Polly Kimberly
Polly is a college counseling professional who possesses a passion for fostering personal and academic growth through students’ high school years, and particularly through her students’ college processes. In addition to working as an independent college counselor, Polly is a 30-year veteran of schools who has served as an English teacher, college counselor, diversity practitioner, and coach. Through the relationships she builds with students and their families, Polly facilitates students’ development and helps them to seize upon their schools’ academic and extracurricular opportunities to experience intellectual challenges, cultivate critical thinking, and identify and nurture their passions and authentic voices.
A graduate of Princeton University and Middlebury College’s master's program at the Bread Loaf School of English, Polly began her career as a "triple threat" (English teacher, coach, and houseparent) at a boarding school.
She understands the power of community and authentic personal connections; these values are the foundation upon which she builds relationships with students during their college search, and they underpin her college guidance process. With 30 years of experience, Polly steers families towards colleges that are “fits” for their student, environments in which the student can build community and cultivate deep connections. These are the primary ingredients of student success in college and beyond.
Polly is also the parent of three (launched!) college graduates. She lives in Philadelphia with her wife, two dogs, and cat, and in her free time she can be found jogging on Forbidden Drive, chopping vegetables for some kind of soup, or catching up on back issues of The New Yorker.
