About
Clarity. Confidence. Connection.
Hi, I’m Brad Cake, and I love helping kids figure out their futures. I’ve worked as a teacher and school-based college counselor in Austin, Texas, since 2008, and what truly motivates me are the relationships I form with students and how I get to celebrate their wins with them.
I founded Cake College Consulting to help students and their families navigate this complex and stressful journey by providing expert clarity, fostering confidence in students, and building meaningful connections with them and their families.
Besides helping students get into the colleges of their dreams, I devote about 93.8% of my free time to some form of soccer. Verde Listos!
Growing up in the great state of Ohio, I learned how to be a good midwesterner— eat corn, play baseball, and treat everyone with kindness. Lured by the warmer weather and beautiful campus fountains, I attended Furman University for my undergraduate studies. When I built my college list, Furman was at the bottom. An outlier from the other midwestern schools I applied to, it was a “bonus” application, mostly for fun. After visiting campus during spring break of my senior year (and considering the more affordable price tag at the time), I was sold, and I decided to take my talents to South Carolina and major in Political Science. As you can probably guess, I don’t work in government and didn’t go to law school, so for all those high school students out there who aren’t sure what they want to do yet - it’s okay! Life is a journey, and I’d love to walk beside you during yours.
After graduating from Furman, I drove my packed Mazda 3 to South Bend, Indiana, to live and learn under the golden dome of the University of Notre Dame. Earning a Master’s Degree in Education through the Alliance for Catholic Education program was a game-changer, as it brought me to Austin and set me on my current path as an educator. Having the privilege of working in schools in Austin helped me discover my passion for helping kids find their paths. Now, working independently on college advising, I get to focus my energy on truly supporting them on their college journeys.
Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about squirrels. I created my logo with dual purposes in mind— besides being my favorite animals for their hilarity, they are also one of the most ubiquitous animals on college campuses. There’s even a Wikipedia page about their presence being “integral to…campus culture.” If you’re not a squirrel fan yet, you may become a convert in college!