SUM TOTAL was founded by counselors who spent decades inside university enrollment offices — because they saw firsthand that the families who started earlier arrived in a fundamentally different position.
Schedule a Conversation →College planning is one of the first major transitions families navigate together. It involves aspirations, expectations, financial realities, and important conversations about the future.
By starting early and including caregivers in the process, families gain the clarity and shared understanding needed to approach the college journey thoughtfully — rather than reactively.
We built SUM TOTAL because we saw — from inside university enrollment offices — that the families who started these conversations earlier arrived in a fundamentally different position. Not because they were wealthier or more connected, but because they were informed.
Agency Is Built — Not Rushed
Starting early allows families to move from reactive participants to informed decision-makers.
Starting early isn't about accelerating childhood.
It's about giving families time, clarity, and choice.
Each year we meet families during the later stages of the college process who share a similar reflection: "We wish we had started this conversation sooner."
"We didn't realize how many decisions started before junior year."Parent quote placeholder
"Understanding the financial side earlier would have changed how we approached the search."Parent quote placeholder
30+ years combined experience. Former presidents of major regional college counseling organizations. Our founders led enrollment operations at real universities.
We've worked inside public universities, private colleges, and specialized programs. We know how admissions offices actually make decisions — because we made them.
NCAA recruitment, arts and conservatory programs, graduate school applications — we bring expertise across the full spectrum of college pathways.
We intentionally include caregivers and the entire family — because the decisions ahead belong to everyone at the table.
We serve as navigators — helping the entire family move forward with clarity while discovering opportunities and new possibilities along the way.
"Families often tell us their biggest relief is having a knowledgeable guide who understands both the admissions process and the family dynamics behind it."
Co-Founder / Lead Counselor
Former Enrollment Leader | 30+ Years Admissions & Financial Aid Experience
Co-Founder / Lead Counselor
Academic Strategy Expert | 20+ Years High School Counseling and Admissions Experience
Senior Counselor
Specialization and bio placeholder
Senior Counselor
Specialization and bio placeholder
College Coach
Specialization and bio placeholder
College Coach
Specialization and bio placeholder
Client Liaison
Role and bio placeholder
Support Staff
Role and bio placeholder
A 20-minute intro conversation — no commitment, no pressure.
Schedule a Conversation →Find the right starting point for your family.