About

As Principal of A+ College Consulting,  I love working with young people. After spending my early career as a college professor, teaching first-year writing  courses and a variety of media literacy undergraduate classes, I realized that the greatest impact I made on my students' lives was through mentoring and counseling them. I also have much insight into the elite college admission process as a faculty application reader, a voting faculty member of the Admission Committee, and as a staff member in the Admission Office prior to  entering my Ph.D. program. Having spent my entire life in academia, I knows how it works - inside and out - from the perspectives of a student, faculty, and of a staff member.

Most of all, I am a strong advocate for students, supporting them in their pursuit of their dreams. For me, it's all about finding the best "fit" when it comes to the college search, maximizing the students' intellectual, social, and career development. High school and college are exciting times filled with great growth and intense change - these are formative years that shape a person in profound ways. Finding that right fit can be daunting - let me be your guide through through this increasingly complex process, and help you find the right college match!

Credentials

EXPERIENCE

• 2017-Present Founder and Owner, A+ College Consulting, LLC
• 2018-Present Volunteer College Counselor, "Transitioning Together" Program, Newton North High School, Newton, MA
• 2023 - 2026 Board of Trustees Member, Jackson Homestead, Historic Newton, City of Newton, MA
• 2022 Volunteer, College Advisor, Summit Scholars program for high-achieving low-income/underserved communities student
• 2022 Volunteer, NEACAC Panelist, NEACAC Annual Meeting and Conference, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, VT
• 2020 External Advisor, Olin College of Engineering, External Advisor for senior student's Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Capstone research project on the effects of neo-liberalism on pedagogy and curriculum development, Spring 2020 semester
• 2020 Volunteer, NEACAC, Panelist, NEACAC Career Colloquium, March 19, 2020
• 2019 Volunteer, NEACAC Annual Meeting and Conference, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
• 2018-2019 Volunteer, NEACAC, Member of Sub-Group on Gender Inclusive Language
• 2018 Volunteer College Counselor, Milford High School, Milford, MA
• 2012-2017 Visiting Assistant Professor of Media Studies, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Program, Olin College of Engineering, Needham, Massachusetts
• 2013-2017 Faculty Member, campus Fulbright Committee, Olin College of Engineering
• 2013-2017 Faculty Leader, Graduate School Program Application co-curricular program, Olin College of Engineering
• 2013-2014 Voting Faculty Member, Admission Committee, Olin College of Engineering
• 2012-2013 Faculty Application Reader, Admission Office, Olin College of Engineering
• 2008-2014 Adjunct Faculty, Visual and Media Arts Department, Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts
• 2001-2004 Admission Service Coordinator, Admission Office, Olin College of Engineering

​PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Fulbright Association Lifetime Member (Fulbright Student Research Award Recipient, Latvia 2006-2007)
• Full Member of  HECA (hecaonline.org/)
• Full Member of NEACAC (www.neacac.org/)

EDUCATION

• 2023 Certified in Mental Health First Aid (certification valid December 2023 - December 2026)
• 2019 Completed QPR Institute Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program
• 2018  College Counseling Certificate with Distinction, University of California Los Angeles Extension School, Practicum completed at Milford High School, Milford MA (working with at-risk students in the Pathways Program)
• 2008 Ph.D. in The History of Art, The Ohio State University
• 2000 M.A. in Cinema Studies, New York University
• 1998 B.A. in Italian Culture, Wellesley College, Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Contact Dr. Vitols today for a free 45 minute consultation!