Natick residents Lauren and Dan Dougherty have three children, each with unique interests, skill sets, and goals. When it came time for college, the Doughertys wanted an experienced admissions counselor who could help manage the process and keep it from being overwhelming.
Lauren and Dan first connected with Campus Bound President Gregg Cohen and his wife through their daughters’ gymnastics program. Over time, and through multiple Natick touchpoints, the Doughertys learned more about Campus Bound’s reputation and decided it would be useful to get a little extra help for their first child, Mary, who graduated from high school in 2021.
With Mary we didn’t know what we didn’t know. We loved Natick High but weren’t sure if the school had sufficient resources to support Mary and our family.
The main thing for Lauren and Dan—and especially for Mary—was that she had a clear sense of what she wanted: Division I athletics. One of the colleges Campus Bound Admissions Counselor Vanessa Ferreira suggested was Marist College, which was new to the Doughertys, and ultimately became Mary’s choice.
“Mary had a great four years and was able to run competitively as a member of the school’s cross-country and track teams, and she was active in multiple volunteer groups on campus. It’s a gorgeous school and the Hudson Valley is a great area! She loved her experience there and we were thrilled with every aspect of her experience.”
The second time around, son Jed ’24 worked with Admissions Counselor Kristen Wiley, who proved to be a strong match for his personality, goals, and athletic background. Like Mary, Jed started working with Campus Bound at the end of junior year. “I thought Kristen would be a great match for Jed because of the sports connection. Having Kristen as an athlete was terrific. But another priority was reducing the stress involved. And she was a huge help with that.”
Jed planned to apply early decision to a particular college, but when that school didn’t work out, Kristen provided essential guidance.
“She was really good, really honest with us about where Jed would be a great fit and be accepted. She offered a realistic perspective while respecting the dreams of where our son wanted to go. Her expertise was critical in curating the list in a way that was balanced and putting him in a position of strength.” Jed was ultimately admitted to and enrolled at Skidmore College, where he now plays soccer and is thriving.
“Our son found an instant community on the men’s soccer team which made the transition easier. The liberal arts approach, school size, and general culture has been a great match.” Lauren emphasizes the value of having an outside guide during such an important process.
“It’s so much better for kids to learn things through outside coaches or teachers. We knew that applying to college was going to be a potentially overwhelming process. It was invaluable to have someone providing guidance and step-by-step advising with the student reporting to the counselor rather than mom and dad.”
“The counselor matching process at Campus Bound is superb! They did a wonderful job both times. Vanessa and Kristen were very compatible with each of my children. The process led both kids to land at schools that have ended up to be wonderful fits for them in every sense: academically, socially, athletically.”
Lauren also has advice for other families navigating the college process.
“Many people in our area have tunnel vision about where kids should go. Let go of your perceptions, assumptions, and the ‘prestige’ factor in order to find the right school for your child. From the very beginning, the Campus Bound counselor becomes a trusted advisor and that starts with the relationship that gets built with your child. It takes so much pressure off the parents and the whole family.”
“This is a high-value service. Helping your child land in the place that will launch them to the next chapter is time and money well spent. There’s no single kind of student that Campus Bound does well with—they can meet each student’s needs, whatever that might be. The proof is in our two happy kids.”
