Get to Know College Admissions Expert, Julia Spaht

At Top Tier Admissions, our counselors bring decades of experience, deep knowledge of the admissions process, and a personal commitment to every student they work with. In our Counselor Spotlight series, we’re introducing you to the incredible individuals behind our high-touch, expert guidance. Learn more about their unique backgrounds, educational philosophies, and what inspires them to help students reach their college goals.

With such a rich background across teaching, admissions, and advising, how has your multifaceted experience shaped the way you guide students through the college process?

Over the years, I’ve developed a high level of comfort in working with both teenagers and parents, approaching each with respect, optimism, and care. I also draw on my unique background–as an educator, admissions professional, and counselor–to guide and support them. My decade in the classroom shaped my understanding of how students learn, what teachers expect from students, and how to motivate adolescents. In K-12 admissions, I gained insight on how institutional priorities shape admissions and how to help families make informed, individualized decisions. From my years as a college counselor, I bring a flexible yet focused approach to each meeting and each admissions cycle–I am open-minded, but my standards are always high. 

You’ve helped students gain admission to top-tier schools through thoughtful, personalized guidance — how do you approach advising students so they feel confident, clear, and in control of their college process?

I strongly believe in nurturing a growth mindset in each student, encouraging them to embrace challenges and believe that hard work can create meaningful, lasting change over time. Building trust is also central to my approach. I understand that teenagers may not open up right away, especially to someone new, but with patience and consistency, we can work well together. Once they realize I genuinely care and am invested in their success, we can find an encouraging rhythm that energizes them to pursue their unique goals.

What’s one of your favorite moments from working with a student — something that reminded you why you love this work?

Early in my time as a college counselor, a student shared an email with me from an admissions officer praising one of his application essays.  He was admitted to the college with a major scholarship, but what stuck with me was seeing how his writing left such a strong impression. I’ve had a few other students receive similar emails over the years, and I’m always quick to remind them that even though I was involved as an advisor, they did the work and deserve the credit. It’s incredibly fulfilling to celebrate my students’ successes, and I am always drawing inspiration from them.

You hold advanced degrees from top institutions and have deep academic roots in English and Art History — how do you draw on that scholarly background to inspire your students?

Both English and Art History are rich, interdisciplinary fields that lead to learning across subjects, which I’ve always found rewarding. When I studied at the Bread Loaf School of English, I wrote papers on topics such as segregation in the literature of Chicago and the nature of power in monarchies as portrayed in Shakespeare’s history plays. My undergraduate art history thesis explored connections between 19th century philosophy, Turner’s paintings of Venice, and Romantic poetry. Through studying literature and art, I gained a wealth of knowledge about religion, economics, politics, world languages, culture, and science. By sharing my experiences, I hope I inspire students to embrace learning broadly and develop essential skills in reading, research, writing, and communication–tools I believe are critical for all future leaders and professionals.

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