Amanda Sterk

College UnMazed

Welcome to the official author page for College UnMazed, your trusted resource for simplifying the complex world of college admissions! Through our best-selling guides and curriculum, we aim to empower parents, students, and counselors to navigate the college admissions process with confidence and clarity.

Our books are thoughtfully designed to demystify the application process, from understanding financial aid to crafting compelling essays and identifying the best-fit colleges. Whether you're a parent supporting your child, a student taking charge of your future, or an educational consultant guiding others, College UnMazed provides the tools, strategies, and insights you need to succeed.

In addition to our books, we’ve developed comprehensive curriculum resources that equip educators and consultants with step-by-step lesson plans, activities, and real-world examples to teach college readiness. We believe that when families and educators are armed with the right information, the path to college becomes less overwhelming—and more exciting.

With a mission to ensure every student finds their best-fit college and career path, College UnMazed is proud to support thousands of families across the country.

Books by College UnMazed

College UnMazed: Your Guide to Navigate the High School to College Process

The go-to resource for families tackling the admissions process, filled with expert advice, practical tools, and actionable steps to make college planning stress-free.

College UnMazed: Your Guide to Dual Enrollment

In this concise, yet informative mini-book from College UnMazed, you will embark on a journey through the intricacies of the dual enrollment process. Written by nationally recognized authors with a combined 40 years of experience in K-12 and higher education administration, it provides students and parents with a personable but expert perspective to help through the beneficial world of dual enrollment.

College UnMazed: Parent Guide

The College UnMazed Parent Guide helps guide parents through the college process alongside their student. It is designed to provide the tools and resources for deeper, more robust conversations around informed college decision making.

College UnMazed: Your Guide to Design & Document Your Homeschool

In this concise yet informative book from College UnMazed, you will journey through the intricacies of designing and documenting your homeschool. Written by nationally recognized educational consultants with a combined 40+ years of homeschooling experience, this book provides parents and students with a personable but expert perspective to help them navigate through the beneficial world of homeschooling high school as excellent preparation for college.

College UnMazed: School Curriculum in a Box

The Curriculum in a Box includes the College UnMazed student workbook, parent letters, and detailed lesson plans in printed hard copies. The included USB Drive contains ready-made slide decks, editable versions of the parent letters for each chapter, copies of workbook pages for printing/photocopying for each chapter. Also included is 1 box of laminated Conversation Cards that showcase 34 detailed infographics to share with students and parents. The My College Fit Priorities Card Sort Activity. The deck includes 24 College Fit Priority cards to build college knowledge, identify which priorities are more and less important to you, and reduce stress while building confidence in the college search process.

Selected Reviews

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"This book changed how my family approached the college admissions process. It broke everything down into manageable steps, and for the first time, I felt confident helping my child plan for college!" — Sarah M., Parent

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"As a high school counselor, I’m always on the hunt for practical tools to share with students. The College UnMazed curriculum has everything I need to make a real difference in their lives!" — John T., School Counselor

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"What I love about College UnMazed is how comprehensive it is. It doesn’t just focus on getting into college but also on finding the right college. This perspective makes all the difference." — Melissa K., Educational Consultant

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"The workbook is a game-changer for students like me. I had no idea how to organize my resume or write a college essay until I used this. It made everything so much easier!" — Tyler L., High School Senior

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"This guide gave us the confidence to homeschool through high school, knowing we were on the right track for college preparation. Highly recommended!" — Jennifer T., Homeschooling Mom

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"The practical advice and supportive tone make this a standout resource for homeschooling parents. It’s like having an educational consultant right by your side!" — Lisa M., Educational Consultant

About Our Authors:

Dr. Amanda Sterk has worked in education for 20 years, as a teacher, school counselor, counselor educator, higher education administration and college advising. In all her roles, she has focused on student programming and curriculum with a focus on increasing communication and information to all stakeholders for college and career readiness. Dr. Sterk is active in community and state programs, such as the Florida Alliance of Dual Enrollment Partnerships, Florida College Access Network, and FutureMakers (Talent Hub), National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, and many others. After 20 years in education, she brings her passion for helping students realize their full potential through academic planning and college decision-making. Her responsibilities include content creation, presentation, and collaborator relations.

Dr. Timothy Poynton is a Professor and Counselor Educator committed to improving the transition from high school into young adulthood through his research and teaching. A former school counselor, Dr. Poynton is currently an associate professor in the department of Counseling & School Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Dr. Poynton has published several research articles and book chapters related to school counseling, career development, and college readiness, and was recognized in 2011 as the Counselor Educator of the Year by the American School Counselor Association. His responsibilities include technology, school-based analysis, and assessment.

Dr. Richard Lapan is a professor, counselor educator, and psychologist committed to transforming the profession of school counseling from an ancillary support service to a comprehensive program central to the academic, personal development, and social justice/ diversity mission of every school. The effectiveness of these efforts was recognized in 2006 when Dr. Lapan won the prestigious Counselor Educator of the Year award from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). His responsibilities include research, innovation, and curriculum development.

Dr. Michele Evard is an educational consultant who assists homeschooling families during the K-12 years and college application process. While homeschooling her three children and mentoring others, she co-founded Many Rivers Unschoolers and later served as president of the Voyagers, Inc Homeschool Cooperative and Resource Center. Dr. Evard is an active member of multiple organizations including Independent Educational Consultants Association, National Association for College Admission Counseling, SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) and the Digital Learning Collaborative.

Holly Ramsey is an educational consultant specializing in working with homeschoolers and their parents to create clear, concise, and compelling college applications and counselor documents. She is a professional member of Independent Educational Consultants Association, where she served in a variety of roles and is a recipient of IECA’s Making a Difference Award. Ms. Ramsey is also a member of the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling. In addition to homeschooling her own five children, Holly taught writing to hundreds of homeschoolers through Brave Writer™ and mentored new Brave Writer™ instructors.

Dr. Sarah Stashkiw has over 20 years of experience in education as a middle school Spanish teacher, College Success Seminar professor, and higher education administrator dedicated to increasing students’ access to college through dual enrollment and work on college and career preparation. She currently serves as the Director for P-20 Educational Partnerships at the College of Lake County and holds leadership roles in state and national dual enrollment organizations: The Illinois Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships and the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.