students is that they have choices when it comes to making the final college decision, and she works tirelessly with families to generate those choices.

During her 10 years as a counselor in high schools, Dr. Cook guided hundreds of students and families through the college process. Because of that work, she navigates the college selection process with sensitivity to the immense pressures that high school students experience. She also believes in working as a part of the team of people who support students: including tutors, school counselors, coaches, and others.

Dr. Cook works as a part of Teegarden Education Group, and she offers both a Comprehensive (unlimited service) package, and an hourly rate, so clients have flexibility to choose the services that fit their needs. She happily accepts clients as early as 9th grade. In the early grades, Dr. Cook helps students identify their interests and aspirations, choose courses, and think about testing and activities prior to entering into the intense upper grades of high school. In 11th and 12th grades, students working with Dr. Cook focus on the in-depth work of preparing college lists, college applications, testing plans, recommendations, essays, application strategies, and more.

Dr. Cook earned her B.A. from Vanderbilt University, her M.A. and M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology at Columbia University, and her Ph.D. in Counseling and Student Personnel Services at the University of Georgia.

For more information, you can visit her website at www.growingyoungpeople.com or email her at nicole@growingyoungpeople.com.