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ABOUT COLLEGE AUNTIE
Real Talk. Real Support. Real Success.
Before College Auntie was a platform, it was a feeling.
The feeling of walking onto a college campus excited, overwhelmed, and unsure who to ask for help.
The feeling of knowing you’re capable—but still trying to figure out the rules, the systems, and whether you really belong here.
College is more than classes and credits. It’s identity-shaping. It’s pressure-filled. And for far too many students, it’s navigated alone.
College Auntie exists so you don’t have to do that.
Why College Auntie
Exists
This isn’t just a brand. It’s personal.
I know what it’s like to be full of potential but low on support. To be smart, motivated, and still confused by unspoken rules, academic systems, and expectations no one ever explains out loud.
After more than 15 years working with students—from high school scholars to first-generation college students to engineering majors—I noticed something consistent: The students who struggled the most weren’t lazy or incapable. They were unsupported, under-informed, and expected to “figure it out” on their own.
Over time, it became clear that this work wasn’t accidental.
I was becoming the person I once needed—and the person I kept seeing students search for.
College Auntie was created to help students thrive, not just survive—to offer guidance without judgment, accountability without shame, and encouragement that actually feels real.
"Be who you needed when you were younger."
Michelle Udeli, Founder & CEO of College Auntie
OUR MISSION
College Auntie equips students and recent graduates with practical skills, strategic guidance, and supportive community—so they can succeed beyond college and step into leadership with confidence and clarity.
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OUR VISION
A future shaped by confident, capable leaders who walk in purpose and are equipped to solve complex problems and create meaningful change across communities, industries, and society.
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ROOTED IN PURPOSE
The values that shape our work and the next generation of leaders and change agents we’re forming.
Value #1
Knowledge Builds Confidence
When you understand how college works, you stop guessing and start moving with confidence. Clear information helps you speak up, make smart decisions, and advocate for yourself.
You can’t move confidently in a system you don’t understand.
Value #3
Growth Happens in Community
You were never meant to figure this out alone. We believe growth happens best when students are challenged, supported, and surrounded by people who want to see them win.
Support and accountability work better together.
Value #5
Well-Being Sustains Impact
Rest, boundaries, and mental health matter. We help students protect their energy so success is sustainable—not exhausting.
You can’t build a meaningful future on empty.
Value #2
Skills Create Momentum
Grades aren’t the whole story. We focus on real-life skills—time management, communication, emotional intelligence, and leadership—so you’re prepared for what comes next.
Real skills help you thrive beyond college.
Value #4
Courage Through Discomfort
Growth doesn’t come from staying comfortable. We call this being "SQUISHY". Being squishy means showing up before you feel ready—speaking up, starting the thing, asking for help, and trusting yourself enough to try.
Who you’re becoming lives just outside your comfort zone.
Who’s Behind College Auntie?
Hey! I’m Michelle N. Udeli, but around here people call me College Auntie 👋🏾
I help students who feel behind, overwhelmed, or “not enough” build confidence, advocate for themselves, and actually enjoy college—not just survive it.
College Auntie was born from my own journey.
I entered college as a conditional admit in engineering—capable, but anxious and unsure how to navigate spaces that weren’t built with me in mind. I struggled to speak up, froze during presentations, and graduated with a 2.3 GPA and a lot of shame, not because I lacked ability, but because no one ever taught me how college really works.
I had to learn the hard way—through mentors, missteps, and growth.
That path led me to service as a City Year corps member, where I learned to do “squishy things” (the brave, uncomfortable moments that grow you). I later entered grad school conditionally again, earned a 3.9 my first semester, and completed a thesis that reshaped my confidence and voice.
Today, I’ve spent over a decade designing and leading student success programs, most recently as Program Director of the Maryland Promise Program at the University of Maryland—the university’s flagship scholarship and leadership program.
In every role, I’ve done the same work:
helping underestimated students understand systems, find their voice, and believe they belong.
That’s what College Auntie is.
This isn’t just a brand—it’s redemptive work.
It’s the support I wish I had at 18, 20, and 24.
It’s real talk, practical tools, and a soft place to land when college feels like a lot.
If you’ve ever felt like you got in “through the side door,” like everyone else got the rulebook except you—
You’re my people.
You belong here.
And Auntie’s got you. 🩵
More Than a Resource—It’s a Movement
College Auntie is changing the way students experience college—one real conversation, one meaningful connection, and one honest tool at a time.
How We're Different
Let’s be honest—college advice is everywhere. But information alone isn’t the problem. Context, care, and delivery matter.
College Auntie meets students where they actually are, with honest conversations, relatable content, and guidance that respects your lived experience. This isn’t about quick tips or doing more—it’s about changing how you experience college.
From struggling in silence to being supported out loud.
From just getting by to showing up for yourself.
From feeling overlooked to knowing you belong.
College Auntie isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement rooted in the belief that students deserve better support, clearer guidance, and spaces where they can grow with confidence.
Our Promise:
You don’t have to figure this out alone. We're here to walk with you—every step of the way. 🩵
Where We’re Headed
College should be more than a checklist. It should be a launchpad.
College Auntie is growing into a global platform that meets students where they are—through content, workshops, accountability spaces, and leadership development tools that feel relevant, affirming, and real.
The heart will always stay the same:
No student should feel invisible while building their future.
Pull Up a Chair
Whether you’re trying to finish the semester strong, build better habits, or simply feel like yourself again—you don’t have to figure it out alone.
If you’re ready for guidance, encouragement, and real support, you’re already in the right place.
Welcome to College Auntie. 🩵