Catherine Northup

Catherine Northup is a college admissions consultant who helps high school students transform an overwhelming application process into an exciting period of self-discovery. Her work centers on guiding students through every stage of the college journey, from early academic and testing choices to crafting a cohesive application narrative that reflects each person’s interests, values, and goals. She partners closely with students to identify and research strong college matches across academic, social, and financial criteria, advising on classes to take, tests to schedule, and how to build a balanced college list.

A key focus of Catherine’s practice is helping students tell authentic and meaningful stories through their essays. After seven years working in admissions at Stanford University, she has read thousands of applications and understands how a compelling essay can become the tipping factor in competitive admissions decisions. She works in depth with students to assess strengths, identify opportunities for growth, and weave a consistent story across activities, essays, and recommendations so that each application feels clear, intentional, and memorable.

Before launching her college counseling practice, College Crossroads Consulting, Catherine built a successful career in financial institution technology with organizations such as E-Trade, Online Resources, and VISA, focusing on account management, product management, and marketing. This background adds a strategic, analytical dimension to her counseling style and gives her insight into highly selective, business-focused, and tech-oriented environments. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Government from Smith College, where she served as President of the Student Government Association, volunteered as a Gold Key tour guide, and later joined the Board of Trustees.