Ricki Benjamin is the Founder and Owner of CollegeSage, a boutique college counseling firm based in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Ricki has worked as an independent college counselor since 2012, guiding high school students through the nuanced college admissions landscape. She focuses on building strong relationships with students and families to understand each student’s unique story and help them achieve positive results.
Prior to transitioning to college counseling, Ricki spent nine years at the Harvard Kennedy School. As a senior admissions officer, she oversaw the end-to-end admissions process, read and evaluated hundreds of applications each year, and advised prospective applicants.
Ricki earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Boston College, while she also gained experience in residential life and career services at two Boston-area universities. Before beginning her career in higher education, Ricki worked in management consulting at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Pennsylvania State University and is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Families return to Ricki time and again for her thoughtful guidance and steady support during what can often be a stressful process. She takes pride in getting to know each student well and helping them find colleges where they will be happy and successful.
Ricki lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts with her husband, two teens and their Labrador. They enjoy spending time outdoors and have a family goal of hiking all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks.
Lauren Abad joins the CollegeSage team after working at several Massachusetts high schools supporting students with their academics, post-secondary planning and social-emotional well-being.
She was previously named the Massachusetts School Counseling Intern of the year after graduating with her Master of Arts in School Counseling from Assumption University.
Prior to working in education, Lauren worked in marketing, supporting universities with their marketing and communications efforts, including student recruitment campaigns and university branding initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst where she was an active member of the campus community.
Lauren’s counseling background helps her connect with students as they navigate both the process and emotions involved applying to college and preparing for the next step in their lives. She enjoys getting to know students and their families as she guides them through the college application process.
Lauren lives in Boxborough, Massachusetts with her husband, two sons and their golden retriever.
Rebecca Friedman has spent the past several years helping students navigate the college admissions process with a thoughtful, personalized approach.
She works closely with each student to create a plan that reflects their strengths, interests, and goals, providing guidance and support throughout the journey.
Before transitioning to college counseling, Rebecca served as Director of Admissions at Gann Academy, where she reviewed applications and interviewed hundreds of prospective students. This experience gives her valuable insight into the admissions process and helps students approach interviews and interactions with admissions representatives with confidence and authenticity.
Rebecca earned a dual degree in Comparative Religion and Spanish from Tufts University, where she was an All-American lacrosse player. She also holds a Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California, Riverside.
As the parent of four children who each followed their own path through college and graduate school, Rebecca understands that there is no single definition of success and values the individuality of every student.
Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys running, hiking, hot yoga, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
