I honestly believe that the cornerstone of this whole process is to find a coach you connect with, can trust, and who you believe has your best interest at heart. A positive relationship and good communication can shift a process that likely feels stressful, scary, and overwhelming, and help make it manageable and even fun. Picture your shoulders relaxing having a caring professional in your corner to help give you peace of mind. Let me help share some of the load so you can sleep better at night!
In order to become credentialed as a professional Independent Educational Consultant (IEC), or College Coach, it is necessary to hold a certificate from an accredited program such as the one from UCLA. In addition to completing this certification with distinction, I also hold a Master’s degree in counseling with a specialization in schools and school-aged kids.
Because of my connection with a wide range of post-secondary institutions, I am familiar with the options that students have, and am therefore able to customize the process to fit each unique need.
We start with a consultation meeting for student, coach, and parent(s)/guardian(s) so I can answer any questions about coaching or where you are in the process, and we can see if we're a good fit. This is a paid 60-90 minute consultation meeting, which rolls into the Comprehensive Coaching service fee if we continue our work together. You are under no further obligation to continue with GSCC after this initial meeting, and will leave the meeting with clear information about how to further engage if you choose to, as well as being armed with a stronger understanding of coaching components, projects, and timeline
Fill out the form on the contact page, and let's connect!
The first thing to do when hearing this question is to shift the question to look at fit, rather than rankings and name brand recognition alone. I have worked with kids who have gotten into highly selective schools, small liberal arts schools, out-of-state state schools, in-state schools, and everything in between, after helping them determine what is the best fit for them individually.
There are over 5,000 colleges and universities in the US alone, and it is my belief that there are several great fit options for each student.
If the list is balanced and my step-by-step process has been followed, my students get into 80-90% of the schools on their list, with higher likelihood of merit aid scholarships at many. Most importantly, the majority of my students report a smooth transition to college and being happy with their choice!
In general, freshmen and sophomores focus on pre-planning tasks such as mindful forecasting and evaluating high school course work, summer and extracurricular activity planning, formulating a standardized testing plan that makes sense, and doing a ton of exploration on values, personality, aptitudes, majors/minors, career paths, and different areas of study.
Juniors start to gain understanding of the many characteristics in the college experience and work to identify and hone preferences. I provide juniors with a structured system and set of tools to research colleges, including a Custom College Plan account, and help them start to create a balanced list, as well as setting them up for polished and strong application components like Letters of Recommendation. Juniors also take healthy college financing into consideration and build their list to maximize potential for merit aid scholarships and other sources of institutional aid.
Rising seniors focus on the Common Application personal statement (college essay), starting with a brainstorming workshop and following with a structured 3-step editing process that results in deep understanding and confidence around this unique piece of writing, as well as finalizing the college list and starting to work on applications.
Seniors are organizing and completing supplemental essays, managing applications, aiming for early deadlines, and connecting with their colleges.
After hitting send, I support seniors in organizing outside scholarships, understanding financial aid offers, making a final decision for attendance, and preparing for their freshman year of college.
For the most part, no, not after the initial consultation meeting. This is a student-centered process and it’s important that the student feels that they are being heard in a neutral space and given an unbiased perspective.
However, of course it’s important to keep parents in the loop, so I email detailed notes after each meeting with updates and a clear To-Do list. Also, at several strategic times in the process, parents will attend a meeting and we'll come together to make sure we're on the same page.
“Colleges are like onions”—there are lots of layers to consider in order to understand the fullest picture. Guidebooks ranking websites, and college sites address the “outer layers” by providing statistical and anecdotal information of a general nature, and are more than likely designed with an agenda in mind.
When I go to work, if I am not with a student, I am researching the latest trends in pre-med, or reading blogs about portfolio review, or visiting colleges and asking questions to help me understand who might be a good fit there, or meeting with colleagues to talk about college lists and merit scholarships, or college reps to pick their brains about new majors at their school. It is my job to be a scholar of higher ed!
I also travel extensively each year, visiting colleges in order to provide current insights about their academic and social environments.
You are the expert on what makes your kid great, and I am the expert on things related to college. As a team we create a great support system!
My years as a school counselor, mental health champion, and volunteer have given me special insight into gifted, high-achieving students, students with an "average Joe” high school experience, and students who struggle. I am very familiar with perfectionistic and anxious tendencies, depression and grief, as well as learning disabilities, executive function issues, 504 plans, and IEPs. I work with a wide range of students, including those who are high-achievers, those with average academics and activities, and students who could use a neutral person to help them light a fire and finish high school on the best note possible.
I have supported students with varying interests, and have experience advising students who finish high school early, students who want to take a gap year, students taking college level course work in high school, and students just meeting basic graduation requirements.
Working with kids who came before yours gives me a sense for where to start, and then we adjust to meet each unique situation.
Testing: I work with each student to advise on a testing plan—when to test, which test(s) to take, what scores to report, when not to report, and provide test prep resources and suggestions. I do not provide specific test prep services, as certified coaches do not have specialty training in this area. Additionally, my students at the Comprehensive Service level are eligible to take a free full-length practice ACT or SAT through my professional partnership as part of their standardized testing plan.
Financial Planning: If you indicate that scholarships are an important consideration, I will certainly coach students to consider schools and opportunities where there is more likelihood for scholarship monies, and encourage them to build their college list accordingly. As an IEC, I do not advise on your specific financial situation, and leave that to financial planning experts.
See the Resources page for more specific test prep and financial planning resources!
I am a proud member of Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and strictly adhere to their high standards for ethical best practice. I am also a member of the Portland Area College Counselor Consortium (PACCC), and PDX IEC groups.
Membership in these organizations affords me access to news about higher education and college admissions, an extensive network of colleagues, and numerous avenues for professional development, as well as ensuring accountability and a strong ethical foundation.
It is professionally irresponsible and highly unethical to make guarantees for admission to any college or university, accept any form of compensation from a school, program, or company in exchange for placement or a referral, or complete an application for admission, re-write essays, or fill out financial aid forms on a student’s behalf.
Instead, it is my goal to support, guide, teach, encourage, lead, and take care to understand each student’s strengths and challenges as we develop a healthy balanced list, polished applications, financial practicality, personal accountability, and ultimately strive for several great fit choices by decision time.
I’ve been there, and I get it! The reason I'm doing this work is because when my own daughter was going through this process, I realized I had NO idea what I was doing. Even with a college degree, and even with an entire career spent in education, this process is ever-changing and the unknowns can be really stressful.
I decided to learn everything I possibly could (and continue this every day!) in order to support other kids and families through the process, which allows your relationship to stay in tact, and gives your child great options and hopefully a college experience where they will thrive as they continue discovering who they are.