Our Team Goes to Battle for Your Kids
Colleen Paparella, MST
Educational Consultant
Colleen Paparella is a nationally recognized college admissions expert, educational consultant, and founder of DC College Counseling.
Through DC College Counseling, Colleen leads an experienced team that helps students and families navigate the college admissions process with strategic clarity, careful planning, and highly personalized guidance. Her work combines admissions expertise, project management, and a practical understanding of how to guide students with a wide range of academic, personal, and learning profiles. Colleen has a particular interest in supporting bright students with complex profiles, including gifted and twice-exceptional learners, as well as those with neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD, autism, and anxiety.
Prior to founding DC College Counseling, Colleen spent the first decade of her career working in undergraduate admissions and independent school college counseling in the Washington, DC and New York City metropolitan areas, including six years as a Director of College Counseling at highly regarded independent schools. Her experience on “both sides of the desk” gives students and families a clear understanding of how applications are evaluated and how to present a student’s strengths with judgment, authenticity, and strategic focus.
A trusted resource on current trends in college admissions, Colleen’s advice has been featured extensively in local and national media. She has provided professional training to educational consultants worldwide and is a professional member of IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association, and NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Colleen also serves as the Dranesville District representative on Fairfax County Public Schools’ Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities, a state-mandated Special Education Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Leadership Council of the National Small Business Association.
Colleen is a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall and Washington University in St. Louis, where she graduated with honors in three years. She later received a New York City Teaching Fellowship, through which she earned her master’s degree in education from Fordham University and became a New York State-certified English teacher. In 2023, she was selected as one of 170 small business owners nationwide for the fully funded Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses entrepreneurship program through Babson College.
Outside of her professional work, Colleen enjoys exploring DC with her two children, planning her next travel adventure, tracking down hard-to-get restaurant reservations, and volunteering with the Junior League of Washington.
Jordan Elling
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT
Jordan Elling is an experienced college admissions and counseling professional who brings a thoughtful, highly individualized approach to supporting students and families through the college admissions process.
Before joining DC College Counseling, Jordan worked in a highly selective undergraduate admissions office, where she evaluated thousands of first-year and transfer applications and supported students and families throughout the admissions process. She also played a leadership role in large-scale application review, supporting the evaluation of more than 30,000 applications annually and developing a strong understanding of how admissions decisions are made.
Jordan later transitioned into independent school college counseling, where she served as both a college counselor and senior school administrator. In that role, she worked closely with students and families throughout grades 9-12, helping them navigate college research, applications, essays, teacher recommendations, and the many decisions that shape a successful college process. Jordan is known for building strong relationships with students and tailoring her approach to each student’s unique strengths, goals, and personality.
Earlier in her career, Jordan worked in academic advising and student support at a major university, helping students navigate academic planning, major selection, and educational pathways while working closely with families, faculty, and support teams. Her experience across admissions, advising, and school counseling gives her a well-rounded perspective on the college process and the individualized guidance students need to thrive.
Jordan graduated magna cum laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Management and later earned her Master of Education in Student Affairs from Clemson University.
STACI STOCKLOS, MA
HEAD ESSAY COACH
Staci Stocklos is a talented and committed EDUCATOR WITH A PASSION FOR HELPING STUDENTS SHOWCASE THEIR BEST SELVES THROUGH WRITING.
As the head essay coach at DC College Counseling, she works with our students and essay coaches to ensure that every piece of writing is "17-year-old perfect"! Staci has over fifteen years of experience teaching middle school, high school, and college students, and she brings this expertise to serve our families at DC College Counseling.
Staci is the first point of contact for all clients as they begin brainstorming topics for their Common Application ® essays or graduate school personal statements, and she carefully helps each one select a unique and compelling approach. She also assists some students side-by-side throughout their entire writing journey, ensuring that their individualized voices shine through their work. Even the most reluctant writers love working with Staci because of the enthusiasm and support she provides through what is often the most challenging part of the application process.
After graduating from Franklin and Marshall College, Staci completed graduate study at Lehigh University and the University of Delaware. While at Lehigh, she had the opportunity to read applications on the “other side of the desk” in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and this background gives her a valuable perspective on college essays.
When she's not helping our clients, Staci trains international teachers; develops courses and curriculum frameworks; works individually with students who have special needs or those who need extra reading/writing support; and teaches dance and fitness classes for fun!
We believe in a bright future for our students
Can you imagine your argumentative son negotiating deals with investors? Can you imagine your Sephora-obsessed daughter formulating best-selling concoctions as a chemical engineer? We can. Every single teenager has unique talents, abilities, and needs -- they just need some help reaching the surface.
Do you believe there’s a “right fit”? We do, and we believe in empowering our students as they take steps toward their future goals. We personalize the process to ensure we find that ‘right fit’ for them every time.
Do you believe in the power of accountability? Through hard work and persistence, our students can create the lives of their dreams. We provide project management techniques to help them take ownership of their outcomes while developing the confidence and skills necessary for a successful future.
Do you value integrity? We are committed to the highest standards of honesty and character, and we promote authenticity in all that we do. The path to a successful future begins with core values, and we model these each day in the trusted relationships we develop with our clients.
We are not authorized, affiliated or sponsored by The Common Application, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates.
For The Common Application, Inc., website, see https://www.commonapp.org/