Coleman College Counseling & Career Coaching
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful Answers for Students & Families
Whether you're trying to figure out whether independent counseling is right for your family, comparing options, or just not sure where to start, these are the questions I hear most often. If yours isn't here, reach out directly. There's no question too small and no situation too complicated to start a conversation about.
About Coleman College Counseling & Career Coaching
Q: What is an independent college counselor? An independent educational consultant, or IEC, is a private counselor who works outside of the school system to provide individualized guidance through the college planning, application, transfer, graduate school, or career coaching process. Unlike school counselors, who are employed by a school district and responsible for hundreds of students at once, an independent counselor works with a carefully limited number of clients to provide the focused, personalized attention the process actually requires.
Q: How is Coleman College Counseling different from a large college consulting firm? When you work with a large firm, you often don't know who you'll be working with until after you've signed a contract, and the person who sells you the service isn't always the person who delivers it. When you work with me, I am the practice. Every call, every text, every email, every document review comes from me personally. I limit my roster intentionally so that every client gets the attention their situation actually deserves.
Q: How long have you been doing this? I've been working with students, families, and young professionals since 2014.
What Types of Clients Do You Work With?
Q: Do you work with clients outside of California? Yes, all sessions are held virtually via Zoom or Google Meet. I work with clients throughout California, across the country, and internationally.
Q: Do you guarantee admission to any school? No ethical independent counselor can guarantee admission anywhere. What I can guarantee is that every client I work with will receive a thoughtful, personalized strategy built around their specific situation, expert guidance on every piece of their application, and someone who is fully invested in the best possible outcome.
Q: What services do you offer? I offer college planning services for students in 8th through 12th grade, transfer counseling for community college and four-year transfer students, graduate school counseling for applicants to Master's, PhD, and professional programs, and career coaching for college students and young professionals. Within each area, services range from single strategy sessions to comprehensive multi-year engagements designed around each client's specific situation, timeline, and budget.
Q: I'm an adult client, not a high school student. Is this practice right for me? Absolutely. A meaningful part of my practice is working with community college students navigating the transfer process, graduate school applicants managing their own applications, college students exploring career direction, and young professionals taking their next career steps. If you're navigating an important transition and want expert support, you're in the right place.
Q: Do I need to commit to a full package, or can I start small? You can absolutely start small. Most service areas offer entry-level options, a single strategy session, a consult meeting, or a focused package that gives you a clear picture of where you stand and what you need before committing to anything larger. Many families and clients start with a smaller service and continue from there. Others book a full package from the start. The right approach depends entirely on your situation, which is exactly what the Discovery Call is designed to figure out.
Q: Can you design a custom plan if none of the listed services fit? Yes. The listed services are starting points, not constraints. If your situation doesn't fit neatly into any of the options on the service pages, just ask. I'll design a plan around your specific situation, timeline, and budget. Flexibility is one of the real advantages of working with an independent counselor.
Q: Do you help with financial aid and scholarships? Yes, financial aid and scholarship discussions are woven into every service area. Financial aid awareness, FAFSA guidance, net price calculators, award letter interpretation, and scholarship search and strategy are included.
Q: Do you help with athletic recruiting? Yes, guidance on the athletic recruiting process, NCAA eligibility requirements, and how to approach coaches is available.
Q: Do you help with visual and performing arts applications? Yes, I have experience working with students applying to visual and performing arts programs, music programs, theater programs, and schools with audition or portfolio requirements. These applications have their own distinct requirements and timelines.
Meetings & The Process
Q: How do you work with clients? I meet with students, one-on-one via Zoom or Google Meet, Monday through Friday, at a cadence that makes sense for where you are in the process. Between sessions, I'm accessible via phone, text, and email for questions, updates, and quick check-ins. I handle the research, the reminders, the follow-up, and the details so your student stays on track and you stay informed. Before each meeting, I review your students' materials and prepare specific agenda items. After each meeting, I send notes and next steps. Nothing falls through the cracks.
Q: Are parents in the meetings with students? Student meetings are one-on-one, just you and me. Experience has shown this creates a more open, honest, and productive conversation. Parents are always kept in the loop through direct communication with me, copied on important emails, and regular progress updates. Dedicated parent meetings are included in many packages, and Parent Coaching sessions are available separately for parents who want their own time to ask questions and get answers.
Q: How do parents stay informed if they're not in the meetings? I communicate with students primarily through text and email. I also encourage parents to reach out to me directly by call, text, or email, any time a question comes up. You don't have to wait for a scheduled meeting to find out what's happening. If something important comes up between sessions, I reach out proactively rather than waiting for you to ask.
Q: What happens between sessions? Between sessions, I review documents and essays, research programs and schools, prepare agenda items for upcoming meetings, follow up on outstanding action items, and respond to questions via text and email. The work doesn't stop when the meeting does, and neither does the support.
Q: What if something urgent comes up between sessions? Text me. Seriously. Senior application deadlines, financial aid questions that can't wait, a supplement prompt that appeared overnight- these are exactly the situations where quick access to your counselor matters most. I'm accessible throughout every engagement for exactly these moments.
Q: How long does the process typically take? It depends entirely on the service and the client. A single strategy session is complete in one meeting. A freshman year engagement runs through the school year. A comprehensive 11th-12th grade package may span 18 months or more. A graduate school engagement typically runs 3-9 months depending on the number of programs and the complexity of the application. I'll give you a specific timeline estimate during the Discovery Call based on your situation.
"I never had the opportunity to properly thank you for your hard work and dedication to my personal success. Your college counseling enabled me to reach the higher education I wished for while also finding a home at a university for the next four years. Thank you for the countless meetings over the course of the years and for making sure I was on track. Keep the passion for your work and aiding your kids to find their place just as you did with me." — Student, multi-year client
Payments
Q: How much does it cost to work with you?
Services range from a single $250 strategy session to comprehensive multi-year packages. After our Discovery Call, I’ll share pricing and packages that work best for you.
Q: Do you have payment plans?
Yes. Services are paid for before work begins, but payment plans are available.
Discovery Calls
Q: What is a Discovery Call?
The Discovery Call is a free, 15–20-minute phone conversation. In our call, we'll talk through where you are, what you're hoping for, and which services make the most sense for your specific situation. By the end of the call, you'll have a clear picture of whether working together makes sense and if it does, exactly where to start.
Q: What happens after the Discovery Call?
After our call, if we decide to move forward together, I'll send you a service recommendation based on what we discussed, a simple agreement outlining the scope of our work, and payment information. Once the service is agreed to, I’ll forward you an agreement via Adobe Sign. When payment is received, I’ll contact your student by text to set our first appointment.
Q: When should we start? Earlier than you think and earlier than most families do. 8th or 9th grade gives your student the most runway. 10th grade is ideal for building the foundation. 11th grade is when the work becomes urgent. 12th grade is when everything comes together. Whatever grade your student is in right now, there's a place to start.