Ryan Kelley

College Admissions Consultant

Former admissions officer Fordham University

Former admissions officer University of Colorado, Boulder

Former admissions officer Roger Williams University

My Background

Before coming to College Coach, I worked for Fordham University, a selective private university, Roger Williams University, a small liberal arts program, and The University of Colorado Boulder, a flagship state institution. These experiences broadened my perspective of college admissions across a wide variety of institutional types. I have worked closely with both freshman and transfer applicants. Throughout my time in college admissions, I engaged with students interested in many different disciplines, from future engineers and business students to artists and journalists, and many others. As a former college soccer player, I also enjoyed working with college athletes. While at Fordham, I was responsible for the transfer application process. I created a more transparent application that was easier to navigate and added events to help transfers feel welcome on campus. At Fordham, I was the Gabelli School of Business Honors Program liaison, and at CU, I oversaw the freshman application review process. In this role, I worked closely with representatives from all programs on campus, including the Leeds School of Business, the College of Engineering, and College of Arts and Sciences. I also chaired the admission and merit scholarship committees, which made final decisions on admission and scholarships.

Ryan Kelley built a strong relationship with our [son] - based on trust and mutual respect. From the college list to essay advice, Ryan Kelley was a constant source of support throughout this process.

Parent of a University of Pittsburgh (Honors College) student

Why I Joined College Coach

While working in admissions, I loved assisting students and families through the college search and application process. I used my expertise to help a student reach their ultimate goal: attending the university that employed me. But once applications came to me for review, I often found avoidable errors or omissions that caused the student to be less competitive in the evaluation. While working closely with transfer students, I frequently heard stories about wanting to transfer because their current institution was not a good fit. Although the reasons for the lack of fit varied, far too often the desire to leave was predictable: wrong size, an academic environment not conducive to their learning style, or even a bad social or personal fit. The combination of students either not living up to their potential in the application or attending schools not well suited for them motivated me to help. At College Coach, I can use my professional admissions experience to assist students earlier on and guide them through an oftentimes mystifying and stressful process. Helping students find the schools that allow them to reach their potential and be more successful is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. Working at College Coach is the best decision I have made in my career.