Dr. Amanda Sterk
Director of College and Career Advising
Dr. Amanda Sterk is the Director of College and Career Advising at Method Learning. Through her years of experience, Dr. Sterk has helped thousands of students plan their academic futures, explore career options, and apply and succeed for college admissions and scholarships.
She is co-author of the nationally recognized college admissions workbook, College UnMazed: Your Guide to Navigate the High School to College Maze. A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Drake University, and Creighton University, Dr. Sterk graduated with a Bachelors in Education, a Master’s in Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership.
Born in Iowa, Dr. Sterk taught in high-performing schools in Africa and Latin America before settling in Cape Coral, Florida. Along with her husband, Heath, and two teenage daughters, Eden and Rilah, Dr. Sterk enjoys many outdoor activities in SW Florida, including paddleboarding and biking.
Parent Testimonials
The one-on-one support Dr. Sterk provided during my daughter’s college application process was instrumental. She has a great perspective that helps guide the transition from high school to the collegiate program that will help every student reach their desired career.
Dr. Rafael Alcalde, Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
We found Amanda’s assistance essential for each step of the process. She is well worth the investment! Amanda did review Jessica’s essays and helped her improve them. Jessica applied to out-of-state schools (UVA, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, Lewis and Clark and Vanderbilt) but did also apply to in-state Florida schools as her first choice was University of Florida. She earned the 100% bright futures and is attending UF for her undergraduate degree in English and plans to pursue law.
Amber Braatz, Finley Wealth Advisors
As parents as well as the karate owners / instructors for Kobayashi Dojo. We have experienced and observed so many high school students along with their parents try to navigate the difficult and complicated college admission process. There are so many steps that must be taken to successfully complete this process correctly. Our job as Karate teachers is to motivate and guide them through what they want to study. Dr. Sterk organizes the admission process smoothly and succinctly with her many years of experience. She has been helping the Dojo, our students, and their parents for many years. We feel the best solutions come from working together as one team. We highly recommend the many benefits that everyone can glean from Dr. Sterk.
Kobayashi Dojo, Inc.
When I kept seeing the number of scholarships come in we just could not believe it. Not only did Marissa have 10 colleges to choose from, but she totaled over $300,000 worth of scholarships. I am amazed at all the options our daughter has even with low test scores and a disability. Dr. Sterk changed our family’s lives.
Tina Katz
Publications
College UnMazed: Your Guide to Navigate the High School to College Maze (Published Book), Dr. Richard Lapan, Dr. Timothy Poynton & Dr. Amanda Sterk, 2022-Present
College UnMazed: Your Guide Through the Florida College & University System (Published Book), Peppertree Publishing, 2017 – Present
College Preparedness & Transformational Teaching: A Case Study for Success for Early Colleges (Dissertation), Creighton University
Redefining College Readiness: What Institutional and National Research Means for the Future of Accelerated Students, (Research Poster & Presentation), Florida SouthWestern State College
Post Secondary Institutions- Acceptances for 2023
American College
Amherst College
Appalachian State University
Arizona State University
Baylor University
Boston University
Brown University
Brigham Young University
Case Western Reserve University
Catholic University of America
Cornell University
Creighton University
Eckerd College
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
Emerson College
Flagler College
Florida A&M University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida International University
Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Southern College
Florida State University
Georgetown University
Georgia Tech University
Grinnell College
Howard University
Jacksonville University
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson & Wales
Lees-McRae College
Lewis & Clark College
Louisiana State University
New College of Florida
Northern Illinois University
Nova Southeastern University
NYU (Stern School of Business)
Oglethorpe University
Ohio State University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Queens University of Charlotte
Rice University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rollins College
Stanford University
Stetson University
Texas A&M University
University of Arizona
University of California-Davis
University of Chicago
University of East London
University of Florida (Honors & Research Scholars Program)
University of Hawaii of Manoa
University of Iowa
University of Illinois- Urbana-Champaign
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Miami
University of Minnesota
University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill
University of North Florida
University of Oklahoma
University of Pennsylvania- LSM (Life Sciences & Management)
University of Pennsylvania- Wharton Business School
University of South Florida
University of Tampa
University of Virginia
University of West Florida
University of Wisconsin
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Tech
Wesleyan College
Williams College
Yale University
