Welcome to On Track MoCo, where we turn the chaotic, confusing college admissions grind into a smooth, structured and celebratory journey! If you are looking to clear the signals, build a bulletproof application plan and engineer an essay that actually shares your big, beautiful life story, you have officially arrived at the right station. 

I'm Michelle Cuthrell — conductor, coach and your student’s most obnoxious cheerleader. 

I’ve spent my professional life working with words, managing monumental timelines and helping people tell powerful stories. Before founding On Track MoCo, I served for 13 years as the editor in chief of a publishing company, worked as a freelance journalist and authored a published memoir. My own educational journey started at Ithaca College, where I enjoyed the blessings, benefits and pure grace of a full-ride education as a Roy H. Park Scholar (the same Park Scholarship offered at NC State). That means I understand intimately how the right words can open doors — even for a coffee-addicted, dry-shampoo-using, living-in-yoga-pants Hot Mess Express like me! 

In 2020, I pivoted from editing inspirational life stories to helping craft college essays. Since then, I’ve edited nearly 300 essays for students who have been accepted to schools like Georgetown, Duke, West Point and more. For the last two years, I’ve had the privilege of working face-to-face with local families, building personalized, multi-year roadmaps that help high schoolers safely navigate the wild ride of admissions and pull into their best-fit college station right on time. 

The Heart Behind the Journey

Keeping it real, parenting big kids is the biggest blessing, but navigating the admissions process can feel like a total dumpster fire. I am wildly passionate about equipping teenagers. To me, this isn’t just about filling out forms, checking off boxes or meeting deadlines; it is a deeply purposeful partnership with some of my favorite people on the planet. 

I believe that every single one of these incredible students is a cherished, treasured, worthy image bearer of God. I truly believe they’re going to make a WAY bigger impact on the world than I ever did. It’s an honor, privilege and pure JOY to help these future world-changers maximize their potential, minimize their stress and tell their stories well so they can get to all the amazing places I know God has for them. 

I don’t just coach my students through the process — I mentor them, cheer them and "mom" them every single mile of the track. After two decades of parenting four wild boys through the trials of military life, managing a runaway train is basically my typical Tuesday afternoon. Keeping big people on the rails is just what I do.

My ultimate goal is to be their fiercest advocate and No. 1 fan. By the time they successfully disembark at their final destination, they are never just passengers passing through; they are forever my people. 

May Jesus and His beautiful gift of coffee be with us all on this admissions journey — and welcome aboard!