Meet the Team

Mike Deutsch, Founder

Hi! At the moment we’re a small group. In fact, just me.

Mike Deutsch, Founder

I’m a software guy. And an education guy. Which (I think) makes me a good person to start something like The U of Me. Here’s my story.

I did the admissions thing too.

Back in 1992, when I graduated high school, college admissions was simpler than it is now. Well, at least it was more low-tech. I gotta tell you, though—the admissions process was brutal and unpleasant, even back then.

And I did pretty well, actually.

Based on my results, most people would have considered me a “winner” in the college admissions game. I was accepted by some very high-profile universities, any of which would have looked great as a bumper sticker on my parents’ car (more on that later).

I ended up choosing a school that was old, prestigious, and “cool” by most people’s account. I enjoyed a lot of my courses, made some lifelong friends, and had a lot of classic college experiences there. Looking back with rose-colored glasses, I’d say I loved it.

But what was the point?

Between the highlights, though, there were plenty of reasons that school was not a good fit for me. (See my freshman and sophomore year GPAs—ahem.)

In fact, looking back I’ve always wondered if it was really the best school for me to have gone to. I had fun, sure, but was that really the goal? (And for that much money?) Would I have grown more in a place that fit me better, where the environment was better suited to the way I like to work and learn?

I know I never asked questions like that while I was applying to college. I was too focused on getting into the most prestigious and “coolest” schools I could (i.e., the bumper stickers). But years after graduating, that question has always stuck with me. What if…?

Now I’m what they call a “professional.”

Since college I’ve made a career building software for people in the education world. I’ve done corporate, K-12, and big-time higher ed; I’ve done e-learning, school web sites, and even business intelligence (cool stuff, that).  I always try to make things that are useful, that help people do great work and feel accomplished.

And I’m using my powers for good.

I founded The U of Me to put my software side and my educational side together for a new purpose. I’ve done the business thing, and the institutional thing, and now I want to make tools for regular people.

I want to give families and professionals the tools they need to make their own college search better. I want to help more people ask the right questions, conduct their search the right way, and end up in a school where they can really thrive. I’m convinced that if every incoming college class had just a few more people who did, the whole class would be better for it.

A lot of smart, thoughtful people are starting to question the high-stakes, fear-and-hype, reputation-and-rankings system that dominates the industry today. I want to do my part to help.

That’s my story.

Wanna join me?  Come sign up!

If you’d like to get to know me a little better, you can follow me on Twitter: @mdeutschmtl. And of course I also tweet as @TheUofMe. Say hi any time!