individually tailored & trusted
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Work Directly With an Expert College Counselor
I am an Austin-based college counselor who works with students across the country and internationally to assist my clients to be as competitive as possible to be accepted to college. I work closely with my students to create a versatile profile of college opportunities through individualized research and assessment of opportunities that are an ideal fit for their college and career aspirations. I have both college admissions and high school college counseling experience, which give me unique insight into this process. Especially during this uncertain time, hiring an independent college counselor to help you and your student to navigate the college planning and admission process can help to increase opportunities and decrease stress for your family. You don't have to wait until senior year to work with a college counselor. There are so many ways to prepare for college in the 9th - 11th grades, and I work with clients to make sure they are using that time to best prepare to be successful in their college and career endeavors.
I am an Austin-based college counselor who works with students across the country and internationally to assist my clients to be as competitive as possible to be accepted to college. I work closely with my students to create a versatile profile of college opportunities through individualized research and assessment of opportunities that are an ideal fit for their college and career aspirations. I have both college admissions and high school college counseling experience, which give me unique insight into this process. Especially during this uncertain time, hiring an independent college counselor to help you and your student to navigate the college planning and admission process can help to increase opportunities and decrease stress for your family. You don't have to wait until senior year to work with a college counselor. There are so many ways to prepare for college in the 9th - 11th grades, and I work with clients to make sure they are using that time to best prepare to be successful in their college and career endeavors.
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In addition to being a guide, the best college counselor should also be a student who actively pursues learning opportunities in order to stay current with the trends of higher education and requirements to get into college. Especially as admissions trends are shifting so rapidly due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, working with a professional who is doing the work to stay informed is more important than ever. College advising is not a "one size fits all" job, every student is unique with his or her own distinct qualities and interests. You can rest assured that working with me guarantees that you a hiring a professional who stays connected to college admissions information and communicates regularly with admissions professionals on a national basis. From scholarship opportunities to application requirements for selective colleges such as the University of Texas Plan II Honors Program, Rice University, or Cornell University, the college admissions landscape is ever-changing and hiring a professional who stays active in professional development is essential in this field.
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Access to Up-to-Date Information, Resources, and Guidance
I personally remember receiving an envelope in the mail during the Fall of my senior year of high school that contained a floppy disk with my college application on it and being impressed with that technology. Times have certainly changed since then! Students and parents now have so much more access to college information than ever before, but it can be hard to know where to start or how to filter through the flood of college emails and websites that are out there. The college application process itself is very different now, as well, with various types of online applications (Common Application, Coalition Application, ApplyTexas, etc.), virtual admission counselor visits, interviews, and some deadlines as early as October 15th! |
My role in this process is making sure your student is using all of his or her resources effectively in order to narrow down college choices, create a plan for successfully applying to colleges, and find a student’s "best fit" college. My clients receive one-on-one guidance, a very individualized approach to the college process, assistance with keeping track of deadlines, and an advocate available to help them every step of the way.
Dedicated Support and Advocacy
The most common concern I hear from parents is that their student has stopped communicating with them about college. At this crucial point in time when their student will absolutely need additional information and guidance in order to make educated decisions, many students decide to exert their need for independence by wanting to do things on their own. Sound familiar?
Hiring me is a way for my clients to allow their son or daughter to take ownership of this process by working independently with a very knowledgeable and friendly guide, while at the same time ensuring that their parents’ advice and input is being included throughout the process. To allow for student independence, all one-on-one college counseling sessions with the student take place outside of the home in a coffee shop of the student's choosing.
The most common concern I hear from parents is that their student has stopped communicating with them about college. At this crucial point in time when their student will absolutely need additional information and guidance in order to make educated decisions, many students decide to exert their need for independence by wanting to do things on their own. Sound familiar?
Hiring me is a way for my clients to allow their son or daughter to take ownership of this process by working independently with a very knowledgeable and friendly guide, while at the same time ensuring that their parents’ advice and input is being included throughout the process. To allow for student independence, all one-on-one college counseling sessions with the student take place outside of the home in a coffee shop of the student's choosing.
The families I work with come from many different backgrounds and walks of life, but the parents all do share a commonality: they are productive, talented people already juggling a multitude of responsibilities and commitments in their lives. Adding the numerous (yet important) steps that accompany the college application process can feel like taking on another full-time job.
I’m the person making sure both you and your student know about college and career opportunities pertaining to their interests, and that they stay on a timeline to meet all of their deadlines. I provide the peace of mind of knowing that you aren't doing this alone and that your student will get the expert help he or she needs throughout this process.
Working with a professional to help manage this process can help to alleviate the strain of college from the student-parent relationship and allow for the family to enjoy those last pre-college years more fully.
I’m the person making sure both you and your student know about college and career opportunities pertaining to their interests, and that they stay on a timeline to meet all of their deadlines. I provide the peace of mind of knowing that you aren't doing this alone and that your student will get the expert help he or she needs throughout this process.
Working with a professional to help manage this process can help to alleviate the strain of college from the student-parent relationship and allow for the family to enjoy those last pre-college years more fully.
Meet Your College Counselor
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Mrs. Yvonne Espinoza |
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In the 19+ years that I have been a professional college counselor, I have provided hundreds of students and families with increased access to pre-college opportunities, college admissions, and scholarships nationwide through my individualized approach to college advising. I have 19 years of experience working in a high school counseling department, and also have college admissions experience working as an Outside Reader for the University of San Francisco Admissions Office. I have visited over 100 college campuses across the country through counselor visits and invitation-only programs and strongly believe in continuing those trips annually in order to build relationships with colleges and better advise my students. I am also a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC), and regularly attend national conferences to stay informed on the most current college information available. I have also received awards from both colleges and city representatives for my college advising accomplishments, most recently receiving the national recognition of the Counselor That Changes Lives Award for 2015 through the Colleges That Change Lives organization and a City of Austin Certificate of Appreciation "for supporting a student-centered college search process." In 2017, I was elected to the Colleges That Change Lives Board of Directors and currently serve as Treasurer-elect. I also serve the ScholarMatch organization as a Varsity College Coach. It has been my distinct honor to have helped so many students to find the college of their dreams, and to help demystify this process for families. I am the type of educational consultant who enjoys helping a student with every detail of the college process and inspiring my students to exceed their own expectations.
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