Education and students have always been my spark. After a 20-year career as an elementary school teacher and writer in Palo Alto, California, I wanted to expand my involvement in the world of education. My own college experience was haphazard, but I saw my sons exemplify how the process could be done differently. I was inspired to help students create well executed plans to make the transition to college more smooth and purposeful.

I am now a Certified Life & Leadership Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute and received my certification as an Independent Educational Consultant from the University of California, Irvine. I am a proud member of the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).

As an advisor, my focus is on connection, presence, and active listening, as well as imbuing a sense of fun and interest in our work together. With my guidance, students and families should feel capable, confident, informed and prepared while navigating the college application process.

ABOUT ME

TESTIMONIALS

  • “Polly’s determined patience has made the whole college application process super non-stressful, placing emphasis on finding the right fit schools and thoughtful reflection. Whether it was a quick text or long brainstorming session, Polly’s help allowed me to convey my life experiences and interests into essays that represented me!”

    - Oliver, Current Senior

  • “I absolutely loved working with Polly! Throughout our time together, I gained a better understanding of what I was looking for in a college and curated a list of schools that were a great fit for me. Her flexibility when it came to setting up monthly meetings, proof reading my essays, and checking in on my progress truly made my college application process as seamless as possible. I can confidently say I ended up where I was meant to be, thanks to Polly’s guidance.”

    - Emily, Cal Poly SLO

  • “As parents we found it invaluable to have Polly work with our daughter. She found Polly easy to work with, positive, and understanding. Polly was especially helpful when it came to creating a list of potential colleges to apply to and editing college essays. Our daughter talked and texted with Polly frequently and received clear deadlines which helped her stay organized. Polly is a wonderful person to have in your teen's corner during this stressful time!”

    - Deggeller Family

  • “Polly played a pivotal role in my preparation for applying to college by providing guidance on the application process and setting weekly accountability meetings to ensure I was on track to meet critical deadlines. I highly recommend utilizing Polly's expertise to manage the intimidating process of college applications and secondary education opportunities.”

    - Soren, Montana State University

  • “Polly helped me navigate the tumultuous waters of college applications with ease, efficiency, and always with a welcoming smile on her face.”
    - Zia, University of Puget Sound

  • “Polly was an amazing resource for our younger daughter. Yes, she was excellent with scheduling, accountability, expertise, etc. But the biggest benefit was helping our daughter crystalize who she is and what she wants in her next phase of life. This focused her essays and made her a better candidate, but more importantly, gave her more confidence in the process and got her thinking about life after college. Highly recommend!”

    - Eric and Amber J.

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