About

Avalon College Advising was founded in 2016 to reach and support students at both public and private high schools. Our deep knowledge of the process and institutional expertise makes a difference in so many students' lives. We have supported more than 1000 students in applying to college.

Why Avalon?

Meet our founder, Jennifer Williams Taylor, and learn more about Avalon College Advising, what sets us apart and how we can help you!

Students can benefit from utilizing college counseling services offered by their high schools. However, many students face the reality of limited resources, where high school college counselors may be overburdened with hundreds of students or lack specialized knowledge due to funding cuts.

As public school budgets shrink, the ability to provide comprehensive guidance on private college admissions and financial aid diminishes, with some institutions focusing primarily on state university admissions. This shift potentially deprives students of essential information needed to explore a broader range of educational opportunities beyond public institutions.

Avalon College Advising focuses on providing expert guidance for college admissions. Our advisors' extensive understanding of the process and institutional expertise positively impacts the lives of many students. We encourage students of all backgrounds to explore diverse options in private and public colleges and universities.

Avalon provides a high-quality service to students who are putting in the time and doing the required work. We seek students who are open to exploring who they are and how they choose to engage. Based on students' interests, we identify school matches that fit their academic competencies, geographic preferences and cultural desires.

Jennifer Williams Taylor

Jennifer Williams Taylor

Founder & Head Advisor

Jennifer Williams Taylor brings deep expertise in college admissions, business strategy, and higher education leadership to Avalon College Advising. She has successfully guided hundreds of students through the admissions process with a strategic yet empathetic approach, setting high expectations while providing personalized support. With an MBA from The Wharton School and experience reviewing applications at institutions like Stanford and Santa Clara University, she understands what colleges seek and how to help students stand out. As both an advisor and a parent, she knows the challenges families face and is committed to making the journey less stressful and more rewarding.

Learn more about Jennifer

Our Team

We are a dedicated team of skilled advisors, coordinators, and client service specialists committed to guiding students through their college admissions journey.

Drawing on our extensive institutional expertise, each of our members offers tailored strategies to empower both students and parents in navigating this process with confidence. We are excited to share our deep knowledge of the process with all types of students. 

Julia Duszak
Read Julia's Bio

Julia Duszak

College Admissions Advisor

Julia is a dedicated college admissions advisor with over a decade of experience mentoring students. She helps students write compelling essays, build strong résumés, and strategically plan extracurriculars to showcase their unique strengths. With a B.A. in Communications Studies & Public Relations from Virginia Tech and a background in education, coaching, and mentorship, she guides students with a balanced approach of positivity, encouragement and accountability. Julia has helped students gain admission to a range of colleges and universities, including Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Brown, UC Berkeley, NYU, UVA, and the University of Michigan.

Kaitlyn Soto
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Kaitlyn Soto

College Admissions Advisor

Kaitlyn Soto is a dedicated college admissions advisor who has helped students gain acceptance to highly selective universities, including Tufts, USC, and the University of Michigan. With a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Professional Writing from UC Santa Barbara, she combines academic expertise with a highly personalized approach to the application process. She works closely with students to write compelling essays, strategically position their applications, and highlight their unique achievements. Passionate about mentorship, she helps students build confidence in their applications while identifying best-fit programs for their goals.

Read Amanda's Bio

Amanda Kenney

College Admissions Advisor

Amanda Kenney has dedicated herself to the field of education for over fifteen years, working with students from elementary to collegiate levels, with a focus on high school students. Her goal is to assist and encourage students through advising, bringing both empathetic support and education to students, while implementing a comfortable, friendly, and often humor-filled atmosphere.

Isabel Brown
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Isabel Brown

College Admissions Advisor

Isabel Brown brings a strong background in writing support and education to Avalon, helping students write compelling essays that showcase their unique voices. She holds an Honors B.A. in English with minors in Screenwriting and Theatre from Loyola Marymount University and has studied classical literature at Oxford through BADA and Yale Drama. With experience as a tutor, teacher, and script advisor, she excels at guiding students through the writing process with patience and strategy, ensuring they develop clear, authentic, and impactful application narratives.

Amber Bart
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Amber Bart

Program Manager

Amber Bart comes to Avalon with a background in healthcare and STEM, holding a Bachelor's degree in Nursing Science and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice specializing in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care from the University of Florida. Amber brings a wealth of skills and her healthcare expertise to the college application process, helping our STEM-focused students in particular. Her commitment to excellence and her welcoming, positive demeanor make her a trusted ally for students navigating the college application process.

Widya Ishananto

Widya Ishananto

Accountant

Widya Ishananto has been with Avalon for many years, efficiently and cheerfully managing our client and staff financial transactions with an eye for detail and excellent organizational skills.

Essay Reviewers & Readers

Led by Jennifer Williams Taylor and supported by a team of editors, our essay team boasts experience in education, business, communications, economics and more. They hold bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees from universities across the country (including University of Iowa, Harvard and Stanford), and have years of experience in editing, copywriting, and college admissions.

Sebastian & Hugo

Sebastian and Hugo have joined our team, taking over where Zinc (our first office support-pup) left off. The puppy-pair adds warmth and calm to our already supportive environment, helping our students feel relaxed and welcomed at a time when they need it the most.

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Testimonials

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"Avalon provided a very helpful and thorough review of my daughter's college essays. The feedback provided explained the recommended changes and why the reviewer was recommending the change. This allowed my daughter to better understand how to write a good college essay."

Class of '23 Parent

"Thanks for all your help. I know Natalie didn't follow the program directly, but she went way beyond what we expected in terms of her number of applications and ambition. I think Jennifer and Avalon really helped with it!"

Class of '23 Parent

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