About Matt & Your College Fit

Matt Burns, M.Ed.

Throughout my career my primary goal has been to help my students and clients make positive decisions based upon complete and accurate information. I believe that the college admission process is an important developmental step that has a very significant impact on each person’s future. As a college counselor I work with my students to develop and implement academic plans that will prepare them to continue their education. I concentrate on helping my students determine what they are interested in, what their goals are, and what they need to learn and do in order to make their dreams a reality. With this information in hand, the job of finding a college that will fit the student is much more manageable and results in better outcomes.

All of my professional experience has been focused on working with students and and their families. In 1985 I began working as a teacher at the middle and high school levels in the Seattle area. After earning my Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1995, I began a new phase of my career, working as a school counselor in a number of excellent public high schools in the Puget Sound region. Between 2008 and 2019 I founded and coordinated the Tacoma College & Career Fair.

As a professional, I continually work to update my skills and knowledge base by participating in professional development activities and visiting college campuses. I am a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admissions Counseling (PNACAC), and the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC). I served as President of PNACAC,  and was a member of the NACAC Affiliate Presidents Council.

I regularly attend the HECA, PNACAC and NACAC annual conferences as well as other college information sessions. Finally, my work is guided by the principles found in NACAC's Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission.