Business & Tech

College Transitions Aims to Serve Students in Athens and Beyond

Dave Bergman, Andrew Belasco and Michael Trivette have started a business focused on college admissions.

1.   Name of business

College Transitions

2.   What does your business do? (For example, cut hair, paint houses, cook food, cut grass, write grants, help people get in good physical shape, etc.)

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College Transitions provides comprehensive college planning services to students and families in and around the Athens area.  We offer individualized guidance on all aspects of the college admission and transition process, and are committed to ensuring that clients receive the ongoing, personalized and responsive support they need to earn admission and achieve success at a college that is right for them.   

3.   How long have you been doing this?

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I have been working in the college admissions industry for more than ten years.  In the past decade, I have worked as a high school counselor, college admissions consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep and as a research consultant at the federal level for the Congressional Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.  I also volunteer as alumnus interviewer for Georgetown University, and help the admission team at my alma mater evaluate prospective applicants. 

4.   Why are you doing this in Athens?

Quite frankly, my family and I have fallen in love with the Athens area and we wish to make a life for ourselves right here.  I came to the Athens area three years ago as a PhD student (graduating this year) and was immediately impressed by the community’s culture, hospitality, and energetic vibe.  I am originally from Philadelphia and have resided in several major cities, including Boston, New York and Washington, DC; however, I have never enjoyed a place as much as I do Athens, and I am proud to call Athens my home.   

5.   What are the advantages of owning a small business?

There are many, including flexibility, better earning opportunities and control over the nature and quality of services I provide to students and families.  Advantages unique to my business also include having the opportunity to guide students through a very important life stage, and to witness them grow both academically and personally.  It’s a tremendously rewarding job. 

6.   I If you could change one thing about owning a small business, what would that be?

I have never been entirely comfortable with the self-promotion involved in growing and sustaining a business, although I know marketing is important.  Ideally, I would spend all of my time working with students. 

 7.   Do you have employees? Are they temporary, part-time, full-time, new or long term?

I have two partners, Michael Trivette and Dave Bergman.  Michael is also located in the Athens area and has an extensive background in college admission and planning.  He will be earning a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Georgia this spring. 

8.   Do you own the place where you do business, or do you move around (like maybe a dog trainer would do) or rent space (to store your equipment)?

We do not currently own a physical space, primarily because we like to meet with clients at a location of their choosing.  We pride ourselves on being accessible, flexible, and extremely responsive, and we work according to our families’ needs and schedule.   

9.   Is anyone else in town doing what you do?

No, not to our knowledge.  There may be other education planners, but I don’t believe there are any companies focusing exclusively on college planning.  Further, we are one of only several college planning companies in the country that provide services beyond a student’s senior year of high school.  Having published research in the field of higher education, we are aware of the many obstacles that prevent even the most highly accomplished students from earning a postsecondary degree.  Therefore, we feel it’s essential to ensure that our students enroll and persist at a good-fit college, where they can thrive and succeed.  You can visit our website, www.collegetransitions.com, to find out more about the unique services we provide. 

10.               Do you like what you do?

I love what I do, and want to devote the rest of my professional life to college planning.  There is a significant need for better college-related information and guidance in the U.S., as evident by our high levels of student debt and relatively low rates of college degree attainment; so I believe that my work has purpose, and I am excited about helping students make college-related choices that are self-empowering, financially sound, and which promote academic and professional success.   

11.               Do you have a story to share about how your started your business. (“I realized one day that, yes, I could actually design websites myself. So I started doing this and never looked back.”)

My partners and I started this business for very personal reasons.  As educators, we were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the quality and character of independent college guidance in our respective areas.  Motivated to change the tone, we aimed to launch a business that would bring perspective and balance to college admissions planning. Given our prior work with students and prior experience in college counseling, we were quick to develop a program of services, as well as a company philosophy, which emphasizes fit over prestige and promotes the college admissions process as a means to self-discovery and growth.  For the past year, we have worked hard to implement our approach, developing a website, marketing materials, and numerous college planning tools and modules that are unique to College Transitions and that help students navigate the college admissions and transition process.  Fortunately, we have prospered in our first year and owe much of our success to the students and families with whom we have worked previously in an individual capacity. Now that we have ramped up operations in Athens, we’re hoping to attract a number of new clients residing in this area specifically. 

12 . What are your plans for the future (regarding your business), the future being the next five years?

We plan to concentrate our efforts on establishing deep and productive relationships with students and families in the Athens area.  We also hope to become an integral part of the Athens community, while collaborating with schools and other organizations to enhance college opportunities for Athens youth.   


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