Advice from a college insider
I help students with all aspects of the college application process. As a former college faculty member, I share my insider’s perspective on campus life and higher education to thoughtfully guide students on their college search adventure.
Mary Beth Raycraft, PhD
Boston, Massachusetts
New Haven, Connecticut
New York Metro Area
Reach out for a free 30-minute consultation
Encouraging students to explore & discover
The college search is different for every student. I offer an individualized approach with a positive, upbeat perspective as I believe that there is a good fit for every student! I have an interdisciplinary background and enjoy partnering with students interested in the humanities, STEM, and the arts. I also have a special interest in study abroad and have worked extensively with both domestic and international students who seek a college adventure outside of their home country. In my practice, I work with high school students as well as transfer, medical school, and MA and PhD applicants.
I split my time between Boston and New Haven and work with clients in person or virtually, using Zoom and Google Docs.
In my work with families, I focus on:
- Reducing stress as I partner with you to discover colleges that align with your interests and priorities
- Sharing my insider’s knowledge so that you become a well-informed consumer about college options
- Helping you to find your authentic voice and use it to showcase your background, creativity, and curiosity in your essays and throughout your applications
- Assisting you in creating coherent and engaging applications that communicate your motivation, interests, and strengths
Mary Beth Raycraft, PhD
Boston, Massachusetts
New Haven, Connecticut
New York Metro Area
Reach out for a free 30-minute consultation
Encouraging students to explore & discover
The college search is different for every student. I offer an individualized approach with a positive, upbeat perspective as I believe that there is a good fit for every student! I have an interdisciplinary background and enjoy partnering with students interested in the humanities, STEM, and the arts. I also have a special interest in study abroad and have worked extensively with both domestic and international students who seek a college adventure outside of their home country. In my practice, I work with high school students as well as transfer, medical school, and MA and PhD applicants.
I split my time between Boston and New Haven and work with clients in person or virtually, using Zoom and Google Docs.
In my work with families, I focus on:
- Reducing stress as I partner with you to discover colleges that align with your interests and priorities
- Sharing my insider’s knowledge so that you become a well-informed consumer about college options
- Helping you to find your authentic voice and use it to showcase your background, creativity, and curiosity in your essays and throughout your applications
- Assisting you in creating coherent and engaging applications that communicate your motivation, interests, and strengths
What we’ll be working on
Reflecting on what engages you and makes you happy
Coming up with a summer plan that allows you to explore and grow
Creating a résumé that highlights your interests and experience
Learning how to navigate college websites without getting overwhelmed
Drafting a list of colleges that aligns with your priorities and interests
Creating a timeline for college visits and applications to keep you on track
Making the most of college tours and information sessions
Learning how to reach out effectively to departments and admissions offices
Writing impressive and articulate application essays that show off your strengths
In my career, I have been a…
Writer
Translator
College Advisor
Admissions Consultant
University Faculty Member
I draw from my extensive university experience to assist my clients in becoming the strongest admissions candidates they can be…
…from building a great-fitting college list and navigating the mechanics of the application process, to writing an excellent admissions essay and getting everything submitted on time
Publications
My publications include the textbook Affaires Globales and a translation of A Parisienne in Chicago, below, as well as numerous articles on French women travelers that have been published in academic journals including The French Review and Women in French. The textbook, Affaires Globales, focuses on learning French language and culture through conversations on global health, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.
Affaires Globales
Deborah S. Reisinger
Mary Beth Raycraft
Nathalie Dieu-Porter
Affaires globales’ broad scope of disciplines and cultural content will appeal to students interested in a wide variety of careers while giving them the skills needed to pursue them. This intermediate-high to advanced-level French textbook is designed for French for specific purposes, such as business or professional French and can be used as a main text for one semester or adapted for two semesters of use.
A Parisienne in Chicago
Madame Léon Grandin
Translated and with an introduction by Mary Beth Raycraft
This fascinating account of a French woman’s impressions of America in the late nineteenth century reveals an unusual cross-cultural journey through fin de siècle Paris, Chicago, and New York. Madame Léon Grandin’s travels and extended stay in Chicago in 1893 were the result of her husband’s collaboration on the fountain sculpture for the World’s Columbian Exposition. Initially impressed with the city’s fast pace and architectural grandeur, Grandin’s attentions were soon drawn to its social and cultural customs.
Mary Beth Raycraft, PhD 