Built from inside the enrollment offices — for the families who deserved better guidance, sooner.
We spent decades inside university enrollment offices — reviewing applications, awarding financial aid, counseling families through one of the most significant transitions in a young person's life.
Year after year, we saw the same pattern. The families who arrived at junior year already understanding how admissions works, how financial aid is structured, and what their student genuinely wanted — those families made different decisions. Calmer decisions. More strategic decisions. Decisions that reflected the student's real interests rather than the pressure of the moment.
The families who arrived without that foundation — and most families did, because no one had offered them guidance earlier — found themselves reacting instead of choosing. Course selections already locked in. Financial conversations starting too late. Family dynamics around college already strained.
We built SUM TOTAL because we believe the counseling industry should serve families earlier, include parents in the process, and give every family the information and preparation to navigate what's ahead — together.
College planning is one of the first major transitions families navigate together. It involves aspirations, expectations, financial realities, and the future your child is beginning to imagine.
By starting early and including parents in the process, families gain the clarity and shared understanding needed to approach the college journey thoughtfully — rather than reactively. We don't rush childhood. We give families time, perspective, and the opportunity to make decisions from a place of knowledge rather than uncertainty.
"Families often tell us their biggest relief is having a knowledgeable guide who understands both the admissions process and the family dynamics behind it."
"We didn't realize how many decisions started before junior year. Starting early changed everything for our family."Parent — Early Risers Family
"Understanding the financial side earlier would have changed how we approached the search entirely. We wish we had found SUM TOTAL sooner."Parent — Junior Strategy Family
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."
The college journey unfolds over several years. Many of the most important decisions — academic choices, extracurricular exploration, financial planning — begin long before applications are submitted.
We didn't study admissions from the outside. We lived it — from inside the offices that make the decisions.
Our founders didn't study admissions from the outside — they led it. A former Vice President of Enrollment and a former Director of Enrollment, with combined decades of experience in admissions and financial aid. Both have served as presidents of major regional college counseling organizations.
Our counselors bring experience across public universities, private colleges, and specialized programs — graduate and undergraduate. We understand what different types of institutions are actually looking for, and how to position students thoughtfully within each context.
Our team includes expertise in NCAA recruitment, arts and conservatory programs, and other distinctive academic tracks. Families navigating specialized pathways have access to counselors who have guided students through those specific processes.
Our model intentionally includes parents and the entire family, ensuring that decisions about opportunities, expectations, and financial realities are made with clarity and shared understanding — not in isolation or under pressure.
Every family that works with SUM TOTAL is paired with a dedicated counselor who brings real experience from inside the admissions process.
Former Vice President of Enrollment | 30+ Years Admissions & Financial Aid Experience | Former President, Regional College Counseling Organization
Robynne spent her career inside university enrollment offices — reviewing applications, building financial aid strategies, and understanding exactly what separates prepared families from overwhelmed ones. She co-founded SUM TOTAL to give every family access to the guidance she saw too few receive.
Academic Strategy Expert | 20+ Years High School Counseling & Admissions Experience | Former President, Regional College Counseling Organization
Brandi brings two decades of experience guiding students through the intersection of academic planning and college admissions. Her expertise in building academic roadmaps and student profiles gives SUM TOTAL families a distinct advantage in how they approach the application process.
Specialization in Academic Strategy | Admissions Experience | Bio Highlight
NCAA Recruitment Specialist | Athletic & Academic Pathway Expertise | Bio Highlight
Visual & Performing Arts Specialist | Conservatory & Program Expertise | Bio Highlight
Graduate & Transfer Application Expert | Advanced Degree Strategy | Bio Highlight
Early High School Strategy | 8th–10th Grade Family Guidance | Bio Highlight
Family Coordination | Scheduling & Onboarding | Client Experience
"What set SUM TOTAL apart was that our counselor had actually worked inside admissions offices. She could tell us what mattered and what didn't — because she had made those decisions herself."Parent Testimonial — Junior Strategy & Senior Application Family
A 20-minute introductory conversation is where every family begins. No commitment. No pressure. Just a conversation about where you are and where you want to be.
Schedule an Intro Conversation →20 minutes. No commitment. No pressure.