Your College Admissions Guides
When I was in high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life, and, due to my family circumstances, I didn’t really see college as an option for me. So, I made good grades and scored well on exams, but I didn’t really think about the future. After high school, I floundered a bit. I worked odd jobs, became a parent, and realized quickly that life without a college degree was hard. When I decided to go to college, I went to the community college in my hometown of Abilene, TX (Cisco Junior College) and then transferred to McMurry University because it was the closest school to my house. I changed my major multiple times, but eventually completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Studies with a focus on teaching English. Once I began teaching, though, I realized that, although I loved working with high school students, teaching wasn’t the career for me. So, I returned to my hometown (where I had babysitters!) and completed my Masters of Education Degree in Counseling and Human Development at Hardin-Simmons University.
After finishing my degree, I became a counselor for pregnant and parenting students at a co-op serving seven small school districts in West Texas before transitioning into a traditional school counselor role at Clyde High School (a small town outside of Abilene) for one year. Then I moved to Austin. At Anderson High School in Austin ISD, I was a counselor, lead counselor, and college/career counselor. In 2015, I was awarded Counselor of the Year for Austin ISD. After seven years at Anderson, I decided to try something new and became an assistant principal at Crockett High School for two years. I missed counseling. So, I moved to Westlake High School (one of the top comprehensive high school in Texas) in Eanes ISD, where I was an academic/college counselor for three years before becoming an Independent Educational Consultant when we moved from Austin to Fort Worth in July 2021. From August 2021-March 2023, I also worked for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board providing professional development related to college and career to counselors, teachers, and administrators across the state. Although my focus now is on my work as an IEC, I continue to consult on a part-time basis with a program that provides college, career, and military readiness support to rural schools. During my years in education, I have worked with students from many different backgrounds – rural and inner city, high achieving students and struggling students, students who knew what they wanted out of the college experience and students who had no idea. I have helped students apply to Ivy League schools and local community colleges. I am passionate about guiding students to figure out their future goals and helping them navigate the steps to achieve them. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, craft making, and spending time with my family! When in Austin, I can often be found walking around the Lady Bird Lake trail, exploring the greenbelt, and eating at my favorite restaurants. In Fort Worth, I can be found exploring new (to me) places! I am a professional member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association), HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association), and TACAC (Texas Association for College Admissions Counseling).
Trisha Uhler
Joe Uhler
I was determined to work with students when, in 1997, I moved to Austin from Fort Worth and was hired by an after-school program for middle school students. Upon graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in English and a secondary teaching certificate, I was hired to work at Anderson High School in 2002 teaching English I, English III, and English IV. During the rest of my time at Anderson, I taught English I Pre-AP, English II Pre-AP, and English I. Although I had no formal experience in coaching speech and debate, at the end of my first year of teaching, I was recruited by two of the student-leaders of the Anderson Speech and Debate Team to be the head coach. When I began coaching, the Anderson team had around six active participants. By the time I left Anderson in 2015, the team had grown to more than 75 members and consistently finished in the top 10 schools in Texas at the Texas Forensic Association’s State Tournament. I moved from Anderson to Westlake High School to teach English and build the speech and debate team. When I was hired at Westlake, the Westlake Speech and Debate Team consisted of around 25 members. When I left Westlake in 2021, the team had grown to more than 70 members. During my time at Westlake, I was awarded two Golden Apples for Excellence in Teaching (2019-2020 and 2020-2021), an award voted on annually by students. As coach of the Westlake Speech and Debate Team, my students won TFA State in Public Forum Debate, reached the final round of the Tournament of Champions, and competed in late elimination rounds at the NSDA National Tournament. On two separate occasions, I served the state of Texas as the President of the Texas Forensic Association – the largest state speech and debate organization in the country. During most of my summers, I was the Director of Public Forum Debate at The University of Texas’ speech and debate camp (UTNIF). My skills as a speech and debate coach and English teacher will be vital in helping students find their path. After devoting countless hours to working with students on their performances, my students competed at the highest level of competition in front of the most critical judges. With my assistance, my students were able to appeal to a broad audience and win at competitions all over the country. The students I coached have attended the top colleges in the nation, including Harvard, The University of Chicago, Georgetown, and Stanford. As a National Board recognized English teacher for nearly twenty years, I honed my skills as an editor of student essays. I am committed to helping students find their voice, and I will make sure that they are confident in the essays that they submit. What I enjoyed most about teaching and coaching was developing relationships with students and motivating them to do their best. My approach was always student-centered, and the success of the speech and debate teams that I coached was due in large part to my desire to empower students. As a college advisor, I am determined to put the students we work with first, and I know that my work will illustrate my commitment to their success. I currently teach and coach speech and debate at Flower Mound High School in the DFW area.