Symone Speech, an OPRF and Georgetown University Alumna, and retired professional volleyball player, returns to Oak Park as she opens the new office for Compass College Advisory.
“I am so excited to be back in Oak Park” states Speech. “I have been gone for 8 years, have been all over the world to places like Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Portugal and my heart still belongs to Oak Park.”
Compass College Advisory was founded by Pamela Ellis, MBA, PhD, The Education Doctor®. She is an award-winning educational consultant whose experience includes advising school districts, community organizations, and institutes of higher education. She has visited more than 500 colleges and universities internationally to gain insight into their varying cultures and to explore the range of academic and social opportunities available to students on campus. Her research areas include high school to college transition, parent engagement, African-American males in education, and college completion.
She is a highly sought-after speaker and author of the best-selling book What to Know Before They Go: College Edition, which helps school leaders, counselors, mentors and parents/caregivers support teens toward higher education success. Dr. Pamela graduated from Stanford University and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and she earned a doctorate from the Stanford University School of Education.
The creation of the company was driven by her two passions of learning and helping kids thrive into successful, happy adults. “The vision came to me after becoming a mother, when I knew that I wanted to make higher education accessible, safe, and equitable for teenagers around the country, like my own, who were being undervalued in classrooms because of their race, gender, or socioeconomic background” states Dr. Ellis. Since its founding, Compass College Advisory’s services have helped 95% of their students be accepted into their top-choice colleges as well as saved families over $30 million through scholarship awards.
With the first office being opened in Dayton, Ohio, the company’s success has allowed them to expand. In addition to the virtual services and resources the company provides, Dr. Pamela and the Compass College Advisory team have opened a new location, 1010 Lake St Suite 200, as a place for the company’s clients to receive essay coaching, SAT/ACT prep, and counseling. This location will be run by Symone Speech.
Symone will not only help Compass with the college recruiting process but she will be in charge of the NCAA recruiting process as well. As one of the top 100 recruits in the country in 2015, she was very heavily recruited by universities and fully understands the intensity of the process.
“I remember having a really hard time with the college process” states Speech. “When I went to OPRF it would have been huge to have access to something like this. I think I would have enjoyed the process more and would not have been nearly as stressed out as I was. I really think Compass will thrive here and I can’t wait to start working with our students in our new home.”
Symone’s college experience as well as time spent as a professional athlete overseas has made her an expert in this field. Not only will she be able to help your teen with managing the process when it comes to visits, calls, and making the best decision, she can also provide counseling when your teen is struggling mentally with things such as burn out, anxiety, and other mental stressors that can come with being a student-athlete.
For more information visit compasscollegeadvisory.com or call +1312.805.7299.
