PrepNow Tutor - Lee Y.
An admissions counselor with an extensive background in secondary school admissions, Lee graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in psychology and sociology. For thirty-three years, she worked in the admissions office at Phillips Exeter Academy, where she retired as the Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Athletic Liaison. Since retiring, she has used her vast knowledge of boarding schools and admissions to help students find their best-fit high schools. “What excites me most about consulting is utilizing my knowledge from having worked in the trenches of a competitive boarding school to assist the students and parents with the entire admissions process,” Lee shares. “I understand what schools seek in an applicant and how to put one's best self forward in the application process.” Since 2019, Lee’s students have been accepted into over thirty prep schools.
While Lee is skilled at mentoring all students through the application process, she has extensive experience mentoring athletes, as she worked in recruitment as the head ice hockey coach and athletic liaison at Phillips Exeter Academy. “I understand what students need to do to get recruited, and I know what coaches want to see and hear from the athletes they recruit,” she explains. “I also served on the financial aid committee, so I feel confident explaining to families how it works and how to fill out the PFS.” In addition to her experience with athletes, Lee has worked with many other special interest groups, including those in music, dance, arts, and drama.
Lee emphasizes the importance of both timing and fit for secondary schools. She believes that the high school years are the most influential in a student’s education and understands that her students' school choices are pivotal in preparing them for college. What most excites Lee about admissions counseling is the opportunity to share her knowledge about specific schools and the intricacies of the application process. She also loves making connections with families by not only getting to know the applicant but also by managing parental expectations. She is thrilled to help her students by utilizing her established professional network and hopes to lead all families to the most desirable results. “You make lifelong friends in boarding school,” Lee reflects. “I am closer to my boarding school friends than I am with my college friends. I think that is because high school is the formative years.”
As a student, Lee played twelve seasons of competitive sports and was a three-sport captain of the varsity field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse teams in her senior year. She continues to enjoy staying fit and runs every morning with her Australian Shepherd, Duke. Lee served as a volunteer coach for her son's youth lacrosse team and was an eager spectator when he played high school and college lacrosse. Now, she gets her thrills by watching him coach football, basketball, and lacrosse. Lee also loves to travel and one of her more recent trips was to Sedona with her daughter. As a girls’ varsity ice hockey, she won the New England Prep School Ice Hockey Championship in 2000 and was named Coach of the Year.
