Susie Watts

Beyond the GPA: How to Give Your Student an Edge with College Admissions

Susie Watts is a trusted college admissions consultant, speaker, and the author of Beyond the GPA: How to Give Your Student an Edge with College Admissions. For more than 30 years she has guided hundreds of students and their families through the shifting landscape of admissions — translating complex requirements into clear, practical plans that produce real results.

As founder of College Direction in Denver, Colorado, Susie combines one‑on‑one advising with school partnerships and workshops that help students find the right academic and personal fit. Her work focuses on developing cohesive student profiles — activities, essays, and recommendations — so applicants present authentic, memorable stories rather than generic lists of credentials.

A seasoned communicator, Susie writes regular articles and blogs for parents and counselors, and speaks at conferences and high‑school events. Parents value her calm, no‑nonsense approach: she explains what admissions officers actually look for, points out common pitfalls, and delivers step‑by‑step strategies families can use from freshman year through application decisions.

Warm, practical, and parent‑centered, Susie’s advice is aimed at reducing anxiety and preserving family relationships while maximizing students’ chances of admission and scholarship offers. She believes every student can gain an edge when guided by realistic planning, honest storytelling, and steady support.

Living with Cancer: Lessons in Courage, Comfort and Connection

Susie Watts draws on a lifetime of lived experience and professional craft to offer a clear-eyed, compassionate companion for anyone facing cancer. A devoted mother of five and a daughter who watched a loved one through illness, Susie transformed her father’s private notes into a moving, practical book that blends memoir, hard-won insight, and usable guidance.

A seasoned writer—author of a previous book and contributor of numerous articles—she brings both storytelling skill and editorial discipline to this project. Susie’s work honors the emotional complexity of the cancer journey while cutting through overwhelm with straightforward advice, appointment scripts, journaling prompts, and resources families can use immediately.

Readers turn to Susie not just for a story, but for a steady, empathetic guide: someone who understands family dynamics, respects individual dignity, and offers realistic steps to help patients and caregivers take action, find calm, and stay connected. Her goal is simple and reader-focused: to provide comfort, clarity, and practical tools that make a hard path a little more manageable.