Gerene Keesler Launches College Counseling Venture in Tampa

News Summary

Tampa’s Gerene Keesler has launched ‘Admissions Untangled,’ a college admissions consulting service aimed at guiding high school students through the college application process. Overcoming significant personal challenges, Keesler’s venture focuses on providing tailored support and resources to help students navigate the competitive educational landscape. With a unique background and a commitment to promoting inclusivity, Keesler is well-positioned to empower the next generation of college students.

Tampa Native Gerene Keesler Turns Adversity into Opportunity with New College Counseling Venture

Tampa has welcomed a remarkable entrepreneur into its community! Gerene Keesler, who has overcome enormous hurdles in her life, has recently launched a college admissions consulting business called Admissions Untangled. This innovative service is designed to guide high school students through the often stressful and confusing process of applying to colleges.

A Journey Marked by Challenges

From the very beginning, Gerene’s life was filled with challenges that many would find daunting. Her parents were told when she was just a baby that she might not live past the age of two. As a child, she faced frequent seizures, and doctors believed she had a staggering 98% chance of being diagnosed with epilepsy. Managing these unique challenges was no easy task for her family.

Yet, Keesler showed immense resilience. She completed her K-12 education and bravely stopped taking anti-seizure medications around the age of 12. Even while pursuing her studies at Loyola University of New Orleans, she encountered a significant setback when she experienced back-to-back seizures while in the admissions office. Ironically, this moment marked the beginning of what would become her career journey.

Achieving Educational Success

Despite her medical challenges, Keesler’s determination shined through. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications followed by a master’s degree in counseling. Later in life, she discovered that she suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome and underwent medical tests that revealed she has no left hemisphere or corpus callosum, along with an orange-sized cyst on her skull. Yet, none of this stopped her. Instead, she took these experiences as stepping stones toward helping others.

Founding Admissions Untangled

With her wealth of personal experience, she created Admissions Untangled to assist high school students and parents in navigating the college admissions process and understanding financial aid. She encourages students to maintain flexibility in their college choices, promoting the idea that it’s important to explore a variety of institutions rather than fixating on just one.

Utilizing advanced software, Keesler creates customized lists for her students of potential colleges, categorizing schools into “safety schools,” “target schools,” and “reach schools.” Notably, she even includes Ivy League institutions and Cal Tech as “super reaches.” She advocates for thorough preparation and time management, emphasizing the need for careful planning when it comes to submitting multiple essays.

A Growing Demand for Support

The average GPA for students entering state schools has skyrocketed to around 4.4 over the past three decades, making the landscape even more competitive. Keesler understands the pressure many students face, especially those with unique challenges. She strongly encourages her clients to share their stories openly, reassuring them of schools’ confidentiality policies.

Currently, Keesler maintains a clientele of approximately 25 students, mostly juniors and seniors in high school. A significant number of her clients share similar disabilities or challenges, making her personal journey all the more relatable. Remarkably, all her clients received full scholarships last year, showcasing her skill in providing valuable services that facilitate educational opportunities.

Building a Business with a Big Heart

Keesler’s comprehensive service package typically costs around $4,000, though pricing varies based on each individual’s unique situation. She offers a la carte options, with overall service rates averaging about $180 per hour. Keesler holds a certificate from the University of California San Diego and is also certified in cognitive coaching through IBCCES. She believes her work is truly essential for students who often feel unheard and unrepresented in the school system.

Moreover, Keesler is bilingual, which positions her to effectively assist Hispanic students in their college journeys. As she continues to grow her business, she is also working toward being recognized as a consultant for students with special needs by the Independent Educational Consultants Association. So far, she’s visited more than 30 schools on this quest.

A Bright Future Ahead

With her inspiring journey and committed service, Gerene Keesler embodies the spirit of resilience and hope. She not only exemplifies overcoming personal adversity, but she also provides essential guidance to empower the next generation of college students. Tampa is lucky to have such a compassionate and dedicated individual making a difference in the lives of many!

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Additional Resources

• University of South Florida Acceptance Rate
• College Admissions Advice for Social Media
• USF Expands Partnerships with Local High Schools
• USF Admission Redirect Helped Amass New Students
• Wikipedia: College Admissions in the United States