About Trailblaze

Our Approach

It’s not just about getting into college. It’s about helping students create a more meaningful future.

At Trailblaze, we take a holistic approach to working with high school students. We guide them to cultivate their interests and skills, and we support transferring their skills and interests when they take their next step—to college or elsewhere. And all along the way, we make sure they’re tending to their well-being and fostering their commitment to their community and values while keeping an eye on the big picture.

Here’s who’s a great fit for Trailblaze:

•A student who is ready to develop skills and self-awareness in order to pursue their next step

•Someone who is willing to grow, be self-reflective, and engage.

•Someone of any GPA who would like to offer something of themselves to their community.

•Someone respectful of themselves and the process.

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Our Values

What guides Trailblaze

Discovery

We meet students where they are at and lead them on a path of self-discovery, passion cultivation, and personal growth.

Meaning

We encourage students to direct their energy to what’s most meaningful to them and contribute to the people and causes they’re connected to.

Joy

We want to bring simplicity, clarity, and, most importantly, joy to the work we do with students (and to our own work, as well).

Our Founder

About Carol Lieske Williams

As a member of both Stanford and NYU’s undergraduate admissions teams for five years, I learned a lot about how schools look at student applications and what students do that makes their applications shine. I have an up-to-date sense of the applicant pool across the country, as well as the most pressing issues that admissions departments are concerned with today.

I bring that experience into my work at Trailblaze, but my goal in working with students goes way beyond the application process. I love helping young people grow, cultivate good lives, and take steps toward their dream future.

I graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Human Biology and was captain of Stanford’s Women's Water Polo team. After college, I founded a tutoring company and worked with a range of students, including those who were gifted and those with learning differences.

When I’m not working with students, I write books for young adults and middle grade readers, raise two children and an Australian Shepherd, and spend as much time possible laughing with my husband.