About

Jesse McTigue loves teaching, learning, writing, and skiing. JMAC is the culmination of her twenty-year career in education.

As a student, Jesse attended Dartmouth College, captained their NCAA ski team, and graduated with a degree in English and a minor in environmental studies. After college and for the next twenty years, she worked in independent schools in VT, CA, and CO, teaching every level of English and history from 7th through 12th grade, including IB Diploma classes. 

Her work in the classroom inspired her to pursue a Master’s in School Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, followed by a role as Director of Curriculum and Instruction at a small, progressive K-12 independent school, where she also served as a teacher, experiential trips leader, and college counselor.

She took a break from teaching to travel in Nepal with her 14-year-old daughter and visit the Montessori School her late mother helped start in Kathmandu. Before, after, and during that trip, friends called seeking advice and help with the college selection and application process. JMAC was born. 

Jesse saw the advantages her robust career in a school setting brought to building a private college counseling practice. She understands class progressions, AP, IB, honors, school profiles, application platforms, counselor and teacher recommendations (she used to write both), transcripts, and, most importantly, the time demands on high-achieving high-school students and the unique rhythm of the school year. 

She also understands the importance of building strong relationships with her students and honoring and celebrating each student’s unique strengths and passions. Additionally, as a freelance writer, she connects with students during the writing process as she also faces the blank page. She’s known for inspiring the most hesitant writers to take risks in their essays and commit to the drafting process, as well as pushing the most talented writers to new levels.