The Uncommon Impact

“As a parent whose daughter worked closely with Maggie during her college application process this year, I can say without hesitation that Maggie’s support was transformative in both tangible and more subtle ways. 

We found the college admissions process overwhelming, competitive, and emotionally taxing. From the very beginning, Maggie approached this process with a rare combination of expertise, care, and humanity. Tactically, she helped [my daughter] stay organized and on track with deadlines, and, more importantly, Maggie encouraged her to swing big and not shy away from the vulnerability of trying for hard things. 

Maggie guided [my daughter] through a deep and thoughtful reflection as she developed her personal statement. Her feedback was both affirming and rigorous, pushing [my daughter] to dig deep to connect dots she had not explored yet in her own growth trajectory. The result was a beautiful essay, but more importantly, a young person who emerged from the process with greater confidence, clarity, and self-belief.”

“If you’re someone with a lot of passions or ideas but aren’t sure how to bring them together, Uncommon Futures is perfect. They don’t just help you “get into college," they help you understand yourself and tell your story in a way that feels both authentic and powerful.”

Maggie was such a positive mentor in the college application process, not only keeping all of the due dates and to do's lined up but more importantly giving great guidance on how to write well, cheering our daughter on, and giving positive reflection that boosted overall confidence and ability. She asked great questions and did a beautiful job of teasing out what was important to our student, rather than telling them what should be important. She was organized, thoughtful and kind, and gave us (the parents) a weekly update on progress so we were up to date with where things were at. She was such a joy to work with!

“I had an amazing experience working with Uncommon Futures. The process was organised and flexible, which took a lot of stress out of the application journey. My mentor was helpful in the best ways; she guided me with ideas and structure but always let me make all the essays my own, ensuring my authentic voice shined through. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome or experience!”

“The 1:1 sessions were extremely well planned and Maggie guided both of us through every step—from crafting a balanced college list and navigating the Common Application to tracking deadlines and effectively communicating with Admissions offices. Her ability to keep him on track while easing the stress of the process was truly invaluable. I also appreciated that Maggie pushed my son to look at school’s that might not have been on his radar. She helped him draft a list that was very well balanced between reach schools and schools that he was likely to get into. In the end, I couldn't have asked for a better outcome: so far, my son has been accepted into 10 of the 13 schools he applied for, including his dream school. The college process is overwhelming and I wholeheartedly recommend Maggie and Uncommon Futures. Their guidance makes all the difference!”

“Without Wayan’s guidance during my junior year, I never would have overcome my fear of narrative writing—a skill that became crucial when crafting my personal statement senior year. Her invaluable support and expertise helped me break through writer’s block, and our discussions and brainstorming sessions allowed me to pinpoint what my writing lacked and how to refine it. Her suggestions and encouragement created a stress-free environment where I could excel. Wayan is proactive, empathetic, and an absolute delight to work with. Thanks to her, I’ll be attending my dream school this fall. I recommend her counseling services to any high schooler seeking a dedicated and thoughtful mentor through the college application process.” 

"Alex had tons of knowledge to share and really helped put me at ease. She was always willing to listen."

"I couldn't imagine having anybody else to work with. You constantly pushed me to write more vividly and pulled at my passions to help them to shine through my writing in a way I undoubtedly couldn't have done without you. I am so thankful for all of your help, not just with improving my writing skills (that I'll carry with me through future writing in college!), but also for constantly supporting me throughout the entire process and helping me to dive deeper into my feelings so that I could write about the harder topics."

“My kiddo and I loved working with Maggie on a college essay. Maggie totally “got” my kid’s quirky sensibility and passion for art and theatre, helping them to overcome a lot of resistance to talking about themselves (much less promoting themselves) and natural aversion to essay writing. Maggie has a rare ability for balancing warm support with a much-needed firm push.”

“Alex is an extremely knowledgeable person...she is so kind and has a warmth about her that lets you know you can trust her with anything."

"Uncommon Futures provides calm, helpful, and creative guidance for writing an essay you and colleges you apply to are excited about. Maggie is a rockstar who is passionate about giving students the freedom to express themselves in their own unique voices while also keeping students on track, providing creative juices, and continually showing encouragement. Writing essays for college applications is generally not considered a fun task, but Maggie will help you create an essay you are proud of and that stretches the limits of what a college essay can be."

“Wayan is an incredible mentor in every sense of the word. She has expanded my writing skills tremendously. After working with her, I have been able to paint a vivid picture of all facets of my writing and write with a much more confident voice. She is a very supportive person who has perpetually pushed me to follow my passions. Her boundless creativity continues to inspire me in college. I have loved working and learning from Wayan. It has been one of the most abundant relationships in my life.”

“We started working with Maggie when my daughter was a junior in high school. Maggie did a fantastic job laying out a process to help Sophie begin to think about what kind of schools she might be interested in. Most important, Maggie got to know Sophie and her interests and passions and offered ideas on how to leverage her interests to strengthen her application. Working with Maggie really helped Sophie understand what she needed to do to be a very strong candidate for her desired colleges.”

“During my time working with Maggie, she has provided me nothing but endless support. Aside from coming into my life as a college counselor she has acted almost like a big sister. She would listen to my situation with an open mind and heart, and helped me navigate my college transition journey as best she could. Today, I am a Junior at Boston College, I am first-gen, low-income, from a single-immigrant parent home. While Maggie may not have been the only resource in getting to college, she has definitely been one of the most influential ones in terms of getting here and staying here. Words will never describe my appreciation of Maggie and all the way she has looked out for me and aided me.”