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

Owner and Lead Advisor

Ms. Taylor's approach to the college planning process is frequently described as empathetic with high expectations for her students. She has successfully navigated the college admissions effort for hundreds of high school students and, through parenting her own three children, knows firsthand the challenges parents face when managing the process.

Our Team Overview

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

Advisor

Julia Duszak joined Avalon in the fall of 2021 and brings over a decade of experience working with students of all ages in academic settings. She has a B.A. in Communications & Public Relations from Virginia Tech and spent the early part of her career working in supplier-client relations and marketing. Julia enjoys spending time with her two daughters (including one in high school with sights set on college!), her husband, and the ever-changing menagerie of animals living in her house. In her free time, she can be found creating or building, enjoying family movie nights, getting warm in the sunshine or learning something new.

Kaitlyn Soto

Advisor

Kaitlyn Soto has dedicated herself to providing academic support to students of all ages, specializing in writing, history, and mathematics. In addition to her commitment to motivating students to achieve their academic goals, Kaitlyn is an accomplished writer as well as an advocate of environmental issues, having actively engaged in the environmental sector, educating youth and young adults and playing a key role in influencing decision-makers statewide. Born and raised in Southern California, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her local family playing pickleball or participating in family game night, and reading books and exchanging perspectives on them with her book club friends.

Amanda Kenney

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.

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