Founder of Briteguide | Licensed Professional Counselor, Coach, and Educator.

“Hey, I’m Christine! This might sound crazy, but I really enjoy teenagers and I consider myself their fairy godmother and cheerleader. With my coaching process I empower young people to shift from chasing their next chapter, to creating their next chapter.”

christine@briteguide.com

See my credientials [PDF]

Throughout the last two decades Christine Eischen has been coaching, counseling and celebrating students.

At Briteguide, we believe every student has a world of opportunities at their fingertips. Our work focuses on empowering young clients to identify these opportunities and to create the next chapter with confidence and excitement.

Testimonials

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Our son is thriving and fulfilled at university, and we’ll be forever grateful to Briteguide for helping make it happen.”

—Anissa Bouzamondo, parent

Thanks to Christine’s support and our son’s determination, he’s on the right path, excited for college, learning, and staying curious—a huge leap from where we started.”

— Clare Rhodes, parent

Briteguide showed me all my study abroad options, offering advice, contacts, and resources for the various directions I could take when applying from the US.”

— Remi Pinel, student

After working with Briteguide, I realized the importance of taking responsibility. Christine showed me that college is a big step in adulthood, and I must own my journey.”

— Justin Sterner

Briteguides Courses A Global Partnership

Having discovered the breadth of high-quality global education opportunities through their own experiences and careers, Malissa and Christine are committed to opening those same doors for others.

With developing Briteguides Courses, they aim to make the international admissions landscape more approachable, more accurate, and more transparent for everyone.

Across their professional careers, Malissa and Christine have been recognized for their contributions to reputable professional organizations such as IACAC, NACAC, IECA, and the IBO, as well as for their pro bono work with students and peer mentorship. Their collaboration is rooted in a shared commitment to expanding access to the knowledge they have spent years developing.

As co-creators of Briteguides, they ensure that each guide delivers exactly what it promises: accessible and trustworthy information, grounded insight from reputable country experts, and a clearer, more confident path for counselors, students, and families exploring university options around the world.

See the Briteguides Courses

Licensed Counselor | Independent Educational Consultant

Malissa Takacs
Co-Creator of Briteguides

Malissa Takacs is the co-creator of Briteguides and a global expert in international university advising. Briteguides began when she and Christine saw a need for students, families, and counselors asking for clearer guidance on global admissions, and embarked upon building a set of resources that combined their experience with trusted industry professionals.

With over 22 years of experience within every aspect of the admissions and counseling industry. A licensed counselor and independent educational consultant at College Plus Educational Consulting, Malissa has supported students in Switzerland, Singapore, and the U.S; however, her specialty lies in supporting students with non-traditional educational paths—meeting them with clarity, practicality, and a steady sense of possibility. She has visited more than 250 universities worldwide and is widely recognized for creating a mentorship program within the international counseling community.

At Briteguides, Malissa helps ensure that each guide delivers what counselors and students need most: clarity, accuracy, and guidance grounded in real experience.

Life Curator | Global College Consultant | Cognitive Coaching Specialist

Matteo Abbate

Think of me as your personal life curator—helping students (and parents!) design a future filled with purpose, success, and balance. I specialize in global college admissions, passion projects, cognitive coaching, and executive functioning skills, making sure students don’t just get into their dream schools but actually thrive in life.

With over 15 years of experience in international education, I’ve guided students across the world in crafting compelling applications, launching meaningful projects, and mastering the cognitive skills that set them up for lifelong achievement. I’m also currently pursuing a PhD in Education and Psychology, so I bring the latest research-backed strategies to every student I work with!

Testimonials

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With Briteguide’s help, our eldest is pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Oxford, while our youngest is studying Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London.”

— Cédric Chataignier, parent

Christine helped turn our daughter’s nervous energy into positive action, guiding her to take meaningful steps that made a huge difference.”

— Rachel Brenan, parent

Christine is excellent at her job, understanding high school students and the system. She helped engage my twin sons in school, offering solutions and working with their teachers.”

— Michelle Taylor, parent

Working with Briteguide, I was able to create a well-rounded list of colleges and set clear goals to strengthen my application.”

— Lara Mocan, student