Values Based College Counseling

Have you been …

  • Wondering what your role as a parent is in the college application process for your child?

  • Worried about what college prospects there are for your child who has a GPA under 3.0?

  • Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of helping your child choose a major for college?

  • Curious what all the acronyms mean in the world of college counseling? EA, RD, ED, REA, ED 1 and ED 2, just to name a few!

  • Confused about the difference between a state school and a private school?

  • Unclear about what a safety and reach school means?

  • Guessing about which websites to use to research colleges?

  • Questioning if college rankings are something you need to pay attention to, do they even really matter?

  • Uncertain on how to even get started with the process, but you feel like your child should be doing something?

YES, Help me out!
heart with rays and orange poppies

Hello there, I’m Jamie, your consultant.

Growing up in the Bay Area of California, I vividly remember yearning for a college experience that was different from my K-12 years. I wanted to escape the academic rat race and immerse myself in an environment filled with intellectually curious peers who were motivated to learn for the joy of it. Fortunately, I discovered that kind of community during my undergraduate studies—thanks to a friend's offhand suggestion! I didn’t realize back then that following my instincts was an option, or that countless colleges existed outside the familiar top 25. I remain deeply grateful for that serendipitous recommendation.

With over 12 years as a school counselor, I've come to understand that there are diverse colleges for every type of student. The college landscape is vast, yet the narrative often focuses on a select few schools. In the sometimes overwhelming college application process, it’s crucial to remember that this journey is a two-way street: you want colleges to choose you, but you also need to choose the right college for you.

I collaborate with families to identify the best-fit college experience for their child. I’m well-versed in community colleges and advocate for trade careers as viable pathways to success. There are many routes to fulfillment—let’s find the one that resonates with your child!

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and LGBTQ Studies from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, and further honed my expertise with a Master's in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco, along with a College Counseling certificate from UCLA.

To maintain clear professional boundaries and avoid any conflict of interest, I do not provide private consulting services to students or families within the school district where I serve.

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • I'm so glad you asked this!

    I’m highly qualified to offer advice on college counseling due to my extensive background in the field. I hold a master’s degree in school counseling and a college counseling certificate from UCLA, which provide a solid academic foundation. More importantly, I have worked directly with students in this capacity for over 12 years, gaining hands-on experience and a nuanced understanding of the process. Be cautious when choosing a counselor; simply having attended college or assisted a child with applications doesn’t equate to the depth of experience and expertise that comes from years of dedicated work in education and counseling.

  • No, I can't make any guarantee like that, and neither can any other college admissions counselor.

    While I can provide expert guidance and support throughout the college application process, I must emphasize that I cannot guarantee acceptance to any particular college. The admissions process is complex and influenced by many factors beyond anyone's control. I adhere to the NACAC's Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admission, which ensures that I provide honest and transparent advice while respecting the integrity of the admissions process.

  • YES!

    The truth is, that most colleges accept most students. There is a place and a path for everyone.

  • First, I would like to normalize and say that it is totally OK and perfectly normal for a 16 or 17 year old to not know what they want to study in college, or do later in life! This is a ridiculously big question that we task teenagers to answer. I will provide self reflection resources and tools in the private Facebook group to help your child reflect and to see that it is totally OK to not know how to answer the question "what do you want to study in college?".

  • Yes! Being a teenager is harder than ever these days. Teenagers have an abundance of choices, and it can feel paralyzing. If your child isn't interested in applying to college, or doesn't want to talk about it with you, please know that you are not alone. There are many pathways to building a successful life, and they do not all need to include college. In my group, I will talk about careers in the trades and community college options in addition to 4 year college pathways. The goal of my work is for a family to feel in alignment with their child's plans for once they graduate high school.

  • Fair enough! As a school counselor myself, I see many students navigate the college application process, simply by utilizing the resources that are already available to them at their high school. If you are looking to work with me it is likely because you want more support. School counselors have high caseloads and do so much more than focus on post-secondary planning. School counselors days can include completing a mental health referral for a student in crisis, facilitating an intervention for chronically absent students, enrolling a new student who just moved into town from a different country or state. You name it, and counselors do it! I believe that every school counselor has the best intentions, and our jobs do not allow us to solely focus on the college admissions process.