Launch College Counseling was started to help high school students and their parents navigate the complex college admission landscape. We are passionate about what we do and want to share our energy and enthusiasm with our clients.
Corinne Pinsof-Kaplan
Corinne started Launch College Counseling in 2014. After sending two of her children to college and discovering the lack of adequate college counseling first-hand, she pursued a career in college counseling. Prior to this, Corinne created and operated her own successful retail business for over 20 years. Her management experience, organizational skills, and research-based knowledge about the college application process help her optimize each student’s college application process to find their best-fit college. In addition to working as a college counselor to high school students and their families for over ten years, Corinne visits at least 25 colleges and 2 national conferences annually to ensure she can provide the most up-to-date information to her students.
Corinne holds a Bachelor of General Studies with a Business Concentration from the University of Michigan. Corinne completed the IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) Summer Training Institute. She is an active member of the IECA and HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association).
Essay Specialists
Nicole Kaplan
Nicole is one of Launch College Counseling’s college essay specialists. She earned a BA and MA in English from Tulane University, as well as a MA in Education from the Relay Graduate School of Education. Nicole has been a sixth-grade English Teacher for 5 years, certified in Middle School Education and Special Education for grades 5-12.
Nicole’s teaching experience helps her provide holistic support to students as they navigate the essay-writing process. She loves working with young people, getting to know who they are through their writing while ensuring their essays communicate their identity, experience, and goals. She helps students capitalize on their unique strengths to hone their skills and find their voice as writers.
Julie Garcia
Julie has devoted her career to both secondary and higher education. She served as the Head of Student and College Counseling at a private high school in Chicago for six years, The Director of College Placement and Transfer Services Department at Loyola University Chicago, and a Corporate Outplacement Consultant at Challenger, Gray, and Christmas. Julie has collaborated with numerous universities across the country to develop pathways for undergraduate students. In addition, she has worked as a private college counselor for over ten years.
While serving students at both the high school and college levels, Julie found that counselors lacked the time and resources to best serve all of their students. At Launch College Counseling, Julie enjoys focusing individually on students in private practice. In this role, she can serve as a coach and mentor, uncovering and developing students’ sources of passion and motivation. With this lense, Julie helps her students identify the best-fit colleges where they can achieve success.
Julie holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Clinical Psychology, and a Certificate of Completion for Professional School Counselor. Julie is a Professional Member of IECA, a member of NACAC, and sits on a higher education institution’s Admissions Advisory Board. Julie is also a licensed Professional School Counselor.
Beth Levine
Beth completed her Certificate in College Counseling with distinction from UCLA. Beth is an associate member of both IECA and NACAC as well as a full member of HECA, three distinguished college admission associations. Beth stays current with all their publications and visits at least 25 colleges per year.
Beth is also a licensed clinical social worker who has focused on teenagers and their families for over twenty years. Beth holds certifications in Family Therapy and Divorce Mediation. Beth has been helping students informally with the college search for twelve years and, formally, as a partner of Launch College Counseling for over seven years.
Beth believes that based on the small number of college counselors at most high schools, relative to the number of students who need them, there is not enough time for the counselors to get to know the students on an individual basis. Therefore, it is almost impossible to provide the level of service needed to help students find the best-fit college. This experience inspired Beth to pursue a career as an independent college counselor.
Beth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law, and a Masters of Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago.
