The PrepMatters Advantage

PrepMatters Educational Counseling is headed by Dr. Kathleen O'Connor, a leader in the field for over 30 years.  She has a well earned reputation for striving for the best for the individual student, even if that means going against conventional wisdom.  "Conventional wisdom," she believes, "is always conventional, but it's not always wise."

Test preparation and college counseling go hand in hand, and for years Ned Johnson and Dr. O'Connor shared many clients and worked closely together.  In 2005, Dr. O'Connor joined PrepMatters.  Now two additional counselors, Eileen Wilkinson and Garrett Lowe, working closely with Dr. O'Connor, can meet the high demand for premier counseling services.

Eileen Wilkinson brings 22 years of experience in the field of education to PrepMatters. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Dallas and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Northwestern University. She began her college counseling career in 1986, joining the staff of Dr. Kathleen O'Connor.

Subsequently, Mrs. Wilkinson spent 11 years as Associate Director of Admissions for Marymount University in Virginia. She has also served as an admissions consultant for major colleges and universities.

In 2005, Dr. O'Connor asked her to join PrepMatters and offer her skills and experience to our clients. With her calm and reassuring manner, Mrs. Wilkinson has a gift for discovering the unique qualities of each student. Her enthusiasm for guiding students through this challenging and often emotional process is readily apparent.

Dr. Garrett Lowe has an educational background both wide and deep. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master or Arts degree in Medieval Studies from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Lowe brings expertise in both subject tutoring and counseling to PrepMatters. He has a remarkable ability to transform a student's apprehension and stress into excitement and enthusiasm. Through his humor, skill and understanding, Dr. Lowe helps his students realize that the journey to and through college is not a thing to fear, but an adventure of learning and self discovery.

Leah Williams is a graduate of Georgetown University and served as Assistant Director of Admissions at the university for three years. Following her tenure at Georgetown University, Williams became College Counselor for Lycée Rochambeau (The French International School) in Bethesda, MD, a position she will hold until the end of the 2007-08 school term. She is responsible for advising students who apply not only to American universities but also to Canadian, United Kingdom and European Universities. Serving also as standardized test coordinator and liaison with the College Board for the PSAT, SAT and APs, Williams understands well the intricacies of crucial admissions tests. She also advises students on both curricular and extracurricular choices, crucial components of advising that she will also offer her PrepMatters clients. Ms. Williams will be available immediately for appointments on Saturdays and weekday evenings but will add weekday appointments beginning mid-August.