Michael J. Pina

For more than 20 years, Michael J. Pina has guided students and families through one of life’s most meaningful transitions — finding the right college. His experience spans both sides of the admissions table — reviewing and selecting candidates in highly selective processes and successfully advocating for scholars at some of the most discerning colleges and universities in the world — and very few professionals in this field can claim that same depth on both.

As a college counseling leader at premier independent day and boarding schools in California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, Michael built a reputation for meeting students exactly where they are and helping them reach further than they imagined. As a college counselor, he led a teams of college counseling professionals, served as a faculty advisor and member of Administrative Leadership Teams, and contributed to committees spanning academics, educational policy, marketing, diversity and inclusion, and a couple of school NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation processes. At the University of Richmond, he served as the institution’s first Director of Admission for Diversity Outreach and Partnerships, overseeing diversity recruitment, international outreach, and off-campus programming — working to attract and enroll talented students from all backgrounds, including first-generation college students and community-based organization scholars.

Michael has personally visited more than 350 colleges and universities across 45 U.S. states and territories, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia, the UAE (United Arab Emirates), and South Africa — a breadth of firsthand knowledge that lets him match students to schools with confidence and specificity that few advisors can offer. His counselees have enrolled at outstanding institutions around the world, with families consistently reporting that the process expanded their thinking and strengthened their student’s confidence and ambition.

His national influence is equally significant. Michael served five years on the Common Application Board of Directors, and has held board and advisory roles with the Partnership for the Future, Wolfeboro Camp School, PCACAC (Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling), NEACAC (New England Association for College Admission Counseling), and advisory boards at colleges and universities across the country. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Trinity College in Hartford — where he also studied abroad in Spain and Italy — and his J.D. from Boston College Law School. Most recently, as Head of College Pathways at the Harlem Children’s Zone, he led efforts to broaden access and transform outcomes for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Featured Talks, Media & Speaking Engagements

Michael is a sought-after voice in the field, having spoken virtually and in person at schools, conferences, and scholar programs across the country and internationally. He has delivered keynote addresses for NECBAC (Northeast Consortium Bridging Access to College) and Cristo Rey, presented at PCACAC (Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling) and AMISA (American International Schools in the Americas) — including an international session on the Digital SAT in São Paulo, Brazil — and appeared as a guest on the Anchor Splash Podcast. His school-based programs span institutions including Horace Mann, Chapin School, The Spence School, Avenues NYC, Packer Collegiate, The Blake School, Shady Side Academy, UNIS (United Nations International School), Columbia Grammar & Prep, Cate School, Dunn School, Canterbury School, Westminster School, and Gilman School, to name a few. He has conducted case study presentations across major metro regions including New York, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Tampa, and Kansas City, facilitated college counselor training for the Harlem Children’s Zone and Chicago Public Schools, led multi-year writing workshops and college programs for Harlem Village Academies and Maggie Walker Governor’s School, and served as a closing speaker for University of Richmond Oliver Hills Scholars and San Diego High Tech High School’s Elevate Scholars programs. He has also taken part in college fairs and admissions panels including William & Mary College Day and a Dean’s Panelsat St. Edward’s School in Florida and Casady School in Oklahoma.

Selected Recorded Presentations:

•  Strategizing College Lists With Your Students — College Guidance Network (CGN)

•  College List Strategy Talk — College Guidance Network (CGN), YouTube

•  Building a Balanced College List — College Guidance Network (CGN), Vimeo

•  What’s a Fly-In If You’re Not Flying In? — The Anchor Exchange: A PCACAC Podcast, Spotify

In the Press

His expertise has been featured in national media, including Forbes, where he was quoted in Brennan Barnard’s widely read piece “Parenting the Disappointed College Applicant”(December 2022). Advising parents on how to support students through difficult admissions decisions, Michael cautioned against comparing outcomes across students: “Avoid talking about what happened this year or last year to other students. Your children want you to be happy and proud of them, and this exacerbates the problem.”

Beyond the Work

What makes Michael different isn’t just the credentials. He’s also a father of four who has navigated the college admissions process personally — with all the late-night conversations, the anxiety, and the hope that come with it. When he’s not working, you’ll find him on the water fishing, paddle boarding, or kayaking, on the golf course, listening to music, or traveling with his family.

"We make the college admission process both an enlightening experience and a shared family adventure."