College Admissions Consulting
Nothing about college admissions is easy for today’s high school students and their parents. The process is becoming more competitive every year. Thus, it is no longer enough for applicants to have good grades in high school. Identifying, evaluating and selecting schools for which to apply; planning and taking standardized entrance examinations; meeting rigorous application requirements and deadlines; and writing essays designed to stand out from the crowd all take an enormous amount of effort and coordination.
HelloCollege’s College Admissions Program — our most comprehensive college admissions consulting package — features a dedicated college counselor. Our college admissions consultants are committed to coaching students through every step of the process.
Comprehensive College Admissions Counseling Services
Successful college admissions planning is deliberate. It is designed to include and address commonly recognized topics and tasks — as well as providing focused support in areas that are neglected by college applicants who choose to go it alone.
Our College Admissions Program includes all of the following college admissions counseling services:
- Dedicated College Counselor
- Online ACT/SAT Test Prep Course and Practice Exams
- ACT/SAT Strategy Workshops
- Major & Career Assessment and Analysis
- Build a College List
- Paying for College & Scholarships Workshops
- Private College Budget Meeting
- FAFSA/CSS Profile Guidance
- Common Application Guidance
- Common Application Essay Brainstorming, Edits & Reviews
- Private Application Strategy Session and Application Planner
- Up to 10 Additional One-On-One Meetings
- Custom Plan to Stand Out to Admissions
- High School Course Planning
- Custom ACT/SAT Testing Plan
- Proctored Practice ACT/SAT Tests & Diagnostic Reports
- Private Major & Career Diagnostic
- 3-Day Essay Bootcamp
- Supplemental Essay Editing with up to 17 Edits
- Private Common Application Review
- Private Mock Interview
- Senior Scholarship Bootcamp
- Private Award Assessment Meeting
- LinkedIn Profile & Resume Building
- College Transition Workshop
Benefits Beyond Basic College Admissions Planning
Working with your high school admissions counselor can be a good first step for basic college admissions planning. However, in most high schools, counselors simply do not have the bandwidth, expertise or resources to effectively help all of the school’s college-bound students. Leveraging the expertise of HelloCollege’s dedicated college admission advisors can give you peace of mind. Of course, college admissions coaching does not mean that the advisor does all the work for your student. Instead, you can be confident knowing your student is being guided by professionals who understand the process and the importance of timing. Our knowledgeable college admissions consultants are committed to helping students meet the often-nuanced requirements to have their applications seriously considered by their top-choice schools. Our college admission advisors:- Provide targeted guidance and support for entrance examinations
- Offer time-tested deadline strategies
- Prepare students to handle in-person interviews with confidence and aplomb
- And so much more
Take Charge of Your Future With Help From Our College Admissions Consultants
Starting the college admissions planning process early — ideally in the student’s sophomore or junior year of high school — can better ensure sufficient time is available to plan effectively — thereby helping increase the chances of college acceptances at first-choice schools. To learn more about HelloCollege’s College Admissions Program — and to discover the difference that working with experienced college admissions consultants can make in a student’s future — schedule a free consultation today!
We’re passionate about your college success
Kevin Krebs
Founder and Managing Director
Inspired by his parents, Kevin’s journey from a first-gen, diverse, low-income background to Northwestern University shaped him. After experiencing challenges, including student loan debt, he founded HelloCollege and has spent the last 30 years helping students successfully navigate college admissions.
Allison Dahleen
VP of Client Services
As an MSA holder, Allison brings a wealth of experience supporting students in higher education. As the respected Service Leader at HelloCollege, she leads her team in expertly navigating admissions and academic advising, empowering students to achieve their goals with confidence and success.
Arman Davtyan
Director of Counseling
Arman joins HelloCollege after spending 20+ years in higher education, leading a range of student-facing services, from admissions and enrollment to academic advising and career development. As Director of Counseling, he drives initiatives to enhance and scale college counseling services as HelloCollege continues to expand its reach nationwide.
Kim Shipman
Counseling Manager & College Counselor
Kim brings over 10 years of experience in college counseling, including 7 years as a high school college counselor. With a background in career services at universities including Rice and Duke, she has supported students in earning admission to institutions such as Cornell, Johns Hopkins, UT Austin, Rice, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, University of Michigan, and Boston University.
Chris Wilson
Application Strategist
Christopher Wilson is an archaeologist, art historian, military veteran, and current Mid-Career Master in Public Administration student at Harvard University. A graduate of Princeton University, Yale University, and the University of Chicago, Christopher has dedicated his career to protecting archaeological and cultural resources while advocating for underserved communities. A Registered Professional Archaeologist, Pat Tillman Scholar, and frequent conference speaker, he is passionate about using his expertise to make a lasting impact, whether through mentoring students, supporting veterans and marginalized communities, or preserving history for future generations.
Tracey Bradnan
Application Strategist
Tracey Bradnan has worked in higher education for more than a decade and brings a deep understanding of the inner workings of top-ranked universities. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Austin Hughes
College Counselor
A first-generation college student and Rhodes Scholar turned college counselor, Austin Hughes brings a unique perspective shaped by his experiences at both a Big Ten university and the University of Oxford, where he earned his master’s degree. With firsthand knowledge of both U.S. and international higher education, Austin combines a deep understanding of the admissions landscape with a passion for storytelling and mentorship, helping students navigate the process with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Angelique Singh
College Counselor
Dr. Angelique is a USC-trained college counselor and educator who blends practical empathy with strategic guidance, helping students build intentional experiences, compelling applications, and college pathways where they can thrive.
Kevin Paul
College Counselor
Kevin brings over 15 years of experience in college admissions and advising, including serving as Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions at UChicago's Booth School of Business. With a college advising certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University, he has helped students earn admission to top institutions including Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Cornell, UPenn, UChicago, and Northwestern.
Michael Broderick
College Counselor
With 20 years in college counseling and former roles as Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, Michael is an experienced admissions strategist who has helped students gain acceptance to top universities including MIT, Harvard, Yale, UPenn, Columbia, UChicago, Michigan, NYU, and Carnegie Mellon.
Jose Ireta
College Counselor
As a dedicated counselor with 25 years of experience assisting students with college applications, José Ireta possesses a deep understanding of the challenges and nuances involved in the college admission process. His previous roles as both a private college counselor and a public school counselor at an International Baccalaureate high school have honed his skills in essay editing, building realistic college lists, and supporting students from diverse backgrounds. His academic background in Counseling & Guidance (M.S.) and Educational Administration (M.A.), coupled with his commitment to student success, allows for a greater perspective on the college admission process.
Nicole Decuir
College Counselor
With almost 10 years of college advising experience and 20+ years as a school counselor and educator, Nicole has guided hundreds of students through the admissions process—including acceptances to Ivy League schools, top-tier liberal arts colleges, and highly ranked national universities. A certified School Counselor and IEP/504 Counselor, she helps students find best-fit colleges and build confident, personalized plans. Nicole holds a B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College and a master's in Counseling.
Brian Vasquez
College Counselor
Brian Vasquez is a Columbia-educated educator and college admissions consultant with extensive LA and NYC experience. He champions student vulnerability, genuine connection, and rigorous, research-based learning.
Bennett Burns
College Counselor
Duke University alum and experienced college admissions counselor with a background in Duke Admissions and as a Duke alumni interviewer. Bennett helps students discover what genuinely excites them, build meaningful experiences around their interests, and approach the college process with confidence, purpose, and ownership.
Don Keller
College Counselor
Don brings 30 years of experience in college admissions and counseling, including 10 years as a licensed high school counselor and 8 years as an admissions reader for UC Berkeley, Northeastern, and the QuestBridge Scholars program. Throughout his career, Don has guided more than 10,000 students through the application process, supporting acceptances to institutions like Brown, Dartmouth, UChicago, Northwestern and UT Austin.
Raymond Gonzales
College Counselor
Raymond brings 11 years of experience guiding students to Ivy and elite college acceptances from Brown, Duke, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and UCLA. A first-generation college graduate with master’s degrees from Harvard, UPenn, and USC, Raymond specializes in BS/MD programs, liberal arts colleges, and nursing students. He also serves on the Common App Advisory Council.
Adam Salazar
College Counselor
Adam brings 8 years of experience working directly in university admissions and student advising. He has served as an Admissions Advisor, Admissions Committee Reader, Graduate Advisor, and financial aid specialist at the University of Central Florida, giving him an insider’s perspective on how applications are evaluated.
Claire Kirchoff
College Counselor
Claire is a licensed high school counselor and Fullbright Scholar with 10 years of experience guiding students through highly selective and Ivy League college admissions. She has served as a counselor across public, private, and boarding school settings, supporting acceptances to institutions such as Harvard, Cornell, Vanderbilt, and Emory.
Kristen Stephenson
College Counselor
Kristen brings nearly 20 years of experience in college advising, with a background spanning independent college consulting, essay coaching, academic tutoring, and school counseling. She has worked with both domestic and international students to navigate the admissions process and has guided students to highly selective universities including Harvard, Rice, Duke, Cornell, Vanderbilt, NYU, and Georgetown.
Chelsea Zimmerman
College Counselor
Chelsea is a college admissions and career planning professional with 11 years of experience helping students navigate the transition from high school to their next chapter. She’s guided students through the admissions process at a wide range of institutions, including highly selective universities, large public schools, and international programs. Her students have earned admission to schools such as Tufts, UT-Austin, University of Rochester, University of Georgia, Case Western and IU-Bloomington.
