Jesse McTigue talks to a group of high school teens about their academic plans.
A Telluride skier in a racing suit and helmet navigating a slalom course, leaning into a turn with snow spray around their skis.
A Telluride student, tending to green plants growing in raised garden beds inside a greenhouse.
A ballet dancer in front of Telluride mountain-scape practicing outdoors with fall foliage and cloudy sky.
A smiling young Telluride high school student standing in front of colorful abstract wall art, with part of black and white textured artwork visible on the right.
A Telluride athlete in a maroon hoodie and black shorts sitting on the bleachers at a sports field, looking to the side with mountains and trees in the background.
A young student with blond hair smiling, standing in front of a display of colorful skis.

FIND YOUR THROUGHLINE

College counseling that helps students connect who they are with where they're going.

The strongest college applications aren't manufactured—they're discovered.

Through thoughtful reflection, strategic planning, and authentic storytelling, we help students uncover the patterns that connect their experiences, clarify their goals, and guide them through every step of the college admissions journey.

Schedule an Introductory Meeting

What is a Throughline?

A throughline is the connecting thread running through a student's experiences, interests, values, strengths, and aspirations. It isn't something we invent — it's something we uncover together. Once students recognize that thread, everything becomes clearer:

  • 🎓 Which colleges fit

  • 🔎 Which opportunities deserve more attention

  • 🌟 Which activities matter most

  • 📝 Which essay they should write

  • 📣 What story only they can tell

JMAC Students Have Earned Acceptance to:

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A high school student and Jesse McTigue sitting outdoors at Telluride High School discussing college plans.
“It’s really hard to start looking at colleges before you look within and ask yourself, “Who am I? What’s important to me?””
— Jacques Steinberg, co-author The College Conversation

The Throughline Method

Most college counseling starts with rankings, admissions odds, majors, activities, and testing. Throughline starts somewhere else — by helping students understand themselves, because students who understand themselves make better decisions, tell stronger stories, and ultimately build more compelling college applications.

  • Reflect

    — Students explore their experiences, interests, strengths, values, and aspirations.

  • Discover

    — Together, we identify the patterns and connections that reveal each student's unique throughline.

  • Align

    — We use those insights to shape academic choices, extracurricular involvement, college fit, and admissions strategy.

  • Communicate

    — Students present a clear, authentic, and compelling picture of themselves through essays, activities, interviews, and conversations with admissions officers and coaches.

Throughline believes that when approached intentionally, the college process becomes an opportunity for students to better understand themselves — which leads to stronger decisions, more authentic applications, and, ultimately, outstanding college outcomes. Admissions success is the outcome. Self-understanding is the advantage. The process creates both.

JMAC Testimonials

  • "Jesse has a powerful approach to the college process: she digs deep to uncover students' interests, skills, and passions. She guided both my kids through this journey in completely different ways. My son wanted to ski NCAA and she helped him navigate senior year applications, deferrals and then another round of gap year grit. Colby is a perfect fit for him and he crushed his freshman year. Jesse also helped my daughter find her voice and highlight her strengths through strong essays and applications. She chose Northeastern, a great fit given her demonstrated interest in study abroad and access to real world experience and internships."

    A parent from Vail, CO

  • "Jesse has been an incredible guide through the college admissions process. She takes the time to truly get to know each student, which allows her to personalize her approach and help them identify colleges that are genuinely the right fit. She brings clarity and strategy to what can otherwise feel overwhelming, while providing the perfect balance of kind, reassuring support and firm accountability. In other words, she somehow manages to keep our daughter moving forward without sounding like her parents—which, from this very thankful parent’s perspective, is a remarkable gift. We feel so fortunate to have Jesse in our corner!"

    L parent from Ann Arbor, MI

  • "Thank you so much for sharing your time, expertise, and kindness with S when he needed it most. You’ve helped him present himself in the best way possible and I am so grateful."

    M. parent from Chicago, IL

  • "Navigating the college admission process with Jesse was a lifesaver. During the whirlwind of junior and senior years, Jesse kept my daughter focused and on track without overwhelming her – or me!"

    K. parent from CO

  • "Words can’t express my gratitude for your help on my college essays. We’ll never for sure what exactly got me into Dartmouth, but I personally believe I couldn’t have made it without you. Thank you for helping me make my dreams come true."

    P. student from CO