MEET YOUR COLLEGE COACH
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Yvonne Espinoza, CEP, is an Austin-based college counselor who counsels students in Austin and across the country, assisting each of her clients to be as competitive as possible to be accepted to college. In the 21+ years that Yvonne Espinoza has been a full-time college counselor, she has provided hundreds of students and families with increased access to pre-college opportunities, college admissions, and scholarships nationwide through her individualized approach to college advising.
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Yvonne personally empowers each student to create a versatile profile of college opportunities through individualized research and assessment of opportunities that are an ideal fit for their unique college and career aspirations. She enjoys working individually with adolescents and helping each of them to further explore strengths, learn the skills to manage the college planning process, and to feel inspired throughout the college admissions journey.
Yvonne's students often feel more confident, independent and informed by enlisting her services. Especially during this uncertain time, hiring a student-centered, experienced independent college counselor to navigate the college planning and admission process more comprehensively outside of school hours can help to increase opportunities and decrease stress for your student and family.
You don't have to wait until senior year to work with Yvonne. There are so many ways to prepare for college in the 9th - 11th grades, and she works with clients to make sure they are using that time to best prepare to be successful in their college and career endeavors.
Yvonne's students often feel more confident, independent and informed by enlisting her services. Especially during this uncertain time, hiring a student-centered, experienced independent college counselor to navigate the college planning and admission process more comprehensively outside of school hours can help to increase opportunities and decrease stress for your student and family.
You don't have to wait until senior year to work with Yvonne. There are so many ways to prepare for college in the 9th - 11th grades, and she works with clients to make sure they are using that time to best prepare to be successful in their college and career endeavors.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 19 years as a full-time college counselor in a public high school- Previously working full-time in a high school counseling department as the singular college counselor for 19 years, along with receiving years of professional development and social-emotional training to accompany it, has equipped her with the expertise to provide the personal, one-on-one support and advocacy that many students and families are seeking to add to this process. Professionals who have worked in a high school counseling office understand the process as it relates to school profiles, admissions materials, as well as the complexities of the timeline specific to different high schools.
- 10 years as the Founder and CEO of Yvonne Espinoza College Counseling Services
- 2 years as an Outside Admissions Reader for the University of San Francisco- Having worked in admissions for a reputable non-profit institution (as opposed to a for-profit post-secondary institution) provides insight into the admissions evaluation process, as well as college and university expectations during the planning and application process.
- Professional Certifications- Yvonne Espinoza is a Certified Educational Planner, a credential of college counseling excellence shared by only 7 other consultants in Austin and 17 other college consultants in the state of Texas. Mrs. Espinoza also is certified to administer the Strong Interest Inventory to both students and adults.
National Leadership
- Yvonne was elected to and currently serves on national college admissions leadership:
- Treasurer, Colleges That Change Lives Board of Directors
- Co-Chair, Women in Admission Board of Directors
- Common Application Counselor Advisory Board
Nationally and Locally Acclaimed
Yvonne Espinoza has also received awards from both colleges and city representatives for her college advising accomplishments. Yvonne was most recently inducted to the City of Austin 2024 Women's Hall of Fame in the category of Gender and Race Equity, was a 2024 Finalist for the 2024 Austin Business Journal Women in Business Awards, also receiving the national recognition the 2022 IECA Making a Difference Award, 2021 National Association of College Admission Counseling Inclusion, Access and Success Award, the 2015 Counselor That Changes Lives Award through the Colleges That Change Lives organization, and a City of Austin Certificate of Appreciation "for supporting a student-centered college search process." Yvonne has also received awards in the past 2 decades from the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and from Texas A&M University.
Yvonne Espinoza has also received awards from both colleges and city representatives for her college advising accomplishments. Yvonne was most recently inducted to the City of Austin 2024 Women's Hall of Fame in the category of Gender and Race Equity, was a 2024 Finalist for the 2024 Austin Business Journal Women in Business Awards, also receiving the national recognition the 2022 IECA Making a Difference Award, 2021 National Association of College Admission Counseling Inclusion, Access and Success Award, the 2015 Counselor That Changes Lives Award through the Colleges That Change Lives organization, and a City of Austin Certificate of Appreciation "for supporting a student-centered college search process." Yvonne has also received awards in the past 2 decades from the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and from Texas A&M University.
- Advocacy & Volunteerism- Yvonne Espinoza, CEP, dedicates over 100 hours of community service each year to increasing college access on a local and national level through involvement with local high schools and national non-profits, including ScholarMatch (as a Varsity College Coach, providing training and advice to college consultants on a national level), Girl Scouts of America, the National Charity League, the Young Men's Service League, the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, McCallum High School and Westwood High School.
- College Visits- In her 21 year career, Mrs. Espinoza has visited over 150 college campuses across the country through counselor visits and invitation-only programs, and strongly believes in continuing those trips annually in order to build relationships with colleges and better advise her students.
personal background
On a personal note, Yvonne was born and raised in Austin, TX, and with the help of a local Independent Educational Consultant (IEC), attended Boston University with a very generous scholarship and also lived in Madrid, Spain, for one year.
The life-changing guidance she received from retired college counselor, Peggy Manley (who to this day is a dear friend of hers), inspired her to eventually devote her career to the world of college access. Yvonne knows first-hand what a difference experienced, personalized guidance can make in choosing, applying to, and selecting a college, and she believes every student deserves to achieve his, her or their college dreams.
A self-described foodie and traveler, Yvonne enjoys planning new global adventures with her wonderful husband of 13 years, and spending time with her very spoiled dogs.
A self-described foodie and traveler, Yvonne enjoys planning new global adventures with her wonderful husband of 13 years, and spending time with her very spoiled dogs.
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