David Montesano

For families with students ages 12–18, as well as graduate school applicants, David Montesano and College Match provide a strategic coaching approach that consistently leads to higher admission rates, scholarships, and awards. Over the past 22 years, he has pioneered the use of business strategy and branding techniques in college admissions, becoming the first “admissions strategist” in the United States when he founded College Match in 2001.

In 2023, for the 22nd consecutive year, 97% of students secured places at their first-choice college or university. His clients won merit scholarships averaging 83,314 dollars per student, one of the highest reported averages among measured cohorts. Previously, from 2010–2017, 95% of his clients gained admission to at least one of their top-choice, best-fit colleges, with merit scholarships averaging 80,000 dollars over four years.

David developed the proprietary Montesano Method, a four-stage framework, SPARKS, FIRE, VISION, BRAND, that helps students clarify their strengths, define long-term goals, and position themselves powerfully in the admissions process. He is known for combining rigorous strategy with a calm, supportive presence that reduces stress for both students and parents. Clients frequently report that his team is easy to work with and that he brings a reassuring, clear-eyed perspective to what can otherwise be an overwhelming process.

David has been profiled by Washington Post education writer Jay Mathews in Newsweek. He is a frequent contributor to publications including The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges), CBS MoneyWatch, Forbes, Seattle Magazine, College Week Live, The Daily Beast, and Fox News. He has spoken about his admissions approach at Western Academy of Beijing, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and Stanford Graduate School of Business, among others.