With a mission to patiently and effectively guide families through the college search and application process, Kate Cleary established College Match Plus. She draws on expertise in college admissions strategy, recruitment marketing, and branding, offering families valuable insights and knowledge about the application process. Before founding College Match Plus, Kate spent over 25 years as a senior consultant at Art & Science Group, a leading higher education strategy firm, advising colleges nationwide.
Through this experience, Kate gained extensive knowledge of college admissions, working with private and public colleges nationwide. Over the last decade, Kate has continued to visit college campuses, recognizing the importance of providing clients with up-to-date information about a college’s academic offerings, student body, facilities, campus culture, and other distinctions unique to that institution.
Since founding College Match Plus, Kate has worked with dozens of high school students in Maryland and around the country, helping them build a targeted college search list, navigate the financial aid process, and craft strong admissions essays to find the college that best suits their interests and goals.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College and is a member of both the NACAC and the IECA, the nation’s largest organization of independent educational consultants.
In her free time, Kate enjoys playing her cello, tennis, swimming, and traveling. She is the mother of two grown sons who attended Emory and Northwestern, and now is mom to Emma and Charlie, her French bulldogs.
Schedule a call with Kate to learn more about our personalized approach to help your child successfully navigate their college search and application journey.
Mary Jo Wiese, who joined College Match Plus in 2019, is an accomplished teacher, writer, and editor. Previously, she was on the faculty at Goucher College, where she taught first-year writing. She also worked closely with upper-class students to help them develop, organize, and write major research and class assignments for more than 17 years. Along with several Goucher colleagues, Mary Jo helped to establish the Goucher Prison Education Partnership, a groundbreaking college degree program for incarcerated men and women.
Her quick wit, superb editorial skills, and patience have proved invaluable during the busy essay-writing season. Mary Jo works with both high-ability students applying to extremely selective schools and with other students who require a review by more than one College Match Plus team member. Mary Jo and Kate also co-led a virtual, half-day workshop on the personal essay for the Common App in June for rising seniors.
In addition to her work with College Match Plus, Mary Jo has served as both a teacher and a board member at St. Ignatius School, a tuition-free, private Jesuit school for boys in grades 5-8 from underserved neighborhoods in Baltimore. Mary Jo is currently working on her Doctor of Divinity, a reflection of her commitment to Christian ministry and leadership.
When not enjoying reading and editing students’ college essays, Mary Jo is busy visiting her five grandchildren, baking amazing desserts, and volunteering her time to serve vital social service organizations in Baltimore. A graduate of Georgetown University, Mary Jo has two grown sons, one who attended Yale (her husband’s alma mater), and another who thankfully attended Georgetown.
