Who We Are
SUM TOTAL was built by leaders who spent decades inside university enrollment offices — and who saw firsthand what made the difference for families who arrived prepared.
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 believe every family deserves access to the kind of guidance that was previously available only to those with insider connections. Our mission is to change that.
Agency is Built — Not Rushed
Starting early allows families to move from reactive participants to informed decision-makers. Families who engage with us before the pressure years gain:
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."
What earlier preparation makes possible:
"We didn't realize how many decisions started before junior year."
SUM TOTAL is new, but our experience is not. Our team brings credentials and expertise that are rare in the private college counseling space.
30+ years of admissions and financial aid experience. Former presidents of major regional college counseling organizations.
Experience across public universities, private colleges, and specialized programs — from inside the enrollment office, not outside it.
NCAA recruitment strategy. Visual and performing arts applications. Graduate and professional school guidance.
Our programs intentionally include caregivers — because the decisions ahead belong to the whole family, not just the student.
Our team brings together decades of admissions expertise, academic strategy, and genuine care for every family we work with.
Co-Founder / Lead Counselor
Former Enrollment Leader. 30+ years of admissions and financial aid experience across major institutions. Former president of a major regional college counseling organization.
Co-Founder / Lead Counselor
Academic Strategy Expert. 20+ years of high school counseling and admissions experience. Former president of a major regional college counseling organization.
College Counselor
Extensive experience supporting students through the college search, application, and decision process with empathy and expertise.
College Counselor
Specialist in academic strategy, extracurricular positioning, and college list development for students at every stage of the journey.
College Counselor
Focused on essay development, application narrative, and helping students communicate who they truly are to admissions committees.
Specialized Pathways Counselor
Expert in NCAA recruitment strategy and visual and performing arts applications — two of the most nuanced processes in college admissions.
Transfer & Graduate Counselor
Dedicated support for college students and emerging professionals navigating transfer, graduate, and professional school applications.
Client Liaison
The first point of contact for families — ensuring every client experience is seamless, warm, and well-coordinated from first conversation through program completion.
"Families often tell us their biggest relief is having a knowledgeable guide who understands both the admissions process and the family dynamics behind it."Robynne Lofton & Brandi Smith, Co-Founders
20 minutes with one of our counselors — no commitment, no pressure. Just clarity about what's possible for your family.
Schedule a Conversation →