Podcasts

"You can be college capable on paper, but not college ready. You can have that 4.5, 5.5 weighted GPA, but if you’re not college ready with the social-emotional piece of it, and you don’t know how to navigate getting accommodations or asking a teacher for help because Mom and Dad have always done that for you, it’s a lot", says Gerene Keesler.

Gerene joins this episode to discuss supporting high school students and their families in the college admissions process as an independent educational consultant.

In this episode of Don't Chuck It Up, host Chuck Erickson sits down with independent educational consultant Gerene Keesler (owner of Admissions Untangled) to demystify the college search for neurodivergent students, including those with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and hidden learning differences. Highlighting her own journey of being diagnosed with fetal autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy while in college, Gerene shares powerful insights on shifting from feeling ashamed to embracing accommodations early on.

Together, they offer crucial college planning advice for parents and students navigating disability services, exploring campus accessibility, and distinguishing between being "college capable" and truly "college ready". From practical campus tour strategies—like asking current students about professor accessibility and test-driving physical campus layouts—to managing FERPA privacy rights and emergency contact plans, this discussion equips families with the tools to reduce stress and find the right higher education fit.

In this episode, Gerene Keesler, founder of Admissions Untangled with over three decades in college admissions, reveals how her Hispanic background kept her learning differences hidden until a neuropsychological exam in her 30s that she dragged her parents to. Drawing from living with epilepsy and being on the autism spectrum, Gerene explains her knots philosophy for two types of stressed students: high achievers taking maximum AP and dual enrollment who risk burnout, and students especially boys who refuse accommodations out of shame despite everything being confidential.

She discusses her eight-minute application reality where admissions officers spend limited time reviewing materials, making the essay the one place students have complete control to shine and tell a cohesive story. Gerene shares her test-optional success story of a California student awarded $245,000 in merit scholarships across 19 schools without submitting any test scores. She reveals her ninth and tenth grade starting philosophy that builds extracurricular profiles from non-traditional activities like caring for ailing grandparents, teaching leadership and empathy that becomes meaningful essay material, and emphasizes families must stop pushing students toward their own alma maters because fit matters more than legacy, and stresses the one habit that would change outcomes is reading regularly instead of seeking quick answers online.

Your differences don't make you any less than the person beside you. It might be a journey navigating those differences and working through them, though there's people willing to support you. Gerene Keesler, a college counselor and founder of Admissions Untangled, grew up feeling less than for the majority of her life. That increased dramatically when she went to college. Through it all she still managed to push through and get 2 degrees. It wasn't until she was recognized as neurodiverse that everything started to make sense in her life.

Gerene now works to help make the college experience for students a much easier and enjoyable process. On this episode of Success is Subjective, Gerene joins Joanna to share her experience going through school feeling alone and confused in her struggles. The persistence that Gerene has shown through her journey will be sure to inspire you. Listen in for more insight on Gerene's story as she navigated life before and after a diagnosis.

Meet Gerene Keesler, who utilizes three decades of experience in the university profession including work in Admissions, Residential Life, and Career Services. Gerene recently obtained her certificate in College Counseling from UC San Diego (March, 2021) and holds a Masters Degree in Counseling. As a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, Gerene thoroughly researches and vets colleges, and regularly devotes time to visiting campuses to ensure she always has the most up-to-date information. She'll ask the critical questions that are often overlooked by parents and students such as the school's graduation rates, the average incoming GPA of other students, and the employment rate for graduates. Gerene's company Admissions Untangled provides services in college coaching, the college search process, scholarship, essay editing, mock interviewing, and admissions planning.

This week's guest Gerene Keesler, Owner of Admissions Untangled, has been working in Higher Education for 30 years and decided to help neurodivergent individuals navigate their way through the college admissions process. Her personal story is quite fascinating and she has achieved much considering the odds against her.

Being independent at college includes knowing how to advocate for your needs. Today's guest, Gerene Keesler, shares her inspirational story of how her ability to advocate for herself paved the way for her success in college.

Admissions Untangled provides services in college coaching, the college search process, scholarship, essay editing, mock interviewing, and admissions planning.

1:1 Tailored Academic And Application Guidance Personalized Feedback Geared To Your Students Strengths. Advising From An Admissions Professional With Three Decades Of Experience