Meet Mark Cruver | Certified Educational Planner & College Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Cruver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, how do you think about risk?
Often, risk greets fear. And fear, in its purest form, is the one thing that will prevent an idea, adventure, or plan from moving forward. Throughout my entire life, I have “played it safe.” But, when it came to advancing my career, launching a new business, and building my brand, taking a risk here and there was inevitable. Without a reasonable measure of risk, moving to the next level in life, career, and adventures are restricted.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There are many paths to becoming an Independent Educational Consultant. Unfortunately, in this unregulated industry, many claiming to be an expert are far from it. As the saying goes, and as we’ve all heard, hanging out a sign no more makes you an expert than living in a garage makes you a car. My path to becoming an Educational Consultant is unique in many ways, paving the way to provide the expertise and knowledge needed to advise and counsel students and families throughout their journey to college. Working with high school students in building their futures has always been a passion of mine. So much so, fresh out of college, I became a youth pastor. It was evident that this specialty was not my niche. Now, some 25 years later, I have found the very place I thrive! I am in my “sweet spot,” working with students and their families to advise and counsel their way through the tall weeds of finding the best college fit and establishing a plan to get there. It’s been an incredible journey, filled with tremendous accomplishments, a lot of sweat, and many tears. After returning to my college alma mater to serve in the admissions office, eventually as the Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, I had tasted the rewards of working with students and advising on their futures. With over ten years of college admissions experience, I went on to earn a master’s of education in college student affairs from Azusa Pacific University and then a certificate of independent educational consulting from the University of California-Irvine. While the industry is unregulated, one thing is for sure; families can trust the assistance from a Certified Educational Planner, the highest designation in the industry and one I received in 2016. My dream was to create a business much more significant than just myself, something that would serve families beyond the knowledge and expertise of a single individual, but to find value in the business’s resources. This purpose is why I created Capstone Educational Consultants. From the very first idea, written on a napkin, to the brick-and-mortar boutique educational consulting practice in Peachtree City, GA, Capstone Educational Consultants has grown beyond the concept and serves the greater metro-Atlanta area with college advising, college list building, college application management, ACT/SAT test prep, subject tutoring, executive functioning support, college essay development, student resume development, career and college-major advising, and much more!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots in Atlanta would be included in a visit with my best-friend to the city. Here is where we would be guaranteed to visit: Famous Fat-Matt’s Bar-B-Que – once featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and voted Atlanta’s Best! Piedmont Park – Atlanta’s very own “Central Park” – to enjoy the scenery and throw a frisbee! Atlanta’s Historical Fox Theatre – catch a show! The Colonnade Restaurant – Atlanta’s oldest and still delicious! Ponce City Market – formerly Sears and Roebuck, now indoor market, restaurants, and rooftop adventure

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Professionally, without the inspiration, encouragement, and motivation from my fellow Certified Educational Planner and Nationally Recognized College Admission Expert, Dr. Steven R. Antonoff, I most certainly would not be the successful educational consultant I am today. Thank you Steve! Personally, the love and support from my children, my brother, and his family have been off the charts. Their continual pursuit of my journey and belief in my dream has fueled me every day to keep moving forward! Thank you!

Website: www.capstoneeducationalconsultants.com
Instagram: Capstone4u
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcruver/
Twitter: Capstone4u
Facebook: www.facebook.com/capstoneed
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/capstone-educational-consultants-peachtree-city?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU5ec9iTs0Nn_o_wJC7N3aw

Image Credits
All images are original and belong to Capstone Educational Consultants.