Richard Avitabile brings 30 years of college admission experience and over a decade of college counseling to his work with college-bound students and their families. He directed college admissions offices in the New York metropolitan area and served as Assistant Vice President for Enrollment at New York University from 1991 to 2002, helping NYU strengthen both its national reputation and the academic quality of its students. Since 2002 he has guided hundreds of students through the college process. Rich also works with international students seeking admission to US colleges, and chaired the College Committee of the Council of International Schools.
Rich’s strength is working with families to “demystify” the college process. He helps students target colleges, finding those that best meet individual learning styles, curricular goals and career aspirations. He stresses the importance of college selection as a family decision, with extensive support for the student who is often making an important adult decision for the first time. Parents are welcome to participate actively in the process of developing college lists and evaluating college experiences. Rich also works closely with students to develop themes for college essays and interviews. He evaluates all college applications and essays to be sure each student makes the best presentation possible. His unlimited support continues until a final college choice is confirmed in the spring of senior year.
Rich earned graduate degrees in counseling at Fordham University, where he received certification as a secondary school counselor. At professional meetings he frequently speaks about the student experience in the transition from high school to college. His insights on higher education have been reported in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He has also contributed to books on college admission and served on advisory committees for College Board and the National Association of College Admission Counseling, and as a trustee of the Loyola School in Manhattan.
Rich is a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling, and the regional organizations for New England and New York.