The elephant and Arun have found their way down the road. The spirit, values, and good times of Open Road Education now live on at Collegewise. Please join us there for all the great advice you need on applying to college. Whether you need a hour of our time, a full program, or just a few questions answered, we’ve got you covered through our in-person counseling, our online counseling, and our ever-expanding online store of college admissions goodies. Hope to see you over there soon. We’ll leave the light on for you.

Like many kids, Arun grew up with visions of someday becoming an astronaut, or maybe Pele.  Subpar math skills and even more subpar footwork kept either of those dreams from becoming reality.  However, after spending his formative years growing up in rural Ohio—which, yes, included working on a farm—he found his way to the University of Chicago.  A place that despite jokes about being the place “where fun goes to die” also managed to further stoke his sense of curiosity and passion for problem-solving (just not the number kind).

As an anthropology major, his studies focused mainly on storytelling and communicating across cultural boundaries.  Never did he imagine that his academic efforts would play such a direct role in his professional passions years down the road.  Whether essays, recommendations or interviews, Arun’s job is simple—help kids find and tell the best stories about themselves.  He created Open Road Education as an extension of the belief that while the destination can indeed be sweet, great rewards can be found in the joy, reflection and hard work of getting there.

For Students Arun Can…

  • Review academic and personal profiles and identify strategies to strengthen them if needed.
  • Share useless trivia like his favorite college-themed movies and which colleges offer a degree in Urban Tree Management.  (Who knew city trees needed oversight?)
  • Provide guidance on course selection and standardized testing plans.
  • Help identify a balanced group of schools to apply to while being mindful of the student’s profile as well as current trends in admissions.
  • Provide guidance on personal statements as well as school-specific essays.
  • Encourage families to adopt the Ohio State Buckeyes as their favorite college football team if they don’t already have one and explain why being a USC or Michigan fan is not acceptable.
  • Plan college visits as well as provide advice on making the most of touring campuses.
  • Focus on supplemental materials such as visual art portfolios, creative writing submissions, music recordings, NCAA Clearinghouse, etc.
  • Focus on special circumstances that may require additional essays or recommendations such as learning issues, unusual personal or family situations, change in schools, etc.
  • Any other services falling under the umbrella of comprehensive college counseling.
  • Encourage to enjoy the entire process and use it along the way as a means to learn more about themselves, their ambitions and their aspirations!

To Learn More, Contact Arun


For High Schools, Non-Profits, and PTAs Arun can…

  • Help improve existing college counseling materials including profiles, brag sheets, and protocols.
  • Custom design curriculums and evening programs.
  • Be a guest speaker on topics ranging from selective college admissions to writing personal statements.

To Learn More, Contact Arun